WORKS IN THE COUNTY.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 3, Issue 195, 15 May 1914, Page 4

WORKS IN THE COUNTY.

The Engineer's Report. At Thursday's meeting of the Franklin County Council ilis engineer (Mr McArthur) reported as follows: "Woodhouse road bridge. —An offer was made to your Council by settlers interested to contribute towards the cost of repairing this bridge. After inspection 1 find the present structure is in a dilapidated condition and quite heyond repair. I would, howevei, suggest that the Public Works Department be asked to place on the 1914-1915 Estimates £l5O for the erection of a new structure a - d formation of apDroaches. "Quarry at Drury. In company with Cr Flanagan I inspected quarries at the back of Drury township. There is an unlimited supply of first-class blue metal. A siding could be put in from the Drury station for a reasonable cost, the distance beinii, approximately, two miles. 1 would urge upon your Council the neceesity of securing a quarry with accses from the railway. Great inconvenieuce is being experienced with the supply of metal from Auckland. Contracts ate in piogress carting metal from Runciman and Pukekohe stations and often for days the contractors are idle owing to the scarcity of trucks." Cr Flanagan gave notice to move that the whole matter ut quarries be gone into at next meeting. "Karaka roads.—During the month I arranged a trip of inspection with Mr Batty, chairman of the Karaka Road Board, and proceeded to Runciman, but owing to some misunderstanding Mr Batty was unable to accompany me. Arrangements have, however, been -made for inspection this month. "Approaches to Springs, Patumahoe road.—This work is not of a large nature and could be undertaken by the permanent surfaceman. "Firth's deviation, Waiuku-Drury road. ■ I inspected the above deviation in company with your chairman, Crs Henry ar.d Higginsou, as regards land required for road purposes satisfactory arrangements can be made. There is an available Government grant for this work, proposals for which will be forwarded to the Public Works Department for approval as soon as possible." Cr Higginsou said the plans and specifications for this work were prepared. He moved, That Mr Firth be written to asking if lie would confirm the arrangement made with the chairman. Seconded by Cr Henry and carried.

"Alternative route Pratt's Hill J' deviation. —An engineering survey j has been made ot this route the tot.il j length being one mile fifty chains. In addition to this, it will Le necet- | sary to metal an additional length I of road from the end of this deviation to the end of the first deviation j laid out. Ths total approximate cost of construction, fencr g and compensation would bj £IOOO. I would point oat that this rouie is on the shaded side uf the hill; the lirst deviation laid out was lying to tun, and a more suitable route for the road. The grades on the new route will be practically 1 in 13 from start to finish, whereas the original deviation was of different grades, the steepest being 1 in 13. "Proposed road from Pukekohe to Pukekohe East.—A petition was received at last meeting of your Council from A. A. White and others, suggesting that a road be constructed as shown on accompanying sketch. 1 have been ovei the proposed road and find the grades obtainable are not good. Seeing that it would be necessary to maintain the pressnt road to Pukekohe East if th2 new one were constructed, I would suggest that no further steps be taken as regards this new road at present. "Owing to the bad state of weather 1 was obliged to temporarily suspend works under contract as fellows : "Contract No. 34—Martin Ferguson load, first section, Hunua. "Contract No. 31 —Martin Junction to Cowan's;, contractors, Messrs Stewart and another. "Contract No. 37—Edwards' boundary to Otau road, lirst section, Hunua; contractor, Mr H. Lockwood. "Contract No. 38—Edwards' boundary to Otau road, first section, Hunua; contractor, Mr B. Lockwocd. "Contract No. 49a—Martin Junction to Cowan's, first section, Hunua; contractors, Messrs Stewart and others. "Contracts have been let during the month as follows: "Contract No. 31—For forming and gravelling Martin Junction to Cowan road, Hunua; Messrs Stewart and others, contract price £64 ss. "Contract No. 39—For carting metal Runciman railway station on to Pukekohe East road; H. J. Flay, contract price £75. "Contract No. 44—Supply of 500 cubic yards Waller's property for Puni road; Messrs Brown and Hone, contract price £IOO. "Contract No. 45 Formation Tuakau railway station to Whangarata road: James Begbis. "Contract No. 4 9—Carting broken metal from Colonel Logan's on to Buckland road; Messrs Patterson and Dougherty, contract price £62 10s. "Contract No. 49a—Forming portion Martin-Cowan road, second piece, Hunua; Messrs Stewart and otlierp, contract price £203 7s 6d. "Tenders were invited for contract No. 50, for reforming and metalling portion of Great South road at Rama Rama, no tenders being received. It is intended now to hold this contract over till the beginning of summer. "Government grants.— Proposals for a number of grants have bean forwarded to the Public Work l ' Department for approval. Authorities have been received as follows: Hunua riding roads, on account of £ISOO, £1 for £, £269 19s; Drury to Tuakau main road, £ for £, £100; Key street to Kelly bridge, Hunua, £SO; Drury to Mercer Great south road, £750; Hunua road, £ for £. £100; Mangatang: to Smith's, £100; Hunua riding roads, on account nf £ISOO, £IOB 15s sd; Hunua to Paparimu, £ for £, £100; Creamery read, Hunua, £ for £, £SO. "Works let and in progress.— There are at present works let and I in progreis numbering 41. Th2 j works being carried out by day j labour on the Hunua Gorge are progressing satisfactorily, the first section .being nearly completed. "Stone crushing plant.—The plant has been during the past month engaged crushing metal at Maungatawhiri Valley, and is now in the ; Bombay district, Drury riding, i Final payments appear in today's accounts for contract No. 3, Otaua to Maioro road, Waipipi riding, Contract No. 9, Quinn's road, Mauku riding, and contract No, 34 l'uke-kohe-Tuakau road, supply of spawls.'' The report was adopted. 1