Feilding Borough Council.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 261, 8 May 1895, Page 2

Feilding Borough Council.

-V A special meeting of the above body was held last night for the purpose of considering the report of the Public Works Committee and amending the burgess list. Present — Councillors Allan, Bailey, Chamberlain, Fowles, Goodbehere, Gould, Say well, and Worsfold. The Mayor sent an apology for his j absence owing to indisposition, and j Cr Bailey was voted to the chair. ! Cr Cowie also apologised for nonattendance. The following is a condensed report of the Public Works Committee on damage done by the recent floods, which was read, viz. : — Kiwitea stream. — The old ford and approaches have been destroyed, also the footbridge. A new torcl and temporary footbridge have been constructed' — Makino stream : Eastern approach to footbridge in North street carried away. The stopbank above North street damaged to slight extent ; this should be attended to. The Duke street footbridge was damaged, and will be repaired as soon as pile-driver at liberty. The stream encroached on Derby street by getting behind protection ; damage should be made good as soon as possible. The groin above Beattie street requires repairing. Northern approach to Manchester street bridge made good. The groin below the bridge had small breach made in it ; should be repaired. Temporary span at Warwick street bridge carried away ; committee recommends that a new span at least 40ft wide be added to the present span. — Re Mr R. Heald's application for footpath, committee of opinion requirements of the case will be met by cleaning out the drain. RE KIWITEA STREAM. A letter was read from Mr R. McBeth, suggesting that a similar ford should be made over the Kiwitea stream to one which had answered well in the Rangitikei river, consisting of two log trees securely fastened to the bed of the stream and the space between filled up with gravel. Cr Goodbehere thought the Public Works Committee had done well in opening a ford, but it was at present very heavy, and something should at once be done to improve it. Cr Fowles thought Mr Mcßeth's idea a very good one. Cr Bailey : It would not cost much, and in case of flood only the gravel would go. Cr Say well suggested making a cutting to the stream, as the banks were too steep. Cr Gould thought the suggested ford was an experiment well worth trying. Cr Allan : The ratepayers were sick of experiments. Thought the residents in Kiwitea district should assist the Council in the matter. As none of the Public Works Committee had much experience in these matters, he thought advice should be obtained. Cr Worsfold endorsed Mr Allan's remarks. What was to be put across the stream should be over not under the water. Proposed by Cr Goodbehere, seconded by Cr Fowles, That steps be taken as soon as possible to improve the ford at the Kiwitea in the manner indicated in Mr Meßeth's letter. — Carried. NORTH STREET FOOTBRIDGE. Cr Fowles — As this footbridge is so near that in Duke street, and it would cost so much to repair it, the Committee thought the latter would accommodate the public. Resolved, That the foreman of works be instructed to repair the stop bank above North street at once. — Gould, Fowles. ENCROACHMENT ON DERBY STREET. Mr Goodbehere — 'Ihis matter should be attended to at once, as the next fresh might cost the Council £00. Other Crs were of the same opinion. Resolved, That the breach in the protection works on Derby street be carried out at once as recommended by the Public Works Committee — Goodbehere, Chamberlain. BEATTIE STREET BRIDGE. .Resolved, That the repairs as recommended by the Public Works Committee to this bridge be carried out. — Allan, Chamberlain. MANCHESTER STREET BRIDGE AND GROIN, Cr Fowles — The Committee were of opinion that the culvert above the bridge should be removed. Cr Goodbehere — It would cost a very large amount of money to do this. He did not think the Council could see its way to do that iust now, although, a -necessary work. The matter should be placed on the list of urgent works, to be done as soon as funds would permit. Cr Saywell — The damage caused here in flood was owing; to the body of water being- too great to flow under the bridge. Uesolverl, That the matter of removing" the culvert in Manchester street which carries water into the Makino above the bridge, be placed on the urg-ent list — Fowles, Goodbehere. Cr Gould suggested tbat the groin below the bririg-e be strengthened right along-. Resolved, 'J hat the groin below Manchester street bridg-e be repaired. — Chamberlain, Goodbehere. WARWICK STREET BRIDGE. Some warm discussion took place over this matter. Cr Goodbehere thought the work of repairing this bridg*e should be placed on the urgent list. Crs Worsfold, Allan and Saywell strongly objected, contending that the bridge was a most important one, over which an immense amount of traffic passed, and something- should be done to it at once. Cr Worsfold condemned the action of the Council in placing a temporary span over the stream, as everything had been swept awaj r , and money wasted. 1 hey should have erected a permanent span in the first place. Cr Goodbehere thought it wag a very good thing- that a temporary span had been erected, or the loss would have been much heavior. Having- further expressed his views Cr Worsfold made the following proposition : — That the Committee be asked to procure an estimate from a competent Engineer as to the cost of repairing- damage to Warwick street bridge, and the best 'Beans of protecting 1 the eastern approach. — Seconded by Cr Snywfill. Cr Goodbebere would veiy strongly oppose this. No doubt it was ineou-

venient for people in that vicinity, but the time would come when they would be glad of a foot bridge. One good traffic bridge should be protected over the Makino, and fords made in other places. Cr Worsfold— A good ford could not be made here. Cr Allan — Why not en. ploy an Engineer to inspect all the bridges, etc. Cr Fowles — Tfc would be unwise to employ an Engineer until they had the money to carry out his suggestions. Cr Allan asked if the matter was placed on the urgent list how long was it likely to remain unattended to? Cr Worsfold— For ever. Cr Gould agreed with Mr Worsfold that a permanent structure should have been erected in ths first place ; but he did not agree with employing an Engineer until in a position to do the work The proposition was here put to the meeting and lost. Cr Goodbehere pointed out that unless something were done to remove th^ debris now filling up against, Menztes' bridge (over thu Oroua) serious damage would be done to the structure. Resolved, That the attention of the Manchester Road Board be called to the amount of debris that hud collected at Menzies' bridge, and which in the estimation of this Council endangers the structure, a-d that they be asked to have the same removed —Goodbehere, Fowles. BUKGESS LIST. Applications to have names placed on this list were dealt with in the following resolution : — That the name of Arthur W. Newman be accepted in lieu ot Peter Thomson tor sections 782, 38. 39, also that the name of VV. L Bailey be accepted in place of C. Si'mison" for lots L' 3, 24-, 25, and 40, section 7SO, Feilding.— Allan, Gould. It was resolved that several names of deceased ratepayers should be removed from the roll, and the Council adjourned. gJT I W* '■' J C*nHTTTi^jrii'rtt~"*f lift