HAURAKI PLAINS COUNTY

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 4962, 16 April 1926, Page 1

HAURAKI PLAINS COUNTY

WORKS FOR THE MONTH. ENGINEER’S REPORT. The county engineer, Mr F. Basham, repored to the Hauraki Plains County Council on Tuesday as follows : — ‘‘ Graders.—During the month clay roads in Ngatea, Waita.karuru, and Kopuarahi ridings have been graded, completing the work on clay roads ‘for this season.

1 “Piako Road—Contractors have

made good progress during Die month and' sh'ould complete tlid contract in about a !: week.”

■ Ih ’'reply to Cr. Haywayd 'the engineer said he had' found that reliance could be ' placed 1 on the N.Z. Roads Co.’s work. He had lately found that .the metal formation was narrower at the western end, but on this being pointed out the company had agreed to make the road. wider. The position looked bad l , as 1 at the other end of the road thei company had spread the metal over 16ft wide, and thus made' the job a present of 1100 1 yards of- metal. The foreman employed had not known that’he! was making’s the road ' Wider than - was specified. All theI’’metal' 1 ’’metal' shoulders ha.d been ''sprayed, thougli'.this was not 1 required by the specifications. -Cr. "'Madgwick' "expressed ■’ dissatiswith the’ result of the work. He" had pointed out? defect® and the company had promised to. patch' them. The engineer said that the method of wdrking-was theoretically wrong. There was no doubt that the only sound way'was to spread the metal in two courses, with a, long interval between to permit of thorough consolidation.

. ■ “Turua-Netherton Road has been "completed All. available- funds are now -exhausted, and work must cease until more'money is; forthcoming.

“Pekapeka Road. —A- start has been made with the metalling; which will be continued as Jong as the wea,ther. permits. ‘

‘ ’ “Wilson’s ’ Road.—The first coat of metal is completed and'the second is in' progress. As soon as the second coEt'is rolled re'd gravel blinding Will be laid and rolled. If the' weather breaks it will be. as, well to consider ■the question of‘closing the road to traffic, as the damage to uncompleted, parts will be very heavy. The qua.l- - df metal is now. satisfactory.— Authority given to close the road, if necessary. <

“Pipiroa' Ferry.—Earthwork to approaches, is completed. Fascines are being delivered. These will be laid on the softest part of fillings. Crushed metal and red. metal are arriving satisfactorily. Timber for landing approaches is on the punt at Pipiroa, and it iis, hoped to get the piles driven during this 11 week’s spring tides. Good progress' has been on the pontoon. A careful inspection of the ironwork' on the Nethcrton ferry showed that, the bulk df it wlas quite unsuitable for iise.at. this ferry. Al small portion may be, used and the’ balance its; being made for the job. “Mauko.ro Landing Road.—l have looked into .the .question of catchment .area for gravel oh this road and haye no recommendation ,to make.

“I 'estimate the cost of gravelling the main road from, the Maukoro Landing road : to Pollen’s outlet* at £4OO.

1 “Hikutaia Quarry.—Metal is coming to hand from the Hikutaja quairry regularly,’ but the crusher has again bent its shaft. This l is the third new, shaft.’

, In discussing .the matter the engineer said that a mechanical engineer who had reported had a* vised tha.t the machine was not designed for the heavy driven of an electric motor. New shafts cost about £lOO to instal. ■

It was, decided that, the machine be run until it broke down, and. then the quarry committee should decide whether it’ should be repaired or a. new crusher purchased. A new machine would cost something over £4OO. ' INSPECTOR’S' REPORT.

‘ The inspector/ Mr R. H. Cameron, reported, inter alia, that he, had issued several building permits, and warned several farmers, about ■permitting stock to wander on the' road. Two convictions had been secured 'tor overloading, a ( nd this was a desirable. effect in causing other carriers to reduce the weight of their loads. One heavy traffic license and 65 drivers’ licenses were ispued during the month.