BETTER ROADS

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12355, 27 January 1926, Page 6

BETTER ROADS

DAY’S BAY HIGHWAY, SURFACE TO BE TAR-SEALED “ARE FOUNDATIONS SOUND?” The question of proceeding immediately with the paving of the Day’s Bay road was considered at yesterday’s meeting of tlie City and Suburban Highways Board, when it was decided to proceed with) the work at once. The engineer (Mr A. J. Paterson), in answer to a question from the Mayor, strongly urged that the work be gone on with immediately. ; The work at present in hand in the Ngahauranga Gorge would be completed by Friday evening at latest, and there was no other plaoe for the plant to start unless it began in Cuba street, Petone. There were certain small construction works to be done on the Day’s Bay road, but the paving work could be commenced by the middle of February at latest. , Economically the paving of the Day’s Bay road was a sound proposition. It would be necessary to take over the road this year, and if not paved the cost of maintenance would be very high. 1 Mr H. D. Bennett urged that the road be proceeded with. There was a chance of getting the whole of the work done before the end of the year if they got to work immediately. Mr Mackay moved that Day’s Bay road be taken over by the board as from February Ist, and the paving be proceeded with. The Mayor said that be understood that there was a legal difficulty to taking over the road in February. Ho understood that it would have to he taken over in March.

The city solicitor (Mr J. O’Shea) said that this could be arranged. Permission could be obtained to proceed with the work before the road was actually taken over. JOHNSONVILLE’S CLAIMS Mr E. Windley protested that it bad been promised that when the lower end of Ngahauranga was finished the Johnsonville road should he attacked. If this were not done he considered that Johnsonville would have a definite grievance. Mr S. G. Nathan held that from a motorist’s point of view it was necessary that Day’s Bay road be gone on with immediately. The road was at present in a good condition, and should he kept so. He seconded the motion. Mr A. Moore doubted if the foundation on the Day’B Bay road was sufficiently settled to carry paving. It had been stated definitely by the engineer that it was an economic waste to lay paving on new foundation. On the other hand the Johnsdnville foundation was excellent. , The Mayor said that there was a correct time to do everything, and he did not consider that this was the correct time to begin on Johnsonville. Under present conditions haulage would be a big consideration, and he considered that the woTk should he done later for the Makara county. Mr McEwan protested that it took vears to work up a good foundation. Their experience with the Petone road should convince them of this. He doubted if the foundations of the Day’s Bay road were in a proper condition for paving at present. 'Without an exhaustive examination he would _ object to the work being gone on with.' There was no question of difficulty in providing work for the staff as long as Jackson and Cuba streets were waiting. If the board did not proceed' with this, work Petone would go on with it themselves. NO PAROCHIALISM The Mayor: Mr McEwan’s address was, admirable hut for one fact. That is that he has not considered, sufficiently from a broad point of view what we are going to do about providing work for the staff. If instead of talking about the reauiremente of Petone he would deal with that point, we would be getting further forward. In answer to a question from the Mayor, the engineer stated that but for a short portion the Hutt road was in a condition suitable for surfacing. The only difficulty was that a heavy winter might cause a breach in the revetment, hut that was a difficulty inseparable from any seaward work. After some further discussion, during which the Mayor explained that the work it was suggested doing, wag outside the schedule for the season, hut that it was necessary to proceed with .it in order to keep the men employed, Mr Mackay’s motion was put and carried. It was further decided that Cuba street. Petone, be gone on with during the present season, if time permitted.