WORKS IN THE BOROUGH

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5125, 13 May 1927, Page 4

WORKS IN THE BOROUGH

WORKS COMMITTEE’S REPORT. At the meeting of the Paeroa Borough Council last evening the Works Committee presented the following report:— “The programme of work laid out for the past month has been completed, with the exception of the resurfacing of Belmont Road, which has again been delayed owing to the difficulty of obtaining suitable chips, and the metalling of Norwood Road, which has been impossible owing to unsuitable weather. The cleaning of the outfall drain has also been delayed because there had been a considerable quantity of water, in the drain. 'As soon as circumstances permit, these jobs will be completed. A considerable amount of footpath chipping has been done. “An additional order for 150 yards of metal at a satisfactory price has been placed with the Paeroa. Quarry Co., which is definitely closing down this week. To avoid double handling, the reconditioning of 20 chains ol Station Road was put in hand this week, and it is now almost complete. “The main outfall drain has been inspected by the committee, and the department has been interviewed in reference to same, and has undertaken to make some further slight improvements to this work, and. provided this is done to the satisfaction of the Mayor, we recommend that the balance of the amount as agreed upon should be paid. “Some further cleaning l:y the Borough is necessary to give the. best possible results for the winter, and if weather conditions allow we strongly recommend that it be carried out. “We recommend some improvement to footpath as asked for.by"Mr Robson, at estimated cost of £2.

"We recommend that one footpath from the Bank of New Zealand to the school should be reconditioned at the earliest possible date, and that a thorough inspection of the whole borough be made at an early date, and the most urgent work duly authorised.

"The condition of the main highways in the borough has been receiving the earnest consideration o,f your committee, and we are satisfied that their condition is serious. Attrition is going on into the very’ body of the streets, and the maintenance, which has been possible, is totally inadequate. A complete investigation is required to make certain of the most economical treatment, and probably reconstruction and sealing will be necessary.

“We recommend, firstly, that a traffic tally for one day should be taken on each of the main highway sections, four in all. This would not be a complete tally such as is required by the Highways Board, nor would it be equal, for, various reasons, to the average summer traffic, but it would give a rough idea of the traffic, which would be a guide to the quality of street required.

"Secondly, that an investigation of the existing foundations should, be made by making an investigation and record of the depth of. metal at twochain intervals. “That the -committee treat as urgent the undertaking given at the election to prepare a scheme for the improvement and maintenance of the main highways in the borough, and that they should be authorised, in conjunction with the chairman of the Finance Committee, to take whatever, steps they deem necessary to enable them to complete same at an early date.

“That in the maintenance, only absolutely indispensable patching should be undertaken, except that the portion of Thames Road' near Aorangi Road should be reformed if weather conditions permit. This is probably

the only portion that would require any regrading .and if it were completed consolidation would proceed during tire winter months before any permanent improvement to the surface was attempted. The swamp portion from Station Road to Raroa Road could also be reconditioned, as sealing this section would be quite inadvisable owing to the existence of timber, etc., causing frequent subsidences.”