COUNTY WORKS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5459, 9 August 1929, Page 3

COUNTY WORKS.

OPERATIONS ON PLAINS. REPORTS BEFORE COUNCIL. The following reports from its officials were received by the Hauraki Plains County Council at its monthly meeting yesterday :— The engineer, Mr F. Basham, reported as follows :— Main Highways. “Pokeno-Waihi.—Good progress has been made with the haunching on the Waitakaruru and Pipiroa sections, and a start has been made on the Ngatea section. Graders have been constantly employed, and necessary patching on trial load of Bryant’s shingle has been laid on the Ngatea bridge approaches. Regular supplies of this material will now be coming to hand, and trial stretches will be laid in each riding. "Pipiroa-Coromandel.—The blinding of the Hauraki Bridge approach with red metal has been completed, and the road is now in good order. As the metal set in good shape I deemed it best not to use the roller. I expect the contractor to commence delivery of chips in about two weeks’ time.

“Omngo-Netherton.—The contractor has completed the new bridge over Ansford’s drain extension. Between the Willow drain and Orchard East Road the sides of the bitumen surface have been backed up with red metal, which should preserve the edges of the bitumen.

“Ngatea Riding.—The culvert on Rawerawe Road has been repaired, and it should last for two or three years. A large frame culvert opposite Mr Sharpie’s farm at Torehape c ’llapsed. It has been replaced with a 19ft span at a cost of £l2. “The extra traffic on the Ngarua Landing, Kaihere Road, due to the increased length of metalling completed last summer, is causing considerable wear on the old gravel portion of this road, and a large amount of new gravel will be required before next winter if this road is to be kept up to standard.

“Patetonga Riding.—A small span, known locally as Pullen’s bridge, has been repaired temporarily, but it will eventually be necessary to rebuild with a larger span. ' “Pipiroa Riding.— The concrete pipes for Hopai Road are now to hand. It is now possible to issue a certificate of expenditure and thus facilitate legalisation of the ?oad. “Waitakaruru Riding.—l have again inspected Hudson’s bridge, and have to report as before, that it is only a matter of time when the bridge will collapse. It is completely beyond repair. I would suggest renewing with a bridge with two 25ft spans having abutments, and pier rolled steel girders, and concrete deck. The cost would be about £750. I understand a £2 for £1 subsidy would be granted. Provision for this work should certainly be made in next year’s estimates. The work may have to be undertaken sooner.”

The engineer was instructed to prepare plans and specifications and to apply for the Government subsidy. “Kopuarahi Riding.—ln company with Or. Hale I inspected Campbell’s Road and River Road. The latter is as present impassable for wheel traffic, and nothing can be done until the spring, when I recommend this being the first work to be done with the grader as soon as the road is fit to work. “Campbell’s, Road. — Before any work can be doijp on this road with a view to opening it for traffic it will be necessary for the boundary to be fenced. Owing to the amount of water in the drains it is not feasible to put in pipe culverts at the crossing of the road drain or the big drain further west. . To get the necessary depth for the pipes fine weather must be waited for. “Netherton Riding.—Metal is being landed at the Puke wharf for patching on various roads where necessary. Roads generally are in good order.” Ngatea Bridge. In reply to Cr. McDuff the engineer mentioned that the timber for the redecking of the Ngatea bridge was en route from Australia. The work would be commenced as soon as it arrived. The engineer was instructed to repair the platform at the lifting winches and also to roof this platform. INSPECTOR’S REPORT. The inspector, Mr W. White, reported as follows :— “Traffic. —Several motor-cars have been stopped, drivers’ licenses examined and found in order. It would be well if the council could obtain the use of weighing instruments for testing the weights of vehicles operating on the roads of the county, as service cars, as some of them appear to be over the weight warranted by the motor vehicle regulations.” Cr. Madgwick supported this, and said that if an inspector was to be employed he should be properly equipped to carry out his duties. In reply to Cr. Reid the inspector said that a load-meter would cost £l5O. If the weight of service cars was restricted to that allowed it would automatically restrict the maximum speed limits. Cr. Reid agreed that apparatus for weighing vehicles was necessary, as the roads were being destroyed by heavy, fast service buses and overloaded lorries. The purchase of a set of loadmeters was authorised on the inspector being satisfied that the particular type under consideration were found to be satisfactory. “Buildings.—Permits have been granted during the month for three houses, one milking-shed, and one addition to a house, the total cost being £llOO. A small shelter for schoolchildren has been placed at Parry’s coiner, with the stipulation that the structure should be placed on the other side of the drain. A cowshed has been erected at Pipiroa close to the road, which constitutes a breach of the county by-laws, both as to place

of erection and failure to obtain a building permit. I have to ask the council’s instructions on the matter. The matters were deferred to a later meeting to enable councillors to inspect the sheds. TREASURER’S REPORT. . The treasurer, Mr E. A. Mahoney, reported that receipts for the month totalled £972 14s lOd, including £572 4s 4d from rates, £lO2 17s 6d from ferries, and £36 8s 6d from licenses, etc. The sale of a hopper netted £lO, and that of a dray and some shingle £46 6s. Demands had been issued for the current year’s rates, the total amount levied being £26,041 4s lOd. It was decided that the 10 per cent, penalty on rates be added on the last day of February.