HAURAKI PLAINS COUNTY

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5165, 15 August 1927, Page 1

HAURAKI PLAINS COUNTY

WOIIK DURING THE MONTH.

ENGINEER’S REPORT

The county engineer, Mi- F. Basham, reported to the Council on Thursday last as follows :—

“ Main Highways.—Resurfacing between Waitakaruru Canal and Dalgety’s corner is now being completed. All’ other roads, have been repaired where necessary and kept graded inThe road between Waitakaruru and Haley’s corner is showing signs of severe wear. It bus been patched as far as possible, but it really requires a coat of red metal as soon as spoil is removed from roadside.” A coat of red metal was authorised. “ General— Rawe Rawe Road eqst and west has, been repaired and resurfaced with red metal. Work on Kerepeehi-Kopuarahi road is completed. Resurfacing on Hopai Road will be commenced, shortly. “■ Pekapeka W«ter Supply—l have seen the engineer for the Thames Valley Electric Power Board, and he informs me that as a result of inquiries he, h<>:, made he finds that there is a magnetic switch on the market which could be rewound to suit conditions .and installed at an approximate cost of £lO. This would automatically cut off power from motor in the event of failure of supply or fuse burning out and prevent the motor burning out.”

Or. Fisher opined that the proposal would be a cheap insurance, and that it would be ,a disaster if t lie farmers were, deprived of water for a period in the Hot summer. It was decided to hold over the matter for further infornnition.

“ Pekapeka Metalling.—Messrs McCallum Bros.’ guarantee has been forwarded to Main Highways Board for approval. On receipt of which I recommend that a start be made landing metal for this job.” The engineer was authorised to procure samples of metal when the guarantee had been approved by the Highways Board. “ Ngatea Traffic Bridge.—Approach fences- and haidrails have been repaired and strengthened. 1 consider that these and the girders on the lifting span should be painted. The girders are very badly scaled, and areshowing considerable; signs of rust. Cost, about £35.” —Authorised. ’ “Waikumete Stream Bridge.—The protecting wing-wall has collapsed and is now lying in the bed of the stream. This- is due to the undei scour of the foundation. To protect the filling to -the -approach some scheme in the natuiie of deflecting groynes is necessary. The cost would be-, between £l5O and £200.” Cr. Harris.: moved that a report be sent to the Public Works Department, with a claim for a grant under Hood damage authority.—Carried. “Patetonga Deviation.—ln reply to an invitation to the Public Woiks Department to send a representative to inspect this proposed deviation in company with myself, I am informed that they have already made- a careful inspection of the route and prepaied estimates, and that a report has been forwarded to the 'head office recommending that the deviation is not justified at the present time, and that no subsidy be granted on the work. The Lands Drainage Department concurs- in this. Under these circumstances I am waiting furtb©r instructions.”

Cr. Mayn moved that the Public Works Department be asked whether these opinions were confirmed by the head office, and that in the meantime th® matter be held in abeyance.

INSPECTOR’S REPORT

The County Inspector, Mr R, H. Cameron, reported that during Julj 17 motor’ drivers’ licenses, one traffic license, one vehicle license, and one building permit had been isis-ued. Dog collars were issued to the value of £26 12s. Six convictions for speeding had been secured. The inspector urged that the council’s solicitor press for heavier penalties, Signposts showing the speed limits had been placed in position. After discussing tihe matter in committee it w;is decided to give those motor-lorry owners who had not taken out heavy traffic licenses 14 days’ notice in which to do so, otherwise legal action would be- taken.

Councillors) commented on the number of stock allowed to graze on the roads at night, and urged that drastic action •’lie taken. In this connection a letter was read by the chairman, which stated that for some weeks past the writer had been pestered with stray stock (cattle and horses) on his road. He had found a cow grazing on ills lawn, it being impossible to sleep for bellowing and tramping on the road. He suggested that the county inspector he vested with authority to prosecute owners of straying cattle. He thought it better not to have complaints of this nature reported in the papers as the offenders got a xmmh ing and kept their stock home for a week until they thought matters had quietened down, and then things were just as bad as ever.