FRANKLIN COUNTY COUNCIL.

Franklin Times, Volume 9, Issue 637, 31 May 1921, Page 10

FRANKLIN COUNTY COUNCIL.

ENGINEER’S REPORT. At last Wednesday’s meetiiug of the Franklin County Council, the engineer (Mr J. F, McArthur) reported as follows: — Proposed Deviation Manukau Heads to Orua Bay. —An engineering survey has, been made of a deviation to connect up Orua Bay with the Manukau Heads Road. The proposed deviation passes through sections 119, 131, 132 and 140, Awhitu. The total length is 135 chains on an even grade of 1 in .12. Steps should be taken to ascertain compensation for the necessary land required. If satisfactory arrangemetns can be made regarding compensation, I would recommend that the road, as laid off, he legalised. Proposed Deviation, Pollock to Awhitu Central, via Kemp’s.—The deviation passes through sections 39 and 59 Awhitu Parish, the total length being 6 chains. An engineerin survey has been completed and good grades obtained throughout. When the necessary drawings have beer; prepared an estimate will be furnished of the cost of construction. Sops should also be taken to legalise the deviation at an early date. Mercer Quarry.—Since your Council’s recent visit to the Mercer quarry relative to the installation of an up-to-date working plant, I have ascertained from the District Railway Engineer’s olfice at Auckland that a railway siding would be necessary before railway trucks would be permitted to leave the station yard, and also that the cost of constructing a siding as suggested to connect up with the high land would be upwards of £ISOO. I would recommend that a scheme be drawn up providing for a tramline, with engine and trucks, to convey stone from the quarry to the crusher at Mercer station yard. The stone could be- delivered direct to the crusher and elevated from crusher to large hoppers on the railway siding for quick delivery into railway trucks. Government Grants.—A number of proposals for work under Government grants and subsidies were previously submitted to the Public Works’ Department for approval. Notification has now been received that owing to the prevailing financial conditions and the circular letter recently issued to local bodies in connection with road and bridge grants the issue of authority for some of the works has been deferred. The following are the grants and subsidies referred to :—StewartCcwan Road, Hunua ; Patumahoe to Waiau Road ; Drury to Waiuku, via Karaka ; Batty’s Road, Karaka ; Hamilton Road, Buckland ; Awhitu wharf to central ; Pollock Post Office to Awhitu central; Awhitu to Orua Bay, via Tram Gully

As most of the subsidies are proposed to be expended in conjunction with loan monies, I would respectfully suggest to your Council the advisability of making strong representations to the Department regarding the urgency of the works, and request that authority be given for all giants which are proposed to be expended with County special loans.

Advertised Contracs. Contracts were advertised for road works, returnable during the present month, and were dealt with as follows No. 500 : Carting 1000 cubic yards of broken metal from Grimmer’s to Waiuku to Whiri Whiri Road, Conroy. 14s per cubic yard, and W. Hosking, 13s 6d per cubic yard. Neither of these were accepted. No. 501 : Forming and culverting 44 chains' of Batty’s Road, Karaka. Tenders received from M. Short, £155 17s lOd (accepted), and A. J. Moore, £lB4 6s. No. 503 : For the construction of 44 chains of Main Pukekohe West outfall drain. Tender received from S_ Gjegum, £606 (not accepted). No. 504 : Forming and culverting 56 chains of Hogwood’s to Waiau Road. Tenders received from A. J. Moore, £253 12s, T. M. Short, £l7B-4s 6d (accepted), Robinson, and Clark, £lB2 13

Tenders were also invited, returnable on the 7th instant, for Contract No. 502, for the supply and erection of wharf and jetty at New Brighton, situated on the Hauraki Gulf. A tender was received from W. H. Taylor, the price being £2050 10s. As this tender exceeds the estimated cost of the work, I would suggest that the matter be left in the hands of the riding member and myself to let the contract at a reduced price, if possiblt\

A contract has been entered into with Francis Herny for quarrying, spawling and stacking 1000 cubic yards of spawls at ‘•Wells’'” quarry, Waiuku, at 10s 6d per cubic yard, £525. This expenditure will come under the Whirr Whiri loan.

Works generally throughout the County has been progressing satisfactorily. Owing to the fine weather experienced, the teams crushing-, and hauling plant?" have been j working full time a:! d have made good progress with works. Contracts arc being Carried out as oxpeditious- ]•.' as possible, ami the maintenance of roads have been carried out as far los funds would permit.

The report was adopted, and the lecommendations therein are to be given effect t@.