MATAMATA COUNTY WORKS.

Putaruru Press, Volume VI, Issue 259, 25 October 1928, Page 1

MATAMATA COUNTY WORKS.

THE ENGINEER’S REPORT. Bitumen-treated Sand Road. Public Works Grants. Residents along certain roads shortly to be bituminised will be especially interested to note the references thereto in the following report submitted to the Matamata County Council at Tirau on Friday by its engineer, Mr. M. E. Fitzgerald:

“ During last month repairs were effected to a small bridge on Taotaoroa road and to the Oraka bridge on Waiomou main road. A good deai of sand blinding has been put on to metalled roads in Matamata riding. Some shingle was scooped from the Waiomou stream and spread on short lengths of the- eastern end of No. 312 main highway (Swapp’s road). Campbell road was reformed and Tokoroa and Halse roads were graded. .A start is being made with’ carting out metal to repair Baird road, which has cut up badly. The pumice prater tables on No. 19 main highway against Tokoroa football ground scoured out to a depth of 14 feet. This trouble is partly attributable to

a drain having been laid from private land on to the road. The relief gangs on the Kaimai Hill have been increased and the Public Works Department is extending its widening works right through to the county boundary. The work of the trucks included sanding ar.d patching on Parapara, Totman’s, Somerville, Banks’, Mangawhero and Taumangi roads; sanding in Waharoa township; metalling a short length of Tomalin road, as well as general maintenance on main highways and the blinding of metal surfaces in various places. The mechanical graders brushed up Webster’s road, Arapuni road, Hora- | hora road, Waiomou main road, i Banks’ road, in addition to giving i frequent attention to all main highways whilst drags have been oyer various roads in all parts of the county. The horse teams continued the building up of haunches on No. 19 main highway north of Tirau. Some grading was also done for the Matamata Racing Club, who will pay for this service. The rollers dfd a few days’ work on hire for Matamata and Putaruru Town Boards.

“ A start has been made on No. 18 main highway at Pairere with the bituminous treatment of sand surfaces as outlined to the council some time ago. Careful records are being kept and will be reported fully in due course.

“ Early this month the roads generally throughout the county were in a good state. The exceptional rain storms of last Wednesday considerably overtaxed the capacity of water tables and culverts and resulted in a i good deal of damage to road sur- J faces. The most serious damage j noted iyas on No. 18 main highway j near Samuel’s property, where a large washout has occurred. “ During the past month I accom-

panied a deputation to Wellington, "which waited on the Prime Minister in connection with Tokoroa road and rail problems, and as the results have been fully published in the local paresa I will not give details in this report. The opportunity was taken to discus*, various matters with the officers of the Main Highways Board. I also made a brief inspection of bituminous works in Auckland, with the principal object of obtaining information respecting the relative qualities of various brands of bitumen. Much of the information obtained is

of a confidential nature, and has been communicated to the works commitI tee. I ‘‘A contract has been prepared for the bituminous surfacing of No. 312 main highway from Hopkin’s corner to Te Poi and the same has been forwarded to the Main Highways Board. Similar documents are nearly '.completed for the Arapuni road. When approval is given it is proposed to call tenders for consideration of the council.”

The report was adopted. “ Tenders called for the season’s carting from railway stations were received and the lowest, that of Kart for Is 75d up to one mile and 91d per mile afterwards, has been accepted.

“ The Public Works Department grants recently passed by Parliament omitted some important items ( which were asked for by the council and as soon as this became known ( efforts were made to have then in-. t chided in the Supplementary votes, j The Department has refused to subI sidise bituminous surfacing, in future and some fresh item* were asked for to replace those finally cut'jout. The complete list of grants now stands as below:—Amoore’s road (free) £l5O, Gunn’s road (£ for £) '£3oo, Mangamahu bridge (£ for £) £250,. Matai road (£ for £) £6OO, Mata-mata-Okauia (£ for £) £l5O, OkSuia South (£ for £) £IOO, Okoroire-Ta-papa (£ for £) £IOO, Paraonui (free) £7O, Peria road (£ for £) £550, Puke- j tutu road (£ for £) £2OO, Putaruru- j Mangatapu t (£ for £) £SO, Taumangi- ] Tapapa (£ for £) £l3O, Te Poi-Oko-roire (£ for £) £69, Smith’s bridge (Waiomou stream) (£ for £) £l5O, Waiomou-Tapapa (£ for £) £llO, White’s road (£ for £) £IBO, Whitehall special area roads (£ for £) £7OO, Okoroire bridge (Waihou stream) (£ for £) £4OO, Lichfield-Pu-taruru (£ for £) £2OO, Maungatautari main road (£ for £) £IOOO, Pu-keturua-Ura Ura (£ for £) £2OO, Tomalin area roads (£ for £) £2OO, Waotu-Puketurua (£ for £) £200; total £6059; of which the cash allocated as available this year is £4480. [ The items which have already been absorbed or are well 'under way are Mangamahu bridge, Matai road, Paraonui road, Peria road, TaumangiTapapa, Te Poi-Okoroire, WaiomouTapapa, White’s road and Okoroire bridge.”