COUNTY WORKS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 5014, 16 August 1926, Page 4

COUNTY WORKS.

PROGRESS IN PLAINS COUNTY.

ENGINEER’S REPORT.

The Hauraki Plains county engineer (Mr F. Basham) 'reported to the council. meeting on Thursday as follows: HIKUTAIA QUARRY.

“Kehely completed his contract on July 24 and the council took over the quarry as from July 26. Since then the whole plant has been overhauled and necessafy repairs effected. Crushing was commenced on August 2, but owing to annuall overhaul of Julian’s launch not being completed as promised it had to be discontinued, and the men were put on shipping further supplies; of metall a$ far as weather permitted.” The Works Committee’s recommendations on the subject of the quarry, as under, were adopted :— “That Mr Gilmour; be appointed quarry manager, at a salary of £7 per week.

“That the men employed at the quarry be appointed and dismissed by the manager.

“That th,e quarry manager report weekly to the- engineer as tot the quantity of metal crushed and the cost in wages per yard. “That it be impressed upon the manager that he is wholly responsible tofr the efficient running of the quarry.

“That the question of crushing chips be deferred to a la*ter date. “That L. H. Julian be rei-engaged for the punting of metal from Hikutaia. Quarry at the same price as before, namely, 3s per yard’ on the Waihou River.

‘‘That the council be recommended to erect a three-roomed shanty of 0.8. timber-with iron too® for the accommodation of the quarrymen ; to purchase Julian’s hut for £l's and renovate same to accommodate the quarry manager, the cost of the above to be liquidated by means of an additional charge of 6d per yaj'd on Hikutaia metal.” PIPIROA FERRY.

The engineer reported: “Several minor adjustments- and alterations were-found necessary to ensure satisfactory running. A secplnd. rope and winches were required to guide the (terry into the approaches and hold it up the current and wind, which at times are very severe, at this point on the river. Everything is, now running smoothly. A light on the Kopuarahi approach: similar to the one at Pipiro>a- would- be .an advantage.”

Discussion arose as toi the scale of charges and the Advisability of issuing books of tickets for the benefit of frequent users, and the latter suggestion was adopted. The engineer was instructed tq have, some spiund-producing instru■men't placed on the Kopuarahi side. Exception was; taken by Cr. Harris at the advertisement appearing in the papers to the effect that the Thames bus had ceased, running owing to the unsatisfactory running of the ferryf He desired to- know* whether this was justified or whether it was only an excuse ! spr ceasing, owing to lack of patronage. The chaiman said that no complaints had been received Abort the running of the ferry from: Mr White or anyone else, and it appeared that

the matter was an unjustifiable excuse. NETHERTON LOAN, 1925.

“Tenders have been received for carting all sand, metal, and gravel required to complete the metalling of all unmetaAled roads included ip thi& proposal, and which it is proposed to undertake this season.” The tenders were conisdered by the council. For the eight contracts 114 tenders weer received for 26 different contractors. The prices weie keen, adn in each case the. lowest was accepted, all being at or below the engineer’s estimate. In 'cases where the prices were equal the contracts were let to the men known to the 'council for satisfactory wdrk. Spencer and Smith were given contracts 91 and 92 at 4s and 3s 6d, Watts and Swindell contracts 93 (2s lid), 94 (3s- 6d), 95 (35),*96 (2s 3d), and 98 (3s) ; and Coyne, and Mathieson contract 97 (3s). The following recommendations of the Works Committee bearing on the subject were adopted : ‘‘That one ac'cess- to each property from the council’s road be metalled and maintained by the council. That metal be sold to> settlers when available, and on payment 'for same in advance.” KEREPEEHI ROADS'. The Works; Committee reported that the special rating area, for the proposed Kerepeehi town roads lipian had been approved, and that it had been decided that the rating area for the proposed 'loan for the completion of the metalling of Pekapeka Road and the metalling of Wairau and Kaikahu roads should be over the whole of the riding. < Cr. Fisher reported that the settlers desired the council to proceed immediately with the loan for metalling the riding roadsk but the township settlers did not agree with the engineer’s estimates ot the cos,t of metalling the township roads. They 'contended that tire previous estimate was £25 per chain, against the present one of £3B.

The engineer produced a copy of the estimates prepared for the previous loan proposal which shelved that the schedue of prices happened to ; be exactly the same. . He stated that the prices were undoubtedly liberal, but it' was a gdpd fault, and there was no doubt that the work could: be done well within the estimate. The previous estimate had been circulated and accepted, and the present estimate was similar. f The engineer was instructed t® send details, o'f the estimate to Cr. Fisher for presentation to the Ratepayers’ Association. It was decided toi proceed with the rising loan scheme.