’WARE MOTORISTS!

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12434, 30 April 1926, Page 7

’WARE MOTORISTS!

BIG SUP POSSIBLE WARNING FROM CITY ENGINEER SPOIL FOR NEW RAILWAY The city engineer (Mr A. J. Pateiw son) yesterday -warned the City and Suburban Highways that another big slip was likely to occur on the Hutt road at the same spot where something like 9000-tons of spoil came down last winter. He suggested that precautionary steps should be taken without delay. In his report he stated that two terraces of spoil threatened to give trouble, lor the upper terrace was apparently moving downwuids and pushing on the lower. A big crack had developed beyond the upper mass, wide enough for a man’s leg to go aown. He recommended that a chute, which -would cost perhaps should he installed to take away tho dangerous material before trouble cam© about. Evidently there was a spring area at that spot ani the last slip had torn away the piping. Asked what*chanco the chuie would hare if a slip came down, Mr Paterson replied, “None whatever.”

Mr A. I. Mackay thought the Rail*

way Department would take the spoil for r.se in building the embankment for the proposed deviation. Mr Nathan asked where *he> £2o'.c Would come from. The Mayor: Presumably from fete or other funds in the hands of the board. Mr Nathan said the board would te responsible for the cost- of clearing a slip if it did come down, but there Was a legal point as to whether the board had any power to spend £2OOO to guard against a problematical slipCouncillor H. D. Bennett questioned spending £2OOO in that way without careful consideration. The Mayor agreed that the question as to where the railway was to go end whether the Department would utilise the material were vital points. Councillor W. H. Bennett remarked that if another very wet spell came along enough spoil might come down to block not only the road but also the railway. Surely, then, it would be wise to take precautions right away. “Goodness knows what it might cost us if we wait till it does come down.” “We certainly don’t vvvit dig someone out with the steam’ shovel/' remarked Mr Paterson. It was* agreed that-the Mayor should communicate with the Minister fa Railways on the matter.