COUNTY WORKS

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 232, 11 September 1939, Page 1

COUNTY WORKS

ENGINEER’S REPORT The following report was presented by the eotmty engineer, Mr. W. W. Upton, at tho monthly meeting of too Opotiki County Council: — Progress of Contracts. Pakiljj Bridge.—All timber has been delivered to the site and six out of the eight girders, four piles, the centre pier, have been driven. Contract No. 584.—F0r raising and protecting Ruatuua road. Tin's work lias not been commenced. Tile weather has not been favourable during the Jast ;inonth to carry out the work. Contract No. 588, for raising 40 chains Wainui main highway.—Abo-ut one-fifth has been done. The weather conditions have not been favourable for the work. Contract No. 583 A, _ forming approaches Pakihi bridge.—This work is nearly completed. Contract No. 602, for the construction Afaromoko bridge.—No materials have arrived for- this work. County Valuation Rolls. I would draw the , Council’s atten-tion.-to‘the fact that portions of land in tl% county do not appear on the newt rolls, viz.: part section'224A and section 182 A, Block Ni Whakatane Surrey District. This land has not been on the rolls for the last 25 years. Taxi Fares. 1 have received and attach schedules of taxi fares charged in the following towns: .Hamilton, Gisborne, Rotorua, a ml! Tauranga. „ The hire rate in Hamilton has been fixed by the Transport Department, whose control some of the taxi proprietors have recently wished to conic under. It will be seen that the rates in force*iff- those four towns, -.compared witli that of Opotiki ruling last month is .materially as follows: Hamilton-the same; Rotorua, an additional Od to the extreme limits of the borough, otherwise the same; Gisborne, practically the same as those of Rotorua with the additional charge of Od per each passenger over two; Tauranga, the same as Opotiki original rate with the additional rate of Od. equal to Is Od for the first mile. In this last town all taxis are npov.-' ;-:.l by owner drivers, and the number ot licenses granted is limited to e’giit. The charges recently advertised by the taxi owners here, I consider too high altogether, being one hnnd.ed per cent-, higher within the borough and over fifty per cent, more to anywhere in the (county. I lie taxi proprietors should be allowed to make a fair living, but should be required »o give the public a service at a reasonable cost.

Covernme/ii Grants. As the Governinent cs'i nates ate i.;nv available I would ask Council jest] actions with regard to the expenditure of the same. The amount expended on account of grn its for the year 1935/. C > was £24)48 8s lid. Ragwort, . Materials have been procured, and a start Avil! he made with tile destruction ol tile ‘weeds at an early date. Works Carried Out. . The small bridge on McGregor s Road, Wuiocka, has bad the stringers and caps renewed. Small bridges oil the Waiotalii, Gabriel's Gully and Brown’s Road have been repaired. A 15-inch culvert iias been put in and a low portion raised on the \\ ;iinui Road. TJio Waiotahi swamp road lias been repaired. The Whitikau Road has hail the grader on, and sonno metalling done. Some more metal is necessary, which will be put on when the weather is more suitable. Proposals have boon forwarded! to the. district engineer for gravelling portions of Dickinson’s Road. Gravelling repairs have been, done on the Waiawa, Crooked, Otara, Gabriel’s Gully and Recce’s Roads. The grader and planer have worked on the Waiawa, Hospital, Gowns, lteoce’s, Otara, and Woodlands Roads.