THE HUTT ROAD

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 59, 4 December 1923, Page 8

THE HUTT ROAD

CITY COUNCIL UNDERTAKES WORK ESTIMATES OF REVENUE STRICT REGISTRATION OF VEHICLES The City Council is to undertake the work of laying a permanent roadway, 24 feet wide, along the centre of the Hutt Road. The two outside tenders received for the work were rejected yesterday. The Hutt Road Board met yesterday afternoon. Mr. R. A. Wright (Mayor of Wellington) presided, and other members present were: Messrs. J. W. McEwen (Petone), W. T. Strand (Hutt), and H. D. Atkinson (Hutt County Council). Before considering the tenders for surfacing the Hutt Road —the chief object of the meeting—tho chairman said that a report had been furnished by the acting-city engineer (Mr. A. J. I'atorson), which the board should be apprised of. The report was as follows :—

“Herewith please find report and schedule of the registrations and probable revenue which will be derived in favour of the Hutt Road paving. Owing to a difference in tho method of registration, the actual number of live registrations cannot be definitely ascertained. When a car goes out of use, the Wellington City Council’s method is to consider this number dead, and issue a new number, for the vehicle which may be registered in lieu thereof. That method naturally brings up the numbers in Wellington higher than the cars actually in use. Some other registering authorities in the rating area transfer the old number to tho new vehicle. At the bottom of the schedule the statement shows the possible revenue, allowing that 33 1-3 or 50 per cent, vehicles on the registration list are dead. I should imagine, however, that the revenue could, not be less than £9OOO per annum. As there is evidently some uncertainty as to the number of owners, some proper system of recording vehicles, owners, and payments against same will have to bo put into operation. This will he the subject of a further report,” The estimate of the revenue was as

The report was adopted. The chairman said that it could be seen that they were not very sure of the figures on which to determine the approximate revenue. Mr. McEwen said that there would have to bte a register. The chairman said that would have to be prepared at once —in time for the operation of the toll. Mr. Strand asked if cars registered n hundred or two hundred miles away, and which used the road, would have to be registered. The chairman said he did not think so, as the Act provided that the board’s powers only extended over a certain district. Mr. McEwen pointed out that the Act of 1915 allowed the board to alter or amend any estimate which might be brought down, and such estimate would remain good for the year. The Act of 1917 did not interfere with the powers of the board to make any alteration or amendment in any tender. He wished to bring that point forward so that there would be no misunderstanding as to any estimate submitted to the board. . The point was tacitly admitted, without commpnt. Tho board went into committee to consider the tenders for the Hutt Road, and also, in committee, made certain recommendations to the council on the subject. CITY COUNCIL DECIDES WILL DO WORK ITSELF The matter came before the City Council in the evening. Tho council did not accept any tender for the work, but adopted the estimates of the act-ing-city engineer (Air. A. J. Paterson) and will undertake the work itself. It was reported that at its meeting in the afternoon the Hutt Road Board had carried the following motion:— “That this board approves of the estimate by tho Wellington City Council and is in favour of the Wellington City Council undertaking the work, the roadway to be 24ft. in width.” When the matter was referred to in open council (after being four hours in committee) Councillor C. H. Chapman congratulated the council on its action, and was proceeding, to quote figures, when the Mayor intervened with the advice that it was best not to mention figures at tho present stage, though percentages might be used. Councillor T. Forsyth against going even that far, but was over-ruled. . Councillor Chapman said he wished to quote figures, to show how much cheaper they were prepared to do the work than tho contractors. The next highest tender was 37 per cent, above and the highest was 40 per cent, above the acting-engineer’s estimate showing that tho contractors in tendering had provided a large margin for unexpectedjjxponditure. and a largo margin for A. L. Montieth asked if the figures were not to be made available to tlio Press. Tho Mayor said it was not usual to publish figures before a contract was signed, and it was not advisable in this Cu (>itvjoilor Monteith: But they

been before the Hutt River Boaru. YVill thev regard them as confidential? The Mayor: Yes, they will. Councilor Monteith: Well, it is most peculiar that we cannot talk about the I Councillor W. H. Bennett: 'I he price is what the job will cost when it is finished.

follows: — WELLINGTON CITY. £ 8. d. Cars. 4-190. at 30s 6,735 0 0 2,448 0 0 Cycles, 3436, at 10s 1,718 0 0 PETONE BOROUGH. Cars. 369, at 30s 553 10 0 Trucks, 85, at £3 255 0 0 Cycles, 43", at 19s 218 10 0 HUTT BOROUGH. Cars, 75, at 30s 112 10 0 Trucks, 23, at £3 69 0 0 Cycles, 71, at 10s 35 10 0 MAKAHA COUNTY. Cars, 65, at 30s 97 10 0 Trucks. 34, at £3 102 0 0 Cycles, 49, at 10s 24 10 0 HUTT COUNTY, Cars*. 343 4 at 30s - 514 JO 0 Trucks, 48. at £3 144 0 0 Cycles, 223, at 10s 111 10 0 £13,139 0 0 Totals— Cars, 5342. at 30s. .. . 8013 0 0 Tracks, 1006, at £3 3,018 0 0 Cycles, 4216, at 10s. 2,108 0 0 £13,139 0 0 If less 33 1-3 per cent. £8,759 6 8 if less 50 per cent £6,569 10 6