PATANGATA COUNTY

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 152, 15 July 1937, Page 3

PATANGATA COUNTY

Our Own Correspondent.

Engineer's Report on Month*s Work

Froin

WAIPUKURAU, Last Night. Tbe enjeiueer's report to tbe Patangata County Coun.cil on Tuesday was as follows: — Porangahau Riding: Maintenance work only bas been carried out on tbe niain highway. Tbe work on Ropiha's culvert was completed last week, and tenders will be called i:or the filling in a few days. A small bridge is being erected on Woodbank Station. Tbe old bridge near Woodbank Station, on tbe Herbertville road showed signs of collapse, and it was advisable- to put in a 4-ft. line of pipes under same, and tbis bas beeii partly filled and will be completed later towards the summer il tbe bridge bolds up. A new culvert was put in on tbe Weber road and other culverts lengthened. Tbe work on tbe Cook's Tootb road was completed recently and a new I8-inch line of pipes is being put in on tbe hiil. Ihe Booth grader raked in tbe lower Mangaorapa early in tbe montb, and as tbese roads are in iair order it is not considered advisable to start tbe oif bitch work until the spring. Tbe beacb road is in a very rough state, and a start witb tbe patching of this road witb river sbingle will be made at once. Eparaima Riding: Tbe power grader bas raked in tbe main highway during tbe montb, and tbe buildmg.up of tbe outer edges of tbe road near Wanstead is in progress, 180 cubic yards being delivered last montb. This work was let to Mr Maulder at. 4/3 per c.yd. for Lakes road papa, whieh is tbe most suitable material for tbis purpose. A quantity Jias also been delivered on to the Wanstead Gorge hill, wbich was rather dangerous in tbe wet weather. It is too late in tbe season to put tbis road into suitable sbape for metalling. Tbe contractor bas conipleted bis widening contract, and a l'ew otber sections on this hill will be improved before metalling is commenced. Tbe Lakes road is getting in a bad state and patching is necessary until some crushed metal is available. Tbe Bootb grader is now raking in tbe Hunter road and some patching is required and tbe watertables attended to as soon as possible. Some patching is required on Stoddart's road, tbe metal having broken througb on tbe*first hill. Patangata ltiding : Tbe metalling of tbe main nigjiway, Waipawa-Tamumu, is prOgressing well considering tbe weather, for tbe month a total of 580 £ cubic yards of red metal being put out, and 97i cubic yards of screened sbingle. Tbe total output to date is 1028 yards. The roller is consolidating the completed section. Tbe Auto petrol grader raked in tbe Otane-Patangata road during tbe montb and this is now due for anotber trim up. Tbe old riverbed section is ratber rough. Officqrs ot tbe Health Hepartment visited the site of tbe well put in for tbe trial pumping test, and do, not approve tbe taking of water from this source. Tbe objection is tbat the water traverses a swampy area and tbis is not considered in the' best interests of a town supply. Tbe question of a new pumping site is being looked into. ^ Oero Riding : Tbe eoating of tbe main highway witb crushed metal from Waipuna quarry was continued early in the month, but owing to wet weather erushing was stopped. A total of 120 cubic yards was put out on the P,a-tangata-Elsthorpe section and 12 yards of Screened sbingle on the ElsthorpeKairakau road. Tbe grader raked in tbis highway early in the montb, and furtber grading is now required. A,rrangements were made witb Mr Beacbem to put. in tbe filling near McAuley's bridge, but wet weather stopped this work. Tbe price arranged was £15 for tbe job. J. Kuzmick bas asked to be relieved of bis contract at Waipuna, and as anotber 1000 yards are required the contract bas been transferred to M. Gozdin and Co., who bave started tbe work. Tbe new Diesel engine bas been installed at tbis quarry, and was given a day's run last week, 40 yatds being crushed to clean out tbe quarry rn very good time. Tbis engine drives tbe crusher witb the greatest of easo. Tbe overhaul of the'.St. Lawrence road was completed early in tbe montb and a light coat oi metal put on tbis eni! tor a sbort length, 57 yards of screeosbingle being delivered. Tbe metaiimg of tbe Te Apiti road was commenced but was stopped by tbe wet weather, a totql of 9.6 yards of crushed metaJ being put out, and 48 yards of pit metal. Ihe groyne required at the IV Apiti station creek was put in just alter last meetiug. Tbe metalling oi tbis road, wbicb is badly needed, wili be continued wben crusbing. starts agaiu . Tumumu and Pourerere roads: — Tbese bigbways got iuto a very rough state during tbe wet spell. and tbe Leyland lorries put in a few days patcbiug same, 68 c.yds, of red metal bemg put out 011 tbe Tamumu leugtb. Tbe JDiesel grader also raked in tbe road, and it is now in fairly satisfactory eondition. Tbis machine bas been tbrough to tbe coast, and is raking the road on tbe return trip. A ligbt coat of sbingle was put over tbe sections requirxug same. Tbe Long Range road bas been patcbed and ovorhauled by tbe grader axid is now in t'air eondition, though a ligbt coat of screexxed sbingle would make a l)ig improvenxeTit and give a better ruxining surface. Tbe Clareinch road bas also been raked iu witb the grader, and some repairs eifected to the same and patching will be carried out this week. ^Mangatarata Riding: The wet spell has made tbis road rather -greasy in pjaces and the watertables are badly in

ueed oi attention, and a gang will be sent out as soon as possible to atterm to tbis work. Tbe layingeoff of tbe ilangatarata-Long Range road bas been pusbed on during tbe montb, tbe 1 total lengtb of 4 miles 7 cbains being 1 pegged ot£, and tbe bulk of tbe same

traversed. The work is now ready for Lhe surveyor and tbe legalisatiou sliould be put in hand at once. 1 hope to complete the eugineeringi survey dui-ing the coming montb. so tbat tim plans can be proceeded witb.