HAURAKI PLAINS COUNTY

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 4929, 22 January 1926, Page 4

HAURAKI PLAINS COUNTY

ENGINEER’S REPORT. The following report for the month ending January 19, 1926', was presented by .the engineer, Mr F. Basham, to the Hauraki Plains. County Council at it,s meeting on Tuesday - METAL CRUSHER. “I am pleased to be able to report that at last the crusher is running satisfactorily, and it is hoped that there' w'il|l be no further trouble. Metal, supplies are now coming to hand regularly. TURUA-NETHERTON; LOAN. “The second course bitumen work is proceeding on the Huirau road. When this, is completed I propose laying 'the sin bottom course on Hauraki Road and Wharepoa-Kerepeehi Road. NETHERTON LOAN. “Approval has been received from tiie Main Highways Boa,rd for work on Wilson’s Road, and also on Pekapeka Road. The Public Works Deparment’s dredge is now on its way to pump sand .at Netherton and Pekapeka for the various roads, in those localities. Cr. Hare and I arranged with Mr Julian for the supply of 10,000 yards of metal from the Paeroa quarry for roads at .that end of the riding. Metal for roads in the vicinity of Netherton’ will, be' supplied from the Hikutaia quarry. I have arra.nged with Messrs. McCallum Bros, for the delivery of red gravel, required for his season’s tvtork on Wilson’s and Pekapeka roads. There are two short sections' of roads in the loan area that could be put in such repair that the necessity for expending loan money could be put off for some y ears —namely, from the Netherton factory to the s.chool, and from Wilson’s Road to the Puke bridge, a total distance of one mil_e. . The cost of lightly scarifying, patching pot4holes, and blinding with red metal would be about £650.” In reply to Cr, Miller the engineer said that the quality of .the metal w.as sataisfactory if certain parts' of 'the quarry were not touched. Cr. Hare said that the position ha,d been gone into very thoroughly with the Public Works, Department. The action of the engineer and Cr. Hare in letting the contract for the supply of 10,000 yards at 10s 6d a yard was confirmed. GRADERS. “The Celtrac outfit has finished on Pekapeka Road and has shifted to Patetonga, and from there it will work its way through to Mangatarata, finishing up all work as it goes. “The Fordson outfit wilj finish on Pekapeka Road to-night, and will proceed tp Wilson’s Road to form up .the road in readiness for metalling.” Cr. McLoughlin protested against the graders parsing the road from Kaihere to Torehape and doing the Patetonga riding roads first. . In his opinion the earlier the road was attended to the better woul.d be the job. Cr. Mayn said that the grader and plant would reach that stretch of the road during February. Cr. McLoughlin pointed out tha,t this road, being through bush, required treatment early in the season so .that it would have a. chance to consolidate during the fine weather. Unless the work was doiie the ratepayers could riot believe that they were receiving fair, treatment from the council, and thus they could not be expected to support the. main roa,ds scheme.

Cr. Mayji contended that his riding was jus th’ entitled to the plant, as the council had unanimously decided in September last that it should be made

available early in the summer for Patetonga. However, he was agreeable to the bush road being done at once. •»

After further discussion the council agreed to the change in the plans, the cost of transportation to and from the Patetonga riding to be borne by the Ngatea riding. Cr. Madgwick urged that in future, the control of the machinery be left in the hands of the engineer. If the council continually altered his plans little actual work would be done, as the machinery would spend its time* travelling. KAIHERE BRIDGES. “Recent heavy rains did a certain amount of damage in .the Torehape district, washing put the ford,etc. This’ has, been repaired. The swing-bridge', near the Kaihere school was alsodamaged. Thiis' is a job for a bridge* carpenter. There is a,lso an old., scour under the reinforced concrete' bridge over the Kaihere' stream on . the Ngarua road which shpuld have* immediate attention, as the bridge, is. endangered.” , I

In reply to Gr. McLoughlin the engineer said that Mr W. Clare wouM inspect the swing-bridge on Saturday next.

In regard to the concrete bridge-, Cr. McLoughlin pointed out that tfe

scour was the result of' inefficient workmanship when the bridge w r as built. The master had been taken up with the Lands Department on numerous occasionis; in) the . past. The engineer said that the Lands, Department denied all liability, contending that the scour had occurred since the bridge was handed over to the council. A concrete'apron, and a wingwa.M - .were . necessary to make temporary repairs. The bed of the creek was washing away continually. It was decided that the engineer endeavour to get the lands drainage engineer to discusjs' ,the matter on the site. NETHERTON FERRY. “The punt at this ferry has been unworkable since January 2. To put it in repair will, cost anything up to £BO, a,nd then it will only fl'ast a year or two on account of general decay. I sha.ll be glad of instructions on this matter.” Cr. Nicholson said that the pontoon was. absolutely unfit for service. He was of opinion that another pontoon should be secured. . Cr. 'Hayward moved that the Quarry Committee confer with representatives of the Ohinemuri and Thames county councils a.nd report to the next meeting. TURUA-ORONGO ROAD. “Contractors have completed laying .the bitumen course on this road. Backing up is yet ,to be finished. PIAKO ROAD.

“Bitumen work in ,the Town Board area is in progress, and also* the first coat work in the county.” Cr. Hayward urged that efforts be made to expedite this work. The engineer reported at length on the plans of the contractors, • and pointed out that the work would be completed by the time stipulated in ■the contract —the end of February.