ROADS & BRIDGES

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 52, Issue 3265, 19 May 1943, Page 6

ROADS & BRIDGES

WORK ON THE PENINSULA UNFOUNDED RUMOURS ENGINEER’S MONTHLY REPORT The following comprehensive report on roads, bridges and wharves in the county was given by the engineer, Mr A. H. Benham, to the May meeting of the Coromandel County Council:— The report read as under:— Main Highways Thames-Coromandel No. 600.—Only general maintaince work has been carried out on this highway, attention being given to water tables and culverts after the rain and effecting surface repairs. Coromandel-Mercury Bay, No. 309. —On the Mercury Bay side of the saddle the surfaceman has been continuing with routine work and a couple of bridges were given additional support' 1 to allow the angledozer to be taken over in safety.

Tapu-Kaimarama No. 485.—The grader trimmed up this highway on its return from Tairua, and also graded in the new metalling on the Coroglen and county boundary length. No further metalling has been done on this length as I understand that the contractor has been ill. I have written to him asking him to recommence at the earliest possible date. Coromandel Wharf No. 530.—Attention has been given to the edges of the bitumen, watertables and foot- . paths on this highway. Coroglen-Waihi. No. 586.—The grader was hired to the Public Works Department to carry out maintenance grading and other improvements to this highway. The machine was away lohger than I anticipated as advantage was taken whilst it was at Tairua to get work done in the Thames 'County where the machine graded as far as Hikuai. As a consequence not a great deal of work was done' by the grader in this county. Main Roads ■Coromandel-iPort Jackson: Culverts and water-tables werb attended to between Coromandel and Papa-Aroha and arrangements made for the removal of a large Pohutukawa tree which fell across the road near Ward’s. One of the fillings near Ward’s has a tendency to crack along the wheel tracks, these openings have been filled up as they were a danger to the travelling public. Coromandel-Kennedy’s Bay—Watertables were attended to at the Coromandel side of the Tokatea but better results would accrue if the grader were again put over this road. Whangapoua road. —A couple of days were spent on this road after the wet weather, clearing watertables, culverts, etc. Ridings Colville.—A surfaceman has been at work on the old Colville Wharf road taking out culvert pipes that are no longer required. A set has been reinstalled at a silted up gully near Ngamane’s Point Wharf, and a further set will be used between Big Bay and Otautu. Coromandel.—Further clearing has been done at the cemetery, repairs and connections have been made to the water supply mains and services, the chimney rebuilt at O’Hara’s and several of the footpaths and watertables have received attention. Kuaotunu. —Arrangements have been made to put a culvert in a small creek crossing at the foot of the 'Black Jack hill and also to raise the Otama causeway by about 2~3 feet. These works will be put in hand next week. Whangapoua. The men were sent over to repair the bridge at the red house, it being intended to use a stringer from the old Waitekuri bridge as suggested by Cr. Bull, but the timber proved unsound and the work was not proceeded with. Suitable timber is now ready in the yard and as soon as it is carted over to the site it will be put into place. Wharves Port Jackson.—The work in connection with the fender and mooring piles at this wharf have .been completed and I anticipate inspecting it during the ensuing month. Port Charles.—Good progress has been made in repairing the damage reported at last meeting, fortunately the work was sufficiently far advanced when the next easterly blow came to prevent any further damage resulting. The work so far done gives every indication of proving successful and it is anticipated it will be completed during the next fortnight. Coromandel. —As instructed at last meeting a loading platform, is being constructed on this wharf and will be tion to the Easter vacation. At the beginning of the period since last meeting' the grader was working for the Public Works Department (as re-

ported above) and since Easter the driver has been learning to operate the angledozer and working on the private road work at the mill. Mr Strongman is doing very well in’ the way he is learning to handle the machine and carrying out work entirely new to him and any temporary “hold ups” that have occurred have been due to lack of experience as well as weather conditions.

I am mentioning this particularly in order to dispel the unfounded rumours that have been in circulation throughout the county that the angle-dozer ha§ broken down and that both this machine and the grader have been idle for the past fortnight. Although it was anticipated that the one driver would be able normally to operate •both machines it is obvious that one machine must be standing idle whilst the operator is Engaged on the other machine. As there is a considerable programme of work for the angledozer ahead and the maintenance work of the grader is accumulating I am enendeavouring to obtain the temporary services of a bulldozer operator to enable us to catch up on the work.

completed ready for use in the next couple of days. The amount of work done during the month was restricted somewhat, because the men. were given the balance of their annual holiday in addi-