ROADING THE PLAINS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4515, 15 January 1923, Page 2

ROADING THE PLAINS.

COUNTY ENGINEER S REPORT. METAL SUPPLIES. At the last Hauraki Plains County Council meeting the engineer (Mr J. Higgins) reported.—ln spite of the fact that we are in the middle of summer I find that the roads in a considerable area of the County, particularly in Netherton Riding, are in. a much worse condition than when I took charge. It is' A DEPLORABLE STATE of affairs to find vehicles are being . stuck in holes pn metalled roads ia the months of December and Januarj, and I have no hesitation in saying that unless money, and plenty of it, comes to hand soon to provide metal for repairs, our roads will be impassable during the coming winter. It is certainly not a cheerful beginning for the new year, but the fact remains the same. I would respectfully sug- - gest that every effort be made >to provide the necessary capital to put the roads in ohder. I estimate temporaly repairs to existing metal roads in regard to Netherton and Turua ridings’ as follows :— Netherton Riding roads. Puke to Wilson’s road — £250 Wilson’s Road tp Netherton School (old road) __ — 1750 Netherton School to Bridge — 700 Other roads — — — 2000 £4700 Turua Roads (existing metal) repairs £lOOO.

METAL SUPPLIES. I find that some trouble is likely ■ to be experienced in the matter of metal supplies for the County. To commence with, we will not be ready to sepd metal put from Hikutaia Quarry until the first week in February at the very earliest, and if funds become available double the amount pf metal that we can obtain from that : source to supply the requirements oE' TURUA AND NETHERTON ridings, for in addition to repairs mentioned somewhere about 4000 cubic yards is required if money be- ■; comes available for new metalling. I have approached the Thames County Council re suppliesfrom Kauaeranga Quarty, and, having been informed that there will be none available, :,t will be necessary to arrange elsewhere. I have, I think, previously pointed out the necessity for ratepayers to provide loans’ to lay dpwn bitumen pavements where conditions are favourable, and I would again stress this point, for with the traffic increasing yearly the revenue derived from rates will not meet the requirements ; hence it will be seen . that matters, to say the least, will.go from bad to worse,

HIKUTAIA STREAM. The trial trip for the punt which took place on the Hikutaia Stream on the 30th ultimo, in the presence of “ your chairman and Cr. Hayward, ■ proves that the arrangements to convey metal by punt from Hikutaia are amply justified, and I trust your Council will now authorise the expenditure that is necessary to mini- ’ mise the cost for obtaining and delivering the metal on to punts, as mentioned In my previous report. For your information !• might mention that the load of. metal, approximately 30 cubic yards, reached the Waihoit River without a hitch, and there is ’ now ample evidence to show that a load of 40 cubic yards can be taken out on the lowest neap tide. I might mention here that additional improve- ~ ments to the stream of a minor nature ■ - can yet be carried out to advantage. Pontoon. —Mr J- Kennedy (Thames) has copipleted one pontoon and has another in hand. Mr W. Taylor (Paeroa) is working on the other punt, and will have it ready by the end of ' the current month. - Hopper.—The hopper at Nethertou is' under construction, and will be completed by the end of the month.