WORK IN MATAMATA COUNTY

Putaruru Press, Volume II, Issue 23, 20 March 1924, Page 3

WORK IN MATAMATA COUNTY

ENG INEER\S KEPORT. The engineer, Mr. M. E. Fitzgerald, reported to the Matamata County Council on Friday as follows: “ The horse grader is still working in the northern portion of the county. No. 1 tractor has moved from Puketurua to Overdale via Dukeson’s road, and is on its way to Okoroire riding, where it will probably remain for the rest of the season. No. 2 tractor is in the Hinuera area and will shortly move out to Te Poi. The demand for more grading work points to the desirability of increasing the number of outfits before next season to five, which would be allocated ap--1 proximately as follows:—One in Tokoroa and Putaruru; one in Te Poi and Okoroire; one in Matamata and Peri a; one in Tirau, Ivarapiro and Maungatautari; and one in reserve for special work. “ There has been no marked improvement in the metal supplies since last meeting, but good supplies will probably be available later and through the winter. There seems to be no way for taking full advantage of winter supplies unless railway dumps are made available. After going into the question very fully with the railway officials I would recommend that application for private sidings be made as follows: “ Matamata—Extend the present dead end on the south side of the level crossing south of Matamata and dump metal between rail and public road; probable cost £l5O. “ Tirau—Run a new siding on to the space north of the stock pens and remove soil down to rail level for dumping ground; probable cost £250. “ Putaruru—The position here is very difficult owing to the fact that the only available ground is reserved for the Arapuni work and it would be well to wait a while before making any application. “ Mr. Kinnear has completed contract No. 3 for metalling the road from Okoroire station towards Waiomou. He also carted shingle on to Totman’s road under contract No. 11 and is now sanding roads at Richmond Downs under contract No. 16. Mr. Gardner completed contract No. 12 for sanding on Totman’s road and contract No. 13 for carting sand and rock in Maungatautari. He is now sanding at Waiomou under contract No. 10. Mr. Cole has practically completed contract No. 135, formation of part of Puketurua-Uraura road, and the same remark applies to Mr. Henderson’s contract for forming Tirau-Putaruru road, No. 136. Mr. Hayes is still metalling the Kaimat road under contract No. 128. Hart and Brown have made good progress with the metalling of Putaruru-Ara-puni road under contract No. 140, having carted 1165 yards during the month. Mi’. Rothery has made a good start with the Te Poi metalling under contract No. 2. Mr. Spraggs ' has carted the satisfactory quantity of about 1850 yards of sand at Puketurua under contract No. 4. Mr. Rogers has commenced contract No. 5, metalling at Mamaku. Mr. llennic has made a good start with contract No. 8 for surfacing portion of the Tirau-Putaruru road and the pit is turning out very well. “ The Slade-Gully bridge has been erected and the small concrete bridge on Puketutu road is in hand, but ?s help up at present by flood waters. The Public Works Department agrees to share the cost of repairs to the Kaimai road and work will be commenced immediately.

“ The bitumen sprayer, ordered some months ago, has arrived in Auckland and will come to hand shortly. The other plant and fittings necessary for handling bitumen arc already at the county depot. The road roller, purchase of which was authorised, had been sold and could not be secured for this council.

“ The question of laying down a. standard for roads to be dedicated calls for consideration, particularly ’as to the provision of a wearing surface, and I should welcome a direction from the Council in this matter.”