COUNTY WORKS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4722, 9 July 1924, Page 1

COUNTY WORKS.

PLAINS ENGINEER'S REPORT.

The following report was read from the Hauraki Plains couaity engineer, Mr J. Higgins, at the council meeting yestreday:— “Kopuarahi Riding.—During the month the Pipiroa-Orongo road was. graded, and a surfaceman has been ‘employed opening out the water-, tables and raking in the metal in various parts of the riding. “Horahia Riding.—Piako Road has been patched and graded and a short section, was scarified, but owing to wet weather, the roller was unable to get bii to it. The flood on Orchard East Road has been repaired, by surfacing with McCallum’s red, metal. 4 ' ‘ "Turua Riding—The Puriri crusher is now yVprkihg, and work in the, ‘ special rating area is being pushed forward as rapidly as possible on the, lower end of Huirau Rbad, about 50 yards of metal a day being put on the, road. The 6in codrse otf the Carter’s Cornei section of the Turua-Nether-ton main road has been completed on about 40 chains of the worst portion. Captain Cook Road has been patched, and most of the fescue holding the water on the road has been grubbed but and the ruts filled in. ' “Netherton Riding.—The metalling on the section from the Puke bridge 'to Wilson’s Road has been continued, about 27 chains haying been metalled. Rangiora Road has been patchled with Paerpa metal and the metal on School Road has been raked in. “Patetonga the month I went to" Auckland and saw Mr Baker, District Engineer of the Public Works Department, and discussed the Maukoro Landing road with him. Mr Baker said that he will ,recommend .a ■ grant, for., constructing the road abpve flood. level and suggested, that, we should make our own arrangements with the Lands. Department for the use of one of the dredges. 1 called. at the Lands ..Department offices, ,but Mr, Campbell was away i for several days,, so I had to come away . without . seeing him. I have since written to .Mr , Campbell, and he has replied .stating, that he will .consider the matter and will communicate with me., later, and in the meantime Mr. Taylor has asked me. to.give.him a plan showing the nature and extent of the proposed work. I.have, the work -in connection with the . survey of the tramline in hand at the. present time.

“Ngatea Riding.—The metalled roads in this riding have been graded and the flood damage oh the .metalled portion of the Ngatea-Kaihere road; repaired by surfacing . with MeCaiturn’s red metal. “Piliroa Riding.—The,grader, work on all thej metalled roads has been completed,.'and a surfaceman has been, engaged, .opening out. the .water-tables and patching., ~ . ‘ ‘Waitakarhru Riding —Grader work has been finked on the Mangatargta... roads, and mep. have bepn employe,d. on repairs at Me-, Donald’s bridge and at Coxl|eftd’s fill-; dug on the Waitakaruru-Morrinsville road.

“Miscellaneous.—l have looked into, the question of recesses on the Nga-, tea bridge and find that recesses of: sufficient size to allow heavy traffic; to pass will have to be made 50ft long, —covering two spa/ns of the bridge./! would suggest that the recesses be at the western end of the bridge just clear of the roller races of the lifting, span,, and that they, be 4ft .wide for 2 Q ft,,and tapering to. meet the original width of the bridge at each end of the recess. I 'estimate that the cost would be £175, “The... timber;, for the machinery depot is nojy en the .site and,will be erected during the present mbjrth. “The carting, contractor at Hikutaia has.written spying that, he is willing to, takea. new contract, on the. same terms .as the last . contract. In connection with this, funds at the , present,,time, do not .pefin.it us dumping Hikutaia ,metal and. paying for. it put of general, account,, but as spun, as a further instalment of .the , Netherton roads loan is available I woirrd recommend that as much metal.as possible be dumped during the winter months so that* the roads coming under this loan can be pushed on early in the .'next 'season. “The Railway Department has forwarded duplicate copies of the lease for .the, dump,/at the Paeroa railway station, and these require the seal of the county. The specification for the Wuitakaruru Stream canal bridge, has been signed and stamped by the contractor, and it also requires the seal <jf the county.”