CITY WORKS AHEAD

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 93, 12 January 1918, Page 8

CITY WORKS AHEAD

BIG WATER SCHEME FORESHADOWED

IMPORTANT REPORT PENDING

TRAMWAY EXTENSIONS

Tho Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) was invited yesterday to make a statement on the subject of tho work that would engage the municipality in tho near future.

Mr. Luke said that ho thought that one of the most important things was to co-ordinate the work of tho city and the adjacent boroughs as to get the most efficient services with the least cost. "For quite a. long time since I have been associated with municipal work I have been of the opinion that the interests of the whole of the community in the city and the adjacent boroughs are mutual, r.nd that the advancement of one means the advancement of the other.

"As to tho work ahead, there !)re some services which aro essential, and must take precedence. Take v?icr. It is a service of the very first importance. As far as this city is cjncerned, we have a great deal to congratulate ourselves upon because cf the very satisfactory arrangements there are for supplying the whole of the city and the outlying districts within the jurisdiction of the City Council. Taking the topographical features into consideration, we should feel satisfied that the system of pumping which wo have is so successful that no part of the city is placed at a disadvantage. The scheme devised by Mr. Morton some years ago has been a complete success, and has fulfilled all (hat was expected of it. At the timt that the scheme was inaugurated, the linking up of certain adjacent areas with the city was not contemplated. Consequently there are now a number of business concerns and houses drawing on the system that were not reckoned on. Nevertheless,, the extra claims have been met, and the system has proved to be equal to the demands. One recognises that last year was an abnormal period of drought.' Great inconvenience was foreshadowed, but little was actually experienced.

Tapping New Watersheds. "The council for some timo lias been considering the whole question of the 'recommendation of the Engineer. Not only ari the immediate needs of the city being considered, but the requirements of the near-by populations aro being taken into account. The Engineer has for some time, especially during the holidays, been visiting all the watersheds in this part of the island, and I have reason to believe that at the nest meeting of the council a report oil the subject will be available from him, In this ieport he will probably deal with the requirements and with the capacities of the watersheds adjacent to the city. Ido not' intend to say more just now because the report will bo forthcoming very shortly, and it will indicate what is ahead.

"What can be said in regard to water for the whole district can be said also of drainage. An efficient and satisfactory system of drainage for the suburban areas is as important to the city as it is to the areas themselves. There is no doubt that the time.is not far distant when a genoral schemo of drainage will bo brought about for a bigger area than this city now represents. My personal opinion about the matter is that though the cost may bo a little heavy there is no system so satisfactory as that of discharging into the sea. . Although it perhaps means a little more expense to the ratepayers it is a safeguard to the health of the community that justifies the cost. There is 110 possibility of providing within a reasonable a system such as they have in Christchnrch, where the discharge is made over blocks of land which can be brought into cultivation.

Improved Transit. "Tho next thing that I think is interesting the people is the subject of improved transit. Fortunately for Wellington City we have a very satisfactory tramway system. War conditions have prevented the council from extending the system as they would have liked to. The principle causo of the overcrowding that there is on the Wellington cars is tho lack of opportunity to increase the number of the cars in the service of the council. Even if moro cars could' be put on, the power station, which is now working up to its maximum, could not bear any greater strain. "The hydro-electric scheme for this part of the island is imperative, and Wellington City must decide whether it is going to wait and link up with that scheme or increase its steam plant. To merely increase the steam plant would be regrettable, but the council may be forced to do something without waiting long.

"There is one 'proposed tramway that will have to' be considered very soon after normal conditions are restored, and that is the lino to link up Northland and Wadestown, via Creswick. Then, to my mind, the Island Bay duplication is one of tho most important works in connection with the Itramway undertaking. jThe growth in that district is manifest, and the time is ripe for the duplication of the line as soon, as it is possible to undertake the work. The proposed improved communication between Brooklyn, Vogeltowh, and Mornington is desirable, and in my opinion when that work is being earned out not only should it provide a better grade for vehicles, but should be'a means of extending the trams in that direction. Another matter whicli will engage the attention of the council is tho tramway connection with the Borough of Onslow. Here the question of alternative routes' will havo to be considered. Whether tho line should run .through Kaiwarra or should be an extension of the present Wadestown routo will be a matter for tho general manager to advise ttie council upon. "The elcctric light and power supply service has done very satisfactorily and is capable of being largely extended and made exceedingly useful to the people. The remarks on the subject of the h.vdro-electric scheme apply here. Tho light station is pressed up to its highest capacity, and to put fiirther loads on the machinery will entail certain risks which it is absolutely necessary to avoid.

"What we have to look ahead to is to supply cheap light and power, especially to the small industries which it is so desirable to encourage.

"The Hutt Road has already been legislated for, and as soon as the Engineer is done with the water-supply matter the work of concreting this highway will bo given attention,"