HORAHIA ROADING.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4576, 18 June 1923, Page 3

HORAHIA ROADING.

MEETING OF SETTLERS. BITUMEN ROADS FAVOURED. A representative meeting of settlers of the Horahia riding of the Hauraki Plains County was held at Ngatea on Saturday morning to discuss permanent roads. Mr W. G. Hayward, the convener, explained that the meeting was called as the result of previous meetings to consider better roads for the riding. At present, the roads were in fair order, and the general opinion of the settlers was that before they broke up something should be done to make them permanent roads. In February last he hM„ at the instigation of Mr Willy and other Horahia riding settlers, asked the county engineer to prepare estimates for laying bitumen and concrete pavements. This was done, and the estimates in bitumen were Turua-Kopuarahi road, 170 1 chains 12ft wide* scarifying old metal at 7s a chain, reforming old metal 10s a. chain, providing and laying metal Bin deep 18s cubic yard, metal chips 18s, bitumen 110 s a chain, labour 20s, rolling 22s 6d ; total* £5378 16s. Orchard East Road* 280 chains in length, 12ft wide, metal sin deep, £7619. Kerepeehi-Kopuarahi road* 340 chains, 12ft wide, metal 6in deep, £11,273 10s. Horahia Road, 90 chains, 10ft wide, metal 4in deep, £1663 7s 6d. The cost of one chain of concrete road 10ft wide by 6in thick with bitumen bound macadam haunches at the sides 2ft wide by 6in thick would be £69 4s Bd. Mr W. E. G. Willy said that in the riding there were approximately 9000 acres. The cost of 11 miles of bituminous road was £26*000. The interest and sinking fund would be, roughly £lB2O, or 4s an acre. The engineer in his estimate for concrete had allowed for a 14ft road. In his opinion a 9ft, road would be sufficient. Some of the roads would never have to carry heavy traffic. He suggested that the main roads should be concrete and the others bitumen. This would cost, roughly* £44,000. Interest and sinking fund would be, roughly, 6s 8d and acre. Therefore, for 2s 8d an acre sufficient concrete roads could be obtained, and, in his opinion, the extra cost was warranted. There was no question about the lasting qualities of concrete. A concrete road in Edinburgh had been down for 50 years, and the maintenance for that period was £47. In Taranaki it was costing up to. £lOO a mile for maintenance.’

Mr J. C.' Miller, in reply to Mr Willy, said that the bitumen road in Turua southern area was costing 7s 6d an acre.

Mr. W. G. Hayward said that in Hawera tar-sealed roads were standing up to heavy traffic. He. was afraid that concrete roads would be too expensive, and thought that bitumen would be sufficient.

Mr McDuff concurred* ajid said that he thought the r.ate would be too high fo? sparsely populated areas. Mr Willy pointed out that it was costing Turua 7s 6d fbr bitumen, whereas the engineer’s, estimates made the cost for concrete 6s Bd, Mr Haywar,d said that he had seen concrete roads that had broken up. Mr Willy'said that if concrete or anv qther method was not put down right it would break up. He was not against, bitumen roads, but thought that concrete would be better, as the upkeep would be negligible for the first ten years or so* and from then on as for a bitumen road. Mr W. G. Hayward said that Mr Bush the Auckland City Engineer, had been asked his opinion in regard to concrete roads ‘for the Plains and had advised against them owing to different, conditions and the etxra cost.

Mr J. C. Miller said that different methods of road>-making should no: be condemned, as it was usually the manner in which the work was done that was the cause of failure. A 12ft track in concrete would cost, roughly, £5OOO a mile. The members oi the deputation who had investigate ! the question in Taranaki, Palmerston, and Auckland had come to the conclusion that bitumen would be better for the Plains than concrete. In his opinion bitumen would be quite satisfactory. A report, had shown that in Palmerston North the maintenance after the first 12 years was the same for bitumen as for bitumen-covered concrete. He wanted to see gool rpads, and if the ratepayers were prepared to pay for them he would support either proposition. Mr McDuff moved that, the ratepayers of Horahia riding go in for a bitumen road in their area. - Seconded by Mr S? S. Murray and carried unanimously. Mr W. G. Hayward said that, at the last council meeting iit was decided to raise a loan of £20,000 for extra machinery. Councillors were opposed to putting a loan before the ratepayers! but in view of the many reading schemes that were being brought forward extra machinery was an absolute necessity. The amount had been cut down as much as possible, and provided for opening up quarries, and for punts, tramlines, etc., and he was sure that if the loan was no*carried the rates for the ordinary maintenance of roads would be much more than the r ( ate for the loan and maintenance. Mr McDuff said that more work should be done by contract. Contractors with sufficient plant would be available if there was sufficient work offering. - Mr Willy said the position was that unless the machinery loan was carried it was no use talking of raising a loan for Horahia rpading, for the county had not the machinery to do the work. Mr Walton said that of the first machinery loan about one-thir.d had not yet been raised, and the money was not likely to be raised as the loan proposals were itemised and the Council had decided that some of the items mentioned would not be required at the present time. The money could not be used for any other pur-

pose than .that set out on the loan proposals. Had the previous loan not been itemised a new loan would not be required. The loan rate over the whole county was about. l-7d for every £lO,OOO. Considerable discussion arose as to when the Horahia loan poll should be put to the ratepayers. Finally Mr Schultz moved, and Mr McDuff seconded, that a loan poll for £28,000 for a roading scheme for Hornhia riding be put to the ratepayers at the same time as the county machinery loan poll,, and on being put to the meeting it was carried unanimously. Discussing the machinery loan proposals Mr J. C. Miller said the Council had decided that only machinery that would benefit the whole couqjy, sur-h as quarry equipment punts, eitc., would be bought out of the loan. Machinery that would benefit one riding only would not .be included. The Council recognised that a big loan proposition would probably be turned down by the ratepayers, so had included only machinery that was absolutely ’necessary. Other tidings besides Horahia were proposing roading schemes, and unless the loan was carried these could not be proceeded with. The money would only be raised as it was required. Mr W. E. G. Willy moved, and Mr S', S. Murray seconded, ‘‘That this meeting of Horahia riding ratepayers approve of the action of the County Council in putting the £20,900 mar chinery loan proposals to the ratepayers.” The motion was carded unanimously. The meeting closed with a vote of thanks to. the chair.