THE MAYOR'S VISIT TO WELLINGTON

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11797, 28 July 1900, Page 10

THE MAYOR'S VISIT TO WELLINGTON

(WELLINGTON AND DFNEDIN COM-

PARED

& PROGRESSIVE PROGRAMME FOR

OUR CITY.

His Worship the Mayor was waited upon by a representative from this paper yesterday in order to get an idea, of the impressions Mr Chisholm formed of the Empire City, and iiow it stood from a municipal point of view with Dunedin.

. In reply to the question as lo whether his .Worship had seen much during his absence which would indicate that Dunedin was behind its sister cities in the north, the Mayor said:

'. " No, I have not. I have no hesitation in saying that I have not. While there may be some matters in connection with municipal work which are done- more effectually and more satisfactorily than they are done here, it is at an enormous expenditure. After what I-have seen in Wellington I do not hesitate to say that Dunedin manages its affairs more economically, although not 'quite so satisfactorily. " Of course, tho comparison I make is chiefly with Wellington, because it was with Wellington I had principally to do when away. Take one matter—namely, the disposal of rubbish. It is a matter of considerable importance to keep the city in a clean and wholesome condition. Without going into details it costs Wellington to effectually dispose of the city refuse £3659 14s 8d per annum. We in Dunedin do the same work nearly as effectually for about £500 per annum."

■ "In ■ Wellington they have the destructor system?" the reporter suggested. His Worship: " Yes. They cart all the city refuse to the destructor, where the whole of it passes through and is burned. In Dunedin yre cart the refuse to the various tips in the city. It is a question of burning the material in Wellington or burying it in Dunedin. So far as the streets and the sanitary state of the ihouses are concerned, it makes no difference ■whatever as to how you dispose of the rubl>ish."

; " Are the Wellington people satisfied with the destructor?"

His Worship: " The destructor was erected about 10 years ago at a cost of £4373. It h not regarded as being quite satisfactory, inasmuch as they propose to increase its capacity for putting through refusp and to introduce forced draught. At the present time the draught is not sufficient to burn the rubbish anything like as effectually as it should be, and the introduction of the forced draught system will entail a considerable expenditure. However, in making a comparison' between "Wellington and Dunedin city proper, it should be stated. that Wellington practically lias no suburbs. The city proper practically does the work of what Dunedin and the suburbs do here. The population of Wellington is approximately 47,000, which is nearly equal to the population of Dunedin and suburbs. At the same time that does not compensate for the large difference of expenditure between the two places in respect of this one matter. In one point they are very far "behind Dunedin, and that is in respect of the covers to the gutters or water tables at the level crossings. These covers have been made of .timber; and it is a very primitive method of constructing them as compared with iron covers in Dunedin. But I may say I was rather impressed with their system of paving the footpaths. The whole length of the footpaths in the principal part of the city is being paved with concrete slabs. It makes a very clean and tidy-looking footpath, and will last five or, six times as long as asphalt. It has also the additional advantage that if any portion of it has to be lifted to get at ■water or gas pipes it can be raised and re-set neatly, while in asphalt paths the surface has to be broken, and it is some time before it xestunes its former appearance." •

" What is the cost of the concrete pavement as compared with asphalt?" was the question iiaturally arising out of the foregoing. His Worship, in replying to it, said: "The concrete is very much more expensive. It is done at a cost of 5s per square yard as compared with Is 6d, the cost of asphalting to the Dunedin Corporation; but one factor that has to be considered- in the matter is that ■while with asphalt you have a constantly recurring expenditure in the way of repairing and top dressing, as soon as the concrete pavement is laid down the work is finished." "How does Wellington stand compared with Dunedin in the matter of street formation?" the reporter asked.

" In the way of street formation," his Worship said, " Wellington is very much ahead of Dunedin. The streets in Wellington in general have very much higher crowns, allowing such a fall to the gutters that the water readily runs off them. The Wellington Corporation have the advantage of possessing a large steam roller. The method is to put on first a considerable depth of metal, and before this is rolled ..the surface is covered with screenings or gravel. The result is a splendid road, hard and smooth. ,1 have seen a cart pass over a portion that had not been made more than 10 minutes previously, and not leave a mark on it."

"Is it an expensive process?" "The cost is very heavy, because during the week I was in Wellington ;the roller was engaged on a surface not larger than 250 ft by 132 ft. The roller is employed with excellent results on the reclaimed ground."

" It was stated that the Wellington Corporation, have got an improved type of dust cart. Did you inspect it?" asked the reporter. ■

His Worship: "I did. The Works Committee t of the Dunedin City Council have been anxious to secure the best type of dust cart that is available. In Wellington,'there are two dust carts with patent covers, which are an immense improvement on anything I have seen elsewhere. They are frfcted with four shutters, which slide into each other, and which, are very effective." " From, a sanitary point of yiew, Wellington is now ahead of Dunedin?" ,

His Worship: "The sanitation of Wellington is infinitely superior to Dunedin. • The drainage system there is a most efficient one. The system is -working remarkably well, and the result is the number of cases of typhoid and other diseases arising out of defective sanitation is nil. Where the hospital used to he full they have now only one or two cases. There is not the slightest doubt that the drainage system has effected a revolution co far as the sanitary state of the city is concerned. Fears were entertained by some people that the system- might get out of order, especially the pumping apparatus, but with the exception of one accident, due to the carelessness of a workman in leaving a Tfalve open, there has not been any defect."

" We are behind in our lighting compared with' Wellington?"

His Worship: "The lighting of Wellington is an improvement on what it is in Dunedin, yet the service there is capable of improvement, because the electric lamps are too far apart. The people there were very much surprised at the proposed increased water scheme for Dunedin failing to secure the necessary votes. They considered Dunedin is blind to its best interests in this respect in not carrying the proposal. In Wellington they seemed to be less afraid of expending money on any improvements of a necessary character than we are in Dunedin. They are more go-ahead in that respect. Their rates, too, are greater than ours. ,For instance, their ordinary municipal rate is 2s sd, while in Dunedin it is Is 9d." "How do they stand with regard to the tramway system?"

His Worship: "They propose purchasing the trams; and running them with electric power. The trams are practically secured to the city. While the present cars are not so comfortable as the Dunedin cars, they are better managed in the respect that they only stop 'at certain stages along the line of route. I was delighted at the way our Tramway Bill was pushed through the Lower House, practically without any amendment." " Tne Dunedin City Council also propose to introduce electric haulage if they secure the trams ? " the reporter inquired.

His Worship: "Yes. The present proposal is to take advantage of water power for the purpose of generating the necessary. electrical installation. For that purpose the water of the Lee Stream and the Taieri have been secured by the corporation. The securing of these water rights have been kept a profound' secret; nobody but myself and the corporation • solicitors knew of it. This was deemed a necessary precaution in order that the corporation might not be forestalled. Now that we have secured the r'ghts, of course there is no reason why secrecy should be observed any longer." "What is the general proposal regarding the utilisation of these rights?"

His Worship: " Generally speaking, the proposal is to erect the generating plant alongside either the Taieri or Lee Stream, and convey the power by wire across the ranges over Flagstaff by way of Roslyn into Dunedin. ■So far as the opinion of eng'neers of eminent standing is concerned, this method of generating power will save the city some thousands of pounds annually, as compared with any other method of getting electrical power. In addition to the amount actually required for tram haulage, the council will have at its disposal for sale to manufacturers and others sufficient power to cover the working expenses in connection with the installation, while there will be power still left for electric lighting if necessary. The corporation gasworks at the

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present time are now being, taxed to their ■utmost capacity. As the city grows the demand will be still greater, and it will be necessary either to increase the works or introduce the electric light. As the corporation will have electrical energy at its disposal if it adopts the .scheme referred to, the electric light will doubtless be introduced. In my opinion the securing of these water rights is the best thing that has ever happened to the city. To take advantage of these rights after the manner I have indicated will be a progressive policy that is suitable to a progressive age. To keep in touch, with the cities in the north and in Australia, we must keep on progressing. The manager of the Westinghouse Brake Company lias expressed the opinion that these water rights are a legacy to the city, and that in America they never think of utilising any other power for generating electricity if water power is available."

After some further general remarks, the interview terminated.