NEW PLYMOUTH STREETS.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 November 1919, Page 6

NEW PLYMOUTH STREETS.

COUNCIL'S POLICY OF CONCENTRATION. . In his report to the New Plymouth Borough Council on Monday evening the general manager (Mr. F. T. Bellringer) stated:— The position to-day is that the Council has invested anything up to £25,000 in constructing tar-sealed streets along the whole of the tram route and in several by-streets. These streets, through faulty construction and want of repair, are rapidly going to pieces, so much so thai, long' lengths even now Cannot be repaired, but mn«i be reconstructed. 'Die tramway track from Cover street to Hobson street is practically waterlogged, and repairs to the street are inadvisable until the water has been removed and the lines packed with asphalt. This involves a heavy expenditure. I therefore recommend (hat, as far as possible, all new works bo discontinued until those- streets in which such a large amount of capital has been invested and which are now going to pieces are put into a thorough . state of repair. Of these the following should be taken in the order mentioned:— Cmrle street from Devon nnrl railway gates Oil! street, from Cwrle to St lubv'n Rohe street, from Powdwham'ln Devon Devon, from Hobo to Waiwakalho bridge Egmont street. St. Atib.vn street and South road to breakwater. GUI street, from Llardet to Currie. If work is concentrated upon these streets it, may be possible, before cm: end of the summer, to tar those roads which have been laid down for tarring. The works set out above are essential works, which must be effected in order to,save the very large sums which have been spent upon their construction Other works, no doubt, are desirable and even necessary, bnt until the above have received attention, they should be allowed to stand over. ; The Council, as stated in vesterdav's issue, decided to adont the' manager's recommendations, and to concentrate on these necessary works this summer, withdrawing all the other authorisations for the time being. This, of course, does not mean that the Council has "outrun the constable" in the matter of finance. It simply means giving attention to the most important works first.