PRINCES STREET.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXII, Issue LXII, 6 May 1911, Page 5

PRINCES STREET.

NEW WORK TO BE UNDERTAKEN. A special meeting of the Hawera Borough Council was held on Friday night to discuss the (Question of the asphalting carried out in Princes street. There were present: The Mayor (Mr Barton), Crs Reid, Sargeson Morris, Barmby, Jones, Baker, and Morrissey. The Mayor said there was no doubt the work was not what it ought to be. It had become necessary to consider whether the Council ought to allow any portion <}£ the work to remain as it was or have it pulled up and re-laid. He did not mean the heavy stones below the upper layer of material, but just the surface. It seemed that the portion from the Bank of New South Wales to the crossing at the Egmont stables, if it were coated with wellboiled tar, would be satisfactory, and might be allowed to stand. It was possible also that the portion continuing to the High street intersection might also be all right were it to be treated with properly boiled tar. But it seemed as if the portion between the Empire Hotel and Napier street would have to come up—that was the top piece of the work—for it was very unsatisfactory. He might say that one of the councillors of a scientific turn of mind, Mr Reid, had made an experiment in regard to the boiling' of tar, which appeared successful, and had made a block of asphalt with the material taken from the street. He had shown this block (about two inches thick) to Mr J. C. Montefiore, who said it. would, with twice the thickness, stand any weight upon it. He had also submitted it to Mr Canton, who, on the other hand t had inclined to the opinion that it would soon break up. The foreman had affirmed he could easy pick stones out with his knife. His Worship replied that he did not think so, and invited the foreman to do so. His Worship went on to say that he had asked the foreman to place a couple of men at the disposal of Cr Reid and himself, and they had some tar boiled until there were no yellow fumes, and mixing it thoroughly with the same material from the street, had laid down a small pieca of the street near the Egmont stables crossing. This had set apparently very hard—perhaps a trifle springy, which could be remedied in the boiling—and altogether it seemed the practical thing that was wanted. The Council had to decide whether they would treat other portions of the road similar to thai; carried out by Cr Reid, and what they had to do with that portion of the street which had not been dealt with at all; and whether the work was to be done by contract or laid down, by the foreman. Cr Morrissey said he had been over the street with Cr Reid, and that portion carried out by Cr Reid appeared not to have been disturbed—except that it had been pushed in a little by a heavy waggon. • The other portion of the street—between the road and High street intersection—appeared to be standing very well, and he would not advocate interfering with it unless it were proved that it was not a success That part of the street, from the Empire Hotel to Napier street, he would suggest that it be treated similarly to the piece of asphalt laid down under the supervision of Cr Reid. The untouched portion of the street he would advise leaving alone for the present, until it was seen if the other new work was a success. He moved: "That the portion of Princes street between the intersection of High street and Napier street be treated as m the case of that piece opposite the Egmont Hotel stables; and that portion of/the street not done be held ?> Ve -j until Wednesday, and that Crs Reid, Baker and the mover be a committee to stop the work should they consider it unsatisfactory. Cr. Reid seconded the motion. Cr. Baker suggested trying the spraying of the tar as was done in the case or macadam roads. To pull the old work up, he thought, would be too expensive and cost perhaps three times that of spraying. The Mayor asked the foreman what would be the cost of removing the upper layer of the street between the Empire Hotel and Napier street and relay it. The J? oreman replied that it would not exceed £10. Cr. Sargeson enquired of the foreman if it would be posible to treat the street in the manner suggested by Cr. Baker ? The Foreman: I don't think it is be^ cause there's too much road dust and other material mixed up with it. Cr. Reid considered if it were practicable it' would be better to carry out the suggestion of Cr. Baker, but the difficulty about doing so was that there was now too much rubbish on the road. Cr. Jones thought the experiment might be well worth a trial. Cr. Baker said the work was not at all successful. There seemed to have been either neglect or want of knowledge in the way it had been put down.' After some further discussion Cr. Morrissey's motion was put to the meet^ ing and carried. Cr. Baker said it was in the interests of the Council and the ratepayers that some enquiry should be made as to the cause of the apparent failure of the work. It had hot been carried out in a workmanlike manner although it might have been done to the best ability of those in charge of it. He moved: That "the Mayor, Crs. Reid, Morrissey, Whittington, Campbell and the mover be a committee to enquire into the causes of the failure of the work and to ascertain who is to blame for it. The Mayor seconded. He mentioned wn-Cr * CamPbell was at present in. Wellington making enquiries as to the method of boiling the tar and asphalting the streets there. Cr. Baker suggested that the committee should present its report as early as possible. Cr. Morris thought the committee, would not possibly be able to give a report until they nad seen the result of the new work about to"l>e undertaken. Cr. Bakex* said he would like it to be understood that he had no personal feeling in the matter; he had only moved in the interests of the borough, it being his desire to have the work carried out under the best methods. The motion was carried.