PLAINS COUNTY WORKS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5100, 14 March 1927, Page 1

PLAINS COUNTY WORKS.

PROGRESS FOR THE MONTH.

ENGINEER’S REPORT.

The county engineer, Mr F. Basham, reported to the Hauraki Plains Coupty Council meeting on Thursday last as follows :—

’‘Nethertpn Loan, 1925. —Good progress has been made in every way, and given fine weather the whole of the works in hand should be completed within three weeks. School Road and Fisher’s Road are completedMetalling on Awaiti West is completed, and the road is. now being blinded. Tenders for carting red metal along the old main road are ready to be dealt with.”

The clerk reported that the formalities in connection with the hypothecation of debentures had not yet been completed, and it would be necessary to advance sufficient money from the County Fund to* meet the February expenditure in this loap. This w»uld amount to approximately £3BOO, including interest due on March 1. The chairman moved that the following recommendation, of the Finance Committee be adopted : “That in view of the fact that the County Fund has advanced almost £5OOO, the work on the Netherton Roads. Loan be suspended forthwith until the money expected by the hypothecations is available."

Members were reluctant to have the work stopped at this late stage in the season, but agreed that the Netherton riding had received more than a fair deal, and to "advance further money from the County Fund Account would restrict expenditure in other parts of the county. Lt was suggested t hat the contractors might be willing to continue the work and wait for payment until the money became available.

The recommendation was adopted, and the chairman, Cr. Reid, and the clerk were empowered to expedite the raising off the money and confer with the contractors with reference to continuing the work without depleting the County Fund acccmnt. The tender of C. H. Wright at 2s 5d per cubic yard was accepted. "Piako Road.—This road has been treated with a coat of bitumen and sand.

“Kaihere-iOhinewai Road.—The contractor has completed work on this road, but has to maintain same until the 23rd inst.

“Kaihere-Torehape Road. — Fair progress has been made with the metalling. The worst portion, round Bush Bend, is completed, and work on other bad portions of the road is proceeding. “Pekapeka Water Supply.—With the exception of a /slight kink on a bend in one pipe, the contract is satisfactorily 7 completed. The effect of the kink so far as reducing pressure is concerned is, in my opinion, negligible, and I would recommend work being taken over subject to a guarantee from the contractors to substitute a new pipe should the pressure beyond the bend show any appreciable fall, as compared with that Immediately before the bend.”

Payment for the contract was authorised on completion to the satisfaction of the engineer.

“Turua Town Board.—ln company with the chairman of the Town Board, I inspected the Willow Drain bridge and the bridge at the junction of the Hauraki and Piako roads. The proposal is tci erect guard fences of p<*sts and 2in galvanised pipes. The approximate cost of the two bridges would be £2O. The proposed work would be to a great extent a public safeguard.” On the motion of Or. Madgwick it was decided to contribute half the cost of the rails for the Willow drain.

“Ngarua Bridge, Kaihere-Patetonga Road. —On Friday last the Power Board’s lorry broke through this bridge when carting poles Seven planks were cut through by the weight of the load. The bridge was repaired immediately.” It was decided to make a claim for damages against the Power Board. “Main Highways.—All main highways have had metal graded in. Pipi-roa-Orongo Road has been repaired with all available metal. PipiroaWnitakaruru Road is being repaired with red metal.”