“DOES NOT KNOW ROADS POSITION.”

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17880, 23 June 1926, Page 12

“DOES NOT KNOW ROADS POSITION.”

CR. ANDREWS AND / CONTRACTORS’ WORK, j Comment was made yesterday , by Mr Walter Hill, chairman of the Drainage Board, upon the statement of Councillor E. IT. Andrews, to the effect that he only knew of one instance in which a co n tractor fo r the D'ainage Board had paid money to the council for the purpose of putting the road in order after sewage excavations. Councillor Andrews, in the course oi a reply to an article that appeared in the motor section of the “Lyttelton Times” dealing with the condition of Ensor's Road, stated that the council had received £4O from the contractor who had laid the sewer in that road and the whole of that money had been expended. That, as far as he was aware, was the only case in which the council had received money from a contractor for putting a road in order. As showing that Councillor Andrews made the statement without a full knowledge of the facts of the matter, Mr Hill caused a search to be made of the clearances given by the board to its contractors since the drainage works were started. These showed that in every case the contractor had deposited sufficient money with the city engineer to put the roads in order, and in each case had been given a clearance by him. Details of the clearances given by the city engineer are as follow;—January 2S, 1925. F. J. Smith, contractor. Sum of £2O acknowledged by the then city engineer (Mr O. R. A. Da we) for putting parts of Lin wood Avenue, Woodham Road and Rolleston, Patten and Brittan Streets in order after sewer laying. March 19, 1925. F. W. Brightling, .contractor. Deposited sum sufficient to pay for restoring Randolph Street, Linwood Park, Linwood Avenue and Hay Street after sewer-laying. March 24, 1925. B. Moore and Sons, contractors. Sum deposited sufficient to pay for restoring St Andrew’s Square, Norman’s Road, Peel Street and Scarcll’s Road. April 7. 1925. M’Taggart and party, contractors. Sum df £lO deposited for restoring Woodham, Kerr's and Rudd's Roads. Certificate signed by Mr A. R. Galbraith, city engineer. November 7, 1925, W. S. Kingston and party, contractors. Sum of £4O deposited for restoring Lincoln Road. January 14, 1926. T. Phelounp’ contractor. Sum of £4O deposited for restoring Randolph and Bass Streets and Aldwin’s and Ensor’s Roads, also a small piece of Ferry Road. February 21, 1920. B. Moore and Sons, contractors. Sum of £35 deposited for restoring Retreat Road, North Avon Road and North Parade. May 19, 1926. Pheloung and Barnett, Ltd., contractors. Sum of £2O deposited for restoring Lingard, Mathias and Chapter Streets. June 17, 1926. F. W. Brightling, contractor. Sum of £4O deposited for restoring May’s Road, Times Road, Flockton Street, Rutland Street. Westminster Street and Stapleton’s Road. When the certificate has been received from the City Council that the money has been deposited with the council, the Drainage Board has pr.id over the balance of the contract money to the contractors who have thus been relieved of any further responsibility for the condition of streets in which they have carried out excavations.