ROADS & BRIDGES

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 52, Issue 3279, 23 June 1943, Page 6

ROADS & BRIDGES

WORK DONE FOR MONTH REPORT OF THE ENGINEER HIGHWAYS ON THE PENINSULA Roads, bridges and wharves were all reported on by the county engineer, Mr A. H. Benham, in the following report which was presented to the June meeting of the Coromandel County Council. The report read as under:— Main Highways Thames-Coromandel No. 600.—The grader was used on this highway and did good work over the whole length. Although there are now no permanent surfacemen on this length, the road is now getting so shaped that regular maintenance grading is sufficient to deal with surface drainage and the gang can attend to culverts and maintenance metalling. Coromandel-Mercury Bay No. 309. —This highway w<ps graded when the machine was coming over’ it from Mercury Bay and it will be again trimmed up as the grader goes back to-morrow. The surfaceman has been patching the Mercury Bay side of the summit with metal from the dump and from Awakanae towards the No. 600 Highway, a few loads of metal from Egan’s quarry have been spread. Tapu-Kaimarama No. 485. —Although no further metalling has been done on this highway, the contractor has assured me that he will be working on its this week and will carry on till the Rangihau to the county boundary section is completed. I anticipated the grader will 'be on this highway within the next couple of days. Coromandel-Wharf No. 530. —General maintenance has been carried out on this highway.

Coromandel-Port Jackson. — The grader was put over this road as far as Port Jackson and has done a good job in clearing the water tables along the steep sidlings free from the disintegrated stone which had fallen down. The surfaceman has put in a new 9in. pipe culvert on the hill between Big Bay and Otautu. Overgrowing gorse has been cut back and cleared on the Kennedy’s Bay-Kiko-whakarere section. The sections recently scarified between the end of the sealing and the Kennedy’s Bay turn-off have been given a thin coating of metal from Egan’s quarry and a day was spent in metalling the clayey parts of the Kikowhakarere hill with material from the same quarry. Further attention has been given to the footpaths on the Coromandel Hotel to Kennedy’s Bay road section. Kennedy’s Bay Road. —The culverts and watertables on this road were attended to during the wet weather. Whenuakite-Ferry Road. —Arrangements have been made for a local settler to attend to general maintenance on this road, he agreeing to commence work at the beginning of the present month. Mr Colville also promised to - do some very necessary metalling repairs. Whitianga-Kuaotunu.—A new culvert was put in on this road and a couple of days’ surface maintenance carried out. Whangapoua Wharf Road. —The repairs to the No. 3 bridge (red cottage) on this road have been carried out, and this structure is now safe for normal traffic. Ridings ■Colville. —Arrangements have been made with Mr R. Carey to construct the culvert and fordway at the Waikawau stream and he will be proceeding with it forthwith. Handrails have been affixed to a bridge over this same stream on the road giving access to McNeil’s and Caldwall’s properties. Coromandel. —Further attention has been given to the township footpaths and leaks in the water supply system have been repaired. Whitianga.—During the coming week I anticipate that the grader will be available for forming the side streets in Whitianga township and in this connection it will be necessary to engage additional labour, and lorries to remove the surplus spoil. Wharves Port Charles.—The repairs to this wharf have been completed, and it is now in use again. ■ Coromandel. —The loading platform has been finished and is giving considerable satisfaction. During the month a- fire occurred on a launch tied Up to the wharf and the Fire Brigade wa.s quickly on the scene; The water pressure through the- hose was' negligible and I later . ascertained that this was because there is only an inch pipe for about half the length of tne mole. 11 understand from •Mr Beech that the valve at the end of the mole, is riot intended for fighting purposes but that a lin. rubber hose was re-

commended in case of emergency. As it would not be possible to lay a 4in. main down the length of the mole at the present time, the suggestion of the inch hose is a good one and being at the lowest point on the system the pressure would be adequate to put out an incipient fire. | Plant The angledozer completed the work ■at McKenzie’s' Mill and was transferred to Mr ■Simpson’s property to do the work authorised for Mr Stronach. This would have been finished and the machine shifted to' Mr Ross’s last week but for the writ weather but a start is being made with the r'6ad to Waitaia Bay this Week. ‘The fillings on the Whenuakite-Ferry road and the Hah-ei are the ’ next works on the schedule for this machine. The grader will be worked in conjunction with the angledozer whenever practicable.