WAIPAWA COUNTY

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 45, 9 March 1937, Page 15

WAIPAWA COUNTY

Eftgineer's Report on Roads and Bridges (From Our Gwn Correspondent.) WAIPAWA, Last night. The folloWiiig report wae presented by the engineer, Mfi V. E. Douglas, at to-day's meetiug of the Waipawa Couiity Gouneil:— = 1 Waipawa Riding. The grader worted on riding roads for 12 (,,days draring the month, whilo eight lorry dayS wer'e spfeilt ia general iuaintenaiiee Snd patching, duriag which 25 ciibic yards 6f xiietal -was used in patching, prinflipally on xepairs to Fould's' cutting and Makarora cut1 ting. The Te Onepu road was inspected. A very little patching is necesaary and will be carried out by the Leyland lorry when it is available. The road will require remetalling in anothttf year. The approaches to the Sports Club gates at Tikokino were metalled. The horse grader worked on College and Argyll-Otane Toads for 19 days dufing the month, It has now moyed out of the riding. Onga Riding. The grader worked oii riding roads for li^ days during the month, while five 3-4tlx lorry and l! l-4th labour days Were spent in genei'al inaintenafice, during which 33 Cubie yards of metal was spread. The Blackburn road Was inspected with Mf. Gray, with refefence to the improvement of corners. The Pendle Hill road was inspected. Goree ie yery bad beyond the suspensioh bridge and is the chief cause oi the troaible. A small amotint of patching is required. The North BloCk road is ih a very bad state and reqtiires a considerabie afnoiint of work. Some patching Was done oii this road between the school ahd Carson's. The Wakarara foad was also patched. The horse grader has commeneed Work on Lindsay foad, Noxious weeds were eleared from the fouf reserves in this riding. Slips were eleared and water-tables opened up on the Hinerua road, Hinerua Hill road and Alder's road. Clinton Riding. The gradef worked on riding roads fOf 9i days during the inonth, while 10 lorry and six labour days were spent on general maintenance and patching. The temporary bridge 'at O 'Callagliart 's on the South Makaretu road was moved fco allow the new bridge to be built. A total of 75 eubic yards of metal ahd lilling was used on this work and in general patching. The far end of Black's road was inspected and the culvert crossing widened, and some metailing of ruts Was carried oiit. More work is still required here and will be carried out when a lorry is available. Blackberry w&s cut from Sherwood plantatioh. Takapau Riding. The grader worked in this riding for one day during the month, and 12 l-8th, lorry days were spent in general maintenance and metailing. A total of 197$ cubic yafds of shingle was spread cn the Rangitoto road between Poulton's and McLeod 's. The metal has been spread fairly lightly for a flrst coat, but as the road is narrow and lightly trafficked it would not be advisable to spread more at one time. A dump is being made by Poulton 's for future patching which may become ttecessary. A pedestriah crossing has been put in at Takapau. Maia Bridges* Balfour 'a Bridge?--- The temporary jjiles holding the damaged span have how been removed. The river is taking up a very dangefous course at this bridge, ahd it would appear that some expensive form of groyne is required to bring it under the bridge. I am considering building a gravel bank with the winch and scoop, which would be fairly inexpensive and might attain the desired obect. Tikokino Bridge. — The approaches have now been completed and the bridge is open to traffic. O 'Callaghan 's Bridge, — » W Ork has been commeneed and the deek will probably be installed this week. The temporary bridge was moved over to one side during the month to enable the new bridge to be built. Tenders have been called for this meeting for filling the approaches and construction of the road on either side of the flll. Carlyon 's Bridge. — Tliis is now completed. Tenders for approaches are called for this meeting, Mill. Road (Clinton) Washout. — The Publie Works Department approved of the work being carried out by County labour. Work will be commeneed when opportuhity ofEers. McLeod 's Bridge. — It has been decided, after consultation with the Publie Works Department and the contractor, to replace the original foundation design by a piled design of structure. The new design has been prepared and approved and the contractor has cast the necessary piles. No iucrease in the contract pxice is involved. Mangatewai Bridge, — It is hoped to have the Waipawa approach sealed for half a chain before this meeting.

Maia Highways- ' The survey of oue mile througli Tiko■dno has been completed and draft plans prepared, Would the Council authorise the forwarding of these to the Main Highways Board for approval 1 when completed? Napier-Palmerston State Highway,-*-Considerabie work has been carried out uear Otane in surfacing with pre-mix the Rve chains left unsealed last year ■itid in improving a defective portion. Allogether 15 yards of pre-mix, 52 ,alions of pre-mix, and 28 cubic yards >f pit metal were used on this work. •atching was also carried out between kaipawa and Waipukurau, where 2$ • cubie yards of pre-mix and 12 yards of red metal were used. Some repairs were carried out to the Waipawa traffio bridge, where extensive replacement of defective decMng is becoming necessary. Fernhill - Takapau. — Maintenance: The grader worked on this highway for eight days during the month, and otio lorry day was spent in general main- ; tenance, when soven cubic yards of metal was used in patching. Tikokino Bridge: The approaches have been

filled and the road is now open to trafifc over 200 yards being used. Waipawa-Pourerere.- — Maintenance: The grader worked on this highway for 2$ days during the period. Keconstruetion of one mile: Work has beeu commeneed on reconstruction of foundation preparatory to sealj.ng next year, and 202 cubic yards have been delivered and spread. Waipawa - Tikokino.- — - The grader worked on this highway for 4$ .days during the mdnth, and 1 2-8th. lorry days were spent in general maintenance and patching, during which 12$ cubic yards of metal was spread. Waipawa-Onga Onga.— Maintenance: The grader worked on this highway for five days during the month. Reconstruction of one mile. Waipawa end; Work has been commeneed on the reconstruction of foundation preparatory to sealing next year, and 108 cubic yards were delivered and spread. Waipukurau-Matamau.— The grader worked for one day during the month on this highway, and five lorry days were spent in general maintenance and patching, during which 68$ cubic yards of metal Were spread, and which 62$ yards were used in impfoving the bad comer between Takapau and Whenuahou and in repairing approaches to the bridge, General

Staff.-— A, F. Rosebeek, of Napier, was appointed to the position of rnechanic and commeneed his duties on* February 18. Tools and Plant.— The crlisher' has been set up at the Manawatu bridge,, near Kopua, and commeneed crushing on February 15, and worked for ten days during the month. The output was 199$ yards for that timo, due to the metal not being as.free as at othdr sites and to trouble with tlie contractor 's winch gear. In eoiinection with the use of this plant on highways work 1 would draw the Council 's altention to the inadequate hire late olfered.