Walter Ernest Bush

“ In the older portions of the City, the sewers were made large enough to carry both sewage and stormwater, but in most of the suburban districts, the reticulation of which was carried out prior to their amalgamation with the City, the provision is not sufficient, and various means have to be adopted for dealing with the stormwater. ”

“ THE WAITAKERE RESERVOIR is situated on the Waitakere Stream, about 14 miles from Auckland. This, the first impounding reservoir constructed by the Council in connection with its gravitation scheme, has a storage capacity of 220 million gallons, and has yielded, with the dry weather flow of the stream, 3 million gallons as its minimum daily supply. The water area of the Reservoir is 64 acres, and the catchment area 2,200 acres. The overflow weir, which is 100 feet long, is situated 580 feet above sea-level and 50 feet above the bed of the stream. ”

“ The swimming pool is 194 feet long, with a maximum width of 149 feet, and is enclosed by massive concrete walls. The natural sea bed forms the bottom of the bath, providing an average depth of water at ordinary tides of 2 feet to 7 feet. Water is obtained from the sea through sluices in the north wall. A hardwood fence has been constructed on the two seaward walls, to ensure the safety of bathers. Commodious dressing sheds, each equipped with shower baths, for women, men, girls, and boys, are placed on the west, east, and south sides of the pond. ”

“ For the carrying out of the maintenance services, and numerous public works executed by direct labour, the Council keeps, in addition to motors, a considerable number of horses. The horses are stabled at various depôts, the principal one being situated on the Council's property, Patteson Street, where a commodious building, containing two storeys of stalls, with lofts, has been erected, giving accommodation for 93 horses, while six loose boxes are provided for horses that are sick or needing special attention. ”

“ The present buildings were erected from the designs of the City Engineer, for the purpose of providing accommodation for firms carrying on business as wholesale fruit and produce auctioneers and merchants.
Building No. 1 is of reinforced concrete frame construction, with brick cavity walls, 11 inches thick in panels. The floors are of reinforced concrete, and the roof is of 24-gauge galvanised corrugated iron. The cost of this building complete was £13,000, the actual floor area provided being 38,628 square feet. ”

“ It is interesting to note that the Council acquired this site on account of its proximity to the waterfront, and subsequently erected buildings to accommodate, amongst others, those who had been its tenants in the old Market buildings, situated near the Town Hall. By this course, the produce business has been more or less confined to one part of the City, thus reducing cartage to a minimum and preventing traffic of produce to and from the
City Markets. ”

“ The building is constructed of reinforced concrete, with panel walls of brick, the pools being entirely of reinforced concrete. The accommodation comprises a swimming bath for men, 100 feet long by 50 feet wide, in a hall 122 feet by 72 feet, with 65 dressing rooms, on top of which is an extensive gallery, capable of seating 450 persons. The women's swimming bath, 60 feet by 30 feet, is in a hall, 82 feet by 57 feet, with 55 dressing rooms. ”

“ Lower Hobson Street, from the low level road to the wharf, was also widened to 100 feet, and a graded road, leading from the high level road connecting with Nelson Street, formed.
Fanshawe Street, from its intersection at Nelson Street to Victoria Park, was increased in width to 100 feet, and from that point northward an extension of Fanshawe Street was constructed as far as Beaumont street. The total cost of carrying out these improvements was £46,646. ”

“ The improvements are, however, of so important a character that the work is fully justified, and it is probable that the increased ratable value of the properties will enable the Council to meet the annual capital charges in connection with the scheme. ”

“ The works carried out include the erection of three reinforced concrete retaining walls, aggregating a total length of 1,775 feet, the construction of a high and a low level road, each 80 feet wide, between Albert and Nelson Streets, and an inclined roadway, 20 feet wide, connecting them at the Hobson Street intersection. ”