THE HUTT ROAD

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 105, 29 January 1924, Page 13

THE HUTT ROAD

ARE SCIENTIFIC METHODS BEING EMPLOYED?

MR. W. S. WILSON RETURNS TO THE ATTACK

A very large number of motorists, who will have to foot the bill, consider that their money Is being wasted on the Hutt Road, and information to this effect is coming in to us from all quarters. It is coming from practical engineers, architects, and others who have some knowledge of road construction.

Such was the pronouncement made by Mr. AV. Stuart Wilson, president of the Wellington Motor Traders’ Association, to a Dominion reporter yesterday. “Our pair of ‘Mr. Patterson’s’ are apparently losing their tempers,” declared Mr. Wilson. “Their statements are remarkable for what they say and for what they do not say. Quoting from Mr. T.‘ AV. Patterson, ‘lf it were an expert on road construction that was talking I would reply very forcibly to the recent remarks which Mr. Wilson has made, but under the circumstances this would be a waste of time.’ I like the charactciistio waste of time. I wonder if our new friend is being coachted by our old friend. (He has improved u n ° e y the tuition of the Automobile Club.) It sounds like it. Our old friend is lying low at present, like Brer Rabbit, and saying nothing in the Press, as ho would have to say something about a large number of points that he is silent about. For instance, the water main ‘that is ambling about alj over the place under the Hutt Dqad. Our Mr. Paterson, of Town Haff fame, lost his head and adopted buli-at-the-gatc methods, when speaking at the Hutt Road Board meeting. He seems to accuste me of having an interest in other methods of road construction and also in mud-slinging. Or is he inferring that my friend is interested in some other method of making roads. Before I started on this controversy I mentioned my friend s name and his credentials to the editor of vour paper. The public can accept my assurance that neither of us have the slightest interest in any other form of road-making. Both the “Mr. Pattersons” refuse to answer many of the points raised by an expert who probably has had at least as much experience as either of them. “Mr. Patterson, of the three-month s’ engagement, refers to work done on a beach somewhere in California, but we cannot accept that as nn example on account of not knowing the conditions But wo do know that Mr. Geiger, of Merced, California, who is known to many New Zealanders, has again and again pointed out the number of costly mistakes that have Leon made in his country owing to engineers building roads without the requisite amount of knowledge required to build a road which will stand the constant battering of modern traffic. Mr. Wilford, member for the Hutt district, has met this gentleman, and can give valuable information about his views upon the necessity for exercising extreme enre in road-building for heavy traffic. The new Mr. Patterson informs us how the metal has . been tested in the Nganauranga quarry. Evidently he lias received this information,-from our Mr. Paterson, who should have imparted this information, but who, as mentioned before, is lying low at nresent. Is there a Shortage of Stone? “Information in my possession,” added Mr. Wilson, “is to tho effect that there is a- great paucity of blue metal in the Ngahauranga quarry, which seems to be confirmed by. the progress report handed in to the Hutt Road Board at its meeting last week, which reads as follows: —

“ ‘Owing to a break down of the No. 3 unit at the Ngahauranga quarry it was found necessary tn procure * certain grade of metal elsewhere, and a much better grade of metal was procurable than previously and at a cheaper rate.’ “This,” continued Mr. Wilson, “certainly appears to flatly contradict the statement given by Mr. Patterson to a Dominion reporter on Saturday last in which he lauded the quality of the metal in the Ngahauranga quarry to the skies. I have been informed that strict orders have been given that no one is to be allowed to enter the Ngahauranga quarry. A friend, of mine, however, recently succeeded in eluding the sentries, and his observations convinced him that there wae a shortage of good metal in the quarry. Would this. I wonder, account for the (act that the City Council authorities <lo not favour the ratepayers, who are the real owners of tho quarry, inspecting their own property ?

Motorists Ask for Information. “That motor owners generally have grave fears concerning the present method of construction on the Hutt Road.” continued Mr. Wilson, “ proved by tho following letter sent by the Wellington Motor Traders' Association, dated December 17 last, to His Worship the Mayor:— “ ‘At a meeting of the Executive Committee of this association held today the carrying out of improvements to the Hutt Road was under discussion. and the fear was expressed that the most satisfactory results would not be secured owing to there not being available the services of any person who is thoroughly experienced in tho laying down of .the type of road decided to be provided on the Hutt Road. It was stated on what was said to be reliable information that there was not employed in connection with tho work any «u.cn person, and I am directed to inquire through you jf such is the case. It is definitely the opinion of my association that in view of the large amount oT monev to bo expended on the road, and of its groat importance to the city and tho country as an arterial road, its construction should be in no way experimental, but should be carried out in the manner adopted in the construction of other roads that have proved satisfactory, and by men who have had experience in the laying down of such satisfactory roads. It is within the knowledge of members that there is at present engaged in connection with the road operations a gentleman who is expert with regard to the use of tho new plant purchased by rhe council, and who may bo well informed with regard to road-making generally, but in view of the great importance of tho work now in hand, my committee believes that the services of the very best expert in the construction of the class of road under review should bo secured, . e o that absolute success may be achieved. My members will esteem it a favour if you will supply information on the above points at your earliest convenience.’ “To this letter,” proceeded Mr. Wilson, “the following extremely unsatisfactory reply was received from the town clerk on January 23: — “ ‘ln reply to ycur letter of 17th

ult., addressed to His Worship tho Mayor, I have to inform you that Mr. T. W. Patterson came to New Zealand for the purpose of supervising the erection of the plant under the geneial direction, etc., of the city engineer, and also to supervise the work the plant is required to perform for a period of three months. The acting-city engineer states that since the receipt of tho letter he has given very careful consideration to the whole position, and has watched the results under Mr. Patterson s management;, and sees noi*Sng in any way corroborative of the remarks made in your communication.’

Are the Foundations Right? “At i/ho Hutt Road Board meeting held last week,” proceeded Mr. M ilson, “the Majors of WcL'ington, Lower Hutt, and.Petone teemed to sympathise with our two friends, and more than one stated that it was a mco lei el surface. This is not the real question at issue. What we aro concerned about is whether tho foundations oi the Hutt Road are being dealt with in such a way as will moot the requirements of modern traffic. Iho warning conveyed in the editorial columns oi The Dominion last week was well timed. In this it was pointed out that the work was in certain respects _ experimental. It should not be experimental. There are men in New Zealand, to sav nothing about other countries, tho thoroughly understand how to make road foundations for heavy traffic. A very large number of motorists, uho will have to foot- the bill, consider that their monev is being wasted on the Hutt Road,' and information to this effect is coming in to us from all quarters. It is coming Irom practical engineers, architects, and others who have some knowledge cf road construction. A Hurry-Up Job. “One of these declares That ho has a certain amount of practical knowledge. . . He stated that ' e has been watching the road daily, and the methods of his father’s (a well-known road engineer) were quite different from those adopted on the Hutt Road. ‘1 know enough to know,’ he stated, ‘that in rolling roads a roller should not travel so fast as to cause a wave of material to mount in iront of the roller, as the wave will increase until tho roller mounts it and causes an uneven surface.’ He spoke to me in an intelligent manner about the causes of the pot-holes in summer and the sloppy, slippery surface in the winter. Ho also declared that he believed that the foundation of the road was good, but that it had to be dealt with in a scientific manner. He was annoyed to see the asphalt pushed along in a wave. A passer-by remarked to one of the workmen that they were, going too fast, and received the reply, ‘Of course we’re going too fast, but this is. a hurry-up job.’ How can a road which is built upon these methods stand heavy traffic? ‘A mile every three weeks can be made,’ according to Mr. Patterson, and the latest report states that ‘the American record has been beaten.’ It will not make any difference to our friend from America if the road is not all it should be. His company's reply would be, ‘The .material we put on was good, but the foundation of the road was at fault.’ Practical Policy Wanted. “For many vears past,” proceeded Mr. Wilson, ‘we have seen. enormous sums of money wasted for want rf a practical policy of <lcali"' v Hutt and other /iads. We have lain awake at night:-, wondering iniuc < ... next move would be to ginger up the authorities and get romething of a practical nature done. We have seen reads in actual making in other countries, and tho methods used there were thoroughly scientific. Those used cn tlhe Hutt Road, on the other hand, have been roundly condemned. The replies of our two friends of the same name to criticism leave us more rin doubt than ever.”