STRAFFORD.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 October 1917, Page 3

STRAFFORD.

{Prom Our Own Correspondent.)' [AH communications, letters, etc., left With Mr. H. J. Hopkins, bookseller, will receive prompt attention.] BOROUGH COUNCIL. Stratford, Oct. 30. A special meeting of the council was held last evening. Present: The Mayor (Mr .J. W. McMillan) and Crs. J. Masters, A. Coleman, D. J. Malone, C. Jackson, H. J. Thompson, T. Lawson; S. B. Hunter, C. B. Walsh, and W. McDonald. The main business was the consideration of a report by the borough engineer, Mr. T. D. Sullivan, for concreting Broadway. His estimates were for the following streets:—Broadway, full width between. Lear and Seyton Streets, 16 feet wide between Seyton Street and Flint Road, and 10 feet wide between Lear Street and boundary; Regan Street, full width between Juliet Street and Miranda Street; Fenton Street, . full width between Juliet Street and Miranda Street; Juliet Street, lfi feet wide between Regan Street and Fenton Street. The total cost, including regulation of water services, engineering and supervision charges, contingencies, tools, etc., is £19,051, an amount considerably in excess of the proposed loan, and the original scheme of the council will have to be readjusted. By leaving a 10ft. strip in the middle of Broadway, between Lear Street and Seyton Street, a saving of £ll6B would be effected, and to concrete that portion of Broadway between Lear Street .and Fenton Street 16 feet only instead of full width would effect a Baving of £3998 and bring the estimates well within the capacity of the loans. The approaches of Victoria bridge will have to be done with tarred macadam, as, owing to continued shrinkage of the fillings, it would not be safe to put down concrete. This will not lessen the cost. Broadway must be attended to almost immediately, as that portion between Regan Street and Opunake Road is almost worn out. To repair this properly with crushed metal would cost £IOOO, and when finished would be in constant need of attention, as the increasing motor traffic plays, havoc with ordinary macadamised roa*ds. It can be safely said that maintenance of Broadway alone is costing £SOO per annum, not including the amount of metal which must be placed on the street from time to time. If the suggestion to concrete the streets mentioned above is carried out, there -will be 1330 yards of metal to come off Broadway available for other streets, and a large saving can be effected in the future in the amount of metal required. If present methods are still to be followed, the amount of metal required in the, future v/ill grow greater year by year, and the cost per annum will- soon reach the amount that will be required for interest on the proposed loan. The cost of maintaining the surface of the concrete roads mentioned in the schedule would amount to about £l4O per annum. The Works Committee reported recommending: (1) That where it has been suggested to concrete 16ft. wide the width be reduced to 14ft., saving £7OO. (2) A 10ft. width to be left undone between Regan and Seyton Streets and Lenr and Sage Streets, saving £715. (3) Cut out portion between Broadway and Miranda Street on Regan and Fenton Streets, saving £1630 —total saving effected, £3045. These adjustments will bring the figures within reasonable bounds.

Cr. Masters moved, and Cr. Coleman seconded, the adoption of the engineer's and Works Committee's reports. After some discussion, in which the opinion was expressed that the ratepayers would not hesitate to sanction a loan, the motion was carried. A motion by the Mayor and Cr. Mas< ters, that the necessary steps be taken for a vote of ratepayers on the question was carried unanimously. GENERAL. The Town Band, having recently appointed a conductor, the Borough Council decided to make a grant of £6O to the band.

Mr. IR. McK. Morison resigned His position as the Borough Council delegate on the Egmont National Park Board. The resignation was received with regret and the appointment of » niyceßsor held over.

Mr. C. E. James has just opened up some very appropriate and beautiful Christmas cards for sending to soldiers at- the front, and friends in the Home Land. A very large and varied assortment is available but already a steady demand has set in, so those on the lookout for seasonable gifts of this description should lose no time in inspecting Mr James' stock.