LIABILITY FOR DAMAGE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19893, 22 March 1939, Page 12

LIABILITY FOR DAMAGE

UNDERGROUND CABLE CLAIM BY DEPARTMENT Liability for damage to an underground telephone cable in Fox street was accepted by the Gisborne Borough Council last night, when it was pointed out that the cable had been pierced by an iron standard driven in to form a protection around newlyplanted trees. The Post and Telegraph Department advised the cotmcil of the damage at the council meeting held a fortnight ago, when it was stated that the cost of repairs would be about £8 to £9. The council referred the matter to the reserves committee for a report. "The borough engineer, Mr. E. R. Thomas, stated that the persons responsible for planting the trees had done so without first having conferred with him as regards the position in which the trees should be placed, and had planted them directly over the underground telephone cable,' the committee reported last night. "The damage had been caused by one of the iron standards, forming a protection around the trees, being driven down and piercing the lead sheathing of the cable.

"It was at first considered necessary to remove the trees as there was a danger that the cable, would be rendered inaccessible by the roots as the trees grew larger. This, however, is unnecessary as the roots of these particular trees do not penetrate into the ground to any great extent.

"Your committee recommends that the council accept liability for the' cost of repairing the Telegraph Department's underground cable, and that in future before authorised persons undertake the planting of trees on the roadway they must first obtain directions from the borough engineer and carry out the planting to his satisfaction."