THE BOROUGH ENGINEER.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 108, 23 September 1912, Page 7

THE BOROUGH ENGINEER.

REPORT OF SPECIAL COMMITTEE. The special committee, comprising the Mayor ami Crs Clark, Jackson, Buttimore and Morey, which was set up bo report upon reorganising the borough engineer's department will table the following recommendations at the next meeting of the council:—l() That it be made clear the borough engineer has a free hand in all matters of street maintenance and is under no obligation to wait for the authority of-the council in matters of this nature. (2) The reason why the streets are not in quite such a good order as they might be this winter is due to the fact that the engineer is inaugurating a new system of executing the hulk of the street works in the summer months, instead of in the winter months, as was the case in the past. In effecting this change of system, it was necessary to greatly reduce the expenditure on streets this winter, and this has led to an apparent neglect of the streets. The money thus saved will be spent to greater advantage in the summer, and the benefit will be fully realised next winter. (3) The committee .approves of the system inaugurated by the present engineer of appointing area surfacemen, and recommends that the system 'be continued. (4) That the committee are satisfied that the policy recently adopted of purchasing more horses and drays and thus reducing the cost of hiring horses and drays, and .this with the more frequent use of the traction engine for hauling, will effect a great saving in street maintenance. (5) That a motor cycle be purchased for the use of the borough-engineer. (Cr Clark dissented), (li) That with the faster method of travelling the borough engineer is satisfied that he will not require any further office assistance, until such time as the expenditure of further loans commences, and the committee have therefore no recommendation to make at the present time as lo further office assistance.