WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 May 1930, Page 2

WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL.

TUESDAY, MAY 13th.

OVERSEER’S MONTHLY REPORT

Sir, —I have the honour to report upon the progress of works during the month of April, .1930.

NORTHERN RIDING

Ivumara to Kapitea North Bank.Thework of clearing, forming draining, and culvert construction, were completed by the 'Contractors in, a very satisfactory manner. An Officer of the Public Works Department finally inspected. and passed' the work on May sth. ; Kumara to Kapitea Chesterfield South Bank. The Contractor has completed the clearing, formation, draining and culvert construction, a very creditable job resulting. The metalling is now proceeding the gravelling obtained, from Kapitea Creek. Malfroy’s 'Bridge, repairs were continued under the direction of the Bridge Foreman, H. Reynolds, the following defective timber being removed and replaced, decking Bx 4 15/16,6x4 6/16, transomes 14x7 .11/14, 4/22, diagonal wind brawn,? .6x4, 22./18, struts 7x4 6/14, . stays 6x4, 6/14, all this timber being inner heart of rimu. Filling pieces of defective hardwood were removed ancj replaced with Bx 6 10/18 inch pieces 6f iron bark. , r Malfroy’s Bridge Protection ■work ;of procuring suitable . scrub, principally manuka, was put m hand at the latter end of the'month,

MAINTENANCE

Defective decking was removed and replaced on the bridges on Loopline road. Kawhaka track was cleared of scrub and bad portions repaired. The

old Christchurch Road was cleared as far as Duffers track and afterwards cleaned and graded where possible over a distance of four miles with

the power grader, very good work being 'performed under the circumstances, the road proving rough and / difficult to treat,, owing./to,.fjhe,,great! i number of : large stones* encountered >5 ;on i the; 'outer sides ;bf, .metalling. The Clearing' and grading wftS continued; ’ pn‘Spencer 1 rodd to D,Bmdley’s hold- ‘ .irig,. alsp on both approaches i o AlalArahura Valley, road, all roads; being '' improved by' tiie treatment received.

i U,ir v n CENTRAL ; RIDING; TieC;p : ;*; ’ . »v • •* •• li \ i. • Av

'/ '/ Upper Kokatahi/ Road 1 Widening.— ' This work was completed early.in the present month by day labour, : Roadman Dale being in charge of the metalling which has a neat and fin- .... .ished appearance throughout reflecting great credit on all engaged .on the construction. Whitcombe Valley Track Ropujrs.— The whole of the specified work including clearing, open crossing, con- •■'* - struction corduroy, draining and s^:v forming has (been ■ eoihpleited th a I very satisfactory manner. 01 •' '* :?1 • " Kokatahi Bridge Protection.-—A quantity of manuka scrub. has been -'•but and carted to the site of the work in readiness to commence work d.uring the month ofQMay. ;

AIAINTENANCE,

Repairs were effected to the southern portion of Station Road/ laige holes and depressions repaired on Municipal road, defective decking renewed on a culvert on Seddon’s Terrace extension, rough surfaces, motor worn holes and depressions repaired on Seddon’s Terrace road, and motor worn holes repaired on South Hokitika road. Portions of Blue Spur road, very rough for motor traffic, were blinded with soft gravel, and several large depressions repaired with gravel on Hokitika-Hau Hau roads. The road drain' on Upper Municipal road eighteen chains in length, was satisfactorily completed by Mr S. Havill.

SOUTHERN RIDING

Petersen Road Extension.—The contractors have completed the metalling, a distance of 14 chains, the work throughout being satisfactory. Richardson/ Road and Bridge.--A quantity of sawn timber, piles, lining, etc., is at the .bridge site 'n readiness with the erection as soon ns the necessary pile driving gear is available.

MAINTENANCE.

Repairs were effected to Ross-Kokn-tahi track by the removal of several trees, clearing overhanging scrub and repairing soft holes. The Bondman attended to repairs on Wanganui Elat and Robertson, roads. No 2 lorry was engaged for several days carting gravel for repairs to various roads in the Inter-Wanganui district. The '(large excavation/ on the Main Highway Reserve, in front of Mr G. Searle’s motor garage was filled in with stone and gravel. Motor worn holes and ruts wore repaired with gravel on Detour and Wataroa Hat roads. The outlet drain from a culvert on Detour road through Mr McBride’s property was completed, and should prevent flooding during wet weather. A portion of the side drain was cleaned out along Mrs Walshs frontage on Loan Block road, intertables were reopened, scrub cleared, and the ruts repaired with sea beach gravel on the lower end of Okarito road Approximately 250 cubic yards of sea beach gravel was carted off the Okarito beach, and stacked m readiness for haulage by the County lorry.

Sir,—l have the honour to report as instructed upon the cost of providing drainage along -the frontages of G. Manship’s property on Wanganui Flat, and La. Fontaine roads. Portions of very small road drains exist in broken lengths along Wanganui Flat road, hut being too close to the present edge of metalled road surface which is narrow, and " ill 'require to be widened in the future, if. ‘would not be advisable to v. iden and deepen any portion of the. old drain. To be effective a new drain at least three feet in width and two feet .six inches .in depth would ’ require to be'excavated on the eastern side of Wanganui Flat road and the inner edge of drain to lie four feet from the :; frontage. This drain would rquire to be SO chains in length with three 18 inch concrete pipe culverts under the road. In addition six chains of old drain would require widening to two -feet six inches on top. On La Fontaine road 500 links of new drain is necessary to give an outlet for, drainage to Thorpe’s Creek, the present drain being too small and very close to the roadside. . The cost of drainage will be as follows:

COUNTY CHAIIjrvIAN’S REPORT v ti •,.! ‘ ! r :: • r•* ♦<.

( Gentlemen,--I have • tire'j; honour to • report ’ for :your information .that the members of the Main, L Highways Board visited Hokitika on April 24ih and were met in the evening at the Chambers. Cr Murdoch, Searle, Jeffries and Houston and mj.-wif being present.

The visiting gentlemen were given a cordial welcome, and the requests f too Council placed before tiie meeting in printed form, a step which was commenced by Mr Vurkerc, Chairman of the visiting Board, who appreciated the 1 complete' Information'- <suppli,ed. ;Th.e .Chairman., of gthe, Bskrd inti■raatetj' that, the miiiiijteijanCe votes lor nhe/. secondary liighf ays',/wo.u)d be continued, -.and consideration : wpuld be giv'eif• to the requests. for; additio lal mileage.' Tlie < ajyplic'attons- ior pew votes on, hjgWays ; are likely to |be entertained, ,qpd/ an.. ..iissugance Y'as given to coinplete'the Sritlgg..works)oil /‘tiije fma'in routes- as;, goon.; tag. possibleI The’ Negotiations were conducted ( in' a very affable manner, and the visit-' ors' • appreciated ’ .the, acknowledgement of the giod work done by the Hallways Board in the district. Yours obediently, Bernard Ward, County Chairman.

Wanganui Flat Road Drain (new) SO chs at 80s ... ‘15 0 0 Wanganui Flat Road Dram Clearing 5chs at 10s ... 3 0 0 Three Concrete Pipe Ctrl- . verts, 3 •,culverts .at .2<)Qs, -30 ...0, ,0 La Fontaine Road Drain (new) oclis at 80s > ;'7 10 0 Cleaning TJiorpe’s ; Crefek ; :10 0, 0 £95 10 j ■ i j * 1 ; . .r ' dr .H— 4 0