WORKS IN THE COUNTY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5199, 4 November 1927, Page 4

WORKS IN THE COUNTY.

UNDERTAKINGS IN OHINEMURI.

ENGINEER’S REPORT FOR MONTH.

The following report of the actingengineer (Mr L. E. Shaw) was adopted at yesterday’s meeting of the Ohinemuri County Council: — “Paeroa Riding.—The metalling of Rotokuhu Road has not gone any further on account of the motor truck being required for more urgent work. The Mill Road metalling is in hand, about half the authorised amount of metal having been placed on the road. This work is also held up in the meantime. Hubbard’s Road, from the Thames Road to the Ngahina Bridge, is in need of a. top course of fine metal, about 150 cubic yards being required.

“Kaimanawa Riding.—The metalling of roads as authorised at the last meeting is to be gone on with when the opportunity arises.

“Karangahake Riding.— Ordinary maintenance has been carried out, on all roads in this riding. A good deal of the foreman’s time has been taken up on the water supply The metal authorised for the creek crossing on Rahu Road is being hand-broken. “Manga’ti Riding—The metalling of portion of the Old Te Aroha Road has been completed, an extra 20 cubic yard of metal being required to put this piece of road in good order. Pevreal’s road has been re-graded. “ Waikino Riding.—All metal roads in this riding have been receiving attention, but the clay roads which are to be graded have not been touched on account of the difficulty of getting horses for the work.

“Waihi Riding.—The .grading of the clay roads in this riding has also had to be postponed for the same reason. The metal roads will receive attention as soon as possible. The metalling contract on the, Old Tauranga Road is now proceeding satisfactorily. 1

“ Main Highways.—Pokeno-Waihi: This road between the Paeroa boundary and the Waitete bridge, Waihi, is very rough, and badly pot-holed in places. A large amount of met,al will be required to put it in order, and as the Crown Quarry Company at Karangahake is resuming its crushing operations at an early date an order has been placed with this company for metal. In order to expedite these repairs it will be necessary to employ extra trucks. Paerpa-Kopu : This section, between Paeroa Borough and Hikutaia, is in fair order, but several stretches require blinding. HamiltonPaeroa: This road between Paeroa Borough and Te Aroha is also in fair order but requires to be blinded. A start with the blinding has been made but owing to the recent heavy rain the work had to be discontinued until conditions are more favourable. A set of three-foot concrete pipes is on thq ground to replace the old wooden culvert opposite Mr Mace’s property. “Water Supply—A start has been made with the survey in connection with the enlarging of the present water supply. Water pipes have come to hand fo/ the replacing of the deteriorated pipes on several of the mains.” HUBBARD’S ROAD. With reference to Hubbard’s Road, Cr. F. C. Hubbard saifl that in his opinion the portion from the railway line to Thames Road was too flat for blinding, and much of the material would he wasted. The engineer said a better job could be made if the sides of the Toad were ' sloped, but it would be a fairly costly undertaking to do the work by pick and shovel. Cr. W. F. Johnstone thought it advisable to adopt a go-slow policy on some of the roads until the effects of the petrol tax were; more evident. The chairman (Cr. H. M. Corbett) pointed out that it yet remained to be learned what the; Government would classify as second-class highways. In any case, it was hardly likely the council would receive any money from the tax untjl after March next. In the meantime it was not desirable that maintenance; work on any road should, be suspended where iit was practicable to ha.ye it carried out.