PORTOBELLO ROAD BOARD

Evening Star, Issue 15281, 5 September 1913, Page 8

PORTOBELLO ROAD BOARD

Tho monthly meeting yesterday afternoon was attended by Messrs J M. Dickson (chairman). H. V,- Fulton, A. Johnston, W. B. Taverner, H. Allan, T). Seaton, J. Bacon, S. Hinklcy, and J. H. Seaton. —Correspondence.— From the District-Engineer, Public Works Department, advisim* "that in resnect to the Hooper Inlet hill division, the proposed, lino and grade, as shown' on plan supplied by Mr F. J. Williams, were satisfactory.—Received. From J. Clearwater, Bvoad Bay, drawing attention to tho wet si-ate of the'road leading.to-tho .-writer's property, the wetness complained of being caused by a belt of trees about 40ft in height.—Matter to be dealt with by the inspector. From Mr W. Mccdie asking permission to form a footpath, sft wide, along Scott street to the entrance of St. Mary's >Church, Portohello.—Granted. From H.' Forsyth, secretory Hooper Inlet School Committee, conveying a resolution passed by tho committee strongly objecting to the Road Board erecting a flood gate on tho culvert which carried the sea water int:> tho little bay in Hooper Inlet. That portion of the bay from which the beard decided to shut off the salt water was covered with black mud, and if the tide were kept" out the effect would be tr create a nuisar.ee. The school ground was only a few- chains distant from the bay. and in the summer time the smell from the old ditches, which almost surrounded that part of the bay, would,be a menace to the health of the "'school children. Tho clerk further wrote stating that the culvert in the road which ran round tbo head of the bay to the school had been washed away, ami the children could not get across.—The matter of this culvert to be reported on by the inspector: the School Committee to bo informed that tho proposed flood gate was an experiment, and if the results pvoved objectionable it would be removed, but in view of the objection raised by the committee the flood gate would not'now be erected. —Reports.—• The inspector's monthly report stated that the past month had ijeen a very bad one in respect to land slips, the wet weat-har being responsible for a .great many clips, which in numerous places had blocked the roads with rock and debris. The clearing away of these slips was expensive. North-east Harbor subdivision had suffered most from slips. General surface work had also been clone. Bread Bay subdivision : Some fairly large- slip's had occurred at Grassy Point. The lower portion of Mrs Wilson's road had been metalled. Two culverts in this subdivision gave way. hut had been repaired. Portohello Mibdivision ; The removal of slips had caused extra woTk. Three culverts had given way, amd another had been repaired. Tho bridge at North's was giving way, and the eubst'tution of concrete pipes instead of renewing the wood was suggested. A larara slip between Ma can - drews and the Maori line had covered the road for a distance of two chains to a depth of 4ft or sft, and as the material was fairly dry perhaps the best remedy would lie to make the road over the slip temporarily. There were indications of the wall giving way near the bay bridge, and.

something would have to be done before long. A surfaceman wias still removing slips from the road in North-east Harbor. .In view of the amount of earth still on tlt3 road, and the probability of more coming if the wet weather continued, the inspector asked the: board to the ■•■ utility of keeping on the surfacemen for the next'two or three months at least.—The board decided to form the read over the Macandrew slip. It was also decided to keep on the surfacemen from month to month until the extra work entailed by landslips was disposed of.