REPAIR OF UPJOHN STREET

Taranaki Daily News, 6 August 1929, Page 11

REPAIR OF UPJOHN STREET

COUNCIL AGREES TO THE WORK.

DEPUTATION PUTS ITS VIEWS.

Power to act was given the works committee of the New Plymouth Borough Council last night in connection with some work in Upjohn Street asked for by a deputation from the Welbourn Hall entertainment committee.

After apologising for the absence of Mr. M. Avery, Mr. A. E. Washer said that when the drays used for work for unemployed passed over Upjohn Street last year they cut up the surface for about four chains. This part had been metalled by the older cottiers of the district with material from Jordan’s pit. The surface was now so cut' up that it was unfit for motor-cars or pedestrians, and the entertainment committee asked the couucil to put it in order as soon as possible. H© himself had approached the council for the past 12 years with requests for work in the locality, and on most occasions he had been turned down. The drays had knocked out the four chains and there was about another chain of metalling required to complete the surface through to Avenue Road.

There were gatherings in the hall sometimes twice a week, and about 100 people had to come through private properties to reach their destination, so that they would not have to use the road in its present condition. Personally, said Mr. Washer, he did not object to them coming through his property as there was a metalled drive, but in other places it was necessary to walk over lawns, which were thus being cut xip in wet weather. There were at present three people living on the road and there would be a fourth later. Mr. Melsaacs said that he had to go across two private properties to get to his place, while other residents had to cross his place. The result was that the ground had become very muddy and he would have to put down “duck walks.” Mr. Johns, who said he lived on the opposite side of the road, endorsed the remarks of the other members of the deputation. Or. P. E. Stainton: Although Mr. Washer has to pass through mud, I can assure him there are numbers of people in Fitzroy who have to use boats to get to their houses. Mr. Washer: I can quite understand that this weather. Before the deputation withdrew, the Mayor assured the members that ihe council would gi'’© the matter the best consideration. Cr. Stainton considered the residents of the locality certainly had a grievance. The Mayor said there was inferior concrete on the road and it had had to bear extraordinary traffic. The surface had been scoured and deep ruts worn. They had a just claim, He moved that the works committee should be given power to act in the matter. Cr. Amoore said the works committee should carry out the work immediate! v. Cr. Pentecost said he sincerely hoped the committee would do the work as soon as possible. His own car had been .stuck on the road recently. He had been unaware that the deputation was coming; otherwise he had intended to bring the matter forward himself.