TURUA RIDING ROADS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4674, 14 March 1924, Page 1

TURUA RIDING ROADS.

DISCUSSION BY COUNCIL. A long discussion took place at LJie meeting of the Plains Counlv Council on Tuesday last on matters relating to the Turtta Riding roads work.

The engineer in his report stated that tiic approval of the district engineer had not yet been received to use Puriri metal as a bottom course on roads bearing Public Works subsidy, although the work is still pro-, grossing. He suggested that this matter warranted the council’s earnest consideration, for the reason that if it should decide to abandon the subsidy and use unsuitable metal as a wearing course for bitumen it may jeopardize the prospects of favourable consideration when asking for tuture grants for laying down bitumen roads. The foreman of works reports that owing to a breakdown at the crusher supplies of metal from Puriri hopper have cased considerably. He also complained that the metal coming to hand is much oversize. The engineer said he informed the contractor that he must break the metal down to the specified size and to the satisfaction of the foreman of works, the contractor promising to adhere to his instructions.

Mr R. H. Cameron, foreman of works, reported that he had visited Puriri on Wednesday last. The chairman and engineer of the Thames County Council were present, and inspected the plant. On Saturday Mr Fretwell had said that he was goir .; to take a .iob with the Thames county. Mr Lowe (the chairman of the Thames County Council) confirmed this, stating that he thought the Plains council or its engineer knew of it. However, the Thames county were prepared to cancel the contract if tiic Plains county so desired. Mr Cameron was of the opinion that the council should retain the contractor, as unless the crusher were kept going many roads on the Plains would not be metalled before winter.

The engineer said that he knew of. no arrangement with the Thames County. There was no doubt that the contractor was unsatisfactory, but it was a question of metal or no metal. In reply to Cr. Mayn the chairman said that the Public Works Department had not yet approved of the Purirt metal. The work of laying a bottom course was proceeding, though it was not known if this procedure would bo accepted by the Ptiblic Works Department.

Crs. Mayn and McLoughlin were of the opinion that the work should be •slopped until a final statement had been received from the Public Works Department. Cr. Hayward was against stopping the work.

Cr. McLoughlin said that he did not advocate stopping the work except for a few days until the Public Works Department had been interviewed. He moved, and Cr. Parfitt seconded, that the engineer visit Auckland and interview the chief engineer of the Public Works Department.

Mr Madgwick pointed out that the loan had been raised without thought of a subsidy. The settlers rather desired to see the work finished than hung up for thp purpose of getting a subsidy.

Cr. Mayn .said that it was a case of saving the ratepayers from themselves.- It was the council’s business to see that rubbish was not put on the road.

Cr. Madgwick said that if Puriri metal were turned down the cost ?f the metal would he so increased that no benefit to the ratepayers would be gained by using dearer metal and getting the subsidy. Tn regard to the contractor at Puriri, Cr. Madgwick •said it was no use trying to keep a nian if he did not want to work.

Cr. McLoughlin suggested that as the Waitakarurn 'crusher, would be finished with in.about a month.it be shifted to Hikutaia.

Cr. Harris said , that he would not oppose this, if about a. thousand yards of metal were crushed for repairs to the Stream road before it went.. The engineer said he would like ‘o see the crusher shifted to Puriri. Waitakaruru quarry metal could be crushed on the road as cheaply as in the crusher. Cr. Parfitt suggested that arrangements be made to use the contractors’ plant for about a month, by which time a supply of metal could be crushed at Waitakarurn.

The chairman pointed out that the legal position as to whether the contractor at Puriri could be retained had to be investigated. When this was done the engineer could make suitable arrangements with the contractor. This was agreed to.