THE CONTRACTORS' SIDE OF THE STORY.

Evening Post, Volume LXVIII, Issue 136, 6 December 1904, Page 5

THE CONTRACTORS' SIDE OF THE STORY.

WHAT MR. KERWIN SAYS. This morning an Evening Post reporter had an interview with\Mr. Kcfrwin, who has been superintending the work of construction as the representative of the contractors, Messrs. M'Artney, M'Elroy and Co., Ltd. Asked as to the suggested deterioration of the wood-blocking, Mr. Kerwin fiaid there was bound to be a certain amount of expansion and contraction in the wood, no matter how it was laid, in response to the changes in the weather. The work was done in accordance with the specifications. In the first place the specifications provided that the blocks should be laid on a half-inch bed of sand, with quarter-inch strips of wood in between each course. "In my opinion" that is not a good way, and the specifications were changed to provide for a fine floating being* put over the concrete, making the bottom perfectly level, laying the blocks on top, and putting in a matrix-joint twice in the 4ft course. There was nothing in the specifications with regard to dipping the blocks, but the dipping has been carried out at the request of the Corporation. Pretty weil the whole block is dipped, down to within about an inch of tie top, then tar was spread on top and worked in with the rake." In Mr. Kerwin's opinion the system was just as effective as that employed by the Corporation. The raaeon wiry the wood blocks showed up is places and were expanding was because there was no tar on' top. The Corporation, on the otter band, was put-

ting on a topping of tar and sand, finishing off the work, and completely covering the blocks. He intended to finish off the work in the same way, although it was not in the contract, but he would do it under the maintenance clause. , As to blocks being loose, Mr. Kerwin said one had to expect that — bad blocks, and that kind of thing. The reason was that the joints opened out in dry weather, but they all closed again when the rain came. That was not likely to be a iiermanent defect. "Of course," said Mr. terwin, "a wood-blocked street must be fed ; sand must be worked into it. That ia what they do at Horne — shake the sand >ver it two or three times a week, so as to give a hold to the horses' feet, and that sand works into the joints and also forma a kind of top, and cements the blocks." The period of maintenance, Mr. Kerwin went on to say, commenced on Ist October, and wiH extend over six months. In regard to parts of Riddiford-street, that will mean a period of maintenance extending over twelve months. He was perfectly satisfied with tht> way in which the work had been done. He was putting on the "topping" because he wanted the work to look well, and he would like to satisfy tho Corporation and the public, but he was not obliged to 'do it under the contract. As far as he knew the Corporation was satisfied. "Of course," he remarked, "a layman doesn't know about this work," but he was satisfied that the work would stand criticising by experts. "It is easy for the man hi the street' to say this isn't right, and that isn't right, but as a matter of fact he doesn't know j muoh about it." The work has been carried out under the same system as in London and Brighton, and elsewhere. He thought the work had stood wonderfully well so far; he had seen it "go" much more than it has "gone" here. He was quit© pleased with the whole job. THE CORPORATION'S EXPERT J INTERVIEWED. AN ASSURANCE FROM THE ELECTRICAL ENGINEER. Seen this morning, the Electrical Engineer, Mr. W. R. Wright, expressed the opinion that when the time came for the tramways to be wholly taken over by the Corporation from the contractors it would be found that everything would be in good order and condition, and that faults such as those indicated in the foregoing article would be non-existent. "If everything is carried out as we (the Corporation and its_ electrical expert) wish, the maintenance period for which the contractors are responsible, will end on the 31st March next." There has, Mr. Wright explained, been a certain amount of give-and-take " on this question of maintenance, owing to the fact that the Corporation has been taking over the line in sections, and it would be obviously unfair to ask the contractors to maintain the whole of the system for six months from the time when the last section was in running order. The contractors, however, are distinctly liable For repairs which are wanted. The Elecsrical Engineer admits that portions of the tine specified are in bad order, as regards the condition of the wood-blocking, but what to the eye of a layman might appear a serious defect cou'l9 be soon remedied by an expert. He points out that ' it is a well-recognised fact that jarra-h, bhe wood used for blocking purposes, expands and contracts according to the weaLner conditions — no other wood is more '• liable to this defect. The blocking be- | tween the rails ha 6to be laid much more ' loosely than it would be laid along a j roadway, for the sufficient reason that it j it, was put in tightly, and no allowance I made for swelling, when that swelling i c<id take place it wonld burst the tie-rods i and probably spoil the gauge. The con- i aractors were not asked to dip the blocks ! before they were put down ; it was not ! in the specifications, and, in the opinion | of the engineer, is not necessary. Num- j bers of blocks* which have since been i lifted have been found to be saturated with tar, put on in a hot state after the, blocking was done. The contractors followed the system in vogue at Home in block-laying for tramways, where it has been found to be unnecessary to completely dip the blocks, a top-dressing of tar and sand being sufficient. If, as beSore stated, they were tarred all over and packed with sand, it would not allow <*or expansion. The contractors had been anxious to top-dress the blocking on the city lines with sand and tar at once, but he (the Engineer) considered it advisable to wait until the moisture had thoroughly dried out before this was done, and the work nad accordingly baen ieferred. The fractured blocks will be, .'emoved, the depression raised, irregular rows •tamped up,' and all made secure, "and," concluded the Engineer,'.'when this is done to my satisfaction, and the Corftoration is asked to take over the lines, I don't think that the public will have much cause, to growl." , , ,