Road Work In County Subject Of Engineer's Report

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 16, Issue 15, 3 November 1950, Page 5

Road Work In County Subject Of Engineer's Report

Road and other work in the Whakatane County was reported on as follows by the engineer, Mr C. H. Brebner, to the Whakatane County Council: — Pekatahi Ballast: Approximately 134 cubic yards of gravel has been railed from Pekatahi during the last month. Road Classification Signs: All new road classification signs have been erected throughout the County. No. 19 Fordson Truck: Further trouble has been experienced with this vehicle, a new clutch having had to be fitted. Grader No. 3: Grading has been carried out throughout the plains area. At present this -machine is working on the Te Teko-Galatea road. It was hired to the Whakatane Borough Council for two days. Pekatahi Pipes: An order is being supplied to the Whakatane Borough Council of 111 feet of 36” pipes. Te Teko-Galatea Road: 1212 cubic yards of gravel has been spread on this road up until and including October 16, 1950.

Railway Road East: Rock patching has been carried out; bridge repaired and general maintenance work.

Matchitt’s Corner: The fence has been shifted back, the drain has been dug and a culvert is at present being installed. The formation work will be carried out as soon as No. 3 grader can be spared from Galatea.

Edgecumbe Township: Metal patching has been carried out ex Matata. Wainui Road: Culverts have been repaired; 50 yards of rock patching carried out and rails on a dangerous corner have been repaired. Burma Road: Washouts filled on the Burma Road portion. Stanley Road: Rock patching and scrub cutting carried out. McCoy’s Road: Holes have been repaired and water tables cleared. Ruddick’s Road: Tabling carried out; scrub cut back.

Amokura Road: Since last meeting this road has been metalled, graded and rolled. When the weather becomes more settled this work will be finished. Taneatua Stock Route: This road has been formed and metalled. Taneatua House No. -2: Drainage attended to. Verandah yet to be finished. Selwyn Avenue: - Rock patching carried out; culverts cleaned and drains and flumes cleared. Morrison Street: Drain cleaned in preparation for installing 6” field tiles. A section of road to be sealed this summer will be prepared at an early date. The road connecting the main highway and Morrison’s Street has two bad corners at each end on its southern side. These corners present a danger to school children proceeding between the school and the railway cottages and I would recommend that' consideration be given to the taking of the necessary land and the cutting back of these two corners.

Matata Township: The roads in Matata township have been cleaned up.

Taneatua Domain: The approaches to a culvert under the TaneatuaRuatoki Road opposite the Taneatua Domain have been deepened. Te Teko-Matahina: General maintenance work has been carried out on this road and a new 18” culvert installed.

McLean’s Road: Holes patched with rock from Mokorua quarry. Luxton’s Road: Holes patched with rock from Mokorua quarry. Taneatua-Ruatoki Bridge: A pile has been carted to the bridge site and will be driven by contract, to replace the pile which was broken during a flood some months ago.

Waimana River: No. 15 shovel has been working on a deviation in the Waimana River.

Arawa Road: Culvert cleaned; road patched. Railway Road West: General maintenance, metal patching. Matata-Rotoma: Culvert replaced in new position; washouts filled; scrub cut. McLugan’s Corner: This corner is at present being fenced. The contractor has placed 54 yards of metal on this deviation. Pikowai Road: Maintenance has been carried out. Matata Water Supply: Repairs have been carried out and the dam cleaned. Whakatane House: The additions to thte front of the Whakatane house has now been completed with the exception of the painting. County Bridge Builder: I regret to have to report that Mr Dave Mason who has carried out the duties of bridge builder to this Council for several years past died two weeks ago. Members of the staff attended the funeral.

Minginua Road: The writer with the assistant engineer met Minginui millers and prospective contractor and inspected

the line of the proposed deviation. The survey of this work is now well in hand and it should be pos- ! sible to make a start at an early ctate. Bridge Builder: It will, be necessary to call applications for a new bridge builder but there is little prospect of securing a suitable type of man unless housing can be found for him. I would sugest to the Council that the question of building a limited number of houses for Council employees be given earnest consideration. I find it impossible to get the best type of employees unless the inducement of a County house can be offered. Road Construction and Sealing Ohope Hostel: The writer met interested parties at Ohope and discussed the reconstruction and sealing of the road from the Ohope Hostel to the stream in front of the Captain’s Cabin. As soon, as the large grader is available this work will be commenced. Kirkbride’s Road: A fence has been erected on the upstream piles of Kirkbride’s bridge. The person responsible was notified to shift this fence but took no action. When the County ganger despatched to pull it down he was prevented from doing so by the farmer concerned. This fence could cause serious damage to the bridge in the case of a flood taking place. There would be no objection to the fence being erected below the bridge. Fenton’s Road: Bridge' cleared of sand and decking repaired. Halett’s Road: Drain cleaned. Awaiti Junction River slea-Ota-kiri Road: Metalling carried out opposite store.

Harrison’s Road: Graded and metalled.