Underground Power Wiring Spreading In Waimairi

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31020, 28 March 1966, Page 9

Underground Power Wiring Spreading In Waimairi

The council’s insistence on underground electric wiring in new streets had led to its extension to older streets where residents were prepared to pay for

the conversion from overhead lines, members of

the Waimairi County Council were told during their inspection of the county on Saturday.

A recent extension of Hampton street, off Memorial avenue, was quoted by the riding member, Cr. F. S. Blogg, as a case in point. Houses in the new street had underground wiring, and residents in the older part of the street had now agreed to pay about £33 a property to convert to underground, he said.

Similar action had been taken in the Whitby streetKendal avenue area, he said. Councillors were later shown Lochee road, running between Middleton and Wharenui roads, where the whole street was converted to underground wiring after it had been extended to Wharenui road. The chairman (Mr O. C. Mitchell) said that Royds street, an attractive cul-de-sac off Straven road, would be converted to underground wiring.

The council made a daylong inspection which covered the county from Lincoln road to the Waimakariri river. At Bishopdale, the county engineer (Mr I. Calvert) showed the party the site of the proposed tavern, on the northwest corner of the shopping block, and fronting Harewood road. It is expected that more than 2000 houses will be built in this district in the next two or three years. At Casebrook School, Mr Calvert said a traffic problem had arisen because the school entrance was opposite the Veitch-Grampian roads junction, and was screened to

Veitch road traffic by a high concrete wall at the school gates. Discussions were being held with the City Council on traffic control at the Briggs road shops to sort out traffic coming in from Quinns road, said Mr Calvert. At North Beach, to the seaward side of Broad Park, the party was shown the site of a proposed car-park for the 110 vehicles, terraced on the slope of the sandhills to give each level a good view. Work should begin during the winter, and the cost will be about £7500.

Two notices saying “Stop. No Rubbish” mark the extension of Aston street, that runs north through the sandhills. The bus carrying the party had to stop at one point while an old stove, oil drums and other rubbish were removed from the track. A substantial land-owner planned to develop the area, the council was told, and this should have the effect of reducing rubbish dumping. Clare Park, near Burwood Hospital, will be sown in the near future. An underground watering system has been installed.

At Spencer Park, spoil bought at 5s a truck-load from Drainage Board clearance on

the Styx River has been spread on camp sites as a cheap, effective alternative to soil at £4 a load. The effect of the northern motorway proposals on the Belfast cemetery on Guthries road was studied. The motorway will pass to the east, and a loop road, running to the west of the cemetery, will not affect the developed portion. At Avonhead, the party was shown the new Woodbury street extension, made possible by a council land deal with the Roman Catholic Church. Mr Calvert said there was a water problem in the area, which lay about 100 ft above sea level. The council would have to consider putting in a pumping station near Russley road.

The council inspected one of its pensioners’ cottages in Fletcher place, off Bowen street, near Church Corner. Twenty-four are occupied, and when units now building are completed, the council will have 56 units. The council’s plans to acquire a corner property to enable Pukako terrace to run straight into Weka street as part of the Creyke road-Kil-marnock street subsidiary highway development were explained.