WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL

Hokitika Guardian, 8 December 1925, Page 4

WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL

TUESDAYDEC. Bth. OVERSEER’S MONTHLY REPORT .1 have the honour to report having inspected Hungorford’s Bridge, as instructed and found some of the lower chords, transomes, decking, etc., in a very had condition. One of the lower chords, of feet by 14 by l‘-L on tllC> north side is broken, and this portion is ready to collapse into the river at any time. One of the lower chords in the second span is broken and gradually parting for a general collapse, in fact the decking should he removed

from the first span to prevent loot 1i n Hie using lint structure. otherwise there will he an accident, as the worst spans are over the water. Several <>t the chords on the dry land, also transomes, and lop chords are had. and 7per cent of the decking is badly decayed and a good many broken into bad holes. It is dangerous to walk era the decking, unless immediately over the railbeams which the decking rest- upon. There is a quantity <d fulrly useful timber, also ironwork, that would he of service, if dismantled. The restoration of the portion standing, exclusive of the gap of 120 ieot. that require- bridging to reach the liortliron bank, would cost at least £2909. The design of the bridge is antiquated, involving the use ol ton much timber in each span, and in lengths not easily obtainable, unless at an exliorhitant price at the present time, fit conclusion, f wish to state that the condition of the spans aflected by Hood, do not constitute a danger

10 Mall’rev's Bridge, as they are too nns oim! lo he carried 100 yard- dow nsiream intact during high flood. I have also Lo repaid upon the application of Messrs Perry and Coy. to cross Kakanotahi Bridge and north approach with a tramway line. If the application is granted if will ho necessary to widen the southern approach for six fool in width and hall a chain in length on the inside of the curve.. Traffic planking three loot in width on each side of the rails in broken lengths, and for the full length ol the bridge, should also he laid down to prevent undue wearing of the bridge planking hv heavy traffic being conlinod by the rails to one course as is the case on Mikoinii Bridge. Traffic planking will also prevent the destruction of tyres of motors by coming ill contact with the iron dogs that secure the rails to the decking. The northern apnroaeh will also require regrading and filling in to one grade, lor 2no links in length. As mentioned in the application, it will

!,.. necessary to use Waitaha .Settlement Road for haulage of sawn timber it the application to cross the bridge is refused: this would he very costly and almost impossible to keep Maitaha Settlement Road in order for heavy traffic. The emit of traffic plunking Kakapotahi Bridge would he to2 12s (id. 2.73(1 superficial feet of sawn timber being necessary lor the work. FLOOR DAMAGE. CENTRAL HIDING. The Lower Kokatahi Road although subjected to the heaviest flood b>r years, was not damaged, beyond -light scouring between White Greek Bridge and Kanieri. The upper end ol Kokninhi Bridge Protection about 111 chains above Kokatahi Bridge, was destroyed for 3do links in length the hank being eroded lor approximately 29 feet in width .over distance of ten chains in length. The upper portion of approximately 7 chains in length was unprotected, and it was here that the erosion commenced. and extending downsiream cut in behind the protective work and destroyed it as far as the head ol the old work, which is fairly solid with willow growth and not easily destroyed, unless the erosion extends behind the willows. The cost, of rendering the old work safe from future Hoods lor a distance el ti.lo links, will he £2OO. The new ly const met ed work stood well enough although subjected to ■' 1 1 eavv Mtottr ai the lower end. and £l*l will he nece'Sary io cover the east ol haulage and placing ol several large irons in He si ream to prevent further scon r. The lower end of the hank below the newly const meted work and Iho funl (TOixM Mil U Kokatahi River, lias been eroded live feet ill width for a distance of :Q links, ami at present p appears as if the erosion, if not I lln eked, will extend at ro>s the road approach t > tin- ford crossing. I !><• protect ion ol this pottion will cost £3l). The roads in the Kuilcrangi di-ti b l suli'ered only .-light -cour-. Lake Eunice: road ami hi idge -n laiigd no damage of am consequence. XOHTHKKN BIDING. Araliura River I’roteei inn. South Bank. This work, im hiding lie* wire net and stone stop hank across the co erlio-.v channel between Palmer's Greek and Malfr.iy's Bridge, sustained very little damage beyond the displacement ol small portions ol the scrub faring along the hank which cun he renewed with a small load of manuka scrub. The protective work' on the north sid: cl i ;, e river above Malfruy's Bridge, w hich has been roust meted in short sections at a very low cost extending over four or live years, was badly scoured, hul could be restored and rendered sole by linking the hank over l lie old work w ith manuka scrub sheathing and lower loaded Lisoino. at a cost ol £7o. GENERAL. ■'The lie,ml of file 21st of November last caused a portion of lie eastern approach to Doughboy Creek Bridge lo subside, rendering Hie road unsafe lor vehide Ir.illie. Repairs were elfeeled nt a cost of £2 IPs. This bridge appears lo be shaky during high Hood, and will he examined as soon as the creek regains its normal level. 1 have examined most, of the bridges and culverts on the various roads in the Northern, Central, and a portion of the (Southern .Ridings, and there does not appear to he any serious damage io report. LORRY HIRE.

I have lo report, that I lit* Ross Lime Coy. had their Duplex Lorry repaired and if will he used for a week, free of charge, to cart: concrete pipes from the Ross Railway Station to Waitaha Sol l lenient Road. If the machine proves suitable, timber will he carted from Kakapotahi Bridge to Robertson Road for culvert construction. Afterwards Waitaha Beach and Waitaha Settlement Roads will be cleaned with large grader, also; I lie first portion of

Bold Head Road as far as Mitchell's. ,Woo!hou-e Road and Ruatapu Road will he treated as the machine returns north. If found suitable, all the principal roads in the Central and a portion of the Northern Riding will he graded, and the lorry used for cartage of pipes, bridge timber, etc. This will allow the County lorry to he used on road work only, and relieve the present congestion which lias increased owing to the continued wet weather which itas prevented work being effected to roads dependant oil river beach gravel being obtained for repairs. The Ross l.ime Coy. will accept any rent, the Council wish to oiler, provided the machine is found .suitable for County work, and in a condition to haul reasonable loads. If it is found unsuitable alter a trial of one week, it will hr handed hack to Iho l.ime Coy. without any cost to the Westland Comity Council. The value of a suitable lorry for road work cannot be over-estimated and on occasions the County lorry inis taken a load of limber or pipes to Kokatahi. while hauling the grader at work belli ml it. This cannot he done with another class of machine, especially a tractor which, is too light for heavy traction purposes. When the Wear grader, a combination of traitor. grader and scarifier, was operating on Hokitika-fin it llau Road some months since, it was found to he useless unless for light work, for when the blade of tlie grader was forced into the material to he removed from the road edge, the fore-carriage wheels of the tractor would skid off the load.