HIGHWAYS BOARD

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 126, 30 May 1928, Page 10

HIGHWAYS BOARD

DANGEROUS QFAERIES ;■ PROTEST FROM EASTBOURNE Tlie Wellington City and Suburban Highways Board of Control met today, Mr. G. A. Troup being in . the chair. . The City Engineer (Mr." G. A. Hart) supplied a return of the costs of paving work carried out during the paying season, uth February to sth- May. The total expenditure on /'the Eastbourne Main road was £9098 18s 3d for an area of 13,900 square yards; on the Johnsonville Main road, £2532 17s for 5130 square yards; on -the Petone railway ramp, £1513 14s for 2399 square yards; and in the Hutt County, £645 9s Id for '546 square yards. The Eastbourne Borough .Council wrote again protesting against the danger of quarrying on the Day's Bay foreshore. The letter stated that the. operations constituted a real danger to life and property. After heavy rains,, stones in large quantities fell down, and were a distinct menace to those, using thb road,' besides costing a considerable amount in clearing away.' Mr. Troup said it was doubtful how far the powers of the board went. The board was concerned with the bitumen surface, and was not responsible for any accidents. '■ The City Engineer said,that he had inspected the quarrying operations, and had seen nothing dangerous, but he was quite aware that the conditions would vary from day to day. -To make the road safe, said Mr. Strand, there was needed a barricade from end to end, for slips came down jilt spots whero there were no quarrying operations, lla .regretted that ho had not been notified that the subject was to be brought up: the Hut,t Borough Engineer was keeping an eye on tlfe quarrying.- There had .not been a shot fired for some tiny, and the tendency was to mak,e the quarrying safer as time went on. Mr. Troup pointed out- that it was obvious whoso the responsibility was in case of -an accident —those responsible for the quarrying. The discus- 1 sion lapsed, Mr. Strand saying that he would look into the matter. The City Engineer stated that both the construction and maintenance work in-the Upper Hutt Borough and Johnsonville Town District would be subsidised by the Main Highways Board, the terms under which maintenance is payablo in these two areas having been amended to give a subsidy of 30s in the £ on the actual maintenance expenditure. The widening at Windy Point and the clearing of the slip, it was stated, had cost £GS3, and the Eastbourne Borough Council, having paid out £550 of this amounj, asked for a contribution of £133 to make up the surplus. It was decided to recommend the sharing of the outstanding balance. The City Engineer's progress report indicated that paving on the Johnsonvillo Main road was completed, and the plant and tools had been transferred to Petone. Two sections, one of 10 chains and the other of 21| chains, of the Main East Coast highway, north of Taita Church, had been completed, mid the remaining 101 chains were now reaily for the second coating. Work in tl'ie Taita Gorge was proceeding as rapidly ;is the weather would allow..