WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL

Hokitika Guardian, 15 November 1927, Page 4

WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL

OVERSEER’S MONTHLY REPORT.

I have the honour to report upon the progress of works during the month of October. CENTRAL BIDING. McArthur Road Extension. The balance remaining from the grant has lveen expended in extending the formation a further distance of SGO 1 inks. Duck Creek Bridge Renewal. The work of pile driving will commence on tlie 19th inst-. Practically all the necessary limber is on the ground, with pile shoes, pile driving gear, etc. in readiness for the work to commence without delay. MAINTENANCE. Repairs were effected to portions of Lower Kokatahi Road with crushed metal and gravel, and with gravel to portions of Koiterangi, Cropp’s and Municipal Road. Municipal Rond being cut up a good deal by heavy traffic, was repaired over half the distance with rough stone gravel and a quantity of stone broken to metal in some of tho had holes. Rualnpu Road whs dragged with the heavy load drag and the lower portion dressed with fine material. Defective decking was renewed on several bridges in the Kokatahi and Koiterangi district. Repairs were effected to portions of Seddon’s Terrace Road Extension, and wntertables cleaned on Kuniara, Lake Kanieri, and Kokatahi RoiVds. Lang’s Road Outlet Drain and Lang’s Drain, which provide drainage outlet for Kokatahi Road above Kline’s bolding, were cleared of growth and small slips and other obstructions. NORTHERN RIDING. Mnlfroy’s Bridge Repairs. This work was continued and completed under the direction of Bridge Foreman If. Reynolds and a quantity of defective timber removed and replaced. MAINTENANCE. The District Roadman being engaged in tlie Koiterangi district on very urgent work, very little Maintenance work was effected to any of tho roads. A heavy flood which occurred during my absence in South | Westland partly destroyed a culvert cm tho Arnhiira Valley Road a few chains above Two Alile Road. A lord | was constructed on the lower side of I the road to divert truffle, and the* Bridge Foreman has since constructed a .substantial culvert with an increased waterway on the site ot the old | one. Repairs were effected during 1 one day to motor worn holes on Kumnra Road beyond Kapitoa Creek, and watertables cleaned and gorse cleared from Callaghan’s Road. A culvert on Passmore Road with detective decking requires attention, and the necessary timber (10/12 Bx 3) lias boon ordered for repars. SOUTHERN RIDING.

The Roadman attended to repairs to Wanganui Flat. La 'Fontaine, and Petersen Road, also breaking a quantity of metal on the swamp portion of Petersen Road. The 18-incli diameter pipes provided lor the crossing oil Petersen Road above M . Thiele’s residence is not large enough to take the* flood water dining heavy rain and will require supplementing with a second course ol pipes to tie effective. Repairs were completed to the old track across the swamp beyond Mt. Hercules, and .some very had holes repaired on Really Road between Mcßrides Creak Bridge and the Waitangi River. MOTOR TRUCKS.

c |,,n*v (X. Randall, driver) worked 19.1 days. Idle on tho L't and 3rd while the driver was using the road roller. Idle on the l*ltti and 31st the driver being engaged overhauling the County car. Under repairs one day oil the 20th Oetohei . Driven by X. Randall 181 days, and Oil the loth (one day) by G. Morris. Idle on Monday IMth, Labour Day. Carted 330 yards of gravel and mota.l, and two loads of timber to Kokatahi. Csed 132 gallons motor spirit. I,' gallons lubricating oil, 5.1 pints gear oil. No. 2 lorry fG. Morris, driver) worked 231 clays. Idle on the 20th, drivei* was assisting repairing No. I lorry, wet day. fueler repair one day, October loth. Driven by J. Bernhard on Saturday, October Ist. Driven by G. Morris 221 days. Idle , on Monday k’llli. Labour Day. Used j 121) gallons motor spirit, 3.1 gallons | lubricating oil, 1 gallon gear oil. Carted 109 yards gravel, timber from Ho Ho to Duck'Creek Bridge, timber from Kanieri to Duck Creek Bridge, anil limber to Aralmra. \ alley Road, and dragged Kuatapii road three days.

The road roller was operated lor two days on Lower Kokatahi Road. October Ist and 3rd.

Concrete pipe construction was continued at Kaniori under the direction of Air E. Selby.

OVERSEER All LEXER'S SPECIAL REPORT. SOUTHERN AI.ATT.EILS. I have the honour to report having inspected protective work consisting of a stone filled in wooden groin. ■IOO links in lengths, 7 feet in height, and 0 feet in width on top constructed by Air A. Scott on the south hank of the Karangnrua, River, approximately three miles above the line of tho main load, and half a mile above Afr Scott’s residence. The work lias been subjected to two severe floods and at the time of my visit, nearly one chain in length from the bank abutment- bad been washed out, leav- . ing a. break of nearly 200 links be-/ tween the sound portion of groin and the eroded hank. Air Scott informed me that ho intended reconstructing this portion, as soon as tho flood had subsided. The whole of the work before any damage occurred would cust more than £‘loo, and the reconstruction £35 to £lO.

1 also inspected the partly constructed line of road giving access from I ho river to the homestead, a good many places are still rough and soft under traffic, still a great improvement is noticeable where it lias lieon reformed and metalled for some distance during the past six months on a C for £ basis up to- £ls, authorised by CT. Jeffries during his term of Chnirmanshp. The Karnngnnm Cemetery, an area of 200 links by 200 links was next inspected and evidences found of stock straying and damaging portions of a newly made grave. -.At present a small portion of the reserve is enclosed by the settlers fences on each side with a frontage fence to the road the greater portion of the fencing enclosing a gravel reserve existing between tho main road and the Cemetery. Afr J. Condon, Chairman of the’ Advisory Committee informed mo that six barbed wires were necessary to prevent small stock from breaking through and intruding on the ground. The fencing if constructed should consist of heart ol totara posts nine feet apart and sunk two feet below the surface with one eight feet strainer at each corner, and two in the centre of tho frontage where a gate six feet in width should be placed to access to the grounds. The necessary material required will consist- of 2-fcwt of barbed wire at-- 40s, £4 10s; staples, hinges and padlock £1; timber for gate 7s fid, 54 six feet posts at Is fid, £4 Is;'

six straining posts 'at 3s, 18s; construction £t, total cost £l4 10s 6d. Complaints were ma do to mo regarding tlio condition of Hunt’s Beach Road which is in need of repairs, several very had holes and ruts exist between the main road and the bridge, and the watertables requires reopening on the hillside to prevent drainage crossing the roadway. Cost of repairs which I would recommend to be effected, if possible, would amount to 0 days cartage of gravel £7 10s. three days labour cleaning drainage, £2 ss, total cost £lO ss. At Mataimii Cr Jeffries left written instructions to report on the cost of improving the drainage on Loan Block, Hr Brown having reported the waterway of a- culvert being too small to effectively deal with the drainage during wet weather the greater portion in my opinion being caused by the AA'aitangi River overflowing its hanks below the traffic bridge on the Main Highway. To improve the position tiie creek outlet through A\ . Wells holding requires widening, the culvert removing, and an open crossing constructing twenty feet in width, also a drain connection on the upper side of the road to the culvert inlet. Ihe drainage does not damage the road but is an inconvenience to toot traffic. Cost of improvement £l<>. The recent floods have again damaged Richardson Road especially the open crossing where an accident occurred to Mr X. Brown some months since; at present the lower side of the crossing is scoured some two lectin depth below the ordinary le\ el at which it was constructed, and within a foot of the outer wheel rut. Impairs Oil the lilies indicated in my report of some months since will require affecting if the road is to he kept open for traffic ns the overflow during Hood from the Waitangi Biycr does not appear to he abating. Ibe crossing should cither he floored with sawn timber or cribbed and stoned on the lower side at a cost of £lO. The other damage amounts In slight scour wlfich dues not impede traffic. (!. Thompson uses the road every day conveying children to the school at Alatainui and the crossing mentioned would not bo safe during, Hoods.

An erosion on the' south hank ol the Waitangi River which diverts Hood water round R. Graham's mill was also examined. .Mr Graham intends constructing a, small parallel timber and stone groin across a creek mouth to block the overflow it the Council will give- some slight assistance towards the work.

1 inspected Okarito, Richardson. Wataroa Flat, Scully. Loan Block, Wanganui Flat, Peterson's, Haddock, La, Fontaine, Robertson. "Waitahu Beach, Wait-aim Settlement and Rua(upii Roads, and all are in fair order, hut some <>l the roads in the* Watnr.ua district require attention.

STOCK TRACK BET AYE EX LOWER WATAROA AND LITTLE AA’A.NGAXl'l RIVERS.

AIINISTKRtAL BELLA

The following reply was read at the County meeting to-day relative to the above work on mi application for a grant from the Public Works Department:—

“Referring to your letter of Hie 14th ultimo, regarding a stock route betweeen the Lower Wataroa and Little Wanganui Rivers, to connect AVataroa Flat Road with Petersen’s Extension Read. 1 have now to advise that the position concerning this suggested track has lceii enquired into and, from the report received. T find that the length of this track would he approximately Of miles and. in addition, there would he threequarters of a mite of Petersen’s Road to he formed. The track would pa<s through Sect ion 2335. Block 11. Malania S.D.. which is held on lease' by Mr T. Nolan, and for the remainder of the distance through State forest reserve. T understand the country traversed is all covered with hush, and as the land is of poor quality, it would not, he fit for farming purposes.

“It appears that this route would not shorten the length of drive for drovers coining from South AAestland and in any ease', it. is unlikely that drovers would leave the main road, where all the large streams are bridged. to pass over a track on which they would have to lord Hie AAataloa. Little Wanganui, and Big AYangmmi Rivers.

“The estimated cost to form a Oft track, with metal Oft wide, is £3l'vK) exclusive of bridges and compensation to Air Nolan. This sum you will agree, is a large amount and. in the circumstances outlined above, if clues .not appear ns if so large an expenditure is warranted.

“I regret, therefore, that 1 am unable to see my way to favourably meet, your request lor a Government grant for the purpose of having the construction of this track pat ■" ha nd.”