COUNTY WORKS

Opotiki News, Volume I, Issue 105, 4 November 1938, Page 4

COUNTY WORKS

THE ENGINEER’S REPORT . - ■ ' ■ ■ ■' ' . • 1 • : • The county engineer, Mr. W. W. Upton, reported as follows at to-day's meeting of the Opotiki County Council : ■ * ! ' ’ _ : • '■

Contract Completed.—-Contract No. 576 for gravelling 95 chains of the Upper Paerata (.Hunt’s) Hoad has been completed- - Stock Paddock, Papamoa.—l Jmve inspected the fence between.-the stock paddock and Mr. Stott’s property. The fence is 17 chains in length, about half of which is lying down and of the balance many posts are rotted off and most of the battens rotten. 1 consider it best to re-erect the whole line and the materials that would be required are 75 posts, 6 straining posts and 250 battens. Mr. Stott would pull down the present fence, liiul the staples and erect the new one if ,Council provided' the posts and battens.

Kutarere Wharf.—l have inspected the embankment leading to the above. At present the sheeting requires repairing which would take ' about 500 super l'eet and about two days’ work with a* truck and three .men to make the erosion good. About every twelve months or so, a few days’ work has been done to keep the embankment and wharf in repair but as time goes on the upkeep will be much greater. The question of dismantling the structure oir’othenvi^e may have to be considered. An area in the Whakatane County found three-tilths of the cost of the wharf and embankment, an area in the Opotiki County, finding the balance of the cost. The Joan over the Opotiki County area has nowbeen consolidated with other county loans and the interest is being found by the whole county. The wharf may possihly he of some use lor transportation purposes while the railway is being constructed, but there would

oe no revenue. Access to Ruff’s Hiwarau—ln company with the chairman and several of the eduneifiors I made an inspection of the above. The distance from tjie Kutarere wharf road to the Hiwarau property is about 25 chains over fairly easy, country. Mr. White whose property the road would go through is willing to give the land and erect the fencing. This offer is a most generous one. Should council decide to have the road legalised it would he necessary to? have the right through Hull's prooerty to give access to other parts of this Hiwarau block. I consider it advisable to have the line legalised, even if the council cannot find any money at, present lor forming the road. Reeve’s Road.—l have checked the road reserve where Mr. Reeves has done some formation and find that it is within the Reserve which is at that part more than a chain in width. I would suggest that Council metal this piece ii Mr. Reeve will allow the gravel to he taken drom the roadside. Hoad Linos, Opape Blocks.—L have made application to the Native Land Court to have several road lines proclaimed public roads. 1 hose lines have been surveyed many years ago, have hem used as roads and have had public money spent- on them. Ragwort.—Three men have, been engaged on ragwort eradication fur the last, month. The Otara and I utaetoko riverbeds have been treated with sodium. The work on the Waioeka river is being proceeded with. Willows, Nukuiiou River. —I have made an inspection of portion of this liver. I do not consider any work that the Public Works have done will a fleet Mr. White’s property. L consider that if Mr. White clears the willows from the river through his property he will net have any damage to his land, as in time of Hoods that is where the water overflows the road and his paddueks. There are. at different places, willows growing .in the river extending from

the Hiwarau block below the Nukuheu bridge to just below Mr. White's but I do not think this would a licet- the land higher up. Rood, Ohiwa Harbour.—With reference to the letter io the council from Mr. HuinlTcy I have not been able to go into this matter but hope to report at the next meeting of Council, but [ would, suggest that Mr. Humfrev be informed that no road line can he closed till other access is provided to the 'sections. Works Carried Out.—Hive points on the Crooked Road have been widened. As the spoil was not required it was carted away by Mr- Kidd and this helped to lessen the cost. Portions of Ihierata and Vorrall's Roads have been widened. The stock paddock fence at Meremcre has been repaired and two gates provided and hung. A culvert has been, put in .at the Motuliorn

school. Gravelling repairs have been done ou Woodlands, Waiawa, Warrington, Upper Otara and Tablelands Roads. Proposals have been forwarded to the district engineer for the expenditure of grants on Pile’s and Keen's roads. * Plans are being prepared for raising a portion of the Waiinii Road. Tenders.—Tenders have been calledto be dealt with to-day subject to the district engineer’s approval and receipt of the monetary authority for the following contracts : Contract No. 584: For raising and protecting embankment, Kuatuna road. Contract No. 585: For reforming and gravelling 65 chains Woodlands Dip road. Contract No. 586: For reforming and gravelling 60 chains Paerata Ridge road.