WORK IN MATAMATA COUNTY.

Matamata Record, Volume II, Issue 87, 20 June 1918, Page 3

WORK IN MATAMATA COUNTY.

Engineer's Report. " The spell of fine weather during the month enabled good progress to be made with the different works in the ridings, and nearly nil the sanding and gravelling lias been completed. In the Matamata riding Mahood completed his sanding contract at Okauia, and nlso did several miles of formation with tlie grader on the Okauia roads and the Tui road in a satisfactory manner. I had six r new pipe culverts and one wood culvert put in on this road. McKibbon made fair progress with his sanding contract at. Waharoa, but the rain will have stopped him this week, and it is doubtful if the road will be dry enough to cart on again until the spring. S. Harding has completed his sanding contract in a satisfactory manner. I prepaied specifications nnd called tenders for a drain at the Tauranga-Tongata swamp. Two tenders were received and opened by Crs. Banks and Pohlen. The r prices wero 2s Id and 2s per cubic yard, and it was decided to accept Joseph Urlich's tender at 2s per yard. Surface work and repairs have been carried out by O'Neill, and also sanding on the Mangawhero hill in a satisfactory manner. Owing to press of work the riding members have not been able to inspect the stone deposit at Blennerhassett's on the Peria; also the report on access to Moore's property has been deferred until next meeting for the. same reason. In the Patetere riding Middleton has completed his contract for sanding i in the Hinuera valley. Five new culverts have been put in with outlets to get the water off the road; also, surface work and repairs have been carried out in the same locality. Thomson, with the county teams, has completed the gravelling on the Cambridge road in a satisfactory manner, also repairs to the road from Pairere creamery to the Willow bridge, and this week has been doing repairs in and around Tirau. During the 6hort spell of fine weather Simpson made another start with horse teams and lorry on his metalling contract at Te Poi, and succeeded in putting out six hundred cubic yards. Mackin, partly assisted by Eobinson, has been doing surface work and repairs on the road between Te Poi and Hinuera. I propose to put some sand on Miller's hill where the trees are overshadowing the road. It seems that the heaviest carting commences on this road when the winter starts, and it would be good economy if people could arrange to get heavy material carted before the winter rains started. A further saving could be effected by the drivers of heavy vehicles if they drove their horses instead of allowing them to travel in the one track. On a long cutting Mackin filled up the wheel ruts three times, and three times the waggon ploughed it out. There was plenty of room on either side for the wheel track. I suppose it is done to save using the brake. Campbell has completed the drains on the Brombelow flat and at Okoroire in a satisfactory manner. Weeks has repaired the shute at tho Brombelow bridge. The interview with Mr Neal has been deferred until next meeting. In company with Mr Young, of the Public Works department, I inspected the Kairaai track. They have put in a large number of culverts, and on the whole have made a good job of it for the money at their disposal. It will require to bo looked after, and I temporally appointed A. Burton, surfaceman, and gave him instructions subject to confirmation by the council. In the Taotaoroa riding repairs and surface work were carried out on the road near the Waikato river. We are now taking off the point at the rock cutting on the Cambridge road. Mahood was to have started some sanding neur Mr Potts' last week, but I fear the weather has stopped- him until the winter is over. In the Maungatautari riding repairs and surface work have been carried out on the road to Cambridge in a satisfactory manner. In the Putaruru riding Eodgers and his gang have made good progress with the metalling on the road to Waotu, and the work is about completed. Mr W. Barnett has completed the metalling at Waotu. Phillips has completed the bush clearing and stumping as far as the funds authorised allowed. Bissett has completed the grader work on the Tokoroa road, and is now trimming up the road between there and Lichfield. Strong is making steady progress on Ngatiri Okohiriki road. The shortage of labor is retarding the work§ but I hope to get some extra hands this next week. Woik proposed for this month is to repair the road from the Rotorua road to the Putaruru road with the grader and the county teams. Middleton is to form a side track at Miller's hill, and take off point at the Okoroire railway station. He will then proceed to assist Strong on the Ngatiri-Okohiriki road. There are drains in the following localities that require attention: — Drains near Dobson's, drains near ■where the gravelling has just been completed on the Cambridge road, and the drain from Willoughby's fc towards the creamery. Works contemplated are: General repairs and surface work, and attention to be givwito the Tapapa ram."