NEW PLYMOUTH BOROUGH

Taranaki Daily News, 19 March 1918, Page 5

NEW PLYMOUTH BOROUGH

monthly meeting. ; The monthly meeilng of tl:a >I<M7 mouth Council was held laslf night. The Mayor.(Mr. C. JI. Burgess)]' presided, mid there were present: Ctsj •I. Clarke, F. J. Hill. W. P. Short, i'B/'"' Crifliths, W. A. Collin, U. J. De<uo, and' <j. \V. Browne. KEPORTS. The reports of the borough engijiect,, electrical and tramways manager, ingpector, abattoir manager and various committees, as already published, were Approved. CORRESPONDENCE. Ihe Taranaki Workers' Council wrote drawing attention to the necessity for the erection of public conveniences.' It was resolved to inform the Wor* kers' Council that the matter was receiving the council's attention.

The Kinvaroa Park Beautifying Society wrote asking for the use of the liorth" side of Berkeley terrace on Easter Mem* day, as a stand for motor cars and v*H hides.—Granted, on the same term* o& last year.

The secretary of the Taranaki Hospw tal and Charitable Aid Board wrote intimating thai it was the intention to move at the meeting of the board " that a rate of Is (id in the .£IOO be struck on i the local contributing authorities to make up the estimated deficiency ( £5618) for hospital and charitable aid' purposes for the year ending March 31~ 101(3."—Received. «f '

FRANKLEY ROAD. '\j A deputation of six members of Frankley Road 1 Settlers' Association waited on the council to urge that attention should be given to: (1) The high' bank on Mr. Jones' property; (2) the roads and footpaths generally j (3) electric lighting; and (4) Doralto , Road bridge.

Mr. E. Allen acted as spokesman. He said it was about five years since the area was included in the borough, the first two years or so a surfaceman had been kept employed, and the roads and paths had bean kept in good order, but since that time there had been only temporary work done in the area, and the roads and paths were very much neglected. Regarding the dangerous con-, dition of the bank oft Mr. Jones' property, he thought that although the council had erected warning notice boards, they would not be relieved of responsibility in the event, of an accident. At any rate, lie said, Mr. Jones was prepared now to meet the council in a fair spirit if it would consider doing anything to the: bank. He pointed out that it wis held out as an induceihent to the ratepayers to join the borough thai the Doralto Road would be opened up and formed. The bridge had been built, and the road cut, but nothing more had been done, and the road was now little better than a bridle track, and in wet weather waa simply a water course. He further urged that although the loan for the Frankley Road (lid not contemplate any \york at Frankleigh Park, that area should not ha altogether neglected by the council. Better lighting in the streets was 'much needed. Referring to the motor bus service, he hoped that when the time-table was arranged an effort would he made to include Frankleigh Park in the route to be traversed, if only two or three days per week. Concluding, he said that the suburbs, which had voted with the" council, and pledged their properties as security for tlie tramway loan, should not ba lost sight of. The people in the town had a dustless track from the breakwater to Fttzroy, but some of the roads outside the central area were in need of attem tion.

In reply, the Mayor said the matters would all come before the council, though? ho could make 110 promises. The council would make no promise that it could not' and would not carry out.' As a matter;' of fact, the council was about to spend a sum of money 011 the Frankley Road, ; and it was the intention to put down a tarred truck lift wide. The council realised that the works required doing, but there were other portions of the borough also in which works were required, and the council had no money with which to carry out the works. AVhen the laying of. the tramway track was taken in hand, every other work was put on one side, hnd it had never been caught up. The Frankley Road work was authorised, and would be one of the iirst works undertaken by the council, as they could not continue a patching policy there. The danger of the bank on Mr. Jones' property was realised, and that was why tha council had fenced off the road. The council's advice was tiiat it could not be held responsible in the event of an accident. A footpath had been made on the other side, but people did not use it, and he did not see that the Council could be blamed if an accident did happen. The council had paid .t'so last 'year for removing spoil that had come down, and he supposed they would have to do the same again under similar circumstances. > If Mr. Jones would meet the council. reasonably he believed the council would reciprocate. Regarding the Dornlto Road, he could make no promise. There was 1)0 possibility of doing anything to it lit present, as the council was not able to overtake the works already authorised. He told the deputation that" there was 110 provision made at present for the Frankleigh Park area. Regarding the application for increased lighting, he said the i lighting cost was increasing every year, I and he did not hold out much hope in ! that direction. The dustless track , I through the borough vus the natural outcome of laying down the tram track. . The roud had to lie cut up, and when being re-made n proper tarred road was laid down. The matter of the bus routo and time-table extending to Fvunklcigh Park would be taken into consideration. Ife had 110 idea when the bus would arrive. It was hoped thnt it would be here in time for next summer, but nothing definite could be said. The Mayor coneluded by stating that it vonUl be a good guide to the council as to the wants of the borough, and in deciding future works, if every district would put their requirements in writing before the council. He supposed they would get plenty , of requests. The deputation thanked the council for the courteous manner in' which it had been received, and then withdrew.