COUNTY ENGINEER'S REPORT.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 125, 24 December 1915, Page 3

COUNTY ENGINEER'S REPORT.

The- following report was presented by the County Enginof r, Mr , 4 J. F. Mo Arthur, at the meeting of LgHie Franklin County Council on last : f HUNUA AND TAPARIMU. In company with Cr Lockwood I made an inspection of works required in tho abovo districts. The ' bridge over the main flurua Stream known as Edwards Bridge will require to be redeckod; a small biidjre ot Hunua will also require n decking and other repairs. The decking on Quigloy's bridge is in a bad uoiiditinn and could be repaired with Ihe docking removed from Edwards bridge. Tho total coot of material, labour, freight and carting

would be approximately £65. Arrangements were made for work to be done on the PaparimuAiarimu road, reforming, placing of new pipe culverts and repairing a bridge. These repairs are very necessary as the road is in a bad (condition; when this work has been coTpleted the road will bo in good order. A visit was made to Happy Valley. The road past Mr G. Ross' property is in a bad state and each winter is totally impassable. A grant for this work appears on the 1915-1916 estimates. I would sug- ' gost that the Department be wiittea I U urging that the grant be made [ available tor immediate expendim tare. • CONTRACTS. The following contracts hare been let: Contract No. 145 : For forming, gravelling and culverting portion of Maungatawhiri to Mangatangi road; amount of contract, £SO; contractor, Q. W. Keith. No. 150 : For forming and metalling portion of the Great South road (Wright's Hill); amount of contract, £266 10s ; contractor, H Mattaon. No. 152 : For forming and culverting 27 chains of the Ararimu to Wairoa River Road at Markham's ; amount of contract, £lO2 12s; contractor, B. Lookwood. No. 154 : For forming portion of Awhitu Wharf to Awhitu Central » Road ; amount of contract £24 Is 3d ; contractor, Henry Garland. No. 156 : For forming portion of Awhitu coast road; amount of contract £43 13s 6d; contractor Henry Garland. No. 157: For the supply and erection of bridge and formation of approaches Jericho road, Han isville; amount of contract £252 12s (id; contractor J. H. Turner. , No. 158 a: For supply and breaking metal Paparata raad, Barker's quarry; amount of contract, £55 ; contractor, J. Arnold. k No. 160: Tho supply and erection L of bridge and construction of approaches toPutatitu creek; amount J of contract, £243 16s 6d; contractor, ' J. H Turner.

No. 161 : For forming a portion of Smith's to Koriotahi road; amount of contract, £B4 16s; contractor, M. Powell No. 162: For the supply and delivery of spawls, Cemetery to Aka Aka road ; amount of contract, £l6 ss; contractor, J. MoFadyen.

PATVMAHOE TO WAIAU STRAIGHT ROAD. , A contract was let to Mr James Begbie for work to kr,done on the above road, the price being £260. Mr Begbie, en being urge?, to proceed with the work, informed me that owing to ill-health he could not carry out the contract. The deposit of £l2 13s has now been forfeited. Up to the present I have been unable to re-let the work. (ONTBAIT KO. 128. For the supply and delivery of rpawls, Pukekohe-Bombay road at hall; this contract was let to Mr Len Johnston in September last. The specification was forwarded to his address for signature and has never been returned. Since then several letters have been written and have not been acknowledged. The contrdct has now been cancelled and deposit forfeited. TENDERS STILL OPEX. Tenders have been called from time to time for work on different roads and up to the present no satisfactory tenders have been received for a number of same. The following is a list of these Contracts: Contract No. 135: For the supply and delivery of 100 cub. yds. of spawls Bombay Faparata Road. No, 137 : For tho supply and delivery of 100 cub. yds. of spawls Carter's Road Bombay. No. 138 : For the supply and delivery of 250 cub. yds. of spawls Waiuku Awhitu Road at Creamery corner.

No. 151: For forming and metalline Bombay Ararimu Deviation. No. 149: For forming and culverting 70.1 chains of the Mangatangi to Smiths Road. No. 159 : For formation of approaches and raising Glasson's Creek Bridge Karaka Waiau Boad. No. 158 : For carting 76 cub. yds. of metal from Buckland to Harrissyillo Boad. No. 155 : For forming 32 chains pf the Awhitu Wharf Koad to Morrisons Tram Gully. No. 153: For the supply and delivery of iiO cub. yds. of spawls Harts Boad Pukekohe West.

No. 148 : For carting 287 cub. yds. of spawls near Pokeno. No. 161 a: For carting 450 cub. yds. of spawls from Mr Wilcox's property on to the Drury to Tuakau Main Boad, Harrissville. No. 162 a: For forming 13 chains of Clark's Boad at Waiau. There are also Contracts Nos. 119 and 128 Patumahoe to Waiau Straight Boad and the supply of spawls Pukekohe Bombay Boad which are now open to intending Contractors. AKA AKA LANDING Arrangements have been made to erect a fence on each side of the bridge on the eastern approach. This will prevent cargo being handled at this point. This matter was iirqughtup'at tho last meeting of the Council when it was decided to leave the matter in my hands to do what I thought necessary to prevent cargo being lauded near the bridge. I would point out (hat this landing

is a fairly busy one and would suggest that h be'improved by raising ihe bank of creek and thereby ex feuding the landing up stream. Theapprosimite co.t would be £35 I would also point out that all ihe s'one used for the roads in this locality has to be brought from Tuakau by barge and landed at this point, which at timed takes up most of the available space.

AI'PL'CATION TO CLOSE KOAD AT MAUKU

Mr nenry E. R. L. Wiley made application at the last meeting for a road to be closed adjoining Section 99 as shown en sketch. In comimny with the committee appointed )y the council to inspect and report an inspection was made of the locality. It was unanimously agreed that the request be granted an 1 that steps be taken by the 'Council to close and sell the portion of road up to a point opposite the western boundary of Section 9.

Ari'LICATION TO HK-DIiAIS, MAUKU

On the 20th September Mr R Quinn wrote calling attention to the state of a drain leading from the road through his farm. Mr Quinn asks that the road be piped and offers to cart the pipes from Pukekohe railway station and put in half the labour of regrading and laying fripes. Should the council decide to ay pipes it would require a length of 2£ chain-, the cost of the same being about £lO. I would point out that the present drain has been the outlet for the road drainage for many years. The piping of the drain would enable a free flow of water, but on the other hand if the available fall were taken up in the drain and a portion of the top end straightened out tho surfaceman should be able to clear the drain occasionally to enable all road drainage to get away. Henderson's road A fuither inspection has been made of this road, and I find that it is not yet formed in accordance with plans previously submitted for my approval. GOVERNMENT GRANTS.

During the month proposals have been forwarded to the Public Works Department for works proposed to be carried out, forming and culverting on Reid's to Mangatangi road and for the supply and erection of bridge and formation of approaches on Waiuku-Drury road, via Karaka.

COUNTY STONE CRUSHING PLANT. The plant is at present operating on the Pukekohe-Bombay road, and is working satisfactorily. It will be necessary to .order new jaws and toggle plates at once. I would suggest that several sets be procured, which ought to come cheaper and also might save delay should a breakage of the parts occur. The engine will be required in January to scarify a portion of the South road at Wright's Hill, and also for rolling purposes on the Aka Akato Pukekone road. It is my intention to roll the metal thoroughly and then blind and afterwards consolidate with the roller. GENERAL. The ordinary surface work has been carried out satisfactorily during the month and minor improvements to a number of the roads have been carried out and arranged for. The report was adopted.