DRAINING THE CITY.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 127, 29 May 1913, Page 9

DRAINING THE CITY.

PKOGRESS OF THE SCHEME. SOON READY FOR SUBURBS. The stage of progress whic J h has been reached in connection with the Auckland and suburban drainage scheme was the subject of a report presented to the Drainage Board last night by the Engineer (Mr. W. E. Bush). Referring to contract No. 7/1 (storage tanks, Orakei), the Engineer stated that the contract was now practically complete with the exception that a certain amount of finishing up and cleaning remained to be done. It was interesting to note that the work had been finished within the contract time, -which -was extended three months on account of amendments and additions to the -work originally specified. Contract Xo. 7/1 A (storage tanks detritus chamber) had made good progress. All the excavation bad been done, and the by-pass was completed. The concrete waJls of the chamber and about one-third of the length of main sewer that was included in this contract yet remained to be done. In connection with contract No. 11 (main sewer section 5. Ponsonby), about 150 feet -of main sewer, the nranhole at Wellington Street and about one-half of the work in connection with the overflow chamber at Cos's Creek was required to be done. The work shoulu be finished in about six weeks' time. On contract Xo. (main sewer section 4, city), the to-al length of main sewer constructed was übout 3J500 feet, and about 260 feet was concreted to the springing line of the arch. The laying of the 6-inch pipe on branch 4-b. was completed, and the 30-inch concrete sewer had been commenced. In connection with contract Xo. 14, branch Xo. 5 (tunnelling only), the various contracts let for the tunnelling were now completed, including section E, which wa-s taken over by the Board and carried out by day labour. The -estimated price for the five sections was £10,040, nnd the actual leost amounted to about £10.560. The estimates were -based on only 25 per cent of the ground requiring to be timbered, whereas, on two sections, viz, D and E. this percentage was largely exceeded. Contract Xo. 14, branch Xo. 5 (Ponsonby. first section), wae progressing satisfactorily, the whole of the tunnel driving was complete, and about, 850 ft of sewpr had been concreted to date. tion 6. Grey Lynn) about 4,300 ft of tunnel had been driven, and the syphon at Motion's Creek had been practically completed. All the work done had been of a satisfactory nature. Reporting on Branch Xo. 7a. Mount Eden West (day labour), the engineer stnted that s-!nee his last report the foreman and gang of men engaged on this work had confined their energies to the laying of the ee-wer through the Eden Park cricket ground. The work had been carried on expeditiouely. and by the end of this month the length of the sewer in the cricket ground should be completed. The excavated material would h-jve to be removed from the ground and turf laid to make good where tiie trench had been cut.. Arrangements had been made with the CityEngineer for the supply find delivery of the turf. Concerning branch Xα' ">, Toneonby, second section (pipe laying only), prices were obtained from various firms for the supply of pipes. shingle, cement, etc., with the rssuk that the inateria.l3 were being obtained at very reasonable rates. Good progress had been made with the work. 580f.t of ftin piping. 1,320 ft of 12in piping, 170 ft of 15in piping, and 2,400 ft of subdrain having been laid to da.*e, the necessary trimming and refilling and ramming being done as the work proceeded. The survey staff bad been engaged or. preliminary surveys for tbe laving out of branch Xo. 6. and .also in checking ihe lines and levels on the contracts and day labour work. The regular inspections of the completed lines of sewer had been made. The staff had also been engaged on ihe work of building up the rn-nnhole on the B(*ard's branch sewer Xo. 3 in the Xewrrnirket railway yard, made neceeeary by the filling operations that ■were being carried oa by t-he Railway Departmen-t. During the period covered by thie report the plans and specifications were completed for the work in connection with the main building, structural steelwork and machinery therein, and the valve house and residence at the etor.ige tanks, Qra-kei. The chairman [Mr C. ,T. Parr) said it »rrap good news to hear from the engineer that by February of next year tiie Board would be in a position to take the outside suburbs into the service. Speaking «s a suburban resident, he expressed the hope that outside districts would lose no time in joining in -with the general scheme.