CITY ENGINEERING.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17702, 2 March 1923, Page 2

CITY ENGINEERING.

THE WANGANUI CONFERENCE. MR C. DAWE'S IMPRESSIONS. 3lr C. Dawe, City Engineer, •who is attending the Engineers' Conference at Wanganui, has written to the Mayor setting out his impressions of the work of the conference. Mr Dawe says: "The data given and the exchange of ideas between members at the conference was extremely interesting, and of some value to me in my oiiicia* capacity, more especially m the matter ot road construx-aon and mmateu&uoo. As regards road construction, mere is a great variety of opinion, and wuere&a concrete roadway does not meet witn general approval bituminous penetration, or wnat is commonly known as in situ is very favourably commented upon. This method would be particularly suitable and economical in the treatment of our suburban roads. It consists of a layer of metal up to four inches thick, well roiled into the surface or fcu/jdation. This is sprayed under pressure with bitumen (li gallons to squr.ro yard of surface). It is then envared with screenings and well rolled. After one month inn surface is to be brushed znd agidn sprinkled lightly with another coat of bitumen, and finished off with snval.' screenings. This could be done for 4a per square yard, against 6s in tarred macadam, with a considerably longer life. The cost 'n Auckland suburbs is 5s lid, where metal is dear and poor in quality. Concrete road is costing 15s 9d per square yard, including a scoria foundation and proper drainage, which for a 42ft carriage way in Christenurch would cost £236 approximately per chain. OF course before this system could be adopted it would b° necessary to place all the surfaces, such as pas, water, and sewer in.the footway, which would involve a heavy expenditure. Dust Prevention. "It was submitted that a dust allayer, consisting of 7 per cent, solution in water has been discovered, which, if successful, would minimise the watering costs, as it is only necessary to apply it once in every three weeks by means of an ordinary cart. Water Supply. "In a paper given by the City Engineer of Auckland he recommended two davs' supply as the correct storage for a pumping scheme. I went one better in my report, and suggested three days' supplv. The average daily consumption in Auckland is about -56 gallons per head per diem, and none of the services is metered. Wanganui (figures supplied by engineer to borough) consumes something like 80 to 90 gallons per head, but in Gonville, where all the services are metered, the consumption is in tho vicinity of 20 gallons per head. Wanganuj supplies the water to Gonville at Is 3d per 1000 ffallons. which., sells it for Is 6d per 1000 £allon3.

Slaughtering. "The methods of slaughtering and offal disposal at the WeaWieid works are very good, and wed suited for a city abattoir. The stock are killed on an elevated floor, approached by a gradient up which the beasts are driven. The whole of the offal, skins, etc., is passed down through hoppers built into the floor, and carried by horizontal steel flumes into the tables below, where it is handled by the various departments, according to the purpose for which it is to be used. This method of disposal does away with the unsightly presence of portions of the animals' interior lying about the floor, such as obtains in many abattoirs today. The flumes have a slight fall, and water discharged into them carries the offal with it. The bullocks are driven into a pen and stunned with a 4lb hammer before being finally despatched. This method, and not pithing, meets with approval. . The bullock pens are balanced on a pivot, and so weighted that after the beast is stunned it is thrown automatically out on to the elevator floor, after which the pen goes back to its place, a great saving in time and labour. "In "Wellington I have arranged to get all the information I can with regard to the lethal chamber, which I understand is a commodious contrivance, built at the rear of the destructor, the gas from the combustion chamber being used to kill the animals. The operations are not confined to dogs and cats, but include cows and horses. "I was very much taken by the civic spirit that is shown in Auckland, and the apparent ease with which loans for progressive works are carried."