HAURAKI PLAINS COUNTY

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4586, 16 July 1923, Page 4

HAURAKI PLAINS COUNTY

ENGINEER’S REPORT. Mr j. Higgins, engineer to the Hauraki Plains County Council, presented his monthly report to the last meeting of that body as follows “ The past month has proved without exception the worst I have ever experienced for getting work done, and it was entirely due to the sheer necessity of keeping the metal roads open for traffic that I allowed metalling repairs to proceed. It is some consolation, however, to know- that, while admitting that the cost for repairs was more than it, would have been under ordinary circumstances, the traffic has in no case to my knowledge been blocked. Had it not been for supplies of metal coming to hand from Hikutaia quarry I have no hesitation in saying that the main road between Netherton and Kerepeehi would now be impassable. I would suggest that where possible provision be made in future for adequate supplies of metal to be put in heaps at intervals along roads before winter commences, so that it can be wheeled or carted with a single horse and dray for repairing holes. This system could not have been carried into effect in the past, but may be applied in the future, seeing that the Council now has its own source of supply. Another matter I would like to suggest is the necessity for having paddocking for horses while employed on road works. The lack of this caused a considerable amount of inconvenience and additional expense. I would suggest that your reserves be fenced. The time has now arrived when a surfaceman should be employed in almost every riding. In order to get efficient men to take up the work I would suggest that your Council take advantage of the provisions in the housing loan for* surfacemen’s cottages.

" Metal Supplies.—The contracto" at Hikutaia quarry has experienced considerable difficulty in getting out metal owing to the bad weather. The transit of metal from the quarry tJ the Waihou River has also been delayed owing to the excessive amount of water in the Hikutaia Stream. Of the three punts that were in commission less than two, months ago one has undergone repairs and is back on the scene. Another has sprung a leak, and will be placed on the Public Works slip at Puke for repairs. From late experience it will readily be seen the necessity for a slip at some central place where punts' can be overhauled and sent out in good order. It also emphasises the 'fact that without an adequate supply of punts it is impossible to make satisfactory progress in the metalling of roads'in the County. I arranged with the Chairman of the Ohinemu i County Council to let his County have some metal when County punts are not available. The price arranged was 8s per cubic yard in the hopper at the quarry. The arrangements were of course made subject to the approval of your Council and T would ask it to be kind enough to endorse same.

“ Netherton-Puke Main Road. —Two punt loads of metal amounting to 75 cuoic yards have been discharged at Netherton for repairs to road. Out of the 50 cubic yards, authorised for repairs from the .Paeroa dump only 20 yards have been used. The remaining 30 yards may now be taken from the Neitherton stack. I would ask your Council to-day for authority to do further repairs between Netherton and Puke shotild money be available. I have engaged Mr J. E. Fisher as surfaceman for the Netherton riding.

“ Cream Depot.—l have on behalf of the Council consented to the Waikato .Valley Dairy Co. erecting a cream depot behind the fence on the old Netherton-Puke Road. The company has agreed to terms that will enable your Council to order the removal of same at any time should you think fit. “ Turua-Netherton Road. —Repairs to metal have been carried out during the month extending in a northward direction towards the Huirau Road corner. The portion of road berween Carter’s corner and Kerepeehi road corner was in comparatively fair order a month ago, but is again in a bad condition and requires further repairs should money be available. Altogether about 310 cubic yards of metal have been used -for maintenance on this road since the first week in May. The portion of new metalled road (Troughton’s) which received a coat of metal 12 feet wide by 6% ’ inches deep has linked up the main metalled road through the County. “ Kerepeehi-Wharepoa Road. — A considerable amount of repairs has been done on this road, there being altogether 110 cubic yards of metal laid. I have arranged with the Lands Drainage Engineer to supply men, tractor, and grader to trim the sides of the metal for the purpose of draining the waiter from the surface of the road. The work commenced to-day, and will be under my supervision. The Council will pay the Lands Department for floing the work. Turua-Netherton Roads Loan. — Good progress is beijng made in laying the tramline. It has been laid from the Waihou River, along Newman’s Road to Turua-Netherton Road, and is progressing in a northerly direction towards Turua. The balance of rails dogs, and fish plates have arrived. "Hoppers.—.l have placed an order with E. L. Pike, Auckland, for timber for two hoppers, subject to charges being favourable. I propose getting the timber and ironwork from Auckland by scow, 'and li think it advisable for me to rian up to Auckland as a saving can be made both in the purchase of material and the freight on same. "Trees on NethArton Road.—l inspected the trees with a view to letting a contract for* removal of same. I rind it will be a -costly rcndertakinp to remove the trees;, and There is not much space for slacking them. I would suggest that instead of callin? tenders, the trees be ring-btarked and cut and burned during the summer.

’ “Fisher’s and School Roads, Nether- [ ton, —The contract for cleaning Fish- J er’s Road drain is now completed, and the School Road drain should be completed during the current week. “Piako Road. —Repairs to the above road are now completed. The metal for the portion between Kopuarahi Road and the Town Board boundary was from Kopuarahi. Approximately 76 cubic yards were put or. the road by settlers within the Town Board area. The latter metal was supplied by the Council from the Turua dump, 40 cubic yards being due to the settlers from last year.

“Kopuarahi Road.—Repairs of a minor nature have been carried out. The wet weather necessitated the withdrawal of teams, but the work will'be resumed when the weather improves. I have arranged for the Lands Department grader to trim the sides of the metal when the Wharopon Road is finished. Arrangements have also been made to have 40 or 50 cubic yards of metal flumped at the junction of Orchard East Road for repairs.

“Pipiroa Riding.—The grader' and team have been employed trimming the metalled roads. Effective repairs have also been carried oat to holes in" metal. I propose using all the spare metal from the sides of roads for repairs, and also getting one or two puntloads at the earliest opportunity.

“Ngatea Riding.—Rawer awe Road and portion of the road from Pipiroa boundary have received attention, but, owing to the bad weather the work had to be discontinued. "•‘Fencing.— Estimates for fencing the surfaceman's cottage and pound site at Waitakaruru are: Six-wire fence,. 4 posts,. 16 battens to chain, 11 chains at £2, £22 ; shed, 18 by 12, £4O ; one gate, £2 15s ; total for pound site, £64 15s. House : 2.96 chains at £2, £5 18s sd; one back gate, £1 15s ; one small gate, 25s ; total, £8 18s sd. "Hikutaia Quarry.—One man is employed prospecting the hill near the quarry. I propose putting < n three more men for the same work when they cap be removed from Patetonga, and I hope within the next few weeks to be in a better position to judge the minimum outlay that will be required to efficiently carrv out the work while taking fully in.'o account the approximate life of the quarry.

“Without going any further into th? matter, and in view of the fact that your loan proposals for machinery will barely meet requirements, I quite favour abandoning the idea, of tramline, locomotive, and trucks. 1 find that the old stone-crusher and the boiler nOw in use can be depended upon to do the work. The results of the 1 prospecting will, however, determine whether we should provide electric power instead of steam, and if' your Council should make provision for a drilling plant. In the meantime,. however, provision should be made for renewing the crusher bed, renairing chute, providing screens, hopper, belting, etc., alt an approximate cost of £BOO. An additional £l5O should be allowed for prospecting the hill.

“Patetonga Quarry.—Six men are employed prospecting this quarry, but owing to the bad weather the work will not be completed before the option expires. Mr Pateman has, however, promised that he will renew the option on the 16th inst. i" necessary.

“Moulds for Concrete Pipes.—From information gained I find that each set of moulds frpm 18in to 3ft in diameter would be approximately £35 per set, and moulds for pipes 4ft in diameter could be set down at, say, £42 per set. “Waitakaruru Stream Road.— l met the settlers on the above road in regard to a £ for £ subsidy for cleaning drain between Beaver’s and Haley’s corner. I find that a dispute has arisen amongst the settlers concerned, and until this is settled I am unable to start the contractors at work. “Patetonga-Kaihere Road. —I have to ask your Council for authority toj day to have the survey of the road deviation near Patetonga completed. I find that it is going to be a cositlv matter to do the survey at the present time owing to the state of tlie rpad and the time lost in getting to and from the job. “General/—Timber for Mahuta Road bridge is now at Thames and waiting for delivery. Puriri metalling contract has been signed. Proposals for constructing canal bridge, Waitakaruru, have not yet been ap* proved by the Public Works Department Work on the back Miranda road has been held up by the bad weather. Metal for Waitakaruru and Pipiroa ridings could not be delivered owing to bad weather.”