ROAD WORKS.

Northern Advocate, 15 December 1920, Page 4

ROAD WORKS.

WITHIN THE BOROUGH

METAL CHIPS UNPROCURABLE.

The horough engineer, Mr J. Darlington Whitmore, reported to the Council on Monday evening that the proposed road works were somewhat involved on account of shortage of labour. Mr Walker, of Tikipunga, had been unalble to obtain iquarrymen and without men could not supply the Council with the chips required for tar surfacing. That meant thalt unless some otlher material was used no tar surfacing of roads could be undertaken, and as the tar was already on order, a consideraiblei amount of money would be lying idle. Moreover, unless 'the tarring was put in hand soon, the favour alble weather for such work would be past. With regard to Stanley street, the engineer had been instructed to pro-,, ceed with th& completion of the f or-* matlion and to engage a temporary road foreman, but if no tarring wa3 to Ibe done he could manage that part of the road work with the maintenance gang. That brought up the question of tho metal for Stanley street, and a letter from Messrs Hardie Bros, relative to hlire of crusher, was redd. Unless the metal for the road could be assured the engineer considered it would be unwise to go on with the formation as trafftp during th winter would cut up tihe road base and necessitated much of the work being done over again next season. The engineer had discussed these matters with the mayor and he had instructed him -.■to lay the position before the Council before going on further. In this connection to overcome the lack of supply of metal 'chips, Or. Jackson moved that a cargo of sand from Pataua be obtained, but the Mayor said hei swas afraid that it would not (be, muclh good as a substitute. <Cr. Ta'b'bi.ts thereupon moved that the matter be held over until af cer the. Christmas holidays. The engineer expressed an option that with the heavy tar (being used for the works on hand Sand would not work well. v _ iCr. Tifobits , motion ifta carried and the matter left in abeyance.