WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL

Hokitika Guardian, 23 May 1923, Page 4

WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL

OVEItSEISR MTLLNER’S REPORT. Report on tlie progress of works during tho last week in April, and up to .Mav JOtli. inclusive. NORTHERN RIDING. Roadman G. Holley attended to the clearing and cleaning of the large drain on I lukitika-Kumara, road near J. Alnndy’s Yards, re-opening of a hex culvert beyond Stafford School, that was blocked with gravel and debris causing drainage to be diverted on to the road, also renewal of decking on Wuiniea Creek Bridge beyond Stafford township, repairing motor-worn holes, and clearing gorse growth, and clearing water tables on the hill below Kelly's Terrace. Repairs were effected by Roadman Oldrog to Tcremakau Settlement Road, consisting of patching ruts and bad holes with gravel, removal of slip and cleaning and clearing gorse and .scrub, re-opening watertables, and repairing motor worn holes on the road with broken metal and gravel. CENTRAL RIDING. Kokatahi Bridge repairs were continued under the direction of Bridge foreman Boucher, excellent progress being maintained for the period. The whole of the lower chords have been renewed in all the spans, excepting three spans at the northern end of the bridge, repairs to this portion will not In' as costly a s the stream piers as temporary piles will not require to be driven, the under-structure being .supported by trestles sunk below the surface level of the river beach. The following faulty timber was removed aud replaced. Lower chords 13 x 8, 2/38. 3/27. 2/22 ; transomes Id x 4J. 1/20, 1 18: struts |() x 7, 1 Id; struts d x 4, 10 10; hack stays 8 x d, 44 x 14. cor NT Y WORKS.

Roadman Dale attended to repairs mi Upper Kokatahi to Doughboy and Uppci Municipal Roads, the material used being carted by the County motor I ruck. The Roadman also attended to repairs of large motor worn holes in Kanieii Road ami the lower end of Kokatahi Road and repairs to Blue Spur Road, between linn Jiau and Bernan’s Creek. The material used on Kokatahi Road and Kanieri Road consisted of broken metal, blinded with gravel, and pit gravel on Blue Spur Road. Roadman W. Holley attended to clearing of fallen timber and renewal of decking on several culverts on Ross road, repairs of had holes on Ho-kitika-Kanieri Road, aud assisted by Roadman Dale placed traffic planking on Shenandoah Creek Bridge, and from the I 1 th to the IDtli has been assisting F. Selby in com rete pipe const ruction at Kanieri Yard. Residents in the vicinity oF Shenandoah Creek Bridge appreciate the action of the Council in promptly placing traffic planking in position, resulting in the elimination of all noise and shock, formerly caused In heavily laden motors rros ing the bridge. Watcr-taliles were (leaned on Seddon Terrace. J lokit ika-l lan Halt and Blue Spur Roads, blackberry and ip rsc c leared from Ruatapu-Beach Road, the upper end of Lake Kanieii Road repaired, the bottom cut back to the perpendicular lace of Striplaiid Creek gravel pit, and a foot plank dressed ami fool-bridge erected over a creek near Dorothy Falls. Lake Kanieri. Lake Arthur Track was cleared of growth and rendered passable to horse traffic. Tonroha Sheep Track on ‘the southern bank of the Kokatahi River was cleared and placed in rough order. 'fhe construction of concrete pipes was continued at the Kanieri l ard and 29; I2in. diameter, 2018 m. and 7 oGin. diameter pipes were constructed; ]9 12 in.. 10/lSiii. and 7'3ciin. pipes were taken out of the moulds to harden before Using; It. 1 l2iu. and 10/ISin. diameter are still in tile moulds ready lor removal cm .Ray 21st. The amount of material used consists of 31 bags of cemri'.l and 9 cubic yards of sand and gravel. The amount of cement required during the next three months wii I” 3'. to J tons. SOFTIJKRN RIDING. ! Roadman Whiii-.ki attended to r<-; pair-, of the various roads in the llari Jfnri district, including very urgent repairs to the iiiiinei.'iilod portuii of J'etersep Road Extension, which was in very had order for wheel traffic, hut is now lind; metalled six incites it; height.

i -.cr a di: lance of eighteen chain,. Happy Valley Track clearing and repair, were continued by Headman Wriirhl. who al-o attended la repairs on Waifalia Beach and Allen's Road. TREASURER’S REPORT. ROAD-MAKING PLANT. With respect to the request for a report regarding tiie purchase of readmaking plant, 1 1 1 eg to advi-e you that Booth MacDonald and Company, Ltd. of Christchurch have been ’ communicated with and from prices quoted, the following are tho approximate figures for the plant, which have been .spoken

Acme stone crusher 550 Portable oil engine 330 Elevator 140 Petrol driven road roller 1 10 tons) 1000 Road scarifier 225 Freight aud setting up charges 155 3090 Approximately, therefore, the stone (rushing plant independent of Cue roller, cost about £],300, and the roller, scarifier, etc. 22.000. If purchasing the crushing plant only. .250') would he required to he paid on delivery, and the remaining half in twelve months. If the full plant suggested were purchased, £IOO9 would he required to be paid ■'li delivery and the remainder iu three equal payments over twelve monthly period, spread over a period of three years. In the event of the steam roller being obtained, it is probable that the pert-able oil engine could he dispensed

'.vitli mill it would lie optional whether n road scarifier would be obtained at this stage. which would mal;e a dhTer- < nte in the cost of about £li'J;) less. hooking into the finaueial side id the p-ropedtiou and the terms suggested, .it would not be an undue strain on the finances to procure the plant either in part or in whole, it is gathered iroin the Overseer’s report that the stone breaker is on essential requirement and the material it would produce would result in considerable saving in the end in road maintenance. 'I lie road roller would contribute greatly to the more effective construction and maintenance of the principal roads, and there would be a saving in future repairs in that direction also. With regard to motor rollers, it is possible to procure a. 3 ton roller for £550, 7 tons for £1,150 and 8 tons for £1.250. The matter, therefore, resolved itself for consideration bv the Council, and in tliis connection it lias been suggestcd that the members might inspect the road roller now operating in the Grey County and at present working on i’nroa Road. Tf the members could make it convenient to visit the locality to-morrow or later, the machine could bo s:cn in operation and the class of work performed could be noted, and a decision would probably be reached more sa tisfaelorily. It is suggested, therefore, that if convenient to make the visit to-morrow, that consideration of the matter should be adjourned until after the detuni from the north, when tho members could meet immediately and decide on the steps, to be taken. If in the affirmative it is suggested that the Overseer should proceed to Christchurch where plants are already in operation and could form an idea as to the size of the Stone Breaker actually dequired to suit local conditions and otherwise to glean information, which no doubt would be very useful in the operation of the plant if installed in this County. In view of the long length of main roads now coming under the control of the Council it will be necesnrry to pay attention to the maintenance of the road surface, and as the Council is about to impose a special tas on motor vehicles, there will be a source of income, which could be car-marked, as it were, for the payment of the plant, and in this way the charge would not fall so directly on the general ratepayers, many of whom in the more remote parts of the County, would not be receiving direct benefits from the local use of the machinery, but it is hoped in the course of time, to move the plant from point to point and to deal with all the principal district roads ot the County, in addition to the main roads under local control.