COUNTY WORKS

Opotiki News, Volume I, Issue 32, 9 May 1938, Page 4

COUNTY WORKS

THE ENGINEER’S REPORT

The county engineer, Mr W. W. Upton, reported as follows as to-day’s meeting of the Opotiki County .Council :

Ruatyna-Ohiwa Road: I have made an inspection of the above road commencing! from the end of the forma-

tion oh the -Ituatuna road to the end'of the- near 1 'Holldiva'y’s. r T»e some!' BO chains through Mr Reeve’s has been formed to a. of about 10 . feet. 1 The- formutioh Jo'f, a 14 feet road with culverts, but not metal would probably cost about; £4OOO. Tlii's does.not include any laud required or legislation. • ' • River Erosion: 1 inspected that part

of the-Upper Otara~ where the river is encroaching; on the water supply main. ‘The erosion occurs for a distance of about 1% chains down stream from that which - protected by the borough some'jtars ago. The river has now encroached'at one place to within a few feet of the pipe line,

and at any fioocUthe line is liable to be

scoured out, or even carried away. The road near thisf place Vas deviated soifte years ago and. is not ini'.as much danger as the water main. it has been suggestedjitd 1 ' put a cut through a. gravel %anlc tb shift the course of

the river. 1 - consider it would be

preferable to protect'The bank similar i.to what lias been done than to. at--vtempt to-shift the river. These protective works would probably cost somewhere about £l4O. v Road Jntersegtiom —Tlie road inter- . section mentioned-in the. letter re--,ceiVecr r by the Council from the Commissioner of Transport evidently refers to what is known, as” Gown’s corner.

The turn Jhere could be made easier .by building out and easing off the small piece of grass at the centre of tlie junction. Although there is some loose gravel at the place, it is not such that would cause an accident,' nor would the visibility, interfere with traffic. Wairuii Road: The re-metalling of necessary pieces of this read can be proceeded with and stone is being quarried for the. work . Waiotahj Valley Bridge: Ais the

time of delivery of materials at present is very uncertain I have ordered timber and steel for the above which will save unnecessary delay. Motuorie and McCluskey’s Roads: I have inspected these two roads. The

vformer fair condition though not metalled. Dv metalling some three or four chains at a bend : would- effect some improvement. The metal would cost about eight shillings per'yai4. road, in my oplpkin, requires widening at several places any Jihetal is put on. This class ofework be left till weather ’ are more favourable. East Coast Main Road: The district engineer has informed mp that tlio Highways Board will f, yrßably take : | Over .this road as from 4E& Ist June. There are several relief men employprseiit and it would seem that 3j tlycouncil will not be able to find).A these men employment after that | . date. ' ~, .. ' ■ : ■ Pakihii Bridgei Approaches.* The estimated cost for forming the approaches to the proposed bridge is £127 10s. Progress of Contrasts : Owing to tlie recent had weather; slow 'progress has'; been.iSade on all the metalling that have been commenced. Works Carried Out repairs have been done on the Tableland, Warrington, Turner’s, Woodlands, Waiotalii, Terere, Ohiwa and j Petr Peti Roads. The planer and grader have worked on ~ the OpotikiWhakatane, Coast, Otara and War- y rington roads. '4 - ' r General : The caterpillar tractor has * had all tlie Hrack pins, and hushes re- j uewed: these will proj|bly last the ,! machine out. , j Owing to tlie recent vehjKbad weather several roads ate in bad order, - these are being repaired as soon as ,1 ' possible. ' , _ Tenders: Tenders havedieen invited to he dealt with to-day for the following : Contract No. o 8B —for the supply of materials ami the construction of a l bridge over the Pakihi stream, consisting of two spang *'4o feet steel joists, with hardwood decking.