WORKS IN THE COUNTY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5097, 7 March 1927, Page 4

WORKS IN THE COUNTY.

DOINGS OF THE MONTH. ENGINEER’S REPORT. Mr L. E. Shaw, acting engineer to the Ohinemuri County council, reported to t,he meeting of the council on Thursday last as follows :— “The ’following contracts have been completed and are new ready for inspection by the Public Works Department : Contract No. 581, for widening and filling on Pukekauri Road, Waikind ; contract No. 580, Trig Road north and bridge and approaches. “The old wooden bridge near the Te Aroha Borough boundary <>n the Haih-ilton-Paeroa main highway has been replaced with a 3ft concrete culvert. ‘Tn five places on the Pokeno-Waihi main highway between Paeroa and Karangahake the old woeden culverts have collapsed and will have to be replaced with 9in concrete pipes, and as the council has these pipes in stock I would suggest that the work be done before the wet weather sets in.

“To enable contract No. 584, let Io Brenan and Coi., to be gone on with it was found necessary to place a running deck on the bridge over the Waimata stream on Ford Road, as this bridge is decked with totara planking and there was a likelihood of the heavy metal trucks going through. On the completion of the contract this timber can be lifted and used in several places in the Waihi riding where it is wanted.

“In company’ with the chairman and Cr. Mason an inspection was made o’f the proposed deviation of the road through Mr Drawbridge’s property at Waitawheta, and a route was decided on. I have pegged the proposed line of road, and pointed same out to Mr Drawbridge, but since doing so I learn that Mr Drawbridge is willing to shift his house, thus enabling us to take the road along the flat terrace, meeting the present road on the same level. This would undoubtedly be a better proposition from the council’s point of view. “As I was afraid of the flue weather breaking, and as the various roads in the county require metal before the winter, I thought it desirable to make a start with the crushing at .the Komata reserve, and on account of doing so it was necessary to discontinue the scarifying of Thames Road, as the road roller was wanted.for driving the crusher. The scarifying could be gone on with when the estimated, amount of metal has been crushed, “During the month an inspection was made af Leopold’s Road. This road is an old tramline track with a very good grade, and I understand was taken over by the council some years ago. The estimated c<>st of improving this line to make it a suitable road for carting an is £l6, but Mr Leopold is prepared to carry out the work to the satisfaction of the council ’for the sum of £B, to be deducted from his rates.

“On making a. survey of. Pukemanuka Road, Paeroa (access to AV. D. Keys’ property), I find a large power pole has been placed in the centre of where our new formation will join Mill Road, so I would ask the council to take steps to have the pole shifted to at least 30'ft On either side.

“A number of the clay roads in the Waikino and Waihi ridings would be considerably improved if crowned up with the grader in the autumn, so as to allow the free run-off for the water during the winter.