ROSKILL ROAD BOARD

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 343, 2 May 1928, Page 11

ROSKILL ROAD BOARD

YEAR’S WORK REVIEWED

The annual report of the Mount Roskill Road Board, which is to be presented to the statutory meeting of ratepayers to-night, was read at the board’s meeting last evening -by the chairman, Mr. E. E. Jones.

The capital value of the district was put down at £2,118,107. This at Id rate would produce an annual revenue of £8,825 10s 7d and if the rate for fire protection were added, the amount which could be collected would be £9,621 7s lOd. The amount actually collected last year was £8,332 14s lOd. The outstanding rates amount to £1,288 13s. The general account was £1,444 Is in credit. When the accrued anct outstanding water charges are taken into account the water supply account shows a surplus of £1,140.

During the year 475 heavy motor vehicle and drivers’ licences were issued, the latter returning the sum of £142 10s, which is available for expenditure on the general maintenance account, and £979 was received on account of registration of motor vehicles engaged in heavy traffic.

The chairman expressed his appreciation of the services rendered by the clerk Mr. J. Warren, the engineer Mr. J. D. Whitmore, and their respective staffs. The engineer reported that during the year maintenance work had been done on 86 roads, including the concreting of Dominion Road.

Twenty-four subdivisions of land for residential purposes had been approved and four new roads had been formed by private enterprise. One hundred and thirty new water seryices had been established, 14 new boundary sewer connections, and 87 new house sewer connections had been made.

The scoria pit had produced 13,797yds of scoria for road repairs. New water mains had been laid along Hillsborough Road, Ridge Hoad and down Cape Horn Road, wdiere the system is joined to the mains laid by the Wesley College Trust Board.

The water supply, which was being drawn from Onehunga, Mount Eden and the City Council systems, was as satisfactory as circumstances permitted.

The engineer’s report also refers to the classification of Mount Albert Road as a main highway, which entitles th-> boai-d to a £1 for £1 subsidy. Also that as the Loans Board has approved of the plans for concreting this and Three Kings Road, it is expected that both these thoroughfares will before long be put in order with profit to the whole district. Under the Town Planning Act, an up-to-date map of the district is being pre pared and steps are being taken to ensure wider roadways where it is expected the future Volume of heavy traffic will increase. Plans for the complete sanitary and storm water sewerage of the whole o‘‘ the western area are well in hand, and the scheme will be commenced as soon as satisfactory arrangements are made with the Auckland and Suburban Drainage Board. J During the year, permits were granted ! for the erection of 113 dwellings and six (business premises, which with 161 alterations represented a value of £118,340. BIGGER OFFICES WANTED Reference is also made to the necessity • or more commodious offices for the board, j and the hope is expressed that the ratei payers, at an early date will sanction * their erection. Twenty-seven new lamps were added : ‘to the street lighting system making a ; total of 212 existing lights. The Wesley Trust Board having agreed ; ;o a division of the stormwater from Duke Street, provided the board indemnified the trust against any action fo; damages by property owners on the lower : levels, the board’s solicitor advised that if the proposed diversion of storm water : led to the flooding of properties lower down ! the stream, the board as guarantors would !be liable. As the result of a prolonged discussion it was agreed to recommend the incoming board to regrade kerb and channel Duke Street in order that the storm water might be carried along that thoroughfare and thence into Dominion Road. The board's funds would not permit of any financial assistance being given to the Auckland Institute, but in response to a request by the New Zealand Institute of Horticulture, £1 Is was voted toward the fund for purchasing a kauri bush reserve at Waimauku. The Mothers’ Union was granted the free use of the public hall for the meetings of the Mount Roskill branch, which has been recently formed. The engineer was given authority to engage and discharge outside employees of the board, irrespective of the position held by any of them. The board accepted dedication of three loads on the Winstone Park Estate, being portions of Denbigh Avenue, Mount Roskill Road and Radnor Road. Permits were granted durinc the past fortnight for the erection of 10 buildings of a total value of £1,915. The general account is £I.IGS and the various loan accounts, are £983 in credit. On the motion of Mr. .T. R. Robertson, seconded by Mr. E. P. Jones, chairman, it was unanimously decided to send a letter of thanks to Mr. W. .T. Jordan. M.P.. “for the very great and untiring help he has given to the members of the board in persuading the Highways Board to create Mount Albert Road a main highway.”