PAST PAVING SEASON

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 25, 29 July 1926, Page 13

PAST PAVING SEASON

HOW FINANCES STAND

KEPOKTS TO HIGHWAYS BOABD,

Various reports summarising the work done and the financial position for the twelve months ended 30th June were placed before members of the Local Highways Board yesterday. The Engineer's report stated that general repair and overhaul work was in progress at each of tho paving plants, the men not engaged in this work haying-been transferred to other winter works. General maintenance work had been carried out, special attention having been given the . main east road on the length taken over by the board. The question of the deviation of tho Main road^from a point at the south of Eandwick road near the Hutt Park to the Day's Bay foreshore road, had been discussed with officers of the Baihvay Department, and necessary information was being compiled in relation to the matter. THE AREA PAVED. The total area paved during the season was 327,385 square yards, equal to 23 miles 20 chains of standard 24ft width. "It will be observed," continued tho repoTt, "that certain of the roads recently paved have been higher in costs than other roads paved earlier in the season. This has been caused to a great extent by the reduced outputs from plants due to wet weather and working with wet material.

"The paving costs on the Day's Bay foreshore road are noticeably high, chiefly owing to the wet conditions experienced during the paving of this road, and to excessive preparation costs in building up haunches against the pavement for the full length of the work, and other work sucli as heightening the wall in places on the seaward side. It has to be remembered that the board, having taken this road over, would have been required to maintain the surface during the winter, and the cost of such maintenance, apart from the loss of the prepared surface as carried out by the Hutt County Council, would in all probability have been greater than the amount spent in excess of the average cost of pavements as constructed by the board." •The chairman remarked that it had been plain from the first that the Day's Bay paving would be more expensive than paving upon other lengths, where such difficulties had not to be contended with. The cost had been 12s 9.39 d per square yard. The Mayor of Eastbourne (Mr. H. M. Jones) said that he considered the work satisfactory in every way, and he thought that the engineers and men were to be complimented. Other costs per square yard shown by the reports were: Chew's lane 7s 6.79 d, Clyde quay square 10s 11.85 d, Carlton Gore roa*d 7s 8.45 d, Bay road 9s 2.82 d, Coutts street 10s 3.70 d, Adelaide road 8s 11.77 d, Bay road extension 9s 1.75 d. Certain of these lengths carry a lighter pavement than the 2in base and ljin top of the Day's Bay road. BALANCE FOB NEXT SEASON.

A return prepared by the City Treasurer and forwarded by the Engineer stated that after providing for the expenditure up to the close of the last sedson a balance of £80,048 was available for the remaining work. This was the amount that would be available for the completion of the schedule as already submitted—viz., 14.459 miles on an 18ft basis, or 152,687 square yards, at an estimated cost of 10s per square yard, which would cost £76,343. This would leave a balance of £3705. There would, however, be certain lengths which would require to be paved for a width greater than 18ft. The amount should be sufficient for that work. SOURCES OF EEVENUE. The City Treasurer's detailed statement showed that the loan of £130,000 authorised produced £123,755, the board still having authority to raise a further £20,000. There was also a balance of £2500 to raise from the Hutt road loan of £50,000. The share of the Main Highways Board was £35,790, and contributions: First year £840, second year £2954, third year £4842, fourth year £5000)—£13,636. The amount due from local bodies was £2000, and motorists' fees (first year £8600. second year £11,800, third year £14,000, fourth year £15,000), £49,----400. Plant,*the original cost of which was £19,193, had been written down to £10,754. Stock was shown at £4640, sundry debtors at £3000, and cash at bank £1670, the total revenue being £267,745. The expenditure was set out as follows:—Expended to 30th June, £131,----650, accounts due to other departments £18,450, interest and sinking fund £37,597, balance £80,048. AMENDING LEGISLATION SOUGHT. It was agreed that the balance of the loan (£20,000) should be raised, and that an amendment should be sought to the Act authorising a local body to send as its representative on the board a member other than its chairman, this position having arisen through the appointment of Mr. D. E. Hoggard, a member only as the representative of the Hutt County Council. Another amendment to be sought is to overcome the difficulty which has arisen in regard to contributions from tho Main Highways Board. This will have as its' effect, if adopted, that the contributions from participating local bodies shall be reduced and that the Main Highways Board will pay half the annual maintenance costs on the roads in question.