KAITI BRICK TRAFFIC.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 3671, 5 November 1912, Page 3

KAITI BRICK TRAFFIC.

THE PROPOSED STEEL WAV

DEVIATION OF ROUTE OPPOSED

■ In order to protect the Haiti roads and prevent tliemv from -being cut lip by the heavy traffic from the brickworks the County Engineer recently made a proposal to the Cook County Council to Jay down a steel track on which the drays could run. He, however, suggested that the original route should not bo adhered to and this has drawn a protest from several of the. ratepayers. The following letter was received at yesterday’s meeting of the Council:'—“We, of the special district of ICaiti, who pledged our properties as security for a loan of £I2OO for the special .work of making a road from the brick works to the borough, hereby give you notice that wo decline to give assent to the. present proposal of the Council. We have no objectionto the steel ways, and think the Brick Company deserves thanks for the suggestion, hut we have every objection to the change of route and proposed terminus. We signed the guarantee at the invitation of the Council, through our member, on the distinct understanding that the traffic, would go down Tyndall road, which had been agreed upon by your Engineer and the Brick Company. If the Council thinks it wise and proper now ,to upset that arrangement, and to change the route, well and good, but it should not be surprised that wo decline to acquiesce. The suggested route would give us absolutely no relief/ at all. A study of the map will easily convince the Council of this. We 'respectfully submit the steel ways would end just where they would be most needed, and wo County ratepayers should have to- dependupon the charity of the Borough Council for any repairs done there. Your Engineer must bo cognisant of all this, and we think it extremely regrettable that this is all he can recommend for our relief after three winters of bogs and mud. We are still hopeful that the efforts which have been made to cope with the disastrous results of the brick traffic may lead to their mitigation, but the present proposal will satisfy nobody. We therefore urge the Council to keep to its former agreement with the Brick Company.—P.S. : If the Borough Council would co-operate and agree also to lay down steel ways from Huxley road, to junction with deLautour road, to Wainui road, we might then agree to the proposed deviation.” Cr. Parker said that this letter, sim-

’■'y put, was a protest against the deviation of the route agreed upon, ft expressed the feeling of all the ratepayers concerned, and if the route was altered it would require a. fresh petition or poll, otherwise it would not be legal to do it. The Engineer said that the trouble was now a matter of funds. He wanted some instructions about the metalling. They were no further advanced for the work was not being carried out and the summer was approaching. There was some £BOO of loan money available for expenditure, but they wanted £2OOO. The money the ratepayers were willing to raise was not now available according to the let: 0 ”. The Chairman: If they object to these plans and we do it the other way it would cost £7OO more. I think we should wait for Mr Skorrett’s opinion regarding loans. Or. .Jex. Blake : Will the Borough Council do their portion? The Engineer: No doubt they will do their part. Cr. Williams wanted to know if there was money available to do the work the shortest way. The Engineer: If the £I2OO loan is available we can do it. The only alternative was to spend £BOO in ordinary metalling, which would, in time, be cut un with the traffic.

In reply to Cr. Parker the Engineer said it would be perfectly legal for the Council to put down stock rails. Cr. Williams said that lie thought that if the ratepayers were informed that there was a shortage of funds they would have to agree to a shorter route or raise the amount necessary. In reply to Cr. Williams the Engineer said that the ratepayers objected mainly to the steel roads ending at the end of Huxley Road as tliev thought the Borough Council would not keep '.the portion of deLautour Road in repair so that they would he able to reach Wainui Rond. If the special road went out.to 'Wainui Road via Tyndall' Road the main coast traffic would suffer._ The Chairman said that the Council could not depart from the original scheme without the unanimous consent of the ratepayers in the special district. If the Brick Company would guarantee the interest they might take into consideration the matter of raising the amount. The Engineer remarked that he had received no thanks for what he endeavored to do to relieve these ratepavers. The Chairman suggested that if the ratepayers were not favorable to me deviation the Council should construct tlie steel wav to the junction of Tyndall and Wainui Read and nnv surplus should he used towards strengthening, the main road. Cr. Williams thought that the traffic should he kept to the by streets. Or. Jones suggested that in the event of the Borough Council not working in with the County Council that the County Council should construct a- steel way irrespective of the assistance of the ratepayers. The Chairman : We can’t take the amount out of'the consolidated lord. The ratepayers would have to pay the. interest. I would suggest unit the Engineer and myself should >co the Mayor and ascertain whether the Council would assist. This was agreed to.