CONNECTIONS WITH SEWERS ON BLOCK SYSTEM DISCUSSED.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18641, 19 December 1928, Page 14

CONNECTIONS WITH SEWERS ON BLOCK SYSTEM DISCUSSED.

FEW REQUESTS MADE BY CITY COUNCIL

Although the Christchurch Drainage Board, at the request of the local bodies in its district, obtained legislative authority to lay cross-sections on the block system from its sewers to the street boundaries in order to avoid continual trenching of the streets, comparatively little advantage has been taken of’ this authority by the City Council, and at last night’s meeting of the board Mr C. S. M'Cully asked whether there was any reason why such should be the case.

The chairman (Mr 11. J. Otley) replied that the board had written to the City Council stating that it was prepared to go on with the work as soon as the council forwarded particulars of the streets which it desired to have done. “I take it that the council is satisfied to let the connections be made in the usual way, as it has asked us to do a portion of Lincoln Road only,” he added.

Mr H. G. Livingstone said he could not understand the attitude of the City Council. Riccarton had had several streets done on the block system. The Waimairi County Council could have had Fendalton Road done in the same way two or three months ago, but it had not approached the board on the matter. The chairman said that evidently the City Council did not have many streets that needed to be done in this way. The board was quite willing to

help it in any way. Mr J. W. Beanland said that Lincoln Road was being made a main highway, but the other streets which were being reconstructed were fully sewered with the exception of just one or two. When the council contemplated reconstructing Edgeware Road the eastern end should have the cross-sections laid. “The matter goes further than just suiting the local authorities, which wish to lay down streets in permanent materials," said Mr Livingstone. He contended that the motorists deserved consideration. and it was better for everyone that all the trenching should be done at the same time. Moreover, the job could be done cheaper. The chairman: Xo it can’t.

Mr Livingstone: Well, it should be cheaper when a man does a lot of work in the same locality at one time. He moved that the attention of the local authorities be drawn to he matter. Mr A. T. Smith seconded the motion. The chairman said that experience had proved that the job could not be done cheaper unless the complete connection was put in at the same time, in which case there was a saving of about £1 , The motion was carried.