MATAMATA COUNTY WORKS.

Putaruru Press, 19 January 1928, Page 3

MATAMATA COUNTY WORKS.

THE ENGINEER’S REPORT. The engineer to the Matamata County Council (Mr. M. E. Fitzgerald) reported as follows to the meeting of his council at Tirau on Friday: “ Sealing works have made fair progress, though not quite so much as had been hoped for. Metal supplies did not come to hand freely and Matamata gang was dispersed before Christmas. The dry weather and motor traffic have unravelled metal surfaces considerably and necessitated more extensive refacing during the sealing process. MatamataGordon road was tar sealed from the town boundary to the Tower before Christmas, just in time to save it from having to be refaced. No. 19 main highway is now completed from Waharoa to near Okoroir.e station. Tate’s gang should reach Tirau in about a fortnight’s time, after which it ■is proposed to put them on to Matamata-Gordon road, Waharoa township, and No. 19 main highway north of Waharoa. | “ Richards and Dowling have made further progress with Karapiro deviation (No. 18 main highway) and the cut has now reached the old shingle quarry. The contractor for Okoroire Springs bridge surrendered bis contract a few days after his tender had been accepted, and the contract was offered to the next lowest tenderer, Tate and Hodge, who commenced work a few days’ later. Hills has commenced the earthwork in connection with the Waihou bridge, Hinuera. The contractor for metalling Totman's road has surrendered his contract, which has now been let to the next lower tenderer, Jackson, who will commence work next Monday. Hart is carting McLaren’s shingle at Waiomou and the length from Waiomou school to Newton’s corner has been surfaced but satisfactory arrangements have not yet teen made for extending the work right to the mill. Ross is making good progress with surfacing Horahora special area roads. Strong is still carting metal to Whitehall main road. Metalling of a further length of Mangawhero road will be put in hand as soon as supplies can be ar- [ ranged. “ Tenders were opened on the 9th! inst. for carting Oralca shingle to positions on Waiomou main road and the lowest, that of Hart, has been accepted. Tenders have been invited, closing January 31, for stacking about 2000 yards of spawls near the junction of Maungatautari main road and Scott’s road. Specifications are being prepared and tenders will be invited shortly for spawling, crushing and delivery of about 4000 yards of metal in the Whitehall area.

“ Special efforts were made to keep the Cambridge-Rotorua main highway in good order for the holiday traffic and the most treacherous parts at Tapapa were given a light coat of shingle. A tally of traffic for the fortnight, December 22 to January 4, showed a total of 2984 vehicles, including 2925 motor vehicles, in which the largest day was 321 and 309 respectively. The heaviest day a year ago showed ]O6 motor vehicles. A tally on the Kaimai from December 23 to December 29 showed totals of 336 and 323, with the highest day 80 and 77. The biggest day a year ago showed 38 motor vehicles. A tally taken at Lichfielo. on No. 19 main highway has not yet been sent in.

“ The southern end of No. 19 main highway suffered from extensive tourist traffic and south of Tokoroa it was badly secured by heavy rains about a week ago.

“ The horse teams have completed formation of the northern end of Paraonui road and are now restoring the damaged length of No. 19 main highway south of Tokoroa. It is prooosed to move them in about a week’s time to Maungatautari where earthworks are to be done on the main road and various side roads. The principal works upon which trucks were engaged included sanding on No. 18 main highway from Hetherington’s road towards Tirau and parts near Tapapa, blinding metal or. Waiomou main road, Tower and Peria loads. Wehr graders worked in Buckland, Peria and Okauia areas as well as main highways. The road rollers have been engaged on refaring and sea'.ing works and one is now on hire to the Matamata Town Braid

“ Waiomou main road and the remaining: roads used by the timber truffle have suffered severely, and a good deal of the damage is attributed to the fact that the timber lorries have solid tyres. This traffic is now avoiding the Okoroire Springs hill by using other routes not covered by the agreement and correspondence with the miller is before the council.”