MATAMATA COUNTY 'WORKS.

Putaruru Press, Volume IV, Issue 164, 23 December 1926, Page 8

MATAMATA COUNTY 'WORKS.

THE ENGINEER S REPORT. ' The county engineer, Mr. M. E. Fitzgerald, submitted the followingreport to the Matamata County Council at Tirau on Friday:— “ The recent dry weather has furnished a good opportunity for pressing on with maintenance of earth and sand surfaces and, incidentally, has been somewhat severe for metal surfaces which had had to be blinded. A good deal of metal on No. 19 main highway has had to be blinded to keep it from "breaking loose. Similar work has been necessary on No. 18 main just west of Tirau and on the main road north of Turanga-o-moana. “ Roads graded up include all roads in Peria riding, most of the roads in Okoroire riding which -will be completed n a few days’ time, Overdale } Parapara, Okauia, several roads in Puketurua area and many lengths in Tokoroa area. “The reconditioning of the main highway south of Lichfield is still in hand. “ Given reasonably good weather for a few days longer it is expected that there will be a continuous hard surface through Mamaku bush for the Christmas holidays.

“ Good progress is being made with metalling on the main highway north of Waharoa and the Wairere Quarry Co. will, when this work is completed, fill in the gap between Matamata and Turanga-o-moana, after which they will metal Richmond Downs main road. It has been arranged for this company to supply chippings for bitumen work north of Matamata at prices which compare favourably with any material available by rail.

“ Tenders are being called, returnable on January 13, for surfacing the remaining 5£ miles of Waotu main road, with local rock. This will be a fairly large contract, and as prospective tenderers will probably wish to spend some part of the Christmas holidays going over the road, it has been arranged that a copy of the specifications and plans will be deposited at the office of the Putaruru Press, where it will be available for inspection on most days during the Christmas and New Year period. “ It is hoped to commence bitumen surfacing early in January. The necessary plant is now practically all to hand. Bitumen supplies are expected to come to hand at any time. Adequate supplies of metal chippings are difficult to secure immediately, and there is a likelihood that this aspect of the case will seriously delay progress during January. “ Arrangements are being made to record traffic at various points for one week, commencing from December 23.

“ The classification of main highways as third class for maximum lorry weights of six tons and other roads as fourth class for four tons has been gazetted and duly advertised, and I would recommend that the county inspector be furnished with early information of any offences against the regulations. It is only by taking a firm stand right from the beginning that the council will be

able to induce carriers to operate with vehicles of a size which the roads can be reasonably expected to carry. It is to be noted that the above are maximum loads which should result in the average vehicle being much lighter.” The report was adopted.