HAURAKI PLAINS COUNTY

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4439, 12 July 1922, Page 3

HAURAKI PLAINS COUNTY

WORKS IN’ PROGRESS. THE ENGINEER’S REPORT. The County engineer, Mr J. Higgins submitted the following report to the Hauraki Plains County Council on Monday: 1 have the honour to report progress of works in your county for the period ending this day. Before doing «o I desire to state that owing .o unforseen circumstances I had to be absent from here longer than was expected, and in consequence some of my plans were not carried ipto effect. Netherton Riding.—ln company with Cr. Death I interviewed Mr Ratcliff, of Karangahake, and arranged for .the supply of 200 cubic yards of metal for repairing the worst holes on the metalled road between Puke and Chester’s bridge, on Netherton Road, resulting in there now being 98 cubic yards spread on the road, and the balance should come to hand during .the current week. It has also been arranged that an additional supply of metal, to approval, be stacked for future requirements, when arrangements have been approved by the Railway Department. Metal; Dump.—With a view to having a supply of 1 metal on hand at Paeroa to commence operations during the coming season, .after finding the space in the railway yard quite inadequate for stacking purposes,.! accepted the use of Bren an and Co.’s siding which was kindly offered free of charge, as it is not in use at the present time. The proposal was submitted to the Railway Department on th? 17th ultimo, but I have not yet received, a reply. Housing Accommodation. —I am arranging to meet Mr. Gillman, architect, of Paeroa, early this week to discuss the matter of the engineer’s house, with a view to having the work put in hand as early as possible. I also purpose calling tenders at an early date for the removal of a house from Waihi and the erection of same at Waitakaruru. The latter will be done under my own supervision and will not. necessitate the services of an architect. Quarries.—The question of securing a suitable quarry to meet the requirements of- the lower portion of the Hauraki Plains is being dealt with. As there are several quarries offering, .and negotiations still taking place, the matter of making a selection must in the meantime stand in. abeyance. Tahuna Loan —The metal carting has stopped on Tahuna roads, and I do not anticipate anything further being done during the winter. The following work has been completed under the above .authority, namely ■ Tahuna Morrinsville rjoad, approximately' 47 chains, metalled 12ft wide and 9. : n deep; Tahuna-Waiti road, approximately chains metalled 10ft wide and Bin deep; Waiti to Waikato boundary, approximately 79% chains metal’ed 10ft wide and 6in deep; Ta ' huna Stream culvert (Edwards’) This work is in progress and will be completed during the current week. The item is not included m the loan proposals. Wa'takarurii (Stream Road. —In company with CrJ Harris I interviewed the settlers fronting the south-east boundary of Stream Road between Waitakaruru post office and Haley’.; corner. It was agreed that the settlers do the drain amongst themselves and the Council would subsidise the work to the extent of £25. The grader has been at work on the road west of Haleys’ corner, but owing to recent rains the work had to stop. Stone Carting in Winter. —I find that in defiance of the Council certain persons are still carting stone over the Waitakaruru roads without permits. As this is causing serious damage to the roads I wulol recommend that your Council take steps to prevent further trespass.

Workmen’s camping van.—ln company with Cr. Death I examined the above and found it to be in good order. It was finally agreed to £3O tor the van, and an additional £2 had to be expended op a draw bar, thus making the total price £32. The van can be put to use when required. Patetonga Riding.—Under instructions from Cr. McLoughlin I examined the washout at Mangawheio bridge, and as the work is very urgent arrangements have been made for work estimated to cost £l9 being done at once. Pole at Nagtea Bridge.—l have met the Electric Power Board’s engineer on the ground and approved of the erection of; the pole at the Ngatea bridge. The work is to be carried out subject to certain conditions that will safeguard the structure and to approval. Pekapeka Road. —Having met the settlers residing on- this road I have decided to comply with their request and carry out formation work w’hen plans are prepared and tenders received. T have since pegged the road, and hope to have plans and specifications tabled at your next meeting. McDonald’s Bridge.—The grant of £3OO is not sufficient to construct the bridge, and as the work fe urgent I would recommend hardwood structure. » U nt. —The :alterations carried, out by Messrs Foote Bros, have proved satisfactory, and 'the punt is now a valuable asset which will be required in the near future. THE DISCUSSION. Cr. Death- said there were holes three feet deep in the metalled road near Wharepoa. He asked if any metal was obtainable. The engineer reported that arrangements had been made to obtain a supply of metal at an early date. The chairman said the price for the metaf would, be 5s per yard for towing. A punt load was to have been brought up the river that day, -half, to be for Turua and the other half to .be landed at Wharepoa. Regarding the purchase or hire or lease of? the Thames quarry, said the chairman, the Council could get nothing definite till aftei the next Thames County meeting. The Thames council was obtaining a report on the Matatoki quarry and the Plains Council would have to await the result of the report.

WAITAKARURU ROADS. Or. Mayn suggested that those people carting metal over the Waitakaruru roads in the winter without permits should be prosecuted. Cr. Partfit suggested that the surfacemen should have authority to stop those people from doing the carting. The engineer said, the surfacemen had been notified to that effect. It was not the value of the metal the peop’u were taking but it was the damage they were doing to the roads. The clerk suggested making an example of one man by prosecuting him. The matter was eventually left in the hands of the engineer.