CITY ENGINEER SUBMITS REPORT ON BOULEVARD SCHEME.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18452, 1 May 1928, Page 11

CITY ENGINEER SUBMITS REPORT ON BOULEVARD SCHEME.

PUBLIC SUBSCRIPTIONS, WILL BE INVITED. A report of the City Engineer on. the boulevard scheme, which it is proposed should be the Jubilee Memorial of : Christchurch, was presented at ■ last night’s meeting of the City Council, which decided to invite public subscriptions to carry out the work. The engineer’s report was as follows: “The initial proposals embraced a scheme in which the boulevard extended on 'both sides of the river from Swanns Road Bridge downstream to the city boundary. The layout extends in cross section to one and a half chains from the river's edge on either side, and includes grass margins, gravel paths, macadam roadway (ultimately to be tar-sealed), and tar macadam footpath up to the property line. It is intended that a line should be taken at a distance of 33ft back from the property line, the same to indicate the house or building line. By this means it will be possible to plant a double avenue of trees. The offers of land at present extend on the north bank for a distance of some thirty back from Medway Street, and on the south bank for a distance of nineteen and three-quarter chains. There are also, it is understood, further frontages on the south bank whicl\ the owners have expressed themselves willing to transfer to the council at their interview with Mr R. B. Owen.

The estimates detailed below are for the formation of these two sections. 1— -Formation 30 Chains North Side. £ Remove trees 430 Plough, clear and grade 320 40ft Carriageway, tar-sealed.,.. 1800 Footpaths tar macadam 150 Footpaths gravel 20 Kerbing 250 Tree planting 120 £3090 10 per cent contingencies ...... 310 £3400 2 Formation of 193 Chains South Side. £ Clear fencing and trees 200 .Grade and form 260 40ft Carriageway tar-sealed .... 1300 Footpath tar macadam 100 Footpaths, gravel 20 Kerbing 160 Tree planting 80 £2120 10 per cent contingencies 280 £2400

y Apart from any consideration as a Jubilee memoriial the work as outlined above may be taken as ideal for unemployment relief during the forthcoming winter. Assuming the same basis as worked on last year Government relief would be obtained on work where the percentage of labour and material is GO to 40 or over. An analysis of the estimates submitted in the preceding paragraph shows the percentage of la’bour and material as follows:—Total estimate, £5800; labour, £3BOO, 66 per cent; material, £2OOO, 34 per cent. In consideration of any extension of this scheine it fhay be taken on average section one chain of formation, etc., would provide work for eleven men for one week. On this basis the two sections under consideration would provide work for, say, twent}'-two men for six months. It must be clearly borne in mind that certain sections of the river banks arc extremely low, and the average height aimed at for the grass margins and side-walk is 4ft above water level. It is hence extremely difficult to estimate with any degree of accuracy for any extension to the scheme. The whole proposal is tentative, but one salient advantage is that the work is necessary for the develop rnent of the city, and in accordance with town planning principles. Moreover, labour can be increased in proportion, as the frontage owners transfer to the council the necessary lands and the requisite funds are forthcoming for the works*.

In presenting the report the Works Committee recommend that the council invite public subscriptions for carrying out the work on the lines suggested in the City Engineer’s report. An outline of the scheme was given by Councillor E. 11. Andrews, who said that the work would be ideal for the unemployed. He thought it would be advisable to get a start on the work as soon as possible. Some people said that the scheme was fifty years too soon, but in his Opinion it was thirty years, behind the time. The report was adopted.