WORKS IN MATAMATA COUNTY.

Putaruru Press, Volume IV, Issue 137, 17 June 1926, Page 5

WORKS IN MATAMATA COUNTY.

ENGINEER’S REPORT. The following report was submitted by Mr. M. E. Fitzgerald (engineer) at the meeting of the Matamata County Council held at Tirau on Friday:—The wet weather during the early part of the month was rather severe on road surfaces, but the subsequent dry spell has facilitated the .-restoi'ation of most of "the roads to good condition. The main highway from Leslie’s crossing, Lichfield, through Tokoroa to the southern boundary, suffered badly from the passage of very considerable motor traffic during the wet weather, and parts which had never previously been known to become very had were bogged up and rendered almost impassable. The fine weather has made it possible to reshape the road and patch the weak spots with pumice soil. If the motor lorry traffic continues to the same extent when the weathei; next breaks the road will quickly revert to the deplorable condition of two weeks ago. The present traffic conditions, which are almost wholly attributable to tree-planting activities in the south, cannot be coped with without considerable expenditure by way of surfacing with selected pumice or soft rock at all points where the road formation does not traverse natural beds of good-quality pumice. Various riding roads in the Tokoroa area are also being subjected to exceptional traffic in connection with afforestation and are suffering badly in consequence.

The Wehr grader has brushed up a number of roads, including TirauCambridge, Hinuera Valley, Totman’s, Lake, Overdale, Tirau-Putaruru, Ti-rau-Tapapa and White’s roads, and is taking full advantage of the good weather while it lasts. The Fordson brushed up some of the Peria riding roads and is attending on metalling works in the Matamata area. The Cletrae finished on the metalling works at Lichfield and is now in dock at Tirau. The Ford lorries have been engaged in blinding new metal near Tirau and Matamata and have patched surfaces in all parts of the county. The horse teams are still in the Lichfield area. No. 1 motor roller spent the past month on the PutaruruTokoroa and Putaruru-Waotu roads. No. 2 motor roller was on new metal between Tirau -vpd Pairere. No. 1 steam roller, was on the TirauWaharoa main highway and the Matamata-Gordon . sain road, and No. 2 steam roller s> it the month on Mangawhero and Station roads. Metalling work; have been continued at a pace, the bad weather ceasing at a time when it seemed likely that much of this work would hav*e to be closed down. Station road is nearly joined up. Resurfacing of the Tirau-Pairere highway is almost complete. The gap in the main highway near Hinuera is in hand and will be closed shortly if the weatfier permits. The gap at Okauia Springs should be closed in a few days’ time. A start has been made with the northern end of the Matamata-Hinuera West road. The gap at Overdale will be closed in about two weeks if the weather holds good. About 100 chains of Huihuitaha road have received a light dressing of local rock. The widening out and thickening up of old metal is in hand on the main hig-hways leading out of Matamata to the north, east and south. Metalling on the Maung-a-tautari main road is being continued. Two and a-half miles of the Mangawhero road are completed and the remaining half-mile to be done is being' left until next season. It has not yet been possible to close the gap in the Matamata-Gordon road. The Paraonui road contract is not yet complete. The contractors for the Oraka bridge are at work on the concrete abutments. The county clerk’s residence is nearing completion and should be ready for occupation in about 10 days’ time.