ROAD AND STREET IMPROVEMENTS

Shannon News, 24 June 1921, Page 3

ROAD AND STREET IMPROVEMENTS

BIG SHANNON SCHEME. At the meeting of the Borough Council on Friday evening, the engineer (Mr R. Edwards) reported as fo Hows: — I have been requested by your Public Works Committee to make a rough estimate of the following works: Grading, re-forming, metailin gand constructing kerbs, # water tables and footways in the following streets, viz.: Grey, Vogel, Vance, Stout, Venn and Ballance Streets; also footways Plimmer Terrace, in the latter case 5 chains from Ballance to Vance Streets; also from the Bank of New Zealand to Grey Streets, eight chains. Apart from the latter work the total lengths of the streets is 116 chains, and the" footways 232 chains, minus kerbs and watertables in Ballance Street, L) chains, making a total of 213 chains, and, with the addition of 13 chains in Plinimer Terrace, making a grand total of footways of 226 chains. I roughly estimate this work will cost £9452 18s. This will include concrete kerbs and water tables, tarred footpaths, concrete pipes in natural water courses, regrading and permanent formations in said streets, and metalling the same. I may' state that, the Shannon streets have never yet been graded, nor any comprehensive system of dealing with the storm water a.nd surface drainage. This fact entails a very considerable expenditure. This means that the streets must be permanently graded before complete construction can be attempted, and a complete understanding must be entered into with frontagers to the several depressions to allow the spoil to run on to their land at a natural and safe angle •of repose; otherwise concrete retaining walls must be constructed at the fillings to retain the formations of the streets. As an alternative scheme of street improvement, the Public Works Committee suggest that following workshould be carried out in the meantime: Stout Street to Venn Street, -graded, re-formed and metalled and the footways completed both sides, to be of concrete kerbs and watertables, complete, and the surface of thp paths tarred. Also that the footway from Bank of New Zealand, Plimmer Terrace, to about two chains along Grey Street, be tarred, with metal water tables and the grass removed from off the formation to the crown of the road and remetalled, the watertable to be tarred and sanded. I shall require to level this work before giving a working estimate. It is further suggested that on the

westerly side of Plimmer Terrace the following work be carried out: viz.: The wdiole surface be graded and concrete watertables and kerbs with tarred footways be constructed from opposite Balance Street to the big depression, also that the water which goes down sump and under the railway station platform be diverted along .the westerly fence running parallel to the street, the monument to be removed to a more suitable site on this plot-. The general surface to be graded by ploughing, scooping and shovel work. I shall require to lay out and level this work before giving a working estimate. I have previously referred to this work in a report dated August 10, 1920. General remarks: lie the portion of this report, referring to the work in the several streets, I need hardly point out thal only money for very urgent, work could be obtained from the Government at- the present time. I very much doubt if it would be held that most of the work referred to in the report is urgent. The Mayor stated that one thing was evident, and that was that the whole of the work could not be carried out now.

Cr. Spencer pointed out that it would be useless to form street and footways which were not in constant use, ,s they would only pile up work arid expense on the Council. The Roads Committee had come to that . conclusion.

Cr. Gardner said lie was confident the Council could not carry out halt the proposed programme.. The Mayor considered that if two things were kept in mind—the completion of the path to McKegg's and the work in Stout Street—and were attended to,* the Council would accomplish something. The other work could he taken later. Cr. Butt agreed, and said as regards the beautifying of the western side ol Plimmer Terrace, that work could be left to the Reserves Committee. The Mayor then moved: That, after having perused the Engineer’s report, the Council think it advisable that.the Road Committee should concentrate its energies on new work in Stout Street, and the unfinished portion of asphalting of Plimmer Terrace; and further, the Road Committee and Reserves Committee take steps to commence the beautifying of Plimmer Terrace. The motion was seconded by Cr. Murray and carried. Referring to the beautifying of Plimmer Terrace, Cr. Gardner said he

would like the Reserves Committee to get an estimate of the ploughing and fencing first. The Mayor suggested, and it was agreed to, ihat the beautifying scheme he referred to the joint committees.