COUNTY ROADS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3592, 3 August 1912, Page 7

COUNTY ROADS.

A QUESTION OF MAINTENANCE,

THE METAL SUPPLY

The question o.f metalling the County roads was discussed hv the Cook County Council yesterday’. Cr Williams pointed out that the method of metalling the County roads would have to be considered by the Council. They were not satisfied witli the present method, and it was time they expressed their opinion on the matter. They had not heard the engineer’s opinion regarding Gentle Annie stone, and 110 was against the depot system, hut he had followed it because there was no money to do anything else. The double handling of metal through the depot system added 2s 6d or 3s per yard to the cost. The metal was hardly ever broken to the specified size in the back parts of tlie county'. The chairman thought- that the metalling system should he gone into. Cr Williams pointed out that his main objection was to the depot system, hut roads close to the depots were well supplied, while those far away got very'little metal. It- would lie better to crown un the roads and gradually do away with the depots. The Engineer said that he had never had enough metal to complete the roads, and they had only sufficient to do patching work. If tlie roads were metalled in the summer it would interfere with traffic such as motor cars and tho heavy traffic would grind up the roads and the metal would blow A’Way in dust. It seemed a waste of money to put the metal into depots, but with the money they had in hand at present it was the best method. He never had much of air opinion of Gentle Annie stone, and it was no use for patching. If it was put on in a solid mass it would wear much better. It cost 9s to put on the road and Patutalii cost 13s, but the latter was the best metal in the district, and the river shingle was also very good. He thought a tramway would he the best means of bringing bricks to town. It was his intention to widen the metalled portion of the road from Makar aka to the borough boundary. After further discussion no decision was arrived at and tlie matter will further bo discussed at next meeting.