WORK IN MATAMATA COUNTY.

Matamata Record, Volume II, Issue 98, 19 September 1918, Page 2

WORK IN MATAMATA COUNTY.

Engineer's Report. The engineer, Mr F. Shannon, submitted bia report for the month to date as follows : In the Matamata riding Urlich has completed his contract for the Tau-ranga-Tongata drain in a V6ry satisfactory manner. I let him a further 9£ chains of smaller drain at 25s per chain, which he has also completed. Thomson, with the county teams, has shifted to Matamata, and is now engaged in filling in the old gravel pit at Mr Cranswick's. He is assisting the council in this work to the extent of £ls. I havo ordered the metal for the repairs to the Waharoa to Matamata road, and expect it to arrive next week, when the repairs will be proceeded with. New work required on the Peria road includes grader work and sanding. On the Richmond Downs road grader work ia required, and also 1000 yards of sand. Ou the Waharoa to Matamata (last side of railway) grader work and sanding is required. Sanding at "Waharoa is to be completed. On the road from Mangawhero to the riding boundary at the Waihou bridge, grader, plough and scoop work is required and sanding. On the road , from the junction towards Quinlan's 100 chains of sanding is wanted. In the Patetere riding repairs and , gravelling has been done by Thomson's gang, and the corner taken off , near the Okoroire station. Surface work and repairs have been done by J. Bain and Townley at Hinuera. I let a contract for 14 chains of outlet drain near Lawrence's corner to take the water from the Tapa road and Dobson's corner. The work has been , completed. Cuhtz has made good . progress with cutting the bush on the , Rotorua road, near Mamaku, and will , finish in about teu days. On the Kaimai track Burton has put in a ; little more time this month, and has i cleared some of the trees, etc. Works required in the riding for the coming year:—On the Tirau to Putaruru road from Lake's to the riding boundary about three miles requires sanding; on the Cambridge road, from ' Tirau to foot of Balangei's hill re--1 quires metalling, thence from there to the Willow bridge, the gaps in gravelling to be filled up (about 40 chains) ; thence about a mile of sanding near Dobbs'; in the Hinuera valley between the Stamford bridge and Hopkins' corner sanding is re- ' quired ; from Hopkins' corner to the Hinuera post office requires breaking up and re-sanding; also sanding and grader work is required on Totman's road ; on the Matamata to Tirau road, between Miller's pit and Hamlin's corner, sanding is required to fill the gaps about three miles; Okoroire springs to Waiomou sanding is required in several places; on the road between S.tmny Park factory and Hinuera several places require sanding. In -the Taotaoroa riding I have appointed J. Mullain as surfaceman, and he started work on the first of the month on the Cambridge road. In regard to the deviation of the Whitehall hill, in company with Mr Potts and the county clerk, I mot the ratepayers of that locality. We explained the positioa, giving a rough estimate of the cost. It was agreed by those present to proceed with the deviation and try for a loan of £2OOO for that purpose. New work required is gravelling on the Cambridge road near Mr Potts. In the Maungatautari riding grader work is required. I have engaged Mahood to carry out this work, and to widen the road and prepare it for metal and gravel in the expenditure of the £2500 loan. I inspected stone and gravel, and propose to call for tenders for metalling at next meeting. In the Putaruru riding surface work has been proceeding, grader and horse work has been suspended during the bad weather, but will be resumed again during the month. New work required is grader work over a large portion of the riding ; metalling ia required at Putaruru from the post office to the railway crossing on the Litchfield road, and from the post ■, office to the butcher's shop, and the public hall, a distance of about 90» < chains; but before the metalling is started the road will require to be graded and brought to the permanent / levels. This work was to be done j last year, but was held over owing to ' Strong's gang having to go to Maraetai. I have taken the levels and am preparing specifications for this work, j In regard to our bridge contracts, shipping cannot be obtained for hardwood from Australia. I have applied to the Public Works department for J permission to use kauri. (