WORK IN MATAMATA COUNTY.

Putaruru Press, Volume II, Issue 48, 18 September 1924, Page 3

WORK IN MATAMATA COUNTY.

ENGINEER’S REPORT. The engineer, Mr. M. E. Fitzgerald, reported to the Matamata County Council for the month of August as follows: One grader team has been working from Cambridge towards Horahora and will shortly be dealing with the road between Horahora and Arapuni. Another grader team is at work in Peria riding, whilst a third is about to commence in the Tokoroa-Lichfield area. The county-owned team is working in Matamata riding and assisting with the metalling works. The overhaul of the two tractors is not yet complete. One machine has been doing light work in the TirauHinuera area and will be relieved for repairs when the other machine is ready for work. Several of the bridges in Karapiro riding have been repaired. The enlargement of the cottage at Matamata depot is completed and the cottage is now occupied by Mr. Mitchell, foreman in charge of metalling works in that part of the county. Metalling works have again made good progress. Seventeen hundred and fif .y yards of crushed metal were received by rail at Waharoa, Matamata and Hinuera for works under the Matamata riding loan. The favourable weather is enabling work to be pushed forward on the Springs road and the Matamata-Hinuera road. Overdale road metalling has been recommenced at the Putaruru end, but the Taumangi end is being delayed pending issue of Public Works Department authority for a grant to be expended in extending the work up the hill. The laying of Waihou shingle on the Putaruru-Oraka length is nearing completion and from this work back to the pit on White’s road has been given a light coating. Waiomou metalling works are held up owing to lack of funds. The metalling* of the main highway from Putaruru southwards is awaiting the result of the county loan poll, which if carried will facilitate the falling into line with the wishes of the Main Highways Board. Half a mile of Baird road, Tokoroa, has been coated with local rock from riding funds. The forming of a further length of Wakamaru road at Tokoroa is in hand and materials have been ordered for the building of a small bridge on the Te Rere road, Tokoroa. The Main Highways Board notifies that the proportion of expenditure to be borne by the board on the Mamaku road has not been determined. It will probably be 100 per cent., but the present metalling works will be governed by original arrangement, viz., £3 for £l. Provisional arrangements made for the supply of Gordon metal for roads at Turanga-o-moana will be explained in detail at the meeting. Access to Mr. Smith’s section at Selwyn, Te Poi, is the subject of correspondence with the Lands Department. A proposed deviation of the road near the Waikato bridge at Waotu has been inspected and approved. The deviation is necessitated by the proposed submerging of the present site by the Arapuni lake. Eight hundred and fifty young gums and pines were obtained from Rotorua for filling gaps in the Tirau plantation and for planting the rough ground at the back of the Tirau depot. Special reports have been prepared dealing with Tapapa water supply and Okoroire Springs bridge.