BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 December 1918, Page 3

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEgTXiQ. The monthly meeting of tfffXew iJlvmouth Borough Council was field last night. His Worship the Mayor (Mr C. H. Burgess) presided, and there were also present: Ore. G. W. Browne, K. J Dcare, W. A. Collis, E. Griffiths. W F. Short, F. J. Hill, J. W. Hayden, and J. Clarke. The departmental and committee reports for the month (as already published) were received and adopted. WORKS COMMITTEE. A meeting of the Works Committee w.i 3 subsequently .held, the same coun- | cillors being present. EXPENDITURE Ot\ STitEßl'9.

The engineer reported on the expenditure of part of tlw £6OOO loan allocated for re-metalling roads. The report dealt principally with Tukapa Street, Frankley and Avenue Roads- The original estimates for the roads mentioned was £2138 18s fid. In view of proposed tarring, the estimate was re-drawn, and worked out at £IS4G 7s lOd, to which £SO was added for shifting metal from the side of the road, and £4O for the lowering of John Street to Cameron ■Street, making the total £1930 7s lOd. The estimate was made in I*ll7, and it was thought at the time a material' saving could be effected by using the traction engine for haulage, and had the work been delayed until t"io summer season he. had no doubt that would have been realised. But as the work was carried out during the winter, which had been a. particularly severe one, damage had sesultcd to other roadways. Haulage was carried out partly by horses and partly by hired mntor-lorry, the taction entrine making only seven trip", The estimates dealt with 3 mires" R7 chains of roadway, the actual roadway covered being 3 miles f. chains to which four cbams had to be added in order to eorer the approach wings to intersecting rnawavs. The total cost was £2775 14s 4d, or £929 fis fid above the estimate. Senrifvinif cost 17s Od less, nnd metal and blinding £20!) 8s 7d, luuilase £587 I ls 2d more: supervision and clerical expenses amounted to £133 4s ftd. Th" ex+rn cost for metal represented the 10V, chains necessary for particularly weak places and to cover the wen* and tear durinsr the time between the estimates being prepared and the work heme carrind out. Long lengths of Frankley and Avenue Hoads proved to be more worn than had been expected. Haulage had exceeded the amount allowed, which brought prominently forward tie question of the difference in cost between mechanically-propelled vehicles and horse-dra'.vn vehicles. By the latter,the cost would-have been £1560, and in consequence means were sought to reduce this. The only available means was the traction engine, and that was withdrawn for the reasons stated. The amount for supervision had not been allowed in any estimate at the time. It was only recently that a percentage had l*>en charged The following particulaw were appended to the report:—Scarifying and rolling, fls (Ud per chain; metal and blinding. £4 2s lid; haulage. £3 2s 8d: supervision, 8s 4d. The total cost per cubic yard, delivered and rolled, was lis sd. and the total co<?t per mile £693 18s 7d.

•Some discussion followed the reading of flip report, in which it was pointed out that one of the factors in t\ie expenditure had been the long distance over which the metal had to be hauled; also that much of the work was of a most urgent character. Authority. was given to the engineer to carry out tarring works on Avenue Road, Eliot Street, Wallace Place, and Tukapa Road, th~e same to be charged to the £42.000 loan. The engineer submitted a fresh estimate for the re-surfacing, where necessary, of Carrington Road and a certain amount of side-trimming at the far end, the amount being £714. The original estimate was £505 ISs. The report was referred to the Streets Sub-committee, so that the work could be included in the proposed £IO,OOO loan. The question of necessary repairs to Devon Street was the subject of a report, by the engineer. The portion particularly referred to was from the Waiwakaiho bridge to Liardet Street, the estimated cost being £2482. From Liardet Street to the breakwater was in fair condition, with the exception of three places which it. had been intended to do last season, bufbroken weather had delayed the work", Unless the road was put into proper condition, it would remain a drag on the time which was most valuable for extending new work. The

amount of cost was a serious item, but would have to be faced, as to leave the road in its present condition would mean more wear and tear, and pile up the cost of repairs when undertaken. Authority was given for expenditure up to the amount provided in the year's estimates, fresh authority to he asked for work not completed within that expenditure. MOTOR-'BUS. The electrical, tramways raanager wrote asking that the matter ot fares and sections on the new bus routes be determined. lie suggested three sections on each route, and that the faro he Od in cash fares and 4d 'by ticket,--the latter to be made up in books of 23, or any other suitable number, and each denomination be of different color and he transferable to either route. The system will be .that of "paying as you enter," and all tiokefs will be usejmly once. V The matter was referred to the 'Bus Committee. '"VI INFECTIOUS DISEASES. - The Waihi Borough Council wrote asking that, in view of THe danger of infection through people congregating in close crowds, the support be given to a resolution urging_the Government to postpone all Christmas and New Year race meetings for one month.—The letter was received. The Alexandra Borough Council asked support for a resolution urging that "owing to the spfeao "of tuberculosis, and tli£ growing practice of the medical profession in sending patients to favor-ably-situated country districts, this council is strongly of opinion that the Public Health Department should underi take the control and care of aH incurable patients." It to refer tie matter to the Hospi ; frfflffteHi;. The Crriwn Lands Commissioner wrote asking that, as the service was not used,. the water connection to the old DrillHall in Gill Street be disconnected. He asked, in paying the rate for the whola jests thai a gfugd AbsuKl-U mato-**

respect to the period from December I*' to March 31, 1019. ' j The engineer reportedlhe service -was! disconnected on the 9th ins't. I The application was granted. i Messrs Cook and 'Lister offered to sup- | ply new dog collars for Is <Md and to re- i label old collars at 3Jd each.—Acfifg&d. ■