HAURAKI PLAINS COUNTY

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 4938, 12 February 1926, Page 4

HAURAKI PLAINS COUNTY

ENGINEER’S REPORT.

Mr F. Basham, 'H.auraki Plains county engineer, reported on Tuesday to the council meeting as follows :—

“ T u r u a-Net her ton Loan. —H u i r au Road will be completed in a few 1 days, when work on Hauraki Road will be resumed. Sand is being landed at Wharepoa for the bo.ttom course on this Toad.

“Metal supplies from Hikutaia are coming to hand; slowly on account of want of room in .the quarry. This will be overcome in a few days, when increased quantities of metal will be available.

“Netherton Loan.—Red metal from Pekapeka Road is being landed at Fisher’s.

“Netherton Loan (1925). —Good progress is being made with the sand bottom course op Wilson’s Road. I put oh an extra grader to expedite formation. The contractor for metal supply hopes to be able to commence delivery by the end of the week. I propose to lay the first Sin cours,e throughout the whole length of road before commencing the second coat of Hn and the red gravel blinding. “Gradel’s.—The Cletrac outfit is, making good progress in the Patetonga riding. The bush bend on .the Kaihei’e-Torehape 'road has been reformed. . I have hired a horse team to work the Duncan grader, and a start has been made on the Miranda road. Roads in Pipiroa, Shelly Beach, and Ngataipua will be graded in turn.

"Ngatea Bridge.—To widen the bridge over the length of 25ft —one span—will cost £lOO- This, will allow any two vehicles to pass with ease.”

On Cr. Hayward’s motion this was authorised.

“Ngarua Bridge.—Since the last meeting I have again inspected this bridge, and I find that the recent heavy storm has caus,ed further scour. I am afraid that the bridge will collapse unless immediate steps are taken to prevent further erosion. It will take £3OO to make, a satisfactory job.”

“Cr. McLoughlin said that the bridge was built by the Lands Depatrment in 1922, and he was s,ure it would not stand the cp<ming“winter. The Chief Drainage Engineer had said when the matter had been brought before him that repairs had been effected which would remove the cause of the erosion. The trouble was that the stream had been diverted through high country, and the scour had washed down about six feet. The piles had only been driven down for about eight , feet into the shingle. In his opinion the Lands Department should make the bridge s,afe.

On the motion of Cr. McLoughlin it was decided that the matter be explained to the Minister for Lands; with a request, that the repairs be effected. Previous correspondence on the matter was to be referred to him.

“Ngarua Swing Bridge.—To make this bridge safe for foot traffic will cost £25.” —Authorised.

TRAFFIC CONTROL ON PLAINS.

The newly appointed inspector for the Hauraki Plains County, Mr R. HCameron, reported to the council meeting on Tuesday that he had inspected motor . drivers’ licenses, at Orongo, Ngatea, and Vv aatakaruru. About 40 of the drivers interviewed had left their licenses- at home, but had since produced them. The driver of one truck was given notice not to drive it on the road again until repairs had been effected to the vehicle. Several warnings against exceeding 3 the speed limit had been given with satisfactory results. Five cream cartage contractors, were found without licenses. Twenty-four licenses had been issued during the month. Five horses had been impounded. The inspector pointed out the impossibility of carrying out his inspector’s duties in conjunction wtih his other duties without a faster vehicle than a horse and gig. The report was' adopted.