AN EARLY START

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20071, 18 October 1939, Page 2

AN EARLY START

SEASON’S pOAD WORK COOK COUNTY PLANS HELP BY DRY WINTER REPORT BY ENGINEER Favourable weather has enabled the Cook County Council to make good progress with the season’s roadin,g progran\me, according to the report of the county engineer, Mr. K. F. Jones, to the council meeting today. “The past month has been a very busy one for all the county staff,” the repoi’t stated, “ancLas the weather has 'bed. generally suitable for construction work an early start has been made on this year’s programme. “Proposals are being prepared as rapidly as possible in connection with all this year’s expenditure from the Main Highways Board and Public Works Department’s funds, and it as hoped to have the works all under way at an early date. “The very dry weather has enabled work to proceed which otherwise would have been held up. In some localities fairly large supplies of spawls are being obtained from the rivers and Reconstruction Work “Highways.—Messrs. W. S. Goosman and Company are making rapid progress with tlieir reconstruction' contracts, and a one-coat seal has been applied to both the PatutahiRere and Gisborne-Ormond, via Waiohika, main highways. Another bitumen coat will be applied at a later date. This completes the bituminising of the Gisborne-Ormond via Waiohika, main highway, and there is no doubt that a considerable portion of the traffic will use this route. Proposals are being prepared for this year’s construction work on the Patutahi-Rerc main highway. “Public Works Department grants. —Good progress also had been made on Brunton’s road and Riverside road reconstruction, where the seal coat is being provided out of the county fund. “.Bridges.—Mr. A. E. Kirk has started once again in driving the piles on Willan’s bridge and it is hoped that satisfactory bearing for the structure will be obtained with the addition of 20ft. to the piles. Stafford’s bridge, Tahunga, was completed and the deck was given a one-coat seal. A start has been made on the strengthening of Trafford’s •bridge at Tahunga and this should be completed at an early date. Where possible smaller bridges in a dangerous state are being replaced bv large-sized concrete pipes and this programme has been steadily carried out as finances permit. Houses for Surfacemen “Housing.—The Tiniroto cottage is now completed and the surfaceman, Mr. Moore, Is in occupation. The rent to be charged for these cottages is 12s Cd where the area does not exceed three acres. The surfaceman’s cottage at Tahunga is practically completed and should be occupied at an early date. As soon as arrangements can be made for the purchase of land, it is proposed to build cottages at Panikau and Mangapoike. An early start will be made with the’ single man’s cottage on the Parikanapa road. “Plantations.— Arrangements have been made for the council’s requirements for .plantation work for next season. During the inspection of Waimata riding with Cr. Tombleson several small areas were noted which might be utilised in connection v/ith plantation work at an early date. These are all part of the road reserve. , “Machinery.—The council have received delivery of bull-dozer equipment, and it will be put into work immediately in connection with this season’s grant works. In view of the possible restriction on the importation of tyres, it is suggested that the council increase its supply of tyres in stock for grading equipment, particularly as these are all large sizes, and are practically unobtainable in New Zealand.' If the council’s finances do not permit purchase at the moment, it is probable that suitable arrangements can be made in order to see that there would be no hold up on the operating of grading equipment. Drainage Proposals “Proposed Pipiwhakao Drainage Area. —A fair amount of data has been prepared in connection with the proposed drainage area in this locality, and as sOon as time permits a report will be prepared in connection with the proposal for submission to the owners concerned. "Te Arai Stream Clearing.—No further progress has been made with this proposal, beyond a discussion which took place with the council’s committee and . the district engineer subsequent to last meeting. It is suggested that a meeting of all those interested in the proposal be called at an early date in order, if possible, to enable the work to proceed during the summer months. "Maintenance Sealing.—A length of about 10 chains of old metal surface on the liangaroa-Tahora road was given a one-coat seal during the month. On the Waimata Valley road a certain amount of gravelling was done prior to one-coat sealing work, which Is now in hand. Both these Works! arc to indicate the ‘ value of one-coat sealing work on main county roads. If this work proves successful no doubt further representations will be made to the Minister of Public Works in. connection with subsidising this type o| work.”