MUNICIPAL PROGRESS.

New Zealand Mail, 17 September 1902, Page 22

MUNICIPAL PROGRESS.

CiTY ENGINEER’S ANNUAL REPORT.

report of Mr R. S. Rounthwaite, City Engineer and Surveyor, for three years ending 31st March, 1902, is a voluminous and comprehensive document. STREET REPAIRS, Etc.

The report shows that the area dealt with in the streets which have been scarified, remetalled with first-class stone. blinded and rolled in the year prior to April, 1902, comprised 13,355 superficial yards. The metal used in renewing Wid repairing streets last year was .is _ follows: —First-class metal, 7107 cubic yards; second-class metal, 4524 cubic yards; second-class spawls, 3105 cubio yards; screenings, blinding and gravel, 2359 cubic yards; total, 17,095 cubic yards. Exclusive of ordinary repairs, the total length of totara kerbing laid down during the year has been 3432 feet; oi concrete kerbing, 4378 feet; of concrete channels, 4224 feet; and of asphalt channels, 3190 feet; 172 feet of concrete kerbing was used in general repairs.

The total area of asphalt footpaths laid down was 6535 superficial yards (including the work done at fire' stations, Basin Reserve, and Council offices), and of concrete flagging 2282 superficial _ yards, including'" floors of tramway shelter sheds, hut exclusive of 370 yards used in ordinary repairs to flagging. In general repairs to footpaths and channels 156 cubic yards of asphalt were used; and 35J yards of asphalt and 161 gallons of tar were sold for private use.

One hundred and ninety-nine superficial yards of concrete flagging were sold for private use, principally for drainage works.

During the year 2591 superficial yards of concrete flagging and 9323 lineal feet of concrete kerbing were manufactured at the Clyde quay yard. The total area of footpaths tarred and sanded was 49,760 superficial yards (101 acres), as against 30.566'superficial yards in the year ending 31st March, 1901.

During the year there was laid down a total area of 6.58 superficial yards of wood block paving. STREET WIDENING.

The following are extracts from the Engineer’s report on street widening:— Adelaide road, Revans street, and Riddiford street.—Since my last report negotiations for the acquisition of properties in these streets have been carried on by Mr Ames, and later by Mr Muir. Arr. lgements have been completed (for the most part privately) with the owners and lessees, except in a few cases which are yet to come before the Compensation Court. Fraser's lane.—Negotiations have also been carried on by Mr Muir with the owners and lessees of the properties effected by this scheme, and as in the case of Adelaide road, almost the whole of the properties have been acquired by private treaty. The only premises which have so far been removed are the old Provincial Hotel at the corner of Molesworth street and a house at the comer of Fraser’s lane and John street. Willis street.—ln furtherance of this scheme the site of the old Trocadero (destroyed by fire) has been secured by private arrangement, as well as the freehold of the frontage north and south of the Trocadero site for a depth of ten feet.

Manners street. —The question of setting back the buildings on the south side of Manners street between the Roya] Oak Hotel and the police station has also been under consideration, and the Public Works Department has been approached in the matter. No definite reply to the proposals made in October last has, however’, been received.

Woolcombe street.—An unsuccessful attempt has also been made to arrange with the owners of property on the West side of this street between Ingestre street and north of Ghuznee street, to cut down the embankments and so widen the street. At the time the cost would have been nil, as contractors were anxious to remove the €a ££b or harbour reclamation purposes. Elizabeth street extension.—ln coiv Eection with this scheme, the interests in the remaining properties on the

south side of this street have been dealt with by private arrangement, whilst the land and property on Town Acre 304 have been taken under tho Public Works Act. The Corporation have removed tho house at the corner of Waipa avenue, whilst other houses and premises adjoining have been sold by auction and removed by the purchasers. TRAMWAYS. In order to facilitate the work of the Electrical Engineer on his arrival, surveys of the whole of the present tram routes were made and detail plans prepared, showing the positions of the existing track, of all sewers and storm water drains, all gas and water mains, and all overhead telegraph, telephone and electric wires, as well as the positions of all posts used for these services. Cros9 sections of the route have also been prepared showing existing levels, with tho object of determining speedily where tho formation of car-riage-ways must be lowered or altered before laying down tho permanent way and street pavement. Old wooden storm water culverts have been taken up in Lambton quay, Willis street, Cuba, street and Courtenay place, and replaced with sanitary pipes, so that it would he unnecessary to disturb the roads for this purpose after the laying down of tramways and permanent pavements have been completed. PUMPING STATION AND EJECTORS. The engines at the air-compressing station have, during the year, made a total of 50,375,570 revolutions, as against 46,905,440 in the previous year, or equal to an increase of 7.4 per cent. The average number of revolutions per day was 138,015, as against 128,508 for last yeai\ or equivalent to the pumping of 1,656,180 gallons of sewage. The coal consumption averaged 3 tons 12 cwt 3qrs per day, which gives lib of coal used for every 203 gallons pumped. Tho actual working expenses in pumping are equivalent to Id per 1000 galThe machinery at the pumping station has all Avorked Avell during the ':-ar, but is now in need of a thorough overhaul. This will b« done when the new triple-expansion engine arrives and is fired in position. The delay m the carrying out of tiie contract for this engine has been most vexatious.

INSPECTION OF NUISANCES, Etc. Mr Doyle reports that during the year the folloAving licenses AA’ero issued:—Stables, 3;. vehicles, 425; drivers and conductors, 439: porters, 21; haAvkers, 12; public halls, 11; sale of dangerous goods, 98; total, 1009. OAAing to the reappearance of the bubonic plague in Australia, four temporary inspectors (assisted by an officer of the Health Department) Avere appointed for a short time during the early part of the year, for the purpose of making a house-to-house inspection tlrroughout the city. The Chief Sanitary Inspector observes:—“lt is most satisfactory to knoAV that,, although many complaints Avere made, no nuisahees of a serious kind Avere found. Where poAver existed necessary action was taken. In other cases cautions as to the necessity of perfect cleanliness Avere given, and very little opposition Avas met with. Bearing in mind the impossibility of enforcing a very high standard of cleanliness, I think I am justified in saying that Wellington is a clean city.” Mr Doyle also expresses the hope' that lie will be able during the current year to make an inspection of the internal- sanitary fittings of every house. He further anticipates difficulty in enforcing the provisions of the recently-framed bylaw as to common lodging houses, and is of opinion that it will be exceedingly difficult to prove that a lodger has been taken in for less than a Aveek. He also refers to the by-law prohibiting the sAveeping of footpaths between the' hours of 8 a.m. and 7 p.m., and considers it exceedingly inconvenient for business people who do not open their shops until 8 o’clock or after.wards.

A large number of iron refuse receptacles have been purchased by and delivered to householders and the owners of dwelling houses. It is most desirable that the by-law with reference to this matter should be rapidly and rigidly enforced. A number of "old buildings, including stables, considered to be insanitary, have, during the year, been inspected by the Health Officers and the Chief Sanitary Inspector, and in the majority of such cases the buildings have been condemned. FIRE' BRIGADE. At the central station a brick shed and coal store have been erected; work has been done, and material supplied, in connection Avith the construction of inspection pit, etc., for steam fire engines; stone tram runners and sett paving have been laid doAvn from the Jervois quay entrance into yard for engine practice; a wood block floor has been laid in loose box; the external wall of superintendent’s residence has been covered with waterproof paint, ind papering and internal painting have also been carried out. Two cottages in Pipilea street have been leased by the Corporation for the purpose of providing a temporary fire station for the Thorndon district. These have been altered and rearranged at a small cost. Tho accommodation, which is sufficient for three men, consists of a reel house, 19 feet by 11 feet, and of a living room, kitchen, tAvo bedrooms, scullery, washhouse, etc.

BUILDING DEPARTMENT. During the year ending the 31st March last, 460 permits Avere issued for the erection of uoav buldings and for the alteration and extension of existing buildings. Of this number 260 Avere in respect of alterations and additions to existing premises, and the remainder in relation to the erection of new buildings, as detailed hereinunder: — Davglling houses, 215; shops and dwellings combined, 19; warehouses, 18; churches, 2; hotel, 1: total, 255. The total estimated value of tho Avork for which permits have been issued was £208,193, as against £205,361 for the preceding year, although the number of buildings AvavS less than in that year. WATERWORKS. During the year, 1526 yards of new mains were laid and 971 yards of old mains taken up. There have been during the year tAvelve cases of defective joints in the 24-inch main on the Hutt road and on the Petone beach, Avhich have been opened out and remade. There Jias also been again one burst main on this road. Within the city there liavo been replaced three 3 inch, seven 4 inch. tAvo 5 inch, and two 6 inch burst mains- • > Tho old ccA r ered race at Wainui-o-mata. being in an exceedingly defective condition, is, in accordance Avith the Council’s decision, being replaced by 30 inch diameter cast iron pipes. These are being laid along the low side of the road to reservoir for a distance of 100 chains, and will be connected to the existing pipe line near the end of the tunnel from Avell, and to the reservoir at a loAver level than the present race. The completion of this work will ensure:—First, the absence of risk from collapse of the race; second, that the Avater now running to -waste from tho race itself, and from the overfloAv at the well, AA’ill be saved; third, that it Avill be possible to draAV off from, the present reservoir to a depth of 9ft 6in, instead of 6ft as noAA*; and fourth, thatby the provision of the Venturi meter the exact quantity of Avater delivered into the city can bo measured. A meter house of brick and concrete, with concrete subway for Venturi tubes, has been erected alongside the pipe line, on land acquired from Mr Wakeham. In this house there is accommodation for .a second recording instrument, which will be required on the future pipe line. In connection AA’ith the question of' an extended AA-ater supply, the Engineer says:—The Council and a special committee have again had under their consideration the proposals previously recommended by me for obtaining a larger AA-ater supply to the city generally, and especially to the higher levels. The aaliolg scheme as submitted was approved of by the Council, but with the object of strengthening the position Avhen the ratepayers Avere asked to sanction a loan for such a considerable sum, it AA-as deemed expedient to submit my proposals to outside professional criticism, and AAith this course I fully concurred, feeling that the best interests of the city AA’Oiild he served thereby. With this object- Messrs Wm Ferguson and R. L. Mestayer, Mems. Inst. C.E., were selected to go through the Avliole of the details of the scheme with me. This naturally involved a large amount of time and labour, necessitating our meeting. on fifty-six occasions. The result of this conference with the gentlemen alluded to Avas that, with trifling exception, they endorsed the proposals submitted by me, as Arell as the estimate of the cost. A. considerable time was spent, by us in carefully considering the details of the water regulations brought doAvn by me in July, 1899. These Avere finally amended, recommended to the Council, and adopted, and are noAA* in operation. The Avliole of the details of this AA-ater supply scheme must be fresh in the minds of Councillors, and it is therefore perhaps unnecessary for me to refer at length to them, hut I should like to take this opportAinity of emphasising the imperative necessity that exists (1) for the construction of an impounding reservoir at Wainui-o-mata, Avith a main connecting Avith the 30-inch main now nearly completed; (2) for laying a neAv 30-inch main across the Little Wainui river, and by way of the road to join the existing main near the Post Office; (3) for acquiring the catchment area at Karori; and (4) for altering and increasing the size of the main reticulation pipes within the city. By specially emphasising the urgent necessity for these particular works, etc., I do not desire in any way to minimise the necessity that also exists for the proposed duplicate main from Wainui, for until this latter work is carried out the higher levels of the city cannot expect to obtain that supply for domestic and fire purposes which they' should have; but the completion of the works before alluded to will give the best results which can be obtained from the present supply. ABATTOIRS. The committee having Charge of this subject has held a considerable number of meetings, and has gone most carefully into the question of how best to comply Avith the provisions of tho Act and at the same time to safeguard the interests of the citizens as consumers Arithout injuriously affecting the position of the butchers. The committee sat- on several occasions to hear the views of the butchers and others interested in the trade, and took their evidence at considerable length before deciding upon any definite course of

action. The difficulty met with at th» outset was principally with reference to the much-vexed question of naddS£ accommodation versus stock-yards siderable diversity of opinion existed £dso with regard to the question ofrit? The main difficulty, hoAvever, whicli the committee has to contend against is the uncertainty as to the number of butchers who will use the public abattoire when constructed. In this matter Wellington differs from the other centres which have not large slaughtering and freezing works in their midst and which are specially exempted uni der the Act. It is therefore impossible to say hoAv many tradesmen will m the future buy their meat from these companies, and how many will kill at tho abattoirs. Any scheme must therefore necessarily be of an experimental or tentative character until these factors are more closely determined.