MAIN HIGHWAYS COUNCIL

Hokitika Guardian, 13 August 1929, Page 6

MAIN HIGHWAYS COUNCIL

MONDAY; AUGUST 12th. The Council met at the Public Dorics Office, Greyffiouth, at 8 p.m. Present: Messrs J. Higgins (Deputy Chairman) in the chair, W. Clayton, J. Powell, a lid D. J. Evans. Apology was made for the absence of Mr Johnston (District Engineer) through indisposition. A vote of sympathy was passed with Mr Johnston; The minutes of the previous meeting were confirmed. A quantity of official correspondence was dealt with. A circular letter was received from the Main Highways Boards expressing strong disapproval of the tendency of Highways Councils to make wholesale recommendations regarding the declaration of main highways, and pointing out that the total recommendations to date involved 2000 miles, or approximately 60 per cent oif the mileage of secondary highways, and the Board was certainly not in a position to adopt tlie whole or even a substantial part of the recommendations by District Councils.

On the motion of Messrs Clayton and Powell, ,it was resolved to draw the'attention of the Board to the fact that at the South Island Conference, held at Ashburton on March 14th, Highways Board members present advised Councillors to apply for greater mileage for secondary highways; and that it be pointed out that a considerable amount of money available for secondary highways had not yet been applied for by the local bodies concerned.

Another letter from the Board pointed out that considerable damage was being done to main highways owing to the non-enforcement of motor . traffic regulatigns, particularly in regard to over-loading of lorrys. The Board considered that local authorities should co-operate in the matter, with a view to the appointment of traffic inspectors. In Hawke’s Bay one inspector had been appointed for eight local bodies, and the Board was of the opinion that the same thing could be done throughout the Dominion.

Mr Clayton expressed the opinion that the Board itself should consider the appointment of traffic inspectors.

Mr Evans mentioned that Mr Johnston favoured the appointment of inspectors by the Board. The Chairman said he thought they could hardly expect the Board to pay |for traffic inspectors, seeing that the counties received a substantial amount in heavy traffic fees. The matter was allowed to drop.

The Board wrote intimating that ;arrangement had been made with the ;Post and Telegraph Department wliere•by when telegraph poles were required to be shifted in connection with road improvements, the Board should pay hallf the cost, and the Department th'e 'other half. ”

« The Chairman said that it seeiiied to be the practice' to 1 place telegraph-poles too close to the road. In the Te'remakau section they had had to shift half a mile of poles to widen the road. The trouble was that the Department erected the poles without consulting them.

■ Mr Evans remarked that the poles were invariably found close to the read in swampy country. They had also had a similar difficulty in Westland with the Power Coy’s poles. -

Mr Clayton suggested that the poles at bad corners should be painted white It was resolved, on tlie motion of Messrs Clayton and Evans, that, the attention of the Department be draWh to the danger of placing poles too clds'e to the road, and that it be suggested that where it is deemed advisable such poles be paint'ed white six feet upwards!

A letter was received from the Board regarding earthquake damage, stating that the sum of £B9OO was available on account; that tenders had been called for the ‘ Ahaura bridge ; and the work of erecting a temporary bridge over the Maruia had been commenced. The Board had decided not to make the Maruia road a main highway, hut to keep it as a detour road.

The Council then considered tlie estimates for the year in committee. It was ultimately resolved, on the motion of Messrs Clayton and Evans, that the estimates as framed be approved and forwarded to the Highways Board. The annual report was approved. The following pax-ticulars relating to Westland County were included:—

/ MAIN HIGHWAYS

Taramakau-Ross Section, Horse Shoe Creek bridges and approaches.—loft. concrete culvert constructed and approaches .made —approach fences in hand.

Ross-Waiho Section, Vines Creek Bridge.—The construction of a bridge consisting of one 40ft. R.S. joist span on piles is in hand.

McCulloughs Creek Bridge.—This bridge, comprising three 35ft. R.S. joist spans on pilp piers and abutments is in hand.

McDonald’s Creek Bridge.—This bridge, comprising five 40ft. rolled steel joist spans on pile piei-s is in hand. Red Jacks Creek Bridge.—The construction of this bridge . consisting ’of one 40ft. rolled steel joist span oxi concrete abutments is in hand.

Slaty Ci’eek Bridge.—This bridge consisting of two 40ft, two 35ft and one 30ft. rolled steel joist spans on pile piers, complete with 20 chains of approaches, has been completed.

Arthurs Pass-Kumara Main Highway, Rocky Creek Bridge.—Tins bridge comprising one 40ft rolled steel joist span on piles has been completed. Westland County Council, take Kan-

ieri Road Widening.—This work was taken, over from the Public Works Department, and a small portion completed after the declaration as a socondary highway, and charged to the Construction Fund.

Hokitika Borough, Widening • and Metalling, Fitzherbert and Stafford Streets. —Satisfactory proposals were submitted by tlie Borough Council and authority for £252, £ for £, issued on 15th June, 1928. No charges for work done have conie to hand. (Since paid.) Tai’amakau to Ross Section, ordinary maintenance. —This section of Main Highway is in the Westland County and 41$ miles long, and is maintained by the Public Works Department. The average cost .of maintenance was £67.631 per mile. The road has been regraded throughout and 31) miles coated with pit and beach gravel requiring 4733 c.yds., also 1600 cu.yds. of material was shifted at bad corners and 12 chains of road widened.

Culverts.—l 32 lin. of 18in. diameter concrete pipes were placed. Special Maintenance, widening and improvements, have been carried out at Waimea-Stafford, and a bad corner at Cook’s improved and fenced. Flood Damage, Ross-Waiho Section. Ordinary Maintenance. —This section of main highway in the Westland County is 68* -miles long and is maintained by the Public Works Department. The .average cost ,of maintenance was £73.679 pel’ mile: Tlie road has been regraded throughout and 26) miles surfaced with 4593 cu.yds. of pit gravel. Concrete culverts varying from 12in. to 36in. diameter and totalling 168 "l'in;ft. were placed and one L2in. x 20ft.'log culvert renewed. The'- ■ road has been satisfactorily maintained 1 under adverse conditions, the bad crossing at Slaty Creek has been bridged and four other bridges at dangerous crossings are under construction. Provision will be made on this year’s estimates for bridging the balance of the creeks, and when these .are completed the through road to Wailio will form one of the most attractive tourist routes in the Dominion.

Special Maintenance.— Improvements. .-A number of bad corners were cut off, necessitating the removal of 4400 cu.yds. of stuff, and 22 chains o'f road widened, including places on Mount Hercules and Tanthe Hill.

Bridges.—La Fontaine Creek Bridge. Consisting of one 30ft. R.S.J. span on piles is in hand. Flood Damage.—Considerable damage was done at Wataroa deviation Little Waitaha, Bag Waitaha, Waitangi, Evans’ Ci’eek, Dry Creek, Parker’s Creek, andaAtahou .bridges. Sixty chains of new;road was constructed at Wataroa, and four, hardwood piles were driven and new -'‘caps .'.placed, and 15 chains of scrub and stone protection constructed together with 220 cu.yds. of approach road fillings at the various bridges. It •( Arthurs >PasMKumara .Main., Highway, ordinary, .maintenance. —This section of main highway is in.the,Westland County a'ndAlf miles long and is maintained .by-ssthe • Public Works Department. The average > cost of maintenance ■ 'per mile* was .£75.308. The road has been •. graded throughout its length and 18 miles surfaced, necessitating 4173 cu.yds. of gravel. Two bad bends were improved by widening. Considerable damage was done to the road during March, 1929, by a severe earthquake. .. ’ rtf Culverts varying from Bin. to 36iii. diameter, and totalling 129 lineal feet have been placed in concrete. The road has been well maintained under adverse conditions.

Bridges.—Repairs were canned out to two bridges. at Wainihiilihi and to tne Otira river bridge.

Flood Damage.—Protection work, consisting of scrub and stone was put in at Tracy’s and Waiiiiliinihi creeks and 3350 cu.yds. of slips removed. Wataroa Detour Road.—Ordinary Maintenance.—This road is in the Westland County and forms a loop road at a section of the Ross-Waiho mail’ highway and is maintained by t.ie Westland County Council. The average maintenance cost per mile was ,£20.714.

This road has been satisfactorily maintained by the County Council. Lake Kajii'ei;! .Road.—Ordinary Maintenance.—This’ road is in the Westland County and is Bm. 55c. long and is maintained . by the Westland County Council. The average cost of maintenance per mile was £100.512. The Austin grader, King drag and ten-ton roller operated over the section; 935 cu. yds. of metal was spread on road and 1450 cu. yds. of slips removed. Widening was caviled out at Coal Creek, Slip Hill, and Boucher’s Hill. 6 bridges were repaired and a number of conci’ete pipes laid. The ihaiiltenance has been canned out in a satisfactoiy manner by the County Coiincil. Kokatahi-Koiterangi Road. —Ordinary Maintenance. —This road in the Westland Couhty is 12 miles long, and is maintained by the Westland County Council. The average maintenance cost per mile was £100.223. The road was graded and x’olled several times throughout its length and 660 cu. yds. of gravel and metal was spread on the road and a number of bridges repaired and culverts renewed. The maintenance of this road was satisfactorily carried out by the County Council.

TJpper Kokatahi Road.—Ordinary Mnnitenance. —This road in the Westland County is 4 miles long and is maintained by the Westland County Council. The average'cost of maintenance was £53.493 per mile. The road was regraded and rolled several times throughout its length and two bridges were repaired. Maintenance has been satisfactorily carried out by the County Council. General.—Traffic Signs.—Sign boards in accordance with the requirements of the motor regulations have been erect-

ed throughout the No. 12 Highways District. BOROUGHS. Kumara Borough.—The length of main highway in this borough is 1 mile. The average cost of maintenance was £81.129 per mile. Hokitika Borough.—The length of main highway in this • boi-ough is 1 mile 54 chains. The average cost of maintenance per mile was £133.513. Ross Borough.—The length of main highway in this borough is 2 miles 24 chains. The average cost of maintenance per mile was £90.321. General Reniarks.—The methods employed in construction and maintenance by the several local bodies are generally iii accordance with those adopted by the Public Works Department. The works have been satisfactorily carried out.

THE ESTIMATES. The following were among the votes recommended for the favourable consideration of the Highways Board: WESTLAND COUNTY. £. Teremakau Bridge, south ap / preach ... 500 Waimea Creek' Bridge, Stafford 1 500 Minehan’s Bridge (Little Wanganui) 665 Minehan’s Bridge, No 2 (Little Wanganui) .. 720 O’Neil’s Creek, .Jetalio 220 Gunn’s Creek, Wataroa 230 Butler’s Creek and Protection, Wataroa ... ... 770 Roger’s Ci’eek, Wataroa ... ... ' 670 Mitchell’s Hill, Mikonui ... ... 200 Mapourika Creek 470 Donovan’s Creek 440 Paganini’s Creek ... ... 335 Rangiriri Creek, Chch. Road ... 75 Morrissey’s Creek 265 Jackson Creek 450 Bridges, Clich. Road ... ... ... 690 •MAINTENANCE. £ Teremakau-Ross Road (County £420) • - 3,167 Ross-Waiho Road (County £690) 5,100 Kuniara-Otira Road (County £420) ‘ 3,750' Three Mile Bridge (Arahura) on a/e 1 ... 1,500 Goldsborough Bridge ... 475 Shanandoah Bridge 550 Bridges, Ross Road 650 Widening, Grading and Fencing Ross Road 600 Metal, Ross Road 500 Widening and Fencing, South Road 2,000 Special Renewals and Painting, South Road ... 1,180 Earthquake Damage, Otira Gorge 3,500 Lake Kanieri Road, £2 for £1 350 Kokatahi Road, £2 for £1 ... 600 Upper Kokatahi Road,,£2 for £1 140 Wataroa Settlement Road, £2 for £1 140 Hokitika Borough, £2 for £1 ... 320 Votes to complete bridges in hand including Vine Creek, McCullough, McDonald’s and Red Jacks were approved also.