WORKS IN THE COUNTY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4621, 5 November 1923, Page 1

WORKS IN THE COUNTY.

ENGINEER’S REPORT. At the meeting of the Ohinemuri County Council on Thursday last the county engineer (Mr B. Shaw) presented his report for the month as follows :— “ Specifications for forming and metalling Frankton Road under the Frankton Road Loan Account, amounting to approximately £1,200, have been submitted for approval. “ The approval of the expenditure of £lOO for metalling 20 chains of Fcrd Road has come .to hand, and tenders are called, for which same close to-day. The. settlers in the vicinity have agreed to do the necessary formation required free of cost. '• The metalling of that portion of the Te Aroha Main Road is progressing slowly on account of the wet Weather, and also the metalling of Robinson’s. Road is nearing completion. The metal for this road can only be obtained when the Hauraki Plains County Council is not drawing on the supply at the quarry; therefore progress is slow. The metalling of the Victoria Street bridge approach at Waihi is completed, and when the posts come to hand the same will be fenced on both sides. “ One hundred chains of the Old Tauranga Road between the Waihi main road and Frankton road has been rounded up with the grader, and also approximately 20 chains of Pukewera road at the cost of 4/- a chain. The grader is at present on loan to the Waihi Borough Council, being in use on the Waihi Beach Road, and also the services of a man to drive the same as agreed upon by your council. “ Ijn company with the chairman and Councillors H. M. Corbett, P. Corbett, and S. H. Morgan, I attended the meeting of settlers convened ’by the Mayor of Wiahi re loan for for Waihi Beach Road, which was hold in the Borough Chambers, Waihi, and what took place at the meeting will be explained by the chairman. “In company with the inspector of mines a visit was paid to Houmanga Road, being the outcome ef wn application made by your council to the Minister of Mines for assistance towards its upkeep. This road is extensively used through mining timber being carted over it. “Re estimate for forming and metalling 24 chains of Paeroa-Te Aroha main road at Waitoki: this work would cost approximately £351 45,, half cost to the council being £175 12s. •Re estimate for inetalliug V’aitawheta road between the Waihi railway line crossing and the junction of the Waitawheta and the Waihi-Wai tawheta roads, being approximately 190 chains. To improve and metal this length without deviations would cost £1530. During the past month the surfacemen have been engaged in repairing this road, which was almost impassable during the winter. The metal for repairs is broken out of the local quarries and carted on in the rough state and broken down to the required size.

“Re estimate for tar sealing Paeroa—Te Aroha Old Road amd Hubbard’s Road. After proceeding with the estimate for the above, I would like to point out that the two most essential points required where itar is concerned is good drainage and a solid foundation. I have had expert advice pn tar-sealing, and I am assured that the points mentioned above are everything where success is required. These roads in my opinion are not suitable for permanent reading. Seeing that the above roads are npt likely to be called upo i to carry extraordinary traffic the oridnary metalled road would suffice. To construct and metal that portion between the Paeroa Borough boundary and Waihi “railway crossing would cost £791, and to improve and metal 100 chains of the swamp road, £lOB5 ; the total cost being £1876. To form and metal the unmetalled portion of Hubbard’s road, 60' chains in length, would cost approximately £588.”