MATAMATA COUNTY WORKS.

Putaruru Press, Volume IV, Issue 146, 19 August 1926, Page 5

MATAMATA COUNTY WORKS.

THE ENGINEER’S REPORT. Progress of Reading. The county engineer (Mr. M. E. Fitzgerald) reported as follows to the Matamata County Council last Friday, at Tirau: — WET WEATHER EFFECTS. The wet weather, coupled with the very marked increase in motor traffic, has called for constant attention to road surfaces. New and old metal surfaces have shown a determined inclination to become pot-holey, and a good deal of patching with fine metal has been necessary. Earth surfaces are really bad in a few places. WORK OF THE TRUCKS. The Ford truck stationed at Matamata was engaged mostly in blinding new metal on main highways, a few days were devoted to general maintenance 1 work in Matamata and Te Poi areas. The other three trucks were engaged on various works, including sanding Hetherington road, sand patching Hinuera Valley and No. IS Main Highway at Patetere, Tirau and Tapapa, and patching Putaruru-Lichfield and Putaruru-Waotu roads with Maku creek metal. GRADING. The Wehr grader brushed up the Maungatautari road and the main highway from Cambridge to Tapapa, as well as several smaller lengths. The Fordson outfit was engaged m banking up new metal in Matamata area. The horse teams are camped at Okoroire railway, and are improving the bad corner here. ROLLING. No. 1 steam roller worked throughout the month on main highway construction in Matamata area. No. 2 steam roller was engaged .on metalling works on Matamata - Tauranga main and on the Matamata- Gordon main road. No. 1 motor roller underwent overhaul during the first part of July and then moved to Maungatautari. The new motor roller, which spent a few days at Te Poi and the remainder of the month on the main highway south of Matamata is giving JL every satisfaction and is proving ex- - ? ceptionally economical in fuel consumption. VARIOUS CONTRACTS. Strong is engaged in reforming several bad corners on Maungatautari main road. Robbie has completed his contract 1 for forming the northern end of Paraonui road, and is now metalling about twenty chains of Lichfield-Waotu road. Ross has completed his contract for metalling portions of Maungatautari main road and is now completing the work left unfinished by a previous contractor. Walsh has metalled a good many bad lengths of the main highway south of Putaruru. Quarrying at Gagen’s has not yet reached a good face. BRIDGES. Oraka bridge piles have all been driven, and the contractor is preparing false work for the superstructure. Standard tests for the concrete have given exceptionally good results, but tests of the steel supplied showed the smaller sizes to fall short of the requirements of the specifications. This matter is under discussion with the Main Highways Board, and may result in some delay in the compPetion of the worky. The concrete culvert being constructed to replace the bridge near Tirau on the Cambridge main highway is nearing completion. Hardwood for the new bridge at Okauia, after many delays, has now come to hand. The pile driver is now being moved from Oraka. bridge to this job, which will be put in hand at once. ft The superstructure of the small bridge on Maungatautari main road, near Horahora school, is rotten and is being replaced with hardwood. METAL CONSTRUCTION WORK. Mekl construction work is still in j hand on the following roads:— Matamata-Hinuera West road, which will be completed in a few days time, but is not yet rolled. Karangahake metal and Kinnear carting. Main highway south of Matamata: Widening and strengthening foundations with Karangahake metal. Kinnear carting. Similar work on Tower road with Tirohia metal. Gardner carting. Similar work on main highway north of Matamata with metal supplied by Wairere Quarry Co. BITUMEN SURFACES. Specifications for supply of bitumen for the coming season have been prepared, and when they have been approved of by the Main Highways Board it is proposed to advertise for 40 tenders. It is proposed to call tencl(Continued in Next Column.)

ers at the same time for constructing wearing surfaces for portion of the lengths of roads to be completed during the summer. Negotiations for supplies of metal have not yet reached finality. It is suggested that the tenders mentioned above be opened by the chairman. They will require considerable examination, and submission to the Main Highways Board, before definite action can be recommended. A full report embracing finance and policy will then be submitted to the council. The report was adopted.