ANTIQUATED METHODS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5085, 7 February 1927, Page 2

ANTIQUATED METHODS.

OHINEMURI COUNTY WORKS-

EXPEDITION IN MAINTENANCE.

Arising out of letters received from the No. 2 District Highways Council drawing attention to the unstaasfactory state of certain main highways within the. Ohinemuri County boundaries, an interesting discussion took place at Thursday’s meeting of the Ohinemuri County Council.

Discussing the grading work that is in progress on Thames Road, Cr. W. F. Johnstone asked the acting engineer (Mr L. E. Shaw) what distance •was covered in a day’s work. The engineer replied that about ten chains a day could be done wi'ijh the roller and scarifier. Cr. Johnstone exressed the opinion that the rate was far too slow. He thought; the council should adopt some system so that the work could be done more expeditiously. Under the Main Highways Board the roads had to be maintained at a certain ■standard, and unless the council got a move on it would never be able to cope with the work. AU the time ‘he roads were going back, and as the volume of heavy motor traffic increased, so would the maintenance work.

The chairman (Cr. H. M. Corbett) agreed, and said he -hought that much time was lost by hauling the grader with the steam road roller. A tractor was required, and was /he most suitable machine for such work. However, the council was not in a. position to purchase one. A heavy strain had been placed on the main roads by reason of the increase in holiday traffic, and as a result the roads were at their worst at /he present, time. Undeniably the portion of the main road near Hikutaia was in a bad state, but he was. satisfied that the engineer was using his diScretjan and was making a good job O'f the repair work.

Cr. Johnstone, said'tjiat he thought the council’s system o'f road maintenance was behind the times, compared with neighbouring local bodies, and instanced the method adopted by the Waihi Borough Council. The engineer said that although the. Waihi Borough Council got over the ground, the work did not stand up to the traffic for any tfime. Cr. C. Hands agreed with the engineer’s remarks. Cr. Johnstone said he thought that more; scarifying and rolling should be done. As a suggestion he thought it might be well worth while ascertaining the cost of red metal. The Hauraki Plains roads were in a good state of repair, red metal was. used, and the use of fine met,al and a loose surface appeared to be the secret. Cr. A. R. Robinson reminded the meeting that a serious difficulty in maintaining the roads was the clayey nature of the country. Morexscreenings would certainly be effective on the roads, and he hoped the; engineer would avail himself of as much fine metal as possible from Hikutaia quarry. z The engineer intimated that he hdd arranged to take all screenings available from the quarry at a nominal price. He was experiencing some difficulty in preventing the settlers from helping themselves. The chairman reiterated that he agreed that a better system was necessary, but reminded the members that little improvement, could be made until after the close o'f the financial year. Cr. C. Mason said that; the council's finances would never improve while the present antiquated methods were in vogue. , SUPPLIES OF METAL. At a later stage in the meeting Cr. R. R. Morrison asked for metal for certain roads in the Kaimanawa riding. He thought that, a move should be made to obtain adequate supplies of metal while the fine weather prevailed. * The engineer said that he had intended to put the crusher at Komata into commission again. The difficulty was that while the heavy volume of motor traffic continued he could not take men and plant off the main roads, otherwise the highways would deteriorate rapidly and the cost of maintenance, would be increased. Cr. Morrison contended that crushing operations should be resumed and the metal carted On to the roads while the summer weather prevailed. The engineer stated that if the roller was taken te drive the crusher, grading, scarifying, and rolling opera-. tions would have to cease. Cr. Morrison said he realised that,. and he was of the opinion that the • time had come when the council' should avail itself of electric power' for driving /he crusher and leave the roller free for the work for which itwas intended. The crusher was a port- • able plant, and a motor should work1/ quite satisfactorily. Cr. Robinson endorsed the remarks' Ol the previous speaker, and pointed out that the Komata North road required immediate atention, as well as other rpads in his riding. He suggested 'yhat the engineer be empowered to obtain gravel from the Hikutaia quarry so as to give immediate relief. If the council waited the crusher was again in operation the load would go back to a state where patching would be useless.

The suggestion wrns agreed Lx In answer to Cr. F. C. Hubbard the Engineer said that it was getting too dry to continue grading, but it was desirable to complete the piece <rf main road already commenced beforl operations were discontinued.