MOUNT ROSKILL AFFAIRS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19889, 7 March 1928, Page 13

MOUNT ROSKILL AFFAIRS.

CONCRETE ROAD SCHEME. The Mount Roskill Road Board met last evening, the chairman, Mr. E. F. Jones, presiding. , A deputation waited on the board to support a petition from 14 residents of Ridge Road asking for a water supply to that area. The chairman promised that the board would go into the matter. The engineer reported that the symp in Beckenham Avenue had been deepened to 50ft., into open scoria cave formation, and this should improve the storm water condition in the street. The laying of the 9in. storm water sewer in May Koad had been completed, from Martyn Avenue to tb« culvert. The new 4in. main ia Hillsboro Road extension was completed by the contractors on February 21, and satisfactorily tested up to 2001b. to the square inch. Mr. T. Davies reported on the suggestion placed before the district engineer of the Public Works Department in regard to the construction of Mount Albert Road in concrete. On the assumption that the annual cost to the board in maintaining this thoroughfare was £l2oo—and, it had never resulted in securing a good road—he and the chairman had urged that if the Highways Board would subsidise this to the extent of 30s for £l, it would be more satisfactory to accept this proportion, say, £750 of the £I2OO, as an annual c&sh subsidy to go toward the annual interest and sinking fund on a concrete road, for which a loan had already been approved by the Local Government Loans Board. If the Highways Board would make this grant of £760 a year for 30 years,, instead of paying for maintenance, the board would then be able to go to the ratepayers for a much smaller loan, which would probably be carried at a poll. 'This would mean that instead of the hoard and the Highways Board having to meet the ever-increasing expenditure of a secondary road, they would nave a first-class road' at a reasonable cost. The board approved of the proposals of their representatives. A report from the engineer upon the drainage ,of the western area was considered, especially his suggestion that storm water drainage was also required. Mr. Brewer contended that storm water drainage was afcharge against the whole district, whereas the special western area would have to carry the sewer drainage. Mr. Davis thought the only way to cover the sewer drainage would be to consolidate the cost, say, £60,000, with the loan already carried by the eastern part of the district. He questioned whether the board could commit itself to joining the area with the Drainage Board, as this would at once entail a payment pi £12,000, for which a loan poll was required. The district engineer of the Public Works Department advised that the Minister of Health had set up a committee to advise him on the disposal of sewage from the various local districts bordering the two harbours, outside the Auckland and suburban drainage district. He therefore sent an invitation to attend a meeting on Monday afternoon next, in order to discuss the situation and exchange views with the representatives of the Auckland Harbour Board, the Drainage Board and the medical officer of health.

Eleven applications were received for tbe position of caretaker of Waikowhai Park. Mr. Faithful!, a returned soldier, was appointed.

During the past fortnight 12 buildihg permits have been issued, including four dwellings, involving £5310.