BOROUGH LOANS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 249, 30 March 1915, Page 4

BOROUGH LOANS.

PROPOSAL BEFORE THE COUNCIL

At the adjourned meeting of the Borough Council last evening the proposed: loans for the Soltar macadam work on the roads tnul of providing a new municipal building was introduced by tht~ Mayor.

SUGGESTED MUSEUM. The Mayor remarked that in the present proposal there was no provision ,■ made for a museum building. The engineer presented a plan of a building in concrete and brick at th»hack of the Carnegie Library, at an estimated cost of £2OOO.

The Mayor said there was another 3\i){- - - gostion that the museum be placed in the present Carnegie Library, and that- " tlie reading and magazine room be placed! in Mr. K. Griffith's premises, which that gentleman would sell for £ 1750. In this case new offices would be provided for the Town Clerk and staff, engineer and" ' staff, and a new council chamber. Tliedefect in that scheme was that Mr. Griffiths' was a wooden building. Cr. Collis said this matter required a great deal of consideration, and they should not come to a decision that evening.

Cr. Burgess said he would be quiteagainst the second proposal. They, should get a new building on their own'ground, and a concrete building. Crs. Johnstone and Sykes agreed. Hie former said if they could not finance a' new building at present, they should' wait until they could do so in a substantia al manner. He would prefer to gee proper designs called for. Would it not be better to consult the architect of the library before attempting.any building' at the back of that library?

The Mayor considered that they might: go so far as deciding whether tlicy should ask the ratepayers to support' them in securing sufficient money to provide a building to house the musenniVCr. Clarke suggested a further storey on top of the present library. The engineer said he had estimated that it would cost £SOO to add a storey to the library. Cr. Mannix said he did not think that the library was built to allow of another storey being added. Cr. Burgess considered that as they were all determined on permanent roads they should also go in for a permanent building. The Mayor moved that the matter be referred to the reserves and library committees to consult with the architect and' report on the question in a comprehensive manner.

Cr. Jackson thought they should call for plans in a proper manner.

Cr. Smith did not consider the moment an opportune time. His Worship said he appreciated that aspect of the question. It was premature to rise the question of the erection of municipal buildings. Ho thought they would have to wait until 1022, when they would have to raise'money to pay off the borough's indebtedness.. ' Cr. Clarke considered that they shouM go on with the question of housing the Skinner collection. Mr. Skinner's offer would not remain over until 1022. Why not erect a place on the Liardet Street sill-, which could be a portion of any future building? Cr. Smith supported Cr. Eurgcss' remarks.

Cr. Sykes said it could be housed, li» believed, at the Technical School.

Cr. Collis pointed out that many other small collections would be given to the town if they had a suitable place in ■which to display them. Cr. Johnstone agreed, and seconded the resolution, which was then'carried.

THE ROADS. In answer to Cr. Collis, the engineer said the streets schedule included many roads that were not absolutely worn out, but had to be remade.

Cr. Jackson asked what the engineer proposed to do in Courtenay Street. He understood that the metalling was to b» gone on with, and at the same time was told that Soltar -was not satisfactory if not laid with the inctal.

Cr. Clarke said ho luxd been given tounderstand the same thing. The engineer said that was so, but Soltar could be put on after the metal was laid. A schedule of the proposed work waspresented by the engineer as follows: ■ £ Tramways route 10,000 Courtcnay Street Civrrie to 'Watson Street 1,014 Pov.Werham Street, Currlc to Morley Street 1,100 Gill, Street, Cnrrie io Hobson Street %j Vivian Street, Robe Street to Dawson Street . .• 300* Dawson Street, Standish Street to Devon Street 678 Lianlot Street, Gill Street to Fillis Street VO2 Wallace Place, Standish Ilill to Tukapa 422 Devon Street, Morlev Street to Outfield Road ...." 44« Cutfield Road, Devon Street to

St. Aubyn Street 375 Standish Street, Dawson Street to Wallace Place 4<>g Brougham Street culvert 1,5«0 Destructor 1,009 Contingencies '75 ——i £19,000 In answer to Cr. Clarke, the Mayor said he understood that the rails for the tramways would arrive next week. Cr. Clarke declared that tliece were many street* in the schedule that required doing, and also many small ones not on the list that also badly required attention. There were too manysmall pieces of road and footpaths left undone. Could not this work be don* out of revenue? He did not think that it would cost more than £IOOO or €2OOO Cr. Sykes agreed with the previous speaker. . Cr. Clarke moved that King Street, Queen Street, and a part of Brougham Street be done.

Cr. Smith supported the new resolution, and was only sorry that O. Clnrke had not gone a little further. There were many roads outside the Central area that required attention. Cr. Collis thought that they should abide by the engineer's report. If they kept on adding, where would they stop? Cv. Jackson supported Cr. Collis. The engineer had brought down a report and he would, of course, only mention th» most important. Cr. Burgess thought they should pu« permanent work in the centre of the' town. If that policy tiad been carried out from the first they would now bo* in a much better position than thevi were. JJ

Cr. Clarke moved that the council out off a portion of Courtcnay Street, east of Eliot Street, and that Dawson Street he done instead. In reply to he Mayor ' however, ho withdrew the first portion of this motion.

U was eventually decided to amend the schedule by ad<ling : _Q„cen Street? .King Street from, Brougham to Qucirf St l(; et; Brougham Street, from Devon t» Vivian Streets; and Dawson Street, from Devon Street to Victoria Espial ado: and delete Powderham Street from' Dawson to Morley Street.

. THE DESTRUCTOR. Hie erection of the destructor, the" Mayor said, would impose no burden cn ; the ratepayers. It would pay for its upkeep. ' '

In answer to Cr. Kibbv, he said this would be done in the removal of refuse; at present the contractor was rcaume the profit. ' b Cr. Kibhy moved that this matter he (leierred, and that a report on the subject be procured. There being no seconder, the motion} lapsed, and the meeting then adjourned*