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Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 6165, 4 June 1891, Page 2

The question of shingle t>. metal and rubble for street repairs came up last night iD the Municipal Council. To the casual reader it may seem of very little importance, but the ratepayers will in time learn that it involves a question of increased taxation. The difference between shingle and metal is that the first is taken off the sea beach and costs only the amount of its cartage ; metal means quarried limestone broken to the requirpd size ; and the difference in the cost between tho two is as 6d is to 2s 4d. Notwithstanding this great difference, there seems to be a "dead set "in tho Council to abolish the uso of shingle. For a long time past shingle has been used in the repair of the principal streets —Hastings and Emerson streets— where the traffic is surely trying enough to test its value, and thero can bo no two opinionsas to its superiority over limestone metal only. Used in conjunction with limestone rubble, beach shingle forma an admirable roadway capable of standing , an immense amount of wear and tear. But as the whole of tho Napier roads have been given a limestone foundation, it has boon found that shingle alone is sufficient for moat of tho lepairs that have to be undertaken. Considering the enormous difference in the cost between limestone and shingle, we hardly think the ratepayers will be in accord with su;;h of the Councillors who desire have the most expensive material used to the total exclusion of the cheapest.