WORK IN MATAMATA COUNTY.

Matamata Record, Volume II, Issue 73, 14 March 1918, Page 4

WORK IN MATAMATA COUNTY.

EngineaFs Report. The engineer, Mr F. Shannon, submitted his report for the month as follows : “In company with the chairman I examined the locality of drains, etc. complained of by Mr Dobson, and arranged for the necessary work to be carried out. Ashley started the work but had to abandon it owing to flood water ; but he is going back to complete it next week. In regard to the silt that is being brought down from the Rotorua road this is going to be a continual source of trouble and expense. There seems to be only two effective methods of dealing with it, either of which will be very expensive. The first is to put in traps to catch the silt and empty them with a cart when full; or secondly to remove the road from the bottom of the gully to the side. Had this been done when the last expenditure was made the present trouble would have been avoided. Ashley is doing grader work on the Tirau to Putaruru road, also opening up culverts and outlet drains. He should finish next week and will then proceed to the Putaruru riding. I did prospecting for gravel at Waiomo and Okoroire. The last I could get is near the school at Waiomo, which is very good quality with about 4 feet of stripping. I called tenders for a contract in this locality, on the Tirau to Matamata road, the Cambridge to Matamata road, and the Tirau to Cambridge road. Middleton has been doing grader work on the Waiomo, for the Public Works department on tho Kaimai, at Okoroire and on the Tirau to Cambridge road. He is now at work in the Hinuera Valley. Culverts, with inlets and outlets, have been cleaned out during the month. Campbell has made good progress with the drain below Okoroire station. Simpson and Jones, owing to shortage of benzine and other causes, have made small progress with their metalling contract at Te Poi during the month. In the Matamata riding Mahood has made good progress with his sanding contract at Turanga-o-moana, and is now proceeding with the Waharoa portion of his contract. In company with Crs. Pohlen and Banks I inspected the Mangawhero roads and met the settlers of that locality at the Mangawhero bridge. Their first and principal object was to get the two metalled portions of the road joined up, and to have it done in time to carry the milk waggons in August next. This would mean putting down the metal just before the winter, which should not be done if it is possible to avoid it. The distance to be metalled is about 27 chains, and to do this will cost about £4OO. I think it should not be done at all if it is not done well.

Some sanding and grader work is urgently required at the Okauia.

In the Maungatautari riding Stokes has been attending to the surface work, and satisfactory arrangements have been made with Mr Day in regard to the loan proposals. In the Putaruru riding Strong has made good progress with the road from Lichfield to Waotu. The bridge is completed on this road and Weeks is now at work on the bridge on the Maraitai road. This should be finished in a few days. Rodgers and Harwoods have been busy getting rock to metal the bad places referred to in my last report. In regard to Halse’s road I found the formation overgrown with tussock grass and weeds, some of which had been removed by the labor engaged by Mr Rollett. I gave instructions to clear the balance of the used portion of the road, and then to put the harrows over it to smooth the centre of the roadway. It is not suitable work for the grader. On the Tokorua road Bissett has been engaged in removing slips, but has not finished the work on account of being harvesting for the farmers. About a mile of this road requires the grader put over it and I am sending one there as soon as possible. I hope to get the road to Ngatiri-Okohi-riki started before the end of the month. There are a number of smaller matters throughout the County that could be attended to with groat advantage if the labor was available.”