WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 January 1929, Page 2

WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 8, 1929. ()VMR,SEEK'S MONTHLY REPORT. I have the honour to report upon the progress of work during the mouth of December. NORTHERN RIDING. One Mile Road Bridge. This work was coiuinenml under the direction of Bridge Foreman H. Reynolds who lost no time in completing the pile driving, bridges and approach construction sufficiently to allow the bridge to be used lor traffic before the Christmas holidays. MAINTENANCE. Watertables were cleaned on Ktlinara road, scrub and overgrowth cleared from the upper end of the old Christchurch road and gor.se and blackberry growth cleared from A rah lira Road between Mr Havill’s residence and Araliura railway bridge. Portions of Araliura Valley road were repaired with river bed grave! between HimgciTord’s bridge and One Aid road. CENTRAL RIDING. Station Road. The coinractors for this work are making a good job ol blio metalling which lias advanced to the 30 chain peg, leaving 14 chains of metalling to complete the present, contract. The line of road has been pegged from the present term in us of formation joining with the short section of road at Whitcombe Valley road the distance being one mile, seven chains of road to complete to junction with Whitcombe Valley road. GRADING AND ROLLING. The tractor grader and drag were busily employed on Lower Kokatalii and Lake Kanieri roads cutting off grass grown shoulders and shaping the roads generally for treatment by the ten ton roller. The Lower Kokatalii road was rolled from Kanieri to Kokatabi bridge and from Lake road junction to Ward road and partly rolled from Ward road to Lake Kanieri, both roads being considerably improved by tlio work performed. Owing to the volume of motor traffic in both roads it was not advisable to continue the use of the machinery during the holidays, and in consequence work ceased on December 24th, only ordinary repair work being effected. The tractor has been in use every working day since purchased until December 24th with splendid results. MAINTENANCE. A short section of watertables were cleared and cleaned on HokitikaHau Hau road near tbe Borough refuse dump. Overhanging scrub was cleared on Artlnirstown road, and several large depressions repaired with crushed metal oil Municipal road. A good deal of work is necessary to restore this road to a fair state of repair and it will be necessary to place at least 100 cubic yards of crushed metal on the road between Murray creek bridge and Air A. Wall’s residence, in addition to repairing smaller depressions lower down tbe road. This work will be in hand after the Bth January, being urgent. The tractor and grader were used for one and a half day’s shaping up White road and the road roller used for half a day rolling this road from Kokatalii road to Mr Cullen’s residence. Gravelling will also be attended to. SOUTHERN RIDING. The roadman attended to repairs on Wanganui Flat, Haddock and La Fontaine roads in tbe Harihari district. Motor worn holes and depressions were repaired in Detour oad, and the construction of traffic bridge commenced on Ferguson’s road. MAIN HIGHWAYS. MONTHLY REPORT. I have the honour to report upon tbe progress of works during the month of December.

SECONDARY HIGHWAYS. Lake Kanieri road was repaired with gravel over a distance of six miles and a half, approximately ten chains beyond the Hatchery, attention only being given to the larger holes and depressions, 31’0 cubic yards of gravel being used for tlie purpose, including a coat of gravel placed on the road on the western slopes of Slip Hill, which averaged ten feet in width and six inches in height over a distance of 5-50 links. The road was also graded with the large Austin grader, and dragged with the heavy road drag over a distance of 8 miles 50 chains, the road tractor being used for haulage with groat success especially on the hilly portions of the road. The ten ton Austin road roller was operated to roll in all loose material after dragging and grading over a distance of six miles. Watertables were cleaned a distance of 12 chains and encroaching fern and scrub cleared for four chains in length. SLIP HILL WIDENING. The widening on Slip Hill was continued an 4 crib logging constructed a distance of 150 links, also a log culvert, lengthened 8 feet in length, 2 feet 4 inches in width and 2 feet 8 inches in height covered with dry round silver

pine 5 feet in length and ti inches in diameter; the timber used being as follows: 3-5 x Bin x 4in sills. 4-8 x lfiin x fin side logs, 20 5 x sitidies diameter silver pine covering. A large slip occurred on the upper side ol tint road at Slip UjII extending from 0 chains to 1 chain completely blocking the road to traffic and carrying'away a section ol stone retaining wall just beyond the crest ol the hill: later in the day a second slip occurred between peg 3 chains and 4 chains which destroyed a section of crib logging 50 links in length. This portion ol the hill has been gradually subsiding toward the river for the past two years, the pressure being too great lor ortlinay stone and cribbing to withstand. I’lie amount of material removed in opening the road lor traffic amounts to 273 cubic yards of material exclusive of timber. BOUCHER’S HILL WIDENING. This work was continued but not completed on the siding portion, where the stripping above the gravel was removed for a distance of fit);) links and llie widening completed a distance of 400 links. ’1 lie lower portion of 300 links was raised, widened, and the grade improved for 200 links in lengt(i absorbing 285 yards of stone, and growth on tile hillside 802 cubic yards of earth and gravel were removed. SECONDARY HIGHWAYS. Lower Kokatalii to McArthur Road. Lower Kokatalii road was cleaned, graded and dragged with the Austin grader and King drag, the tractor being used for haulage over a distance of seven miles. The road was also rolled with the ten ton roller for a distance of six miles. Afotor worn boles and depressions were repaired over a distance of seven miles, 70 cubic yards of gravel being used for the purpose, in addition roadside dumps wore replenished using 69 cubic yards of gravel. Defective decking 8-Lfi x 8 x 4 and transomes 2-18 lfi by 5 (totalling 581.4 .superficial feet of heart of riniu timber) were removed and replaced in Kokatalii bridge, and 2-lfi x 8 x 4 replaced on a culvert near Lung Road. Upper Kokatalii Road. Alotor worn boles were repaired a distance of one iniie using 15 cubic yards oi gravel. Repairs were completed to Duck creek bridge No. 2, consisting of spiking and bolting 5,621 superficial feet of heart of rimu timber, and erecting hand railing 4x4, 4x3 and 4x2, heart pf rimu timber, 507 superficial feet. or a total quantity of 6,128 superficial feet of timber placed in position on this bridge. WILLI AA! AIILLNER, Overseer.