MAINS AND DRAINS

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 56, 7 March 1930, Page 11

MAINS AND DRAINS

PROGRESS AT PETONE

NECESSARY INCONVENIENCE

Tho reticulation of Petonc with new water pipes is progressing very satisfactorily, and the first section of the scheme, comprising roughly that portion of the borougli west of Nelson street, is practically finished. It is the intention of the Petone Borough Council to proceed at once to reticulate the rest of tho borough streets with tho exception of a few of the newer ones whero new mains will not be .necessary. A second shipment of pipes has left England and should arrive in about five weeks. .• A new pump is to bo installed and three more six-inch artesian wells bored near the jiresent pumping station in Tennyson street. Meanwhile the, contractor (Mr. J. Avenell) and his men, under the supervision of the borough engineer (Mr. C. L. Jackson), are digging up and renovating the Jackson street stormwater drain which has not seen the light of day (except in parts) since it was laid thirty-two years ago. It extends from Gear street (then more euphoniously known as Mayfield terrace) to the Nelson street culvert, which carries its stormwater to the sea. On the eastern side the drain starts at Beach street and extends also to the Nelson street culvert. The amount of fall on both sides is very slight, but sufficient; it is about one in 600. The trouble is that the drain was put in without a proper concrete foundation and generally in a manner not conforming' to modern engineering requirements. As a consequence some of the sections of the car.themvaro pipe broke and others leaked badly at the joints, and the soil around them! washed away. The consequent subsidence of earth is responsible for many of the depressions and potholes in Jackson street. Now, before the street is resurfaced after the laying of water mains, the stormwater drain is receiving attention, the bad pipes being replaced and the joints made secure. As was done when the water mains were laid traffic is diverted from the section-of Jackson • street where work is in progress, for the trench is a deep one with a pile of sand about seven feet high beside it, and it runs along the middle of the road. The sand thrown up has a most unpleasant smell, tut luckily it is wet ana so far has not been blown about into the shops. For this the occupiers, mindful of what happened a few weeks ago with tho dry sand thrown up from the ) water main .trenches, are very glaS, but they will be gladder still when the work is finished on their section of the street and the gang moves away. At present the men arc at the Sydney street-Nelson street block, working towards the Post Office, and with favourable weather should have the work finished in three more weeks. ,