PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 235, 18 September 1939, Page 1

PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT

REPORTS ON DISTRICT WORKS ill the Public Works Statement-, presented to Parliament last week, there appeared a- number of reports, not included in the Minister of Public works statement: — In reporting to the Minister on railways, the engineer-in-chief of the P.W.I). stated that it. was intended! that construction- on the extension of the East Coast Main Trunk Railway, from Taneatua to Opotiki should commence during the year, but owing to the fact that plant and service material from other railway-works were not available, and also because tin; survey was hardly sufficiently advanced, construction was postponed. During the year survey-work was continued with a small party, insufficient staff being available for carrying on. survey operations on a-,large scale.

Permanent pegging was completed from 100 m. 8 eh. to 103 m. 71 eh. Cross-sections were set out and cut to 103 in. 45 vb.

Permanent locative and grading investigations have beep, completed to 10b m. 60 c-h. Preliminary estimates are being compiled as the- survey-work proceeds.

* It is anticipated that construction will he commenced in the- near future. Other works referred to in the district were:—

Roads.—Copenhagen Road: This is a settlement- road ‘upon which 1 mile 70 chains of metalling was completed during tin; season. ;

Omarumutu Road: One mile seven-ty-seven chains of metalling was. car*ried out on this settlement road during the year under review. Civil Abrodromcs and LandingGrounds.—Opotiki : This field of 109 acres was licensed and brought into use during the year. Obstructing power and telephone lines and hedges were removed, and 2 miles 6 chains of new fence's placed. .Maintenance: The Department midertuok the maintenance of the following fields; Tauranga, Opotiki. Taupe, and Rotorua, as well as the Galatea Emerge;iey-la;idmg Grouncl 1 . Highways. Reconstruction was commenced between Whakatane and Taneatua. and a 6011. bridge erected in the Waioeka- Gorge.

The Opotiki-Te Aiaroa- coastal route is being considerably improved, o miles of construction and seven bridges being completed during, the year.

On the Whakiitane-Gishorne State highway the Tfaikohu Deviation of approximately 1 mile, including two substantial two-way bridges, was completed. This eliminates two level crossings and provides greatly improved alignment. The renewal of the Waipaea River Bridge at Kaiterntahi. of six 90 ft. steel-girder spans, was practically completed, and the approaches were let by contract.

One hundred and thirty-eight miles from Gisborne on the Opotiki-Te Araroa section of the coastal route, the 300 ft.. 'Wlmngaparaoa River Bridge -was practically completed at the end of the year. Operations cf Magnetic Truck. Interesting details of the work done by the magnetic truck, which at various times has also visited’ the Opotiki district, were given as follows: — During the year the Board's magnetic truck, which is utilised for clearing main highways oi iron or steel puncture-producing articles, operated chiefly in the South Island. The length of road actually cleared during the twelve months ended 31st. March, 1930. was 2.084 miles, compared with 4,-127 miles for the previous financial year; .the weight of material ■picked up hy tlie inngnet was lbs., as against 3.763 lb., lor the previous year. The reduced mileage travelled for the period' as against that travelled for the previous year is .accounted lor by the. tact- that during part of the year the truck, was undergoing repairs. The average yield per mile was 2.2 S lb., the corresponding figure for. 1937'3B being 0.8-5 lb.