AROUND THE BOROUGH

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXV, Issue 3304, 16 May 1931, Page 2

AROUND THE BOROUGH

WORKS AND MAINTENANCE. REPORT BY ENGINEER. The engineer, Mr. B. J. Drake, in his report for the month ending April 30, referred, inter alia, to the following matters concerning operations in the Te Kuiti Borough:— Flood Damage.—The surface of portions of Hill Street, Mangarino Road, King Street, Queen Street, and Rangitoto Road, were fairly well cut about during the extensive rain on the 11th April. These streets are now in fair order, the majority of metal having been recovered. Streets Maintenance.—With the aid of unemployment, streets throughout the bcrough are being thoroughly overhauled, due attention being given to all water-tables and culverts. Streets that have already been complete or in progress of completion are Mangarino Road, Tawa Street, Jennings Street, Rata Street, Hill Street, Queen Street, Hetet’s Road and William Street.

Stone Wall, Te Kumi Road. —The wall and fencing have now been completed over the outlet of the culvert, Te Kumi Road. As soon as the filling has had time to settle and as opportunity offers, the footpath and kerbing will be completed so as to give an unbroken footwalk around this hitherto dangerous corner. Footpaths.—The footpaths in Queen Street, formed by unemployment labour, is still incomplete and is not at present available for pedestrians. Time has been given for the fofmation work to settle and all undulations will be made good. In reference to the exposed waterpipe, I might state that this pipe was originally laid in the position shown with only the grass covering to hide it. As the new service is now complete, and as the footpath will shortly be open to pedestrians this unsightly pipe will be removed. This footpath hardly warranted the necessity of being barricaded, although it should be treated as closed.

Report on Lawrence Street Bridge. —ln an examination of the genej-al structure of this bridge it is found that although the wooden piles supporting the main girders and structure have somewhat become decayed the core of these are still sound, and should last for a few years. Ultimately these piles will have to be replaced, and when so replaced they should consist of reinforced concrete, so constructed as to take a concrete superstructure. The remaining portions of the structure, such as the crossbeams and longitudinal beams, are still in a sound state and there is no reason why a redecking of the whole structure should not be done. The present decking is very unsound and is unsafe, and should be replaced with new decking immediately. The existing steel girders, four in number, are most substantial and with the addition of concrete piles and abutments at some future period, this bridge should last with renewed decking for a good number of years. Using New Zealand timber, the cost of redecking, including the scraping clean and painting of the iron girders, would arnout to £l6O.

Unemployment Relief. —During' the last fortnight unemployed relief workers have been attending to various streets. The work being executed is a general removal of all shoulders, cleaning of watertables, and the tidying up of footpaths. This work is essential as most of the side streets are more or less hollow crowned, and watertables are choked with growth and in some cases with earth and debris. A start has been made in lowering the culvert at the borough boundary, Aharoa Road. During the ensuing l week the removal of the sharp corner on Mangarino Road will be put in progress. RECOMMENDATIONS.

Footpaths.—lt is recommended that with the aid of unemployed that many of the more important footpaths be provided with stone pitched kerb and channels, correctly jointed and pointed. This work would cost only the amount of cement for jointing. All edges of footpaths are to be treated with a coating of spent oxide, which undoubtedly is the best weed killer available, being both effective in its work, and also of permanent qualities. All footpaths would thus be neat and tidy, and the continual recurring cost of chipping would be saved. Culverts. —It is recommended that the following culverts be either removed or made larger: (1) Mangarino Road, below the street (un-named) leading to the residence of Mr. Bathgate and others. At present this pipe is only 8 inches in width, and is totally inadequate to take the quantity of water during normal rainfall, and should be enlarged to 18 inches. With unemployment labour the cost would be £ls; (2) the removal of the present 6 inch culvert at the junction of View Road with Mangarino Road, This culvert discharges at right 'angles to the water table and is a hindrance instead of being a benefit. The corner will be removed and the

water made to discharge into the present 9 inch pipe in Mangarino Road; (3) the present culvert under the Esplanade, next the residence of Mr. Warriner, is too small and should be enlarged. This pipe is 18 inches in diameter. The pipes taken from Rangitoto Road, which are 30 inches in diameter, could be placed here and the 18 inch pipe removed to the culvert recommended above, the whole amount being done by labour only; (4) The 2 feet 6 inches culvert in existence between Princess Street and King Street is too small and should be enlarged to one of 3 feet in diameter. With unemployed labour this would cost approximately £35, a saving of the existing pipes would, however, result; (5) a new culvert under the corner of Anne Street and Seddon Street, is essential. The 12 inch pipes removed from Seddon Street could be used here; (6) On Awakino Hill a 12 inch pipe culvert should be installed above Grey Street, so as to relieve the great length of channel and further culverts lower down. The enlarging or removing of these culverts is essential, as they frequently overflow and scour the surface of the streets in their vicinity. There are a further number which need investi-

gating and this is being attended to. The report, together with recommendations, was adopted.