HAURAKI PLAINS COUNTY

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4686, 11 April 1924, Page 4

HAURAKI PLAINS COUNTY

ENGINEER’S REPORT. The engineer to the Hauraki Plains County Council (Mr J. Higgins) presented the following report at the council meeting on Tuesday last: — ASSISTANT ENGINEER. hi view of the fact that Mr Anderson’s term of appointment as assistant engineer expires on April 25 I would ask that he be retained for a further period, as there will be a considerable increase in preparing plans and specifications for and supervising future works. For your information I might mention that Mr Andersoii is giving good satisfaction, am' may be difficult to replace at some future date.” Cr. McLaughlin, said that it would be foolish to dispense with Mr Anderson’s services. By retaining him it should be possible to commence work at the beginning of the spring. HIKUTAIA QUARRY. ‘‘Tenders closed on March 24 for quarrying and breaking 2000 cubic yards of metal at Hikutaia, there being only two tenders,- namely. P. Odium, 6s 8d per yard, and M. Mahoney, 5s 9d per yard. The latter, whose tender has been accepted, will commence work within a few days. J. Cochrane, who- wished .to be relieved, i,s at present supplying metal by day wages.” Cr. Madgwick said he understood that the work was to be done by day labour. The engineer replied that the contractor had been engaged by day labour until the tenders were received. when the matter would come up for consideration. The man had put in a tender of 8s 9d, so it was obvious that the cost by day labour under his supervision would approach that figure. Cr. Madgwick said that according to the contractor the cost on dav wages should be about 3s 9d. WHAREPOA FERRY. “Together with Cr. Hayward I inspected a punt owned by the Devonport Ferry Co., and received authority from your chairman to purchase same to replace the Wharepoa ferry. The punt is 30ft long by 15ft beam by 2ft sin deep. The purchase price of the punt is £62 10s, and, after repairing and fitting up the new ferry the total cost is estimated at £155. KOPUARAHI- RIDING. “The first course of metal (McCallum red) has been laid on PiplroaOrongo rbad. Unfortunately wet weather intervened before the metal could lie rolled, and in consequence a certain amount of damage has been caused by traffic. Metal for the top course is expected to arrive within a day or two. ‘The metalling on Ngataipua East Road has been completed, and the material used has been passed as being satisfactory by the Public Works Department. FORMATION WORK. “Stop-bank Road.—The formation on this road has been completed, and about 15 chains of sand laid to a wi’th of 12ft by 6in deep. “Wil soil’s Road.—The contractors have completed the sanding of approximately 22 chains of the road, and on this foundation about six chains of metal have been laid to a width of 12ft by 9in deep. In order to comply with the requirements of the Public Works Department some alterations will have to be made in the original proposals. ‘School Road.—The metalling on this road has been delayed owing to the hanging up of metal supplies from the Hikutaia quarry. Your chairman has authorised the cleaning out >£ the drain along the road, and the work ,vill be put in hand at an early date.

“Rangiora Road.—ln response to inquiries made by Cr. Hare 1 have gone into the matter of forming the unmetalled portion of this road, ami i find that the distance is about 20 chains, and that the formation can bo done the full width for about £35. ‘Pekapeka Road. —The contractor for forming this road has not yet commenced work. ,so 1 have arranged '.o have 40 chains at the western end of the road undertaken this week. i would ask authority to have the holes

in the old metalled portion filled up with the gravel that is stacked along the side of. the road, the work to be undertaken without delay. "Miranda-Waitakaruru Road.—The inctall'ng on this road has been held up on account of wet weather. Altogether approximately 55 chains of metalling has been completed, and it is doubtful whether any further carting can be done this season.

“Hamilton’s Road (Horahia).— The settleis have completed stumping a section on the .southern end of this road. Pipes arc on order lor lengtheirng two culverts, and 1 hope to have the founation started at an carb’ date. GENERAL. Surfaceman's House (Horahia Ridj nf ,) surfaceman to be stationed in the riding is anxiously waiting for a Louse adjoining a metalled road. I understand that the site for the house has not yet been settled, and after again considering the matter I would recommend that a section be purchased in the riding as near to Ngatea township as possible. The reasons for this recommendation arc : It is essential that the man stationed in the Horahia riding should possess a motor-cycle, and then a mile or two extra run would not count for very much ; the .surfaceman would be in close touch with the council chambers ; the house would be handy lb the school; the house would be a better asset' to the council, as it could always be let if occasion arose.

“Dining the month you inspector, Mr W. j. Clare, has undertaken several works in the county end the re pairs to the Hiktuaia bridge, which was damaged by one of the county punts. Dismantling and alterations to the Wharepoa ferry and repairs to the Nctherton ferry will he cairixl out by him.

“The District Engineer. Railwajs Department, has written in connection with the metal dump at Paeroa railway station. The Department is willing to enter into a lease for an extended period, or will enter into an agreement for a short period. In the former case the preparation of tne lease will cost £l. and in the latter case the preparation of a memorandum of agreement will cost 10s, the rent in either case to be at the rale of £5 per annum. I would recommend that a lease for an extended period be obtained.

‘The following applications for progress payments on grants were made to the Public Works Department during the month, and the amounts have been paid in to the county: Ngataipua East Road, £282 Ils 9d ; Paeroa to Turua, Netherton section. £482 16s Id ; Ngararahi Stopbank Road, £276 Ils 3d: Maukoro Landing Road, £7O; Kaihere-Ohir.e-wai Road, £270 6s 3d. An application was also made for £394 18s on account of the Waitakaruru-Miranda road, but this amount has not yet come to hand.” The report was adopted. Cr. Madgwiek voted against the motion contending that he was not satisfied with the position in regard to the Hikutaia quarry. INSPECTOR'S REPORT. The Hauraki Plains County inspector reported as follows :— “Council Chambers. —Since my last report to you the concrete work has been completed. The rooting is also completed, and the floors have been placed in position. The timbering against the concrete walls inside to receive the lining, etc., has now been placed. The contractor reports that he expects the plastering work and erection of chimneys to be started at once. “Building Permits. —Permits have been issued during the month as follows : One 5-roomed, one 4-rooined, and two 3-roomed houses, and four additions to cowsheds, to the total value of £1787.

'•Registration of Dogs.—During the month 350 dogs have been registered, which brings the total to 470, and 1 aln trying to bring the larger part of this work to an end by the end of the present month. I am meeting with a little trouble with a small section of dog owners, and 1 have served them with notices to register their dogs by a certain date. On their failing to do so I will send their names to your solicitor.

“Driving Without Lights.-—I have warned 28 persons during the month for this offence, and if the danger does not stop I will take the names of the offenders and hand them to your solicitor.