BOROUGH FOOTPATHS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 9669, 11 April 1893, Page 2

BOROUGH FOOTPATHS.

EAST WARD V. WEST WARD,

During a discussion at Iho Borough Council meeting on Monday night Mr Ford referred to the state of tho footpßths in tho West Ward. He said that the chief paths in the West Ward were not curbed, whereas in tho East Ward thero was Btone curbing where it was not really required. His Worship said that Mr Fords rera irks could not go unchallenged. From tliu reports which had been tabled time after time Mr Ford would have seen that there was as much work done in the Wost Ward accordiag to tho rates paid, as there was in the East ward, and the rai'esof metii road wore also in proportion. He also contended that no expeusivo work hal been done in tho East Ward except by eanclion of the Counjii. lie considered that Mr Furd should hava looked up information before he male assertions. Tho Works Committee, he added, could not he accused of doing work in the Eist Ward to the detriment of the West Ward.

Mr Fain said that it was tho general opinion of peoplo that the funcy work which was being done in front of the Central School was not of such an urgent character that other work uhoulJ bu neglect d.

His WOhSHiP replied that the work was done with the sanction of tho Council.

Mr Small : I would like the Town Clo-k to read the authority given, and who were pre-tcnt at tho meeting. Mr Cokkjll said he was glad t) see the work going on as the embankment was dang, rous to the school children in wet weather. All the persons in the Borough were interested in Iho work.

Mr Ward said he had heard tho arguments before about tin proportional expenditure, and perhaps the figures were corroct, but he contended that the West Ward was shame' ully neglected. No doubt tho majority of people in the West Ward were poor and paid small r.ites, but still the fact remained that their stnete were in a bad state. He did not know the reason why the East Ward streets presented such a better appearance than the streets in tho West Ward, but he pre sunned it was owing to representation in the past. With respect to the cutting near the Central School, ho considered tbut it was a shameful waste of money in view of tlio state of the Borough finances, etc. Mr Dockrill said it was perhaps un fortunat) that tho streets in the West Ward took so much money to improve them, but he considered that i f the West Ward members work d out the figures of expenditure they would find that they got thoir fair proportion of tho money ot com mind. The speaker thon referred to the Estimates whi h would bo produced a! next meeting, and suid he would litre to have an estimate of t'.e cost to the Borough of tho work in connection with tho Liardet street bridge, and also an estimate of tho work that was really necessary. He mentioned this because they would havo to enter iato the consideration of the expon diture for the yoar in a serious manner, as thoy had now an overdraft of £1100, the interest on which would represent a man's wages. He aUo wished to impress on membeis that whatever work they decided on for the year they should not exceed like they did last year.

Mr Small combatted Mr Ford's assertions in comparing the East an i West Wards, and said it was a fact that the latter got its proportional share of expenditure.

Mr Ford said that it was noticeable to him that all the footpaths in the east end wo c good Mr Corkill : You come up in fine weather.

Mr Bra^ii said thero was no estimate given to the Council of the Central School cutting, otherwise he would li 3 would have had something to say, because ho lookod on the work as a waste of money in the the present state of the Borough finance. His Wo ship said that the work whf sanctioned when tho application of the Education Board to do tho work was before tho Council. The discussion then ceased.