MAIN HIGHWAYS

Hokitika Guardian, 16 February 1925, Page 4

MAIN HIGHWAYS

MEETING OF BOARD. AIANTEN ANCE SUiSbIDJES. WELLINGTON, Feb. 13. _ At the .Main mgnuays Boards monthly meeting, the statement of accounts suDimueu to tue Board showed Unit the tuLal amount paid out by the Board as subsidies towards the cost 01 construction during .January was £2I,4YC, while towards the ol maintenance an amount ot only £7,1)80 was paid. Maintenance is carried out in most cases by the local authorities themselves, after which they make application to tlie Board’s -representative in the district for the Board's subsidy of one-third, hut the local authorities have been so slow in making their claims that out of an amount of £ltl,731. authorised for expenditure, only £38,715 has been applied for, and paid during the period between June Dili. 1 Uif-I, and January 31st.

The failure of Comity Councils to take advantage of the Board s subsidy during the financial year is not viewed with favour, and in consequence ihe following circular has been despatched to local bodies:—The attention of the Board has been drawn to tl’.e very small amount of money so far paid out in some districts for maintenance. It appears that although the Alain Highways Board lias made a sum <>t approximately £l7s.tm available to assist local authorities in maintaining I heir roads, quite a number haw "ot thought it worth flair while to make even an application ior payment ol same. The simplicity ol the information required as set out on the hack of form M.H.B. 13 is such that no expert knowledge is required and a minimum of work is involved, and therefore the Board cannot understand what is the reason that prevents local authorities from submitting their proposals nnd consequently receiving money. As the end of the linaiicinl year is veiy dose, it is hoped that local authorities will make an effort to square up the matter and put in claims as much before that date as possible ill order that there shall not he a large unexpended balance standing in the hooks at the cod of the financial year, which would make it appear as if the amount provided by the Uo\ei nmeiit for use on highways was much greater than what was necessary, and might result, ill a reduction thereof. This would not he to the advantage either of the local authorities or of the highways themselves.” The following is the monthly report of activities of the Board on more important works being carried out in the South Island West port - Nelson. Several small bridges are being rebuilt between A\ cstpnrt and liiangahua. and at liiangahua .1 unction a contract tor a bridge has been cancelled, and the work is being continued by the Buhlic Works Department. Christ cli u rch-Bleu hoi in.— Ihe cylinders of the Clarence River Bridge at I’icr If. are not yet quite completed, but work at Pier C. is in hand. Most, of the materials for the superstructure are on the ground and are being worked up. On the coast road between Knikoura and the Conway a considerable amount of concrete work is being made to protect the road from the erosion of the sea. In spite of pressure hv the Board, the Kaikonra County Council has not yet made a move to restore the Hapuku bridge approaches washed out in Alav. U>23. _ AYaipara-Kaikoura. via C iilverden. - Borings have been taken at the Charwell River site. Extensive Hood dnmuire is being repaired. Proposals for nmtallug a part of the AYhaleshaek MCriiini luivo also lioon roroiveu.

General. It is regrettable that tecic is little to report in connection with opera tons in the South i-11 y speaking, for the whole of the 1 miiiiiiit'ii, Iho i ousciisus of opinion >s tint durt.g the last six months n uuInuance of roads that have been >- . lured main highways has improved in character. Attention has been given to constant grading and dragging ui oravcl roads in narficular, and the •e----sults have been almost. invariable

satinfactorv. Considerable interest is bein'" "instanced in the forthcoming experimental lengths in the Wellington district. The proposed, heavy trafiio reirolalons have been widely di cus cd. especially the allocation of the proceeds ~| 1,,, o'., ■.• id th<' .|iir t inn i frequently 'raised why i lie <bn cum..,l dm-s not hv loan institute a lend Irom which local bodies could provide their quotas, and thus avoid haphazard piecemeal and expensive local loans.