DRAINAGE OF THE SUBURBS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1072, 10 March 1911, Page 9

DRAINAGE OF THE SUBURBS.

CITY ENGINEER'S. REPORT. ; The ability diSDlayed by tho City Engineer (Mr. W. H. Morton) in framing an estinjuteo* the cost of draining the' outlying districts of the city was warmly praised by the Mayor at tne meeting of the City Council.last evening. Mr. Wilford reminded the members of tho council that some years ago the citizens authorised a drainage loan of £M,WO, of which amount a sum of .£70,000 was allocated for outlying districts drainage. Mr. Morton at,that .time stated that he wanted J?70,000 to complete the work. It was now completed, wtii the. exception of a portion of-the Kilbirnie drainage, and the speaker was nleased to state that a report received from Mr. Morton showed that when the Kilbirnie drainage was completed the total cost would amount to £69,000, one thousand pounds less than Mr. Morton's original estimate. "It'is commonly stated," remarked Mr. Wilford, "that it is impossible to get a reliable estimate from an engineer, and I think that when a public body gets an estimate.like..this, of Mr. Morton's a-pub-lic tribute should be given to tho capacity of its engineer. I move that the report, be handed to the press, with the commendation of the council for tho work that Mr. Morton has done in connection with it. ...

: Councillor Luke seconded the motion, which was carried. In the report Mr. Morton details as follows the expenditure that has been made under the outlying districts drainaeo loan:—. " t. „ ■. '' ■' £ s. d. Roseneath <HWV> 8 Kelbunie • .-..'-MSI 111 ? l ; ooI V , S 13.21S 0 1 Island Bay • 17Md 19 s lulbirmo 13,227 17 0 Northland ...a 53 110 Wadestown •■■ • „.„ 392 T>' 5 Mitchelltown and Taitville"". ' " 635 15'" i ■;,.,....}.. ■• 3]2 „• 8 Deferred payments 1,201 18 0 Amounts charged direct to loan 3',313 18 3 ' . .£01,163 17 11 Credits 8 53 13 10 Net expenditure 60,310 i 1 Credit balance 39,689 15'11

Remarking upon the position here disclosed Mr. Morton states that the credit balance 0f'£39,389 15s. lid. is irrespective of charges in connection with the flotation of the loan.

Tho following districts have been practically completed to the extent estimated when the report on tho drainage extension was prepared:—lsland Bay, Brooklyn, Roseneath, and Kelburne. A considerable portion of Kilbirnie, including Hataitni, has also been completed. Up to the present no scheme has been placed before the council tor the drainage of tho Wadestown and Northland districts. This has not been possiblo until surveys could be made and the whole matter thoroughly investigated.

• Since tho £100,000 drainage lean was raised, Mr. Morton states the progress of the Maranui district has been very marked, and although not originally pro"vided for in the loan, it is now becoming apparent that drainage will be required shortly for this area. The engineer remarks that he is unable to give any information as yet as to howfar tho balance of the money to tho credit of the loan will go towards the completion of the whole of tho districts, but, after an estimate can be made for the drainage, of W'adeslown and Northland, it. will be seen whether a sufficient sum of money is available to include Maramii. Unfortunately. the Maranui district is likely to he somewhat costly, owing to the necessity of extending air and delivery mains and the use of additional ejectors.