COUNTY WORKS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4386, 6 March 1922, Page 1

COUNTY WORKS.

ENGINEER’S REPORT. Mr E. Shaw, engineer to the Ohine.mure County Council, reported as follows to hi? council pn Thursday: Since my last report another flood has occurred, making two in a month, and adding extra damage to that already done by the- former flood. Assistance has been asked from both the Mines Department and the Public Works Department, but so far no authority has been given. It will be necessary to again approach both de - * partments for assistance. The main road to Golden Cross has slipped away for a length of three chains, and other damages to this road have occurred, cutting the settlers completely off. A wash-out has occurred on the Houmanga Road at a big filling, necessitating either a platform bridge or 36in concrete pipes to carry off the storm water should a suitable foundation be found for same. A double set of 18in pipes are now in, but have sunk through a faulty foundation, Maratoto Road has been opened up temporarily.for wheel traffic. I 'have three men engaged on this, work, and intend carrying out some repairs under grant, for which I have authoirty. In company with the District Engineer (Mr Baker) and the Assistant Engineer (Mr May) I visited the Waite-i kauri bridge and other damages caused by the first flood, and then proceeded over the Waihi-Whanga-mata Road to the county boundary. Very little damage was done to this length of road during the first flood.

The late heavy rains have caused a silting over of the intake at the head works of the Paeroa water supply, the result being That the working pressure is only 601 b to the square inch instead of 801 b, An attempt was made to lower the dam so as to remove the debris, but when in the a,ct of opening up the intake the outlet became suddenly blocked by a submerged piece of timber. It will be necessary to remove the above before anj r extra pressure can be obtained. I intend going on with this work as soon as the flood waters become norma!. The old reservoir has been cleaned out and turned pn, so ps to keep up the present pressure. Where the 9in main cross.es the bed of the creek there are three ’ longitudinal cracks, two feet in length, on the crown of the pipe, which happened some time after the first flood,.< It is one of those mysteries how it occur-! red. It will be necessary to have this length renewed, which means that the work will have to be done at night time, for the whole supply will have to be cut off. Due notice will| be given to consumers before this takes place. It will be necessary to have portions of the foundations ojf the dam strengthened with concrete which have become exposed thrpugh the recent floods. This I intend to do at an early date. The main girder that was broken in the Waitekauri bridge been secured, and is now being placed in position. I might say that this bridge is in a bad state throughout, but on the advice of the District Engineer I was to patch it up for a time., I found it necessary to renew portions of the decking on many of the bridges on the Komata Creek road owing to their decayed state. The timber required "has been obtained at the Mill in the district.

i The pa ( rts required for the road roller have been received from Christchurch, and are now being fitted to the roller. Another week will complete the work on the Old Te Aroha Road. When this is finished I intend to put the ro.ller out pf commission for the time being. I have had the grader brought from Mangaiti, and it was in use for a time on portions of the Old Te Aroha Road and was much appreciated, as it was my intention to send same out to Wajhi Plains, where it is most needed, and very suitable for that district. Before doing so it will be necessary, with your Council’s permission, to have same overhauled.

The contract for extending Mangan kara to Greydon’s prospecting track has been completed... This now links up with the old Paeroa-Waitekauri track. The motor-car has been put 'of commission for the past two weeks, owing to a> part in the gear box carrying away, and I do not know for certain when it will be ready, as the part broken 'had to be sent to Napier to be welded. Re Puke Bridge.—The swing span is still giving trouble, and if some-, thing is not done at an early date it will be necessary to carry out the proposals contained in my repprt of June 30 last. The following grants have been struck out of the Public Works Estimates : Ratar.ua Road, £3OO ; Beckman’s Road, £75 ; Pae'roa to Rotokohu Road, £lOO ; Byron Road, £lOO, £ for £ ; access to Tirohia station, £5O, £ for £ ; Kaimanawa to Hikutaia, £B9, £ for £. Also struck out of the Mines Department Estimates : Divide to Tui Mine, £150; Hill Road, £250 ; Peels’ Creek, £4OO.