A YEAR OF QUIET PROGRESS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 93, 12 January 1918, Page 9

A YEAR OF QUIET PROGRESS

IN THE LOWER MITT

EEVIEW OF MUNICIPAL DEVELOPMENT

The Borough of Lower Hutt, with ti population of about 4500, has been .quietly thriving in the past year. No ■public works of first-class niagnitiulo vliavo been carried out, but for all that [the borough engineer has been by no [means idle. Most of his activities iihavo been directed to the improvement of existing works, and among Anther things the water supply has received considerable attention.

, The water supply had to be maintained and even increased with tho /aid of machinery, .the efficiency of [.which was considerably impaired. Tho pieccssity of providing more efficient Want prompted the council to go to the ratepayers for a loan of £4000, to l3bo expended-on a new engino, pump, engine-houso for tho pumping-sta-ion. It is now proposed to sink jiraore wells, and the loan will cover [some forty-seven chains of water-main Extensions. Tho council is at present awaiting tho arrival of tho new {plant, tho manufacture and delivery of which tho Minister of Munitions has •consented to oxpedite. Somo watcrfsnain extension was actually carried font last year. > New gas niains were in 1917 laid in jlipuni and Bristol Streets, and an extension was made in Knight's Road. The erection of five new street lamps brought the number in the borough up oto 111. Thirty-six new connections [were made, and the total number of (connections is now 641. In 1916,, tho (consumption of gas in tho borough 'was 11,662,000 cubio feet. Last year ■it increased to 12,601,000 cubic feet. 'Ik reduction in the price of gas is considered partly to account for tho rise an consumption.

Bathers were catered for at the betginning of the year in tho erection of .'two dressing-sheds, one for men and ['toys, and the other for women and igirls. Theso sheds proved so popular that another, chiefly for tho con/•venience of'school children, was put flip near the Main Bridge and on the (western side of the river alongside j.lhe stop-bank. A fourth is to be constructed later south of Whjto's Lino. Water Supply. Owing to the large amount of water used and the inefficiency of theliy'draulic pumps, important alterations were made to the centrifugal pump at the western septic tank. The work there is now done more effectively than before, and a good doal of water is saved. 'It is proposed to improvo the eastern tank in a similar way 'about March.

Building was actively carried on during the year in spite of the increased cost of material and labour. Seventy,two permits for buildings aggregating in value £22,500 were issued. The 'buildings included twonty-one new ihouses, an hotel, a woolshed, and a factory. The roads slid streets at present favourably with those of other i districts, but owing to the heavy car traffic over them much money lias had to be spent to keep them in repair. The heavy motor-bus traffic of the last few mouths has seriously increased ths wear and tear on tho roads.

The Borough Council has actively Enforced the motor regulations, with the result that sixty-four offenders i have been fined amounts ranging from ilOs. to £3.

! _ Work of importance to the borough jis being carried out by the River i Board, and when it is completed _it ! will afford greatly increased protection ; against flooas, which are the bugbear •of the district. With the added 'safety there will, of course, come a ■considerable rise in the value of land at Lower Hutt.