MAIN HIGHWAYS BOARD

Otago Witness, Issue 4029, 2 June 1931, Page 7

MAIN HIGHWAYS BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING. The Main Highways Board held its usual monthly' meeting at Wellington on May 20 and 21, Mr F. W. Furkert presiding. The board approved a tentative financial allocation to the various highway districts throughout New Zealand to meet the cost of construction and maintenance for the financial year 1931-32, and district highways councils have been asked to submit recommendations to enable the board to compile the annual estimates. In accordance with the requirements of the Main Highways Act, 1922, district highways councils are also being invited by the board to make the annual -review of main highways. While this is being done in accordance with the requirements of the Act the board is not in a position to declare any substantial length of highways, but will merely consider special cases where altered conditions justify assistance from the board’s funds. About two years ago the board and the Railways Department entered into an arrangement under which each party agreed to contribute 50 per cent, of the cost of improvements to view at railway level crossings and a number of crossings have been improved under this arrangement. In view, however, of the restricted revenue of the Railways Department that department has advised the board that it is unable to make any funds available for this purpose during the current financial year. Petrol importations during the month of April were reported to be 500,000 gallons, representing a slight increase on March figures, but a decrease of 800,000 gallons on the corresponding period last year. The board decided that the new bridge at Wairoa to replace the old bridge which was thrown out of action by the earthquake is to be built on the same site. The preparation of plans for the new bridge is now in hand. In the meantime, traffic is being catered for by means of a punt installed by funds provided by the board, which is also providing the greater proportion of the cost of its operation. The report of the highways engineer (Mr A. Tyndall) contained these items: — Dunedin-Christchurch, Bushey deviation: The whole of this deviation is now completed. Idaburn-Moa Creek: The Poolburn bridge has been completed. Timaru-Queenstown, via Lindis Pass: The black bridge over the Lindis Rivernear Morven Hills, which is of concrete arch design, is nearing completion. Dunedin-Invercargill, Mosgiel-Henley section: A contract for 5 J miles of bituminous concrete pavement was let and the work started, 60 chains being laid during the month. Mosgiel Junction-Middlcmarch, Mosgiel Borough section: Bituminous sealing. One and three-quarter miles of two-coat sealing work has been completed. Dunedin-Portobello (Low Road) : 1300 cubic j'ards of earthwork was completed during the month, making 6500 cubic yards to date. Fifteen and a-half chains of new wall was built, making a total of 40 chains, and 360 feet of culverts laid, making a total of 508 feet. Invercargill-Bluff (Southland County section). —Reconstruction for- tar sealing: The position of this work is as follows: Section C, 69 chains of widening and culverting, 90 per cent, completed; section D, 53 chains of widening and culverting, 75 per cent, completed; section E, 40 chains of widenand culverting, 95 per cent, completed.