OHINEMURI COUNTY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4786, 8 December 1924, Page 2

OHINEMURI COUNTY.

WORK OF THE MONTH. ENGINEER’S REPORT. The Engineer’s (Mr E. ShaW) report to the Ohinemuri County Council meeting on Thursday last was as follows :— “Work was laid off at the northern end ot the Whangamata road, thus connecting up the unformed portion between the Ohinemuri and Thames counties, and proposals have been sent to the Public Works Department for approval. The site of this road was diverted by the Survey Department and a new survey made. Some time ago I visited the place and laid the work off on the new line, but found that the route would be costly to construct, and, would, also be hard in the matter of-upkeep owing to the bad swamp that- it traverses. On visiting the locality again I decided to place the new road on the old Te Wb.ariki tramline, which is easy to construct, and shorter. When making the new survey this is the line the department should have taken. "Proposals have also been sent for approval to the Public Works Department for metalling on the Old Te Arolia road (south end) under subsidy £l5O, £ for £. Authority has come to hand for Station Road, Mangaiti, and the metalling of name is being proceeded with. The authority for Pukekauri Road, £2OO free, had also been given. As this amount was not sufficient to complete the work an extra £lOO was asked for on the Supplementary Estimates, but up to the present it had not come to hand, although it has been recommended by the’ resident engineer at Paeroa. Of the three items asked for ou the Supplementary Estimates the only one appearing is £lOO for Leopold’s Road, Waihi.

“The following "works have been completed: Brenan and Co., Ltd.’s, contract for banding portion of Old Te Aroha Road under subsidy, and also fcr placing groynes and general repairs to Maratoto Road under Mines grant; O. Cummings’ contract for metalling 23 chains of Waitawheta Road.

“Wnen the weather conditions were suitable and the road fit to receive the metal, a start was made on Hubbard’s Road, and after three days’ work the weather conditions again stopped the work. I find it very difficult to get the mixture of gravel and sand through the stone-crusher if it is we i, owing to the isand setting like cement in the* jaws and spout of the crusher, but the clean metal is no trouble. I have not increased the workmen owing to the uncertainty of the weather and the quantity taken per day.

"During tiie month certified claims were sent in to the Public Works Department for payment for extraordinary damage,.flood damage, and main h foil ways expenditure.” Cr. Morgan asked if the money available for Pukekauri Read couid be spent forthwith instead oi waiting for n fu> ther £lOO.

Thi‘ engineer said that lie had taken ihe matter up with the resident engim er. and it was expected that the £lOO would be available shortly. In any case, tenders would be called for the work at a cost up to the full amount of the £2OO.