BOROUGH WORKS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9159, 5 August 1908, Page 3

BOROUGH WORKS.

EEPORT OF ACTING-ENGINEER

The following report of the Acting-* Borough Engineer (Mr W. T. Mansfield) was adopted by the Borough Council last evening : I paid my monthly visit to the Waterworks on the 23rd instant, and there is nothing occasioning report from me beyond the observation that the channel of How of the Waingawa has been diverted by the recent heavy rains considerably nearer to the Borough's side of the bank. That in itself is a matter for congratulation. There is an abundant supply of water passing to the reservoir, and the maximum pressure has for some weeks been constantly maintained. T he work of re-grading Queen Street South is sMll proceeding, and efforts a re being made to compact the newly formed surface as weather conditions permit. When consolidation of that surface has been effected, a further coating of three inches of metal will be applied thoroughly compacted to brins the re-grading to its proper form. The work of kerbing and channelling Queen Street South, from Makora Creek southwards to Kuripuni Stream, has been completed. I advise that such tar pav ■ ing as is found to be possible out of thj balance of the loan moneys be suspended until after the winter. In the meantime I propose to coat the path where requirjd with clippings, and to provide means for the discharge of storm water from the existing path where such path is below ■' the finished level of the new kerb to prevent ponding of water on the footpiths. Queen Street North has been macadamised to the bridge, ?nd is now ready for tar macadamising when suitable weather conditions permit. The work of kerbing and channelling authorised at Kuripuni Triangle has been commenced. The work of kerbing and channelling Bentley Street has now besn carried to completion. A temporary coating of chiopings has been applied to the newiy formed path until such time as weather conditions will permit of the path being coated with tarred material. The provision of a fiveinch gravel path six chains into M.icara Street has been completed at a cost of £2 2s 3d. My estimate was £2. A gravel footpath has been f jrmed in Michael Dixon Street down to the Creak, at a total cost of £o 7s Id. My estimate of the cost as far as Aronsten's was £4. The surface of the footpaths on both sides ot Street has been regulated at a cost of £1 18s 6d. My estimate was £3. The work of laying thereabouts 1J chains of t'hree-inch water main in Jean Street to meet Mr Mclver's request for a water supply h:n been carried to completion. Attention has been given to the footpath on the eqst side of Cole Street. The work of regulating and repairing both Lincoln Road and Pine Street has oeen recommence;!, and will be continued so fir as the funds at my disposal will permit. Th<n formation of a footpath in Crayne Street, from Dixon Street to Queen Street,has been completed, I will report on the cost at next meeting. The formation of a five foot gravel path on the west side • of Pownall Street, between Cornwall and Renall Streets, has, been com- ( pieced to-day. I desire instructions i\3 t.) what account trie £3OO deposit in respect of the sewerage of Wright, an 1 Tararua Streets, Yates' Estate, ii to be placed. ' I have besn asked | to report on remedial measures for the road surfaces of Bannister Street, ,' Cn irch Street, and Worksop Road, bdtvveen tne intersections of Dixon and Kirton streets. Having regard I to the inadequatelsum set apart for j street maintenance for the year - i th-jreabouts one-half of which has j already been expended in something like four months—l think that it | would be better for the Council to j continue the present practice of fill- i ing in the worst holes in these streets and postpone the question of giving them a thorough coating which they badly rued —until later in the year, when it will be sann whether there is any sum available on the estimated expenditure which can be applied to tnis wo;'k. Ido not think it is ab this season of the year '■> attempt the , formation and metalling of Cock burn ! Street. The observations I recently made on the proposal to form Makora Road extension in this case similarly apply. It is now imperative that, the labour of a number of the present staff be diverted to such loan works as is possible, or that their services be disjenaed with inasmuch as the funds accruing from general rate for labour on street maintenance is insufficelnt to provide employment for them. I am anxious that the services of a number of these men should not be dispensed with, inasmuch as they are, in my opinion, worth retaining. I •sugge3t, therefore that such work of concrete kerbing, or othinwiti-j, as is found to be possible in Bentley Street and elaswheri, be oar.-ied out to provide «uch employment, in ordjr that the services of those men may be so retained, and until better weather • conditions permit of such other loan work as remains to be carried out.