MATAMATA COUNTY WORKS.

Putaruru Press, Volume VI, Issue 250, 16 August 1928, Page 1

MATAMATA COUNTY WORKS.

ENGINEER’S REPORT. Attention to Roads and Bridges. The following report was submitted to the Matamata County Council on Friday at Tirau by the engineer, Mr. M. E. Fitzgerald:— The Public Works Department has now given the whole length of the Mamaku bush section of No. 18 main highway a surface of Waimakariri shingle, and the intention is to thicken the coating during the spring.

The gang which has been surfacing the southern end of No. 19 main highway has not yet been taken off, considerable difficulty having been experienced in coping with lorry traffic. Th- Main Highways Board has approved of settlement with the Karapiro deviation contractors on the lines suggested by the council, and payments have been made accordingly. The Omahine crusher has stopped after crushing about 1560 yards, of which approximately 800 yards is stored for future requirements. The collection of blue boulders is still going forward, and these are being stacked at the crusher. Rhyolite carted by Weightman to Huihuitaha road has all been napped and spread. Further sanding was done on Okauia north road. Metalling of the gap in Peria main road with Clarkin’s metal is in hand. The new concrete bridge crossing the Waihou river on No. 312 main highway near Hinuera is completed. A small amount of earthwork on the approaches and the metalling of the same has yet to be done. Good progress has been made with Mangaraahu bridge at Okauia in spite of occasional severe floods. The county lorries have been engaged upon general road maintenance in addition to most of the works referred to above. The tractor graders have been kept busy over all parts of the county, particularly on the sand and shingle surfaces, which require constant attention to keep them in good order. The horse teams have continued the shaping up of haunches on No. 19 main highway north of Tirau. No. 1 steam roller has been on hire in Matamata and No. 1 motor roiler has done a small amount of work for the Putaruru Town Board. No. 2 motor roller ran the Omahine crusher.

Particulars of bitumen road construction in various parts of the North Island recently visited by me are given in a separate report. (Continued in Next Column)