MATAMATA COUNTY WORKS.

Putaruru Press, Volume VI, Issue 233, 19 April 1928, Page 2

MATAMATA COUNTY WORKS.

THE ENGINEER’S REPORT,

Grants and Subsidies,

Bitumen Surfaces, 28 Miles.

Reporting to the Matamata County Council at Tirau on Friday, the engineer, Mr. M. E. Fitzgerald, said;— “ The council has again had a successful year with Public Works grant money, and has lifted £5584, or £759 above the allocation of £4825. The amount lifted from Ihe Main Highways Board was £14,471. “ The approximate mileage of hard surface at the close of the year was as follows, lengths at 12 months ago in parentheses:—Hard-surfaced, i'93 (273), which includes 221 (202) of metal and shingle, of which 28 (12) has a bituminous surface. “ The past year has witnessed a further increase in motor traffic, with a corresponding increase in the amount of attention and expenditure necessary to keep road surfaces in good order. One very noticeable result of recent changes in the nature of traffic is the very prevalence of short wave length corrugation in all sand surfaces.

“ Bituminous work is now slowing up on account of weather conditions. The gang is at work between Tura--1 nga-o-moana and Hot Springs comer, which length it is hoped to complete before closing down for the season. The further length of Mangawhero road is being surfaced with Clarkin’s metal. Surfacing of Matai road and the top end of Peria road from Butler’s pit is making good progress. This pit is opening up remarkably well, and will probably serve a large area of Peria riding. Surfacing of the Okoroire-Te Poi road, first course, is completed, and the contractor is now pushing along the surfacing of the access to Waiomou mill. Surfacing White’s road from Leslie’s turnoff To Futaruru end is comTapapa settlement, Hinuera, is completed. Metal is being quarried for pleted. The surfacing of the road in the gap in Taumangi road, and this job will be pushed along. “ A good deal of reforming has done to the main highway at Tokoroa, and the bridge has been redeclced with hardwood.

“ Okoroire Springs bridge is built, but completion of the approaches will probably take a further ten or fifteen days, and it may be possible to turn traffic over the new bridge about the end of this month. Construction of the Waihou bridge at Hinuera is ir hand, and the eastern abutment is being concreted. Paraonui bridge is open to traffic. French Pass bridge is practically completed. Construction of Mangamahu bridge, Okauia, will be put in hand shortly. “ Karapiro deviation has made very slow progress during the month, and will probably not be open to

traffic until well on to the end of May.

“ Road rollers which have been assisting with bituminous works have not been fully employed. The Fordson has assisted with bituminous work and done some general grading in the Matamata area. One-man graders have brushed up roads in various parts of the county. The horses have been engaged in Maungatautari riding, chiefly on improvements to Luck at Last and the main road. The lorries carried out a considerable amount of sand repairs on the main reads at Tapapa and Maungatautari.” —Adopted.