RETICULATION

Southland Times, Issue 20667, 24 April 1929, Page 9

RETICULATION

STEADY PROGRESS MADE.

SOUTH INVERCARGILL SEWERAGE.

Steady progress has been made with the laying of the South Invercargill sewerage system and the majority of the work has now been completed. The men employed on this work have evidently made good use of their time and have given value for their wages. One of the men engaged on the pipe laying when spoken, to by a Times reporter yesterday said: “The gang engaged on this job could not have been better if they had been picked men. Five men digging kept us busy laying pipes behind them and we had six men following us to fill in.” The trenches dug vary in depth from about five feet to twice that depth and the ground varies in quality. Much of the soil is of a yellow clayey nature, and, appears to make for easy digging, but in some places a hard white clay is met with. The white clay is not the worst, thing the diggers have to contend with, however, for in places a fair amount of timber is buried in the ground, and this has to be cut out piecemeal with axes. The ground is generally in good condition as regards water and the deepest of the trenches are comparatively dry and allow the pipe layers to work in comfort. The crossings from the roadway to the pavement are carefully preserved, the trenches being tunnelled under these, but the householders who have taken a pride in growing a iawn on the roadway fronting many of the properties have had these plots destroyed. Such destruction could not be avoided, and wherever it has occurred the upper sod has .been carefully kept and replaced after the trenches are filled in.

The pipes are placed on the level bottom of the trenches and are securely joined together with a very stiff mixture of cement and sand. The sand and cement are mixed in equal proportions and are tramped to ensure a proper consistency. The mixture produced is sufficiently firm to ensure that it will not force through into the interior of the pipes, and it drys quickly to form a water-tight joint. Right angled joints are put in opposite dwellings and are filled with a blind end. The trenches arc immediately filled in over the pipes and each house connection is carefully marked. The work required to finish the scheme will depend on the number of residences linked up, but it appears likely that the 50 or 60 men at present engaged will be required on the work for another two months at least.