WORKS IN THE BOROUGH

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5253, 19 March 1928, Page 4

WORKS IN THE BOROUGH

PROGRESS DURING FEBRUARY.

COMMITTEE’S REPORT.

The following report was submitted by the Works Committee to the Paeroa Borough Council meeting on Thursday evening last: — “Since our last meeting considerable progress has been made with street improvement work. Belmont Road from the Paeroa Hotel to its junction with Puke Road, and Puke Road from the gasworks bridge to the boundary of the borough have been done on the penetration imethod, and a gool job .has been made. Street intersections wherever possible .have been included. This facilitates the continuation of the programme at some later date. Lower Hill Street has been done in three-coat surfacedealing, and Dulcie Street in two-coat resealing. It is hoped that by the actual time of th e meeting that the bituminising of the new traffic bridge will, be practically completed.

‘ “During the month notice was received that our two main streets had been gazetted as main highways, which makes them eligible for subsidies as follows : On construction or reconstruet'on, £1 for £1 ; maintenance, £1 10s for £l. We recommend that the council’s policy should be to secure the maximum assistance from this sourcb, thereby ensuring good main streets; which after a few years would mean a considerable saving to ratepayers. This will need enterprise, courage, and resourcefulness. Immediately on receipt of this notification fresih estimates became necessary of: Bituminous work in hand under the heading of reconstruction ; and similar work in hand or to be done as mainenance. Work under both headings) from February 24, if approved, will carry subsidies as before mentioned. “The district engineer, public Works. Department, Auckland, asked for an alteration in the proposed culvert on the main drain, in Puke Road, and the estimate has been amended accordingly. Copies of these estimates and applications are attached hereto and we ask for their adoption.

“If. the subsidy is forthcoming it will make it possible to do : The erecttion of a permanent culvert at the main drain.in Puke Road ; the bituminising of the large approaches to the new traffic bridge ; re-surfacing portion of Puke Road, from the gasworks bridge to Belmont Road' intersection ; and some small! improvement in the quality of the work on certain difficult sections, where distortion is considerable. It can confidently be Said at this stage that, exclusive of these items,, which were never contemplated, tile whole of the Undertaking will be done within the estimates.

“Advice is to 'hand that the Railway Department will contribute up to £4O towards the bituminising of the Belmont Road! crossing, and it is hoped to secure their contribution to the Te Aroha Road crossing and the station approach ip Moore Road. “Recent rain indicated, considerable improvement in the stormwater drainage. T.he Old Te Aroha Road and*Mill Road were entirely free on this occasion, while, the 12in drain near the transformer functioned admirably, discharging at' full bore nearly all the time. Some improvement''is still needed at the corner of Wharf street and Princes Street, but it was recognised tliat an additional 6iri pipe might be necessary at this point. ,

“Conditions would have been much better and the run-off quicker had the outfall drain been clear of weeds. This work will require to be done regularly. “Old Te Aroha Road' has received about 20 yards, of patching metal. 'Patching also has been done in Station Road. Part of Corbett Street lias been scarified and some new metal spread. The metaj on Flora Street has been raked in and rolled. The footpath from Willoughby Street to the school has been raked and. re-, gravelled. The footpath from the Borough Office round! to the Post Office corner, has been sealed with Spraymex and fine metal, and some slight patching has. been done to the new bitumen streets.”