THE GLUEPOT BEND.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5507, 29 November 1929, Page 4

THE GLUEPOT BEND.

QUESTION OF DEVIATION. SETTLERS MEET ENGINEER. Arguing that the Lands Drainage Department had effected a saving of £3OOO on its Patetonga Riding reading scheme, which had been estimated to cost £13,000, and that the settlers had paid a contribution calculated on the £13,000 instead of £lO,OOO, and the Government should not be against subsidising at £4 to £1 the proposed deviation at Gluepot Bend, settlers of the Patetonga district have commenced to agitate on the matter. On Tuesday a dozen settlers, Mr F. Lye, M.P., Mr F. Basham, county engineer, and Crs. J. F. Mayn and J. Motion met on the site. It was explained that the alternative schemes were to widen the road and improve the grades and alignment of the 40 chains of the existing road at an estimated cost of £9Bl 2s 6d, or to construct a deviation 27J chains in length at an estimated cost of £1933 3s 9d, excluding the cost of surveys and of land. Settlers expressed the opinion that the estimates were excessive, but they were assured that they were quite fair.

Mr Basham said that no engineering problem was presented, and the only question was an economic one. The Public Works Department did not consider the expenditure whs warranted, as the road had to be considered as a whole from Morrinsville to the Pae-roa-Pokeno highway near Waitakaruru, and if £lOOO was to be spent on eliminating bends and improving grades the Kaihere-Waitakaruru section had a greater claim. This section was considerably below main highway standard, and it was therefore not reasonable to improve one section at a great cost and neglect the next section. The bends on the existing road had a 30ft radius, and the proposed improvement provided for a 130 ft radius. The banks would be stepped so as to give two chains of visibility at all points. The grade was to be made one in fifteen. On learning that the chief drainage engineer, Mr R. D. Macmorran, was in Ngatea, an adjournment was made to there.

Cr. Mayn was the speaker, and he stated the settlers’ arguments for the spending of the money. However, the estimated cost appeared to be very high, and the settlers were wondering if modifications could be made. Mi’ Macmorran said that modifications were always asked for. The Lands Department was not a contributing body, as the money came from the Public Works Department, and he would advise the settlers to approach the Public Works Department. He would not express an opinion to the district engineer, and if asked would urge that the Public Works Department have its own engineer inspect the work so as to remove any suggestion of influence by him. Cr. Mayn asked if it was legal to spend loan money on a deviation. Mr Macmorran said he could not say, and would recommend getting a legal opinion on the point. Cr. Mayn: Now, another point. There has been a saving of £3OOO on the job— Mr Macmorran : Hold on ; it is not saved yet, and in view of the satisfactory contract we have considerably more formation and earth work. In reply to Cr. Mayn the chief drainage engineer said- that any money which the Lands Department could save the council would be paid to the sinking fund of the loan and would eventually mean a reduction in the loan rate. In reply to Mr F. Lye, M.P., Mr Macmorran said that the sum saved on the riding contract would possibly suffice to do the deviation, and the only question was whether it would be legal. Mr Lye said that' the point could be overcome by a clause in the WashingUp Bill or by an Order-in-Council. Mr Lye undertook to interview the Public Works Department’s engineer at Auckland on Thursday, and Mr R. D. Macmorran undertook to be present at the conference.