NORTHCOTE MAIN ROADS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 111, 12 May 1926, Page 11

NORTHCOTE MAIN ROADS.

COKSTHTTCTTOM Ef CONCRETE FTXAXCIAL ASPECT DEBATED. Tie cost of the eonstmrt-on in con Crete of the main roads of Northeote and whether the necessary loan could b< financed by a readjustment of rates sc that the present total levied •would not be increased. wa« debated at length at a public meeting of ratepayers in the Masonic Hall last evening. Thexe -was a rery large attendance. Mr. A. G. Osborne presided. Mr. A. T. Mnnn submitted that, being on the Top of the ridge, the Korthcote main roads wooH dot require reinforcing, as there were no drainage difficulties to contend with. The first mile, from I tap wharf to Falkner? Boad, could be j laid in concrete for a width of IS feet, with a shoulder of metal on each side 4 feet wide, for £6700. The ensuine threequarters of a mile, to tha junior high school, could he. laid for a -width of 9 feet, and with one shoulder of metal 4 feet \ri de. for 2512. Kerbins and channelling on one side of the road in the latter ease, and on both sides of the road for the first mile, would cost £307 L From Falkner Road to the northern boundary at Takapuna, the 1J mile could be laid in concrete for a width of 9 feet, with a shoulder of j metal 4 feet wide, for £5025. The total cost of the main roads would be £17.30*. He suggested that the total loan authorisation should be for £30.000. and ' thus provide £12.65*2 for other ' secondary roads, this being judicious in ! order to induce the carrying of the j loan. He quoted figures in support of i hi? contention that the saving in the j maintenance charges, with the addition I of the heavy traffic fees, would pay the ; interest and* sinking fund charges. Mr. C. A. Deuxberry. who 'was not in a representative capacity as Mayor, stated that the engineer who was ntnr reporting on the N-orthcote roads had given hi? considered opinion that the roads would require reinforcing. He qx**-ed fiernres for coneretinff for a ' depth of six inches, to show that the ; cost 'would be substantia T¥y higher than ' the fiSTires given by Mr. >lunn. The general rate of barely 3*d in the £ now yielded £3722. and. lie general account was augmented by the Government stibsidy and license fsss by alxrat another £1000. If this rate ■β-as reduced by threepence, proposed for in- j teres! and sinking fund on the suggested ! £30.000 loan, there would be altogether J insufficient margin to carry on the work ; of the borough, Ko vote was taien by prior arrangement between the principals to the debate, in which several present subseauentlT took part.