MATAMATA WORKS.

Putaruru Press, Volume VII, Issue 271, 17 January 1929, Page 1

MATAMATA WORKS.

INCREASED SUBSIDY.-Putaruru-Arapuni Contract. Reporting to the Matamata County Council at the January meeting, Mr. M. E. Fitzgerald, engineer, submitted the following statement of work done during the past month:— A gang, has been at work on Karapiro deviation since Christmas and traffic is now using the road. The very spongy length near the top has practically dried out and while there is a possibility that it may give trouble again it is hoped that no interference with traffic will result. It is more. than likely that further slips will come down in the high cutting. Increased Subsidy. No. <9 main highway from Tokoroa youth wards was graded and dragged and in spite of considerable motor traffic it was in good order right through the holidays. The Auckland gentleman who expressed a contrary opinion in yesterday’s Herald ought to have known his subject better than is evidenced by his extremely-erroneous effusion. An intimation has been received from the Main Highways Board to the effect that this length will -be subsidised three for one in future. Metal surfaces on Maraetai road have been repaired and other portions were graded. An underslip near the Oraka bridge on Waiomou main road assumed serious proportions and is being dealt with. Repairs to the bridge at Kaimai boundary are in hand and similar work on Russells bridge and Okauia springs bridge will be gone on with immediately. Lee is scooping shingle from Waiomou stream under contract No. 122. Hart is carting shingle on to Waiomou main road. Waters and Allen have commenced carting from Russells pit under contract No. 121. Appelbe is making comparatively slow progress with metalling at Whitehall.

The county trucks were chiefly engaged in patching Nos. 18, 19 and 312 main highways and blinding bitumen surfaces. One road roller is on Hire to the Matamata Town Board and one other will shortly go to Whitehall. It will not be possible for the machine to get to the far end of the work until the first half of the new bridge is completed. Bitumen plant is on hire to the Matamata Town Board. Wehr-graders have been kept going on all the more important sand and shingle surfaces. The horse teams are still banking up bitumen surfaces through Lichfield and will shortly move on to Waotu and Bathe’s flat. Putaruru Contract Let. The calling of tenders for the making up of the southern end of Tapapa to Okoroire road, prior to metalling, has been delayed owing to the neglect of one owner to clear gorse, and unless a very early move is made it may be impossible to put this road in order before next winter.

A proposal for metalling Puketutu road from Butler’s pit at a total cost of about £9OO has been prepared for submission to the Public Works Department and tenders are being called this month. A resolution in the usual form is required. The Main Highways Board has authorised the acceptance of Bray and Company’s tender for PutaruruArapuni and Hinuera-Te Poi roads and a start with the former will probably be made next week.