HAURAKI PLAINS COUNTY

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4478, 11 October 1922, Page 4

HAURAKI PLAINS COUNTY

WORKS IN PROGRESSMr J. Higgins, county engineer, reported to the Hauraki Plains County Council, at its meeting on Monday as follows: Maukoro Bridge—l have computed estimates for acquiring land, fencing, and erecting a bridge and approaches over, Mia Piako River. I would first point out that the items, namely, the purchase of land and severance, are based on prices fixed by owners, and are not my estimate of values, and are therefore subject to your Council’s approval. The estimates are made up as follows: R. Smith, i acres land at £5O per acre, £200; R. Smith., severance, £5O; E. Wh’techunch, s%'acres at £35 per aqre. £192 10s, 2 acres at £5O per acre £lOO, severance £75 ; fencing 360 chains at 35s per chain, £630: legalising land, bridge, and approaches, £2500.

Thames Quarry.—ln company with your chairman I have inspected the Thames quarry, and I would not recommend the purchase of same, Johnstone’s Drain.—l have discussed the subject with Mr Taylor, Land Drainage Engineer, who informed me that his Department would not subsidise the construction of a drain, along Mr H. Johnstone’s frontage on Orchard Road. As stated in a previous report, the spoil excavated would benefit the road, but it is not urgent from a roads point of view. Seeing, however, that benefits would be' derived, I would recommend that a subsidy not exceeding £ for £ be authorised for work done to approval, providing, ->f course, that the money is available.

McDonald’s Bridge.—l have submitted proposals to the Lands Department for constructing the above bridge and approaches. In view of the estimated cost of the work being £550 I have requested that tibie full amount be made available, so that the work can be put in hand. Pekapeka Road.—Tenders for forming one mile of this road closed on the 7th ihst., and the matter will come up before your Council to-day. Miranda iWaitakanuru Road.—The matter in connection with the quarry and breaking 600 cubic yards of metal will come up for discussion at this meeting, tenders having closed on the 7th inst.

Wilson’s Road.—The contractor has done work on this road since my last report, but the contract is not yet satisfactory. However in view of the fact that tihe road will in any case have to be regraded before metalling I hkve, after deducting the sum pf

£l2 10s, terminated ,the contract. Messrs Ratcliff and Son-have delivered approximately 600 dubic yards of meta! at Paeroa railway siding. The meta! is intended fpr metalling portion of this r<ad, and ah additional 300 yards is coming to hand. Gumtown Road. —I have arranged to have 40 chains of this road formed with the county grader, and this work is now in hand.

Wharepoa Ferry Approaches.—By the arrangements with the Thames County Council I received approximately 30 cubic yards of metal at Wharepoa Landing. It was equally apportioned and spread in the two counties. It. was arranged .that the Thames County provide the metal and the labour for freight and cartage.