PLAINS COUNTY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4699, 16 May 1924, Page 4

PLAINS COUNTY.

ENGINEER’S REPORT. The Hauraki Plains county engineer reported to the council meeting on Tuesday last as follows : Kopuarahi Riding—Owing to the bad weather the metalling of the Pipiroa-Orongo road had to be suspended, but arrangements have been made to complete the work as soon as the road is tit to stand heavy traffic. The Kauaeranga metal is being landed at the ferry instead of at the Lands Department’s landing, as the clay road along the riverbank would not stand the carting. Shelly Beach Road has been graded, and new culverts are being put in. The high tide on the 23rd came right over the road, but did little harm. Tuma Riding.—Maintenance work has been carried put on several roads during the month. The Turua-Neth-erton main road was scarified, graded, patched, and rolled. Puriri metal and metal from the dump at Whai'cpoa being used for patching. Wharepoa Ferry Road was also scarified aiid graded. Kerepeehi Riding.—The county tractor and grader have been working on Pekapcka Road, and a section of about 27 chains at the Kerepeehi end will be completed in a few days. Netherton Riding.—The contractor on Ngararahi Stop-bank Road has completed about 50 chains of sanding. Patching has been done on the old main road, and a' short section in front, of the Netherton store and post office has been metalled.

The Patetoriga, Ngatea, and Waitakariiru ridings suffered somewhat in the floods at the beginning of the month, the Kaihere-Ohinewai road being the worst off. An application has been made to the Public Works Department for a special grant for flood damage as under : Kaihere-Ohinewai Road, clearslips and repairing culvert, £5O; To'ehape Road, clearing slips, £9 Morrinsville-Waitakaruru Road, repairing washouts and clearing slips, £10; Mangatarata Road, repairing washout, £l5; Total, £B4. No reply has been received from the Department.

Wharepoa Ferry.—The old Wliarcpoa ferry punt was dismantled early in the month, and the new punt arrived from Auckland on the 22nd. It has been titled up and put >n running order, everything being ready for work on the 30th. The cost of the new punt repairs and Utting up read for work amounted to £165 2s 3d, and a new winch has yet to be purchased. Tlte one now in use was obtained rroin, Mr, Kerby on approval,' but it is 100 light for the work.

•Turua-Netlierton Roads Loan.— Work iii this area lias been suspended owing to failure of metal supplies.

Ti e Council’s own plant should be running about the 20th of this month, and work can then be resumed on several sections.

Netherton Roads Loan. —The metalline of a section of School Road has Jieeii completed with the exception of blinding and rolling. Altogether 859 yards of metal have been laid on this section. Work is being pushed on on the main road from Troughton’s to Carter's corner. There arc 80 chains in this section, but with the money available it will only be possible to surface from 30 to 40 chains. The balance will have to be scarified, graded, and rolled, with some new metal for the worst holes.

Cr. Madgwick considered that the ratepayers were not getting fair treatment. The work was authorised during tlie summer, and was being done doing the winter. It was to be a foundation for a permanent road, and if it had been done in the .summer time tne council would have got better value.

The engineer said that the mno«y granted was insufficient to complete the metalling, so some pf the road would not be done. The cost of maintennace if the road was not done would be enormous.

Cr. Madgwick said the money was coming out of a loan, and the ratepayers desired the work stopped. It was for the council tp‘ say whether the work should be paid for out of the County Fund. The road was a main road, and benefited the through traffic more than the settlers. He was of the opinion that rails should be used, so that the metal laid would not be destroyed by being carted over.

The matter was left to the engineer and riding member, with full power to carry on or stop the work as they thought fit. The enginer stated that unless money was granted for maintenance the road would be closed during the winter.

Ngatea Bridge.—To put the Ngatea bridge deck in order 3000 ft of *J by 2 hardwood planking will be required. Most of the wheel planks on the level spans arc still good, and if changed from inside to outside and turned over very few new ones will be required.

C’r. Hayward suggested tarring and sanding the surface of the bridge. The engineer said that might be too slippery. He proposed putting cross planks where the wheels of vehicles had worn the decking. It was also suggested to cover about 20 feet of the approach to a depth of two oi' three inches with a mixture of tar and gravel, but objections were raised and the matter was deferred for a month, during which time inquiries would be made by the engineer.

Machinery Loan.—Before going on leave I visited Messrs Aitken and Son, of Karaiigahake, with a view .to ascertaining if supplies of suitable material could be obtained for a depot at Nga-

tea. 1 found that a large building suitable for your Council’s requirements, and measuring 58ft by 58ft by 16ft stud, was being dismantled. The timber in the building is all sound heart of rimu, and was covered with iron, but all the roof iron and that of one side has been sold, 1 agieed wifh Mr Aitken that I would take the timber in the building at 20s per 100 ft if he allowed it to remain in position until further advised. Mr Aitken also promised me the option of taking the iron, which has since been quoted al 20s per cwt. There are 7104 super feet of timber and 23cwl of corrugated iron in the building as it now .stands. The total price is £97. •

Cr. Mayn said that there would probably be an abnormal amount of short lengths of timber in the buildin;; owing to the large number m windows usually found mining buildings.

It was decided to instruct the engineer and inspector to inspect, with power to act.

Timber. —In view of the fact that large supplies of timber v,ill be required for future developments in •the erection of crushing plant, hoppers, berthage for punts, etc., I would recommend the Council to negotiate with Mr Aitken and endeavour to obtain supplies, payment to be deferred until the machinery loan No. 2 is available.

The engineer and inspector were given power to negotiate with Mr Aitken.