ROAD WORKS IN FRANKLIN.

Franklin Times, Volume 9, Issue 631, 10 May 1921, Page 2

ROAD WORKS IN FRANKLIN.

ENGINEER’S REPORT. At Thursday’s meeting of the Franklin County Council, the engineer (Mr J. F. McArthur) reported as follows : Coast 'Road, Hauraki Gulf.—A letter was received at a previous meeting of your Council requesting that some improvements be made to the above road. The portion of road referred to is situated between New Brighton and the County boundary at “Bell’s” passing through Wharekawa, No. 5, Block 11., Mangatangi S.D.

During the month an inspection was made of the road in question, and it was found to be impassable; although surveyed, the exact line of road could not be followed. Before any definite idea of what work is required can he arrived at, the original survey will require to be re-defined ; arrangements are now made for this tc he done, the necessary data being procure! from the Survey Office at Auckland.

Wairoa Falls Access Road.—This pioposed road, if acquired, would give direct access to the Wairoa Falls, Hunua. Mr Pratten, owner of the property through which the proposed road would pass, has expressed his willingness to give the necessary land free, provided a fence is erected on one side. After inspection; it was thought best to define the line of road before accepting Mr Pratten’s offer. An engineering survey will be made during the present month, and a further report furnished on the matter at an early date.

Proposed Deviation, Manukau Heads to Qrua Bay.—ln company with Councillor Mellsop, I made a rough inspection of the different proposed routes for this deviation, and found it probable that a grade could be procured of 1 in 12 to 13. The giades of the present road in places aie 1 in fi to 7. In my opinion a definite engineering survey should be made on the best route available and if the grades as mentioned above can be obtained steps be taken to legalise the,road to connect up Orua Bhv with the Awhitu to Manukau Heads Road.

Pongs Road.—A deputation from the Ponga district waited on vour Council at a recent meeting regarding improvements required on this road. Arrangements are now being made for repairing the worst portion of the road, and also for re-forming and metalling School Hill. When the work, as arranged, is completed, the road will be much improved.

Advertised Contracts.— Contracts aic advertised for works as follows : No. 500, carting- 1000 cubic yards of broken metal from Glimmer's, Waiuku, to Whirl Road : No. 501, forming and culverting- 44 chains of Batty’s Road, Karaka: No. 502 r supply and erection of wharf and jetty at New Brighton, situated on the Hauraki Gulf. The jetty comprises 15 twenty feet spans, and the wharf is 31 feet in length. The total length of the structure is 331 feet. No. 503. construction of 44 chains main out-fall drain, Pukekohe West Drainage District; No. 504, forming and culverting chains of Hogwoods’s to Waiau Road. T would suggest that the matter of dealing with tenders received for these contracts .be left to the numbers inte-rested and mvself.

' Final Payments on Contracts.— Final payments appear in the list of accounts presented to your Council for payment, namely, No. 405, gravelling Stubbs 5 Road, Maurigatawhiri to Mangatangi, G. H. Stubbs ; No. 488, forming portion Awlntn Central to West Coast Road. Awhitu, A. J. Maguire ; No. 489, forming a portion of Graham’s beach to Palmer’s. I Awhitu, J. S. L. Walters , No. 4J>7, carting broken metal from Karaka quarry to Waiuku-Drury Road, FletIcher and Percival; No. 497 a, forming a portion of Waiau-Papa-Icura Road, T. H. O’Brien ; No. 498, forming Grant’s Road, Karaka, T. H. O’Brien ; No. 368, supply and delivery of spawls at Patumahoe, J. Brady ; No. 384, supply and delivery of spawls, Waiuku-Drury Road at Glenbrook ; No. 10, carting spawls from Coughlin’s quarry to Puni Reserve, Puni. Crushing Plants.—The No. 1 crushing plant is engaged crushing stone for the Patumahoe to Waiau Road. The No. 2 plant is crushing stone obtained from Murphy’s quarry, Pura. Pura, for metalling Arrowsville j Road, Aka Aka. Thorneycroft Motor Trucks. The J four trucks are at present engaged i conveying metal to the Patumahoe- | Waiau Road from the No. 1 crush--1 ing plant Owing to the wet weather experienced during the past month the motor trucks were unable for some days to convey metal over the clay roads at Waiau ; during this period they were employed carting . metal for repairs from Drury and Pukekohe railway stations, and from Maketu quarry. Teams Plant.—The No. I__ County teams plant is at present employed fonning the Paerata to Runciman Road, StSwart’s Hill, and also carting; metal from the Paerata station to the Paerata-Karaka Road, The No. 2 plant has completed the formation as far as possible on Beach Road, Papakura, and is now engaged forming roads on Karaka Point. The No. 3 plant is engaged forming and improving roads- in the Pukekohe West Ridig.

Works generally throughout the County are progressing satisfactorily. Contacts in progress are being pushed ahead, and the surface work and maintenance of roads is being done as Expeditiously as possible.” The report was adopted.