COUNTY WORKS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5429, 27 May 1929, Page 1

COUNTY WORKS.

HAURAKI PLAINS OPERATIONS. ENGINEER’S MONTHLY REPORT. The following report on work carried out during the month was presented to last Wednesday’s meeting of the Hauraki Plains County Council by the engineer, Mr F. Basham :— Main Highways. “Waihi-Pokeno. —Graders have been employed as constantly as possible, and the road generally is in fair order. The haunching of metal and reduction of crown on the Waitakaruru-Pipiroa section is making a decided improvement in the cross-section of road. I recommend a continuance of this work where necessary and as funds permit. The saving in the cost of maintenance will eventually justify the expense. 1 suggest for your consideration a proposal to undertake the sealing with bitumen of, say, one mile in each riding per annum out of revenue. With a two for one subsidy this should be possible. I have included in this year’s estimates a sum of £4BO for decking the Ngatea traffic bridge with 3-inch brush box decking laid diagonally. The present wheel planks are worn out, but I do not recommend renewing them as they are a menace to motor traffic. “Pokeno-Thames.— Haunching between Dalgety’s corner and Pipiroa is in progress. The road is in fair order. “Orongo-Netherton.—With the exception of a small amount of patching required at the Orongo end, this road is in fair order. Metalling. “Since my last report metalling on the Ngarua-Kaihere and the Kaikahu roads has been completed. On the Ngataipua road about 10 chains of second-coat is uncompleted. As the road from the landing is now impassable, this will have to be held over until next summer.” In reply to Or. Hale the chairman said that there was no means of limiting the traffic on the Ngataipua road until the road was fit to carry it. Patetonga Gravelling. “The contractors have completed their contracts on Top Road, Tramway Road, and Mangawhero Road.” Or. Mayn spoke of a four-chain gap in the metalling on the Mangawhero road. The engineer said that he had arranged to have this work done. Kaihere Bridge. “The spring bridge at Kaihere was in a dangerous condition, and the question arose whether it should be replaced at \a cost of about £7O or whether a traffic bridge cosing about £5OO should be erected. The road was bound to become a highway, and a traffic bridge would become a necessity.” It was decided to approach the Public Works Department in regard to assistance towards the cost of a traffic bridge. Cr. Mayn pointed out that pedestrians could not cross the stream dryfooted unless they used a bridge. The engineer and riding member were instructed to report on the matter. Plant. “One tractor and grader outfit is working on main highways. The Booth tractor-grader is grading byroads in the Netherton district. The Bessemer truck is now worn out, and it is not profitable to run it much longer. This truck has had over four years of constant work-and has paid for itself. The question of obtaining another truck to replace this one or depending on hiring when necessary is for your consideration. Hiring by the hour is not very profitable for patching work as a truck is idle too long.” Cr. McDuff spoke against the hiring of trucks, and moved that the council purchase a new truck. This lapsed for. want of a seconder. Cr. Madgwick expressed the opinion that foi' the ctoming winter it would be a cheaper proposition to hire trucks. The engineer stated that to hire trucks for next season’s programme would cost £562, as near as he could estimate. Owing to the diversity of jobs and broken weather it was difficult to hire to advantage. Cr. Parfitt moved that the Works Committee go into the matter thoroughly and report to the council. Seconded by Cr. McDuff and carried.