PLAINS COUNTY WORKS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4493, 17 November 1922, Page 4

PLAINS COUNTY WORKS.

THE ENGINEER’S REPORT.

LACK OF FUNDS' DELAYS WORK-

The engineer to the Hauraki plains,. County Council, Mr J. Higgins, reported on the county works -as follows : “I much regret that since your last meeting it has been found that the money I cpunted upon to meet the cost of opening up the Hikutaia quarry and providing metal hoppers is not available from the Public Trust Office, and ip consequence I have been forced to delay thle work until the money required to meet the liabilities is in sight. “I look upon the failure in raising the loan a big setback against the successful! carrying put of metalling during this summer on Netheitbn and Turua roads, and unless money can be obtained within a very shobt period to provide means for getting cheaper metal I fear the rpads will again be in a deplorable cpndiit'on coming' into next winter. In order, however, that we might to some extent meet the adverse circumstances which have arisen in this connection, I have entered into negotiations with Messrs W. Aitkin and Son, of Karangahake, who are prepared to supply good kauri timber from the Talisman battery at the rate of 30s per 100 ft. The timber is quite suitable for erecting hoppers, and at least a. portion of the boards required for punts can be readily obtained. ■

“Mr Aitkin has agreed to extend credit to your Council for three months, if necessary, and seeing that there is nothing wanting in the values and terms offering, I would urge upon your Council to take advantage of thle offer so that the proposals I have already placed before you call be carried into effect. NETHERTON RIDING. “At the request of the Netherto'i Ratepayers’ Association I met its representatives, namely, Messrs Hare, Reid, and Taylor. T,he object .of the meeting was to view some of the roads in the riding and to discuss matters of vital importance to future development, chiefly in regard to the main Netlierton-Puke Road and Wilson’s Road, and it was agreed that the metalling on this road be pushed ahead when money comes available. The necessity of a drain along Wilson’s Road prior to metalling came up for discussion. I am quite in accord with the requests made, and I shall be glad to receive the support of your Council to gratify the wishes of the ratepayers mentioned s when money comes available. “I shall be glad to add while on this subject that if seme of the ratepayers who think they are not getting justice would only fpllow'-Nether-tpn’s example and plac.e their views before the engineer, I have no doubt that some good w'ould be done, apd a better understanding wou|d arise between all parties concerned; HIKUTAIA SiTREAM. *’ The contractors are making good progress in opening the stream, but a considerable amount of excavating has yet to be done and willows to be rooted out. I estimate that with ordinary luck the stream will be available for punting metal by the i middle of January. PONTOONS. '

"The completion of the two punts in charge of Mr J. Kennedy., Thames, has been held up on account 'of supplies of timber not coming to ha.nd from the Hikutai.a sawmill, and seeing that the work must be pushed ahead I would suggest that suitable arrangements be made elsewhere. “Acting under instructions received at your last meeting, the small punt has been removed from Puke, and'-T’s cleaned out ready ,to be placed under repair, but seeing that Mr Kennedy has his hands full at Thames I thing that arrangements might be made with Mr W. Taylor, Paeroa, to carry out the necessary work. HIKUTAIA QUARRY. “ For reasons already stated in the early part o>f my report I have been unable to call tenders for putting in the drive and rise for opening. up the quairy. I would in the meantime ask for authority at this meeting to put on a man to clean away stripping 1 'which had been dumped over the face -of the proposed tunnel and to also do | odd jobs prior to letting the contract. [ WILSON’S ROAD. i “Following my previous remarks re this road, I have to point out that ths winter and early spring traffic lias left the road in a bad condition, and I will be glad to ascertain if passible to what extent the Public Works Department will subsidise the loan so tliat th/o draining and reforming can be' carried out on the portion of road to lie metailled when funds are available. I might point out that owing to the surface of the road being composed chiefly of light black

soil resting on low-lying ground it will be necessary to\excavate a diain on one side in order to dr ( ain the road and procure suitable material to form a bed" for the metal. In this project we acr again faced with financial difficulties, as it will cost £250 out of revenue to put the first mile of road in ordei- to receive the metal, and I would strongly advocate that no metal be laid until the foundation is satisfactory. PEKAPEKA ROAD. “ The contractors who undertook the forming of one mile of this road are at work and promise to make fair progress under favourable conditions.

HAMILTON’S ROAD. “ The extent of; the contract let since your last meeting is 25 chains of stumping, draining, and forming. The contract price is £ll3 15s\. turua-netherton road. Twenty-seven chains of this load have been re-formed and ready for meta) when mqney comes available. The work was done with the Council’s grader. NEWMAN’S ROAD.

‘ ‘The contract for forming this road, is now completed and it is in a fit state to receive metal. The work, which cost 28s per chain, was done with the County grader.

MIRANDA-WAITAKARURU ROAD. “The contract for quarrying, breaking, and stacking 600 cubic yards of metal from Hill’s quarry has now been arranged, the price being 6s 6d per cubic yard. NGATAIPUA EAST ROAD. “ A contract was let during the month for forming approximately 40 chains on this road, and the work, which is costing 3Oh per chain, is nearing completion. ORONGO ROAD.

“ Formation is being carried out on this road. There is approximately 30

chains let' at 30s’ per chain. MIRANDA WEST ROAD. “ I made an engineering survey of approximately half a mile of the Wai-takaruru-Miranda West road. The surfaceman for this riding is working on the job, arid I understand that the settlers intend giving Lee labour towards doing some of the most urgent works. - WAIKUMETE STREAM BRIDGE. “Authority for an additional £l5O has now been given by the Lands Department for the above bridge, making the total £450.. This will enable the bridge to be erected, but will no: be sufficient to form approaches. 1 propose calling tenders, returnable at next meeting, for the erection of a bridge without approaches. TAHUNA ROADS LOAN.

“Application was made to the Public .Works Department some time back for a subsidy on formation and metalling works, but as the money has not come to hand I was unable to complete the letting of a further metalling contract. PATETONGA POUND. “I inspected the pound at Patetonga, and arranged to have the enclosure repaired, ORONGO-TURUA ROAD. “Two puntloads of metal are on hand, and I shall be glad to receive authority to place same pm the roau. 1 would suggest that the surfaceman be instructed to dp the work with the county team.” . DISCUSSION. The engineer said it would cost about £350 to complete Wil son’s Road. Cr. Chatfield said if- money was ' made available for the metalling of that road something could be done during trip coming summer. Mr Walton said that the sum of £2133 5s was on the lean and approximately £llOO was spent.

|' It was decided that the' engineer should dp formation and drainnig on Wilson’s Road as funds; were available.

Cr. Hayward asked if there was any possibility of fixing up the old road to make it passible for the coming winter.

Cm Chatfield said it would be too costly. There would never be a road through that peat swamp. . Cr. Hayward: Then we’ll have to push on With Wilson's Road before winter.

Cr. Whitechurch said there was a balance in the Tahuna Roads Loan of £640, and he wished to know where that amount could be expended. Mr Walton said it could be expended on the Maukoro deviation, Tahuna Landing road, or on Tahuna to Waiti. The ehigneer wa.s instructed to pay off work bn the Tahupa to Waiti road. The report was adopted.