WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 August 1929, Page 2

WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 13th. ' OVERSEER’S REPORT. I have the honour to report upon the progress of work during the month of July. NORTHERN RIDING. Kumara to Kapitea. Tlie Contractor has completed the widening of the olearing to the specified width, 25 chains of formation, 250. links of metalling, and the construction of six concrete pipe culverts. Kumara to Kapitea. A section of clearing,. forming and metalling was laid off from Chesterfield Road on the western sicle of the railway line to Mr Gubberlet’s residence, on the southern side of Kaiptea Creek, and approval is awaited to put the work in hand. /

MAINTENANCE. A portion'of Kapitea-Chesterfiold track was cleared of olbstructing growth. A Sections of encroaching gorse and blackberry cleared from Spencer, Arahura Valley, Humphreys, and Blue Spur-Arahura Roads. One Mile and Arahura Valley Roads were repaired with gravel where necessary, and an eight inch diameter pipe culvert constructed to remove drainage on . Arahura Valley Road, Staging was .erected and the lower side of the first stream span of Malfroy’s Bridge supported to allow a defective lower chord 67 feet in length to be removed and renewed as soon as possible. The line of 1 proposed traok from Milltown to Arahura River was cleared, chained and pegged every five chains throughout, and a report and estimate of cost forwarded for the information of the Council.

CENTRAL RIDING. Municipal Road Bridge was completed and a good job made of the whole of the work. A few loads of gravel are necessary at each approach as soon as a lorry is available for the work. Station Road Extension. To cope with the overflow from Vine Creek, which has no defined outlet through the flat country for thirty chains beyond Johnston Road, an old c-rain was partly re-opened through Mr Harcourt’s property, afid two concrete pipie culverts, each containing three courses of 18 inch pipes, wore constructed on the last completed sectioin of metaljling. In addition four concrete pip© culverts containing twenty-eight eighteen inch diameter pipes were constructed to cope with the drainage on the first section of road beyond Max Road,

MAINTENANCE. Repairs were effected to portions of Seddon’s Terrace, Adair’s and Arthuxstown Roads, and the upper end of Municipal Road when tha road, was dry enough for cartage of material. Gorse and blackberry growth was cleared from Artliurstown, Adair’s, Hokitika-Hau Hau, and Blue Spur-Arahura Roads. Defective lining was renewed on the western abutment of Diedrich’s Creek Bridge, and a planked culvert on Municipal Road dismantled and four new stringers and Bx 4 decking placed in position. Walertables were cleaned on Adair’s, Hokitika-Hau Hau and Blue Spur Roads, and defective decking replaced on a planked culvert on Hau Hau Road.

CONCRETE PIPES. Concrete pipe construction was continued at Kanieri for three weeks but ceased at the end of the month owing to cement shortage.

' 'STONE CRUSHER. The stone' crusher was operated for several days, crushing metal and repairs effected to eicvator and buckets. •

SOUTHERN RIDING. Ruataipu-M'nhi 11'apu a Road Met filing. This work was practically stopped except for two or three clays owing to the wet weather rendering the newly metulied portion too sc ft to cart over. . Three Mile' Track. The vote was exhausted, a few days being occupied in cleaning Watertables and improving■■ the curves on the line of track. I: " Okarito Road Metalling. Work ceased during the month until finer weather, sets in, the soft material placed on the road being unsatisfactory for the Heavy class of traffic which will eventually damage the road considerably. A quantity of sea beach gravel was carted out, and liaced on the ro r ad between the school and the flagstaff. Detour Rond. The tractor and grader were occupied in cleaning and widening D'rtour Road,, principally between J. Nolan’s and the main highway, several : low portions were also metalled. ■'

MAINTENANCE. The tractor and grader wore occupied in cleaning and grading the old yoad '.between Butle'r’s Corner ami Mr Friend’s residence, also Wanganui Flat and La Fontaine Roads as far as La Fontaine Creek Bridge; Waitaha Beach Road from the main highway to the beach; Waitaha Settlement Road in sections where necessary, and a portion of Douglas Road. Defective decking was renewed on Ellis Creek' 1 Bridges, watertables cleaned on the hill, and repairs effected to scours as far as the Factory on Waitaha Settlement Road. The Roadman at Harihari attended to repairs on Petersen. Road, also the grading,, removal pf stringers an/I caps from La Fontaine Creek Bridge and construction of a" concrete pipe culvert on La Fontfiiiie' 1 near W. Wall’s residence. OVERSEER’S SPECIAL REPORT. I.have the honour to report having completed the clearing and chaining of the proposed road’line from Milltown to the Arahura 1 River, through Butler's freehold. The line commences at peg 0 chains about 25 chains above Milltown, on the line of the race not at present iir use. From peg 0 chains io 30 chains the line runs through flat 'country crossing the line of Butler’s freehold at peg 4 chains on the southern bank of Granite Creek. -From 30 chains to peg.l mile 30 chains, the ground : is fairly' hard, and on the toe of the terrace with a’ flat grade where . the construction of a track would not be unduly high. For L mile 30 chains the country is rather rougher, but presents no difficulties, the line being on a descending grade of one in sixteen to the foot of the terrace in the Arahura Riyer Valley, which is reached at peg 1 mile 57 chains. From 1 mile 57 chains the line runs through a flat which is soft for twenty-live chains; and will require draining to a creek outlet near the Arahura River. This section will be more expensive to construct than the other portion owing to tHe scarcity of material for forming, and metalling; firmly the line junctions-with ArahuraBrownings Pass Track at 2 miles 8 chains 75 liriks.'- The cost of constructing a track 6 feet in width will amount to: From peg 0 to lm 306hs llOchs at £7 15s 852 10 0 To 2 miles 8 chains . <• 58chs at £9 ' ... 522 0 0 £1374 10 0 HIGHWAY ROAD&> I have the honor to report upon the progress of work on the Secondary Highways during tlie month of July. LAKE KANIERI ROAD. Lake Kanieri Road was repaired with gravel over a distance of four miles, and the western slopes of Slip Hill and Coal Greek crowned, and outer sides of gravel-reduced to throw off drainage. Watertables were cleaned at Slip Hill and beyond Ward Road over a distance-of 15 chains. In addition, the widening and straightening of the narrow cutting beyond Ward Road was put in hand and the work of widening the narrow formation and improving the grade for 100 links in length on the western side of the cutting, widening the cutting on one side for 350 links in length, an average width of six feet for 250 links, and nine feet for 300 links varying in depth from four feet to ten feet at the highest point. From peg 450 links to 63/, the road was widened four feet in width and six feet in depth. The amount of gravel used in repairs amounted to 60 cubic yards, and the amount of material removed widening beyond Ward Road, 639 cubic yards. The widening on the flat beyond tlie one mile peg was extended 154 links for

an average width of eight feet, absorbing 45 cubic yards of rough dredge screenings UPPER KOKATARI ROAD. Motor worn holes and depressions were repaired with gravel for a distance of one and three quarter miles, 40 cubic yards of gravel being used for the purpose. In addition the roadside dumps were reidenislicd with 35 cuibic yards of gravel. LOWER KOKATAIII, McARTHUR ROAD. Lower Kokatahi Road was repaired with “gravel over a distance of nine miles, blackberry and other growth cleared six feet in width over a distance of 36 chains. Motor worn holes and low places were repaired with crushed metal and gravel between the nine mile and eleven mile pegs, 42 cubic yards of metal and 30 cubic yards of gravel being used for the purpose. The road was graded with the large road grader from Kanieri to Kokatahi School a distance of seven miles, and rolled with the ton ton 1 oiler a distance of six miles, replenished with gravel over a distal addition road side dumps vote tance of ' 10 miles, 130 cubic jards of gravel being placed at the readside and 247 cubic yards used in repairs over the nine mile distance.