WORKS IN THE COUNTY.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 3, Issue 243, 30 October 1914, Page 2

WORKS IN THE COUNTY.

THOSE THAT NEED ATTENTION.

REPORT BY THE ENGINEER.

About a month ago the county engineer, Mr J. F. McArthur, was instructed by the Franklin County Council to confer with the members of the different ridings and to report on the necessary works throughout the county. At Thursday's meeting of the Council Mr McArthur reported that the following were some of the most urgent works which should receive attention as soon as funds permit:— "Formation of 28 chains of road near the Pukekohe East school and metalling. The metal for this piece of road is already crushed; the work is laid out ready for construction. I might mention that this section of road is the only unmetalled portion of road between Pukekohe and the Great South road. In my opinion this work should be undertaken at the earliest possible date. The coat of formation and the carting of metal would be £175. Two hundred cubic yards of spawls Pukekohe to Bombay road, coH £l2O. Temporary bridge over the Tuhimati creek for carting spawls to Pukekohe East road. Contracts for the ctone are now in progress; if this bridge were erected a considerable saving in carting would be made. The cost would be about £ls. The carting of spawls would mean an expenditure of £IOO. Drury bridge decking. The new planks are lying on side, and require to be put on bridge, the old plonks would be suitable for the temporary bridge just mentioned: cost of redecking, £l2. Formation Pukekohe-Bombay road; cost approximately £ls. Hunua road, past top ot gorge, re-gravelling in places and repairs; cost £2OO. Creamery road, Hunua. This road was partly constructed out of Government grant money and requires £3O to complete formation. Formation Waiuku-Drury road at Mauku bridge; cost £SB 10s. Formation Waiuku-Drury road, fronting Gillies' property towards Drury; cost £250. Waiuku-Pukekohe road, borough boundary to Mauku boundary. Reforming and metalling; approximate cost, £4OO. Carting spawls for Waller's property; cost £IOO. Union road. It will be necessary before next winter to expend £350 on this road on repairs. Reid's road formation from Harrisville road to Aka Aka road; c-.st £SO. Improving formation between Aka Aka creamery and Aka Aka bridge; cost £4O. Improving kidi's road from Harrisville ruad to Kidd'a bridge; cost £65. Otaua to Port Waikato road. A contract is in progress for the supply and delivery of 1000 cubic yards of spawls, the crushing and catting of which will mean an expenditure of upwards of £240. Formation required; cost £35. Otaua and Maioro road. A contract has just been completed for a section of this road. A further expenditure is required of £l5O. Wbiri Whiri road extending present formation; cost £IOO. Waiuku to West Coast road. A deviation has been laid out and plans prepared of a portion of this road at Pile's hill; estimated approximate cost, £304. Keriotahi road, Walts' hill deviation. This work has ben laid out. The cost of construction and formation of a portion of the present road would be approximately £IOO. Taurangaruru top road, reforming and repairs required; cost £SO. Taurangaruru to Waipipi main road past McGill's. Reforming and metalling; cost £2OO. Waiuku-Waipipi main road at McNaughton's corner, improving formation; coat £3O. Kidd'a road formation from Waiuku-Aka Aka road; cost £32 10s. I'ollok road to wharf formation; cost approximately £2OO. Pokeno to Maungatawhiri Valley. From South road to Station hill repairs; cost £SO. McGill'a bill near creamery corner, repairs; coat £SO. McPherson's to R. Pendergrnst's, repairs; coat £SO. Pendergrast's corner, gradirg and metalling; cost £4O. Re-decking of bridge at rlaxmill; cost approximately £27. Main South road through Mercer township, repairs; cost £SO. Mangatangi road to Keith's, repairs and gravelling, £25. Pukekohe-Bombay road, Proude's corner to Laurie's, £25. COUNTY COUNCIL DISCUSSION. 2 Cr Henry said the amount was very considerable and beyond the means of the county. It went to show tbe necessity of putting into operation tbe adoption of some scheme, either the one they formally considered or come other. These works would take two years' revenue to do. Cr Campbell said he understood that the engineer was to report only on urgent works on the main roads. He asked if in this report tho great bulk of the work was not confined to main roads Mr McArthur: Most of these are main road works, but all the works mentioned are pressing. Cr Henry said that McPherson's bridge would cost £IOOO and that was not on the list; probably there were also other works in the Karaka required. Mr McArthur: These are only a FEW of the necesearv works; to do all that is required would take 10 years' revenue. Cr Campbell said there were other works in his riding that were required but he had confined himself practically to main roads, which was the intention of the tnotioD. If general works were to be taken he claimed the right of adding what other necessary works were required. The chairman said that in nearly every case in which he had asked for grants they had come forward and they would subsidise £ for £. It the money was available the position would not be so formidable for work in his riding as it appeared in the list. Cr Henry asked if the same procure was used in applying for trants in Mauku as in other ridings. He thought it very exceptional that if the 13 grants applied for only )ne, a revote of i'loo for Putatitu •reek, appeared 1 on the Estimates. The engineer said Mauku applica:ions had the same treatment as j ;hoae of the other ridings.

Cr Henry said he thought the Worka Department had run away with the idea that the £26,000 for Waiuku railway was sufficient for Mauku.

The chairman expected that the tightness of the money market would affect the amount they would get, but he had urged that the grants should appear on the Estimates. Cr Renall said he bad always had confidence in Mr Massey's word, and it turned out correct in this instance. He was very pleased to Bay that Mr Massey bad treated his (the speaker's) ward and himself personally very well. He had £llOO straight out grants. A councillor: Hear, hear. Cr Renall: " I say 'hear hear' two or three timss, If anybody wants to win my heart be will do it if he is good to me." Cr Renall went on to refer to the riding accounts which he always understood were to be kept separate. One thing, however, which was not laid down explicitly related to overdraft. His riding hud £444 rates and against that he was entitled to draw £444 out of overdraft. He would not ask who "stole" his overdraft. He was prevously satisfied that rates would not meet the position, but having got these straight-out grants he did not propose to ask his district to laisc any loan. He did not think £2OO would be required for the Pollok road; he now bad £IOO for the work and he hoped soon to have the engineer's eervicea to lay it out. Cr Flanagan said he had not asked for any new works at all. The chairman said he had pleasure in moving the adoption ot the report which would go before the incoming Council as a recommendation of the works required to be taken in hand. Cr Fulton seconded the motion, which was carried. TENDERS.

A long list of tenders waa also submitted in the engineer's report. The decisions arrived at will be published next issue.