COUNTY WORKS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4801, 23 January 1925, Page 3

COUNTY WORKS.

ENGINEERS REPORT. The Hauraki Plains county engineer, Mr F. Basham, reported to the council on Tuesday as follows: — Waitakaruru Stream Bridge.—This contract is satisfactorily completed. The approaches have been formed with the county plant. Tractor and Grader.—l was compelled to bring this outfit back from Waitakaruru to do formation work on Orchard East, Hamilton’s, and Kerepeehi roads. It has now returned to the Waitakaruru-Pokeno road. Lorries.—The committee set up to deal with the disposal of the Dennis lorries report having effected an exchange for the following: one fr-seater Chevrolet car, one 1-ton Chevrolet truck, one Bessemer truck. The car has been delivered, and the two trucks are due in a few days. The engineer was instructed to have the old Ford car converted into a truck to carry out odd jebs. Pukahu Road. —On making inquiries I ascertained that Maras and Krivich were very satisfactory contractors, and the contract was therefore let to them. They have commenced work. Road Roller. —The new Austin roller has arrived, and is ready for work. The old roller has been hired to New Zealand Roads, Ltd., for wse on the Turua town district work at a charge of £2 a day. LOAN WORKS. Turua-Netherton Roads Loan. —Second coat work on Hauraki Road has been completed beween ti e Willow drain and Orchard East Road. The first coat work has been completed on Orchard East Road. As the Turua-Netherton road has cut up so badly during the past two months I propose varying the order of work agreed upon by continuing work on the main road instead of commencing on the Wharepoa-Kere-peehi road. Cr. Hare protested against .the alteration. contending that the Kere-peehi-Wharepoa road was in a worse state than the Turua-Netherton road. There was a danger that the funds would.be exhausted before both roads were completed.

It was pointed out that there was a reasonable chance of the money required being raised in the nekr future. _ On resuming after lunch Mr P. R. Henry, representing the ratepayers of the Turua southern area, waited upon the council concening the proposal to expend the balance of the loan on the Wharepoa^Kerepeehi.road. The main road was, in the opinion or the ratepayers directly concerned,' of much more importance than the Kerepeehi Road, said Mr Henry. He pointed out that the council had agreed to work in conjunction \vith the Good Roads Committee, which now desired its wishes to be given effect to. The settles were paying a very big rate, and there was only one ratepayer on the KerepeehiWharepoa road to be considered. The Kerepeehi road a month or two ago w‘as in very bad order, but since it bad been scarified it had greatly improved. In the meantime the TuruaNetherton road had gone to pieces, and after a shower of rain it would be absolutely impassable. On a recent evening ten cars were stuck up .and about £5O worth of damage done within an hour or so.

In reply to Cr. Hare the engineer said that there was enough money available at present to complete the Wharepoa-Kerepeehi road and to de a very small portion of the Tuiiiar Netherton road, or sufficient to do a big portion of the main road. Cr. Madgwick urged that the wishes of the ratepayers be given conisideration. Last season the settlers had expressed the wish that the main road should be finished, but the council had . decided that it would be more economical, to complete the Huirau and Orchard East roads first. The engineer said that there was enough funds in hands to complete the main road.

Cr. Hare asked the engineer what he would recommend if the £4OOO could not be raised.

The engineer said itr was eissential that whichever job was commenced should be completed, otherwise the money would be wasted. The matter was argued at great length. Cr. Hare stressing the. necessity o keeping the main outlet, which was the Kerepeehi-Wharepoa road, open. Other counicllors supported, in view of the fact that the council had by resolution expressed the intention of having this road attended to as early as possible. On the motion, which was carried, that the Kerepeehi-Wharepoa road be attended to first, Crs. Mayn, McLoughlin Hare, Nicholson, and Harris voted for and Crs. Miller, Hayward, Madgwick, and Parfitt against. The report continued: To provide funds-to complete these roads this season it will be necessary to take immediate steps to raise more money. It will require a further sum of £lOOO, and I suggest that an earnest endeavour be made to obtain' consent to the hypothecation of debentures for this amount

It was decided that the county engineer proceed to Wellington to obtain the hypothecation and raise the money if possible. Horahia Loan.—Hamilton’s Road has received a coat of metal 10ft by 6in. This has been rolled and blinded The amount authorised in the loan pioposals (£600) would not allow for any heavier wtork. The tenders of the N.Z. Roads, Ltd., for the Piako and Turua-Orongo roads were not accepted by the committee.

The chairman reported on the reasons for the non-accetpance of the tenders, but the causes having been removed it was decided to let the Tu-rua-Orongo road contract to the tenderers. The job would be under the close" control of the county engineer, who could be trusted to see that the work was done properly. By letting this work by contract the council’s plant could be utilised on the TuruaNetherton, the Wharepoa-Kerepeehi, or the Pekapeka roads. As the con-

tractors could not proceed with two contracts at once, and as no delay would result by deferring the letting of the Piako Road work, it was decided to hold this matter over until next meeting.

Pekapeka Road. —Tenders for 50 chains of main highway on this road close to-day.

Machinery Shed.—The covering with iron on thfc building is now practically completed. The report was adopted.