HAURAKI PLAINS COUNTY

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 4951, 15 March 1926, Page 4

HAURAKI PLAINS COUNTY

ENGINEERS! REPORT.

The Plains county engineer, Mr F. Basham, reported to the council meeting on Tuesday as follows; —

HIKUTAIA QUARRY.

“Supplies of metal are now gradually becoming more satisfactory. During tiie early part oY the month supplies were irregular, due to the cramped 'nature of the face in the quarry, and low tides. The quarry is improving from day to day, and the contractor will endeavqur to s,end out a, punt every tide instead of every other one. For all first course work and waterbound roads I propose using unscreened metal, as wie have no use for a large accumulation of chits nor the money to pay for them. TURUA-NETHERTON LOAN.

“Bitumen work on Huirau No. 2 is completed, and this concludes tills) class of work for the season. Work on Turua,-Nether,ton and WharepoaKerepeebi will- be commenced this week. On the 20-odd chains of the latter road in the Kerepeehi riding there is a sum of £3oo* available from ithe old Netherton roads loan. This is insufficient to, make a satisafetory job, so I propose augmenting the amount from riding fcunds to the extent of £lOO. . Cfr. Madgwick pointed out that portion of this ro.ad was in the Turua riding, and he would not agree to augmenting the loan from his riding funds..

The engineer was instructed to make as good a job as possible with the £§oo. ■ Cr. Madgwick said that there was a controversy as to whether the Gumtown road .was to be completed now that the plant was on the s®ot. It . would only take a fortnight to complete the work, but if the tramlines were taken away it. would cost more, while if delayed. • until next season the sleepers, would be rotten. The question was one of finance, and w,a|s bound up in the question of securing the subsidy. >.

Mr J. Newmaji waited on the council on the. subject. He pointed ou.t that only about 300; yards of metal were required. The berthage was, silting up, .and the bitumen, which had been paid for, was leaking away. Knowing' the conditions, the, settlers were of opinion- that the work should be completed now. ■- The clerk said, he did not think there was sufficient money available. A committee, comprising .the chairman, Cr.-Madgwick, tiie Engineer, and the clerk, wais appointed, with, power to act. Cr. Madgwick said that ’the- clerk had written to: Mr T. W. Rhodes, M.F., several times on the question of the subsidy, but had not had. a reply. On his motion it- was. decided that the clerk again communicate with .Mr Rhodes. ■ HORAHIA LOAN. . “Contractors are making good progress on Piako Road, and given fine weather will complete the work, in six or seven weeks.” , Cr. Hayward complained against the time taken to complete, the work. The contract had’i been extended for two months, until ,the end of February. , The engineer stated tha,t very rapid progreiss was being made. , It was deciedd that the contractors be notified that the penalty would be imposed alfter six weeks. > NETHERTON 1925 LOAN. ■ “Wilson’s Road. —Grading and formation and 'the sand foundation course are completed. The contractor commenced delivery of metali on February, and. is now making good progress. Roughly 50 chains of bottom course metal have been laid. Owing to a Large slip -occurring in the quarry the metal supplied during a day or two contained a large proportion of inferior m/e.tal. The. contractor lias agreed to deliver extra metal free to make up -for this when the second course- is being laid. Tenders for carting Ted gravel close today. The Paeroa- Borough Council deserves the thanks of , this council for agreeing to subsidise road work by an amount equal to tha,t paid by the council for wharfage on metal delivered at the Puke whartf.” A motion as suggested.' was carried. PIPIROA FERRY. “Acting on instructions from 'the Ferry Committee T have commenced work on the approaches. Inquiries are being made at the, Tajisman mine for any .timber - likely to be suitable for landings and fences. I. received no replies as .to second-hand punts.”

In reply to Cr. Parfitt the engineer said that an offer had been received

to construct ,a 30ft by 18ft pontoon of kauri for £340 10s. Cr. Parfitt moved! .that the engineer be empowered to place an order for the pontoon. NGARUA BRIDGE. “No reply has yet been received from tiie Lands drainage Department concerning this bridge.” Cr. McLoughlin said that the cost of making the bridge sate was from £3o'o to £4OO. Unless something wais' done the bridge would fall during tiie coming winter. He wa.s of' opinion that the council should undertake the protective works and claim the money from the Lands Department. The bridge had only been built three ■years, and the department could hardly get out of repairing it or paying for the work. After a lengthy discussion as to mea.ns of'effecting repairsi .the. mattei of .whether the cost should be borne by the whole county or by the riding was dpa.lt with. It was realised that the Ngatea riding could not afford the three or four hundred pounds that might be required, but the legality of making the charge against the county fund account was questioned. Finally Cr. Harris moved that the council telegraph to the Minister for Lands offering a subsidy of £1 to- the department’s £2 if it would undertake .the work forthwith. If a favourable reply was received the matter was to be dealt with by the chairman, riding member, and engineer, but if the reply was. not ? -fa,vourable a special meeting of the council was to be held. COUNTY INSPECTOR. “Mr Cameron’s appointment -.as inspector terminates at the end of this month. I recommend to your consideration the appointment of someone to the dual position of overseer and inspector, and that he be provided with quick means of transport-” Cr. Parfitt suggested that the council call for .applications (for the position at a salary of £3OO a year,, the council to provide mechanical transport, or £4OO a year salary if the overseer provided his own .trapsport. After considerable irrelevant discuss,ion Cr. Hayward moved that fl salary of £350 be offered, the applicant to provide his own car and the council the benzine and oil, but not

i epairs. . The motion wag- carried.