COUNTY ENGINEER'S REPORT.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 155, 14 March 1916, Page 1

COUNTY ENGINEER'S REPORT.

At last Thursday's meeting of the Franklin County Council the County Engineer (Mr J. F. McArthur) reported as follows; HILL LOAN NO. 2, ITKEKOHE WEST. A contract for this work was let by the late Pukekohe West' Road Board on the 22nd May, 1914, to Mr J.Patterson. The work consists of the supply and delivery of 850 cubic yards of 2J-inch broken metal. Ihe stone has been spawled in the quarry on Mr Maurice Coughlin's property near Cameron Town. A payment of £BO was made on the stone in its present position by the late Road Board. Since the Road Board merged I have done all that lias been possible to get the work carried out. The position in which the stone is lying is extremely awkward and up to the present labour and teaois have not be9n available to do the work. I would like iustauctions from the Council as to what is to be done regarding the contract. ITKEKOHE KARAKA ROAD, VIA I'AEKATA. In company with Mr Hall-Jones, engineer-in-charge of the Waiuku railway construction works, Mr Batty (chairman of fhe K'araka Road Board), Crs Flanagan and Henry, an inspection was made of the crossing on the Waiuku line over which it is proposed to erect an overhead bridge. After having the position explained by Mr HallJones it was decided that no action be taken as regards the crossing. Different schemes were submitted to the Head Office, Wellington, such as a subway, deviation of road, etc., including the overhead bridge, which scheme has now been adopted. The grade of the approach to the bridge will be 1 in 22. The proposed through road on the western side of the Paeruta station was also gone over and discussed, and it was decided that steps bo taken to have the road legalisod, provided the land could be secured free of cost. It was also decided not to entertain the proposal from the Karaka Road Board that the County contribute to the construction of an overhead bridge and approach on the main line, but it was agreed to recommend that the level crossing be shifted to a point near the I'aerata-Karaka road. CLAIM IOK FKNCING. Mr Anderson, of Awhitu, requires that the agreement made between the previous owner of Section No. 24, Awhitu, be* now carried out. It appears that the late Awhitu Road Board made an agreement with Mrs Garland when taking land for road purposes that the road would be fenced on both sides when required. Since then Mr Anderson has purchased the property and he now requires the fencing to be done. 1 would suggest that a sum equal to the cost of the fencing be offer ed_ to Mr Anderson, say, £1 per chain. Most of the roads in this vicinity are unfenced. W. WRIGHT AND OTHERS, WAll'll'l. A petition was received at the last meeting asking that the hill known as Keogh's Hill on the side road off AVaiuku-Awhitu road b9 regraded. Ordinary repairs have been lately done on the road. The work of regrading would mean the expenditure of a considerable sum, and although desirable that it should be done I would suggest that the work stand over till next summer, as other woiks in this riding have been arranged to be done which will absorb all the available revenue. Next season works such as the above could be undertaken. During the month a visit of inspection was made of the different works in the Awhitu riding, including some of the wharves. Material is now on order for repairs and renewing poitions of the Polluk and Te Tora wharves. It was necessary to take the mutter in hand without delay, as the repairs are urgently required. I would mention that the Waipipi wharf,is in bid repair and would like authority from the Council to have the necessary work carried out.

GOVERNMENT IiKAXTS. A committee of your Council waited on the Prime Minister when on his last visit to Pukekohe on the 2Gth February regarding the expenditure of tlio most urgently required grunts. Assurance was given tint everything possible would bo done to make the money available. Proposals have beeu forwarded to the Public Works Department for approval on grants as follows and have been returned unapproved as no authority ha:? been issued to the othce 111 Auckland for the expenditure of same, vi/. : Pratt's Hill Deviation Brown's Road, Tuakau , Jamieson's Rood, Buckland . Mangatangi to Smith's With reference to amended proposals submitted to the Department in connection with the Kee l's to Mangatangi Bridge grant the Department is unable to issue approval for the expenditure until such time as the Lands and Survey Department definitely decide tin 1 locution of the roads in the Kohuroa Reserve. STONE i. KUlilM' I'LAM. Some little delay has been caused with crushing operations owing to the scarcity of labour. A satisfactory gang ot men lias now been procured and tlio work will be pushed on with all possible speed,

WORK IN THE KARAKA DISTRICT. Arrangements have been made for forming and metalling portions of the Waiuku-Drury Road and the Karaka-Waiau Road. The quantity of metal to put on is approximately 870 cubic yards. CONTRACTS. I place before the Council a number of specifications for contracts which have been let and which require the common seal of the Council and the signature of two members. Tenders were invited for contracts returnable on the Ist inst., as folio ws, giving name of contractor and the amount of tender ' Contract No. 165 : For forming and culverting 52 chains of Pratt's Hill Deviation, Opaheke Main Road, being the first section :—Aitchenhead and Young, £B2l 19s Od ; B. Lockwood, £497 ss; Powell and Gleeson, £633 18s 7d ; J. Dunn and D. Fahey, £579 18s. Contract No. 100 : For forming and culverting -1 'J chains of Pratt's Hill Deviation, Opaheke main road, being the second section :—Aitchenhead and Young, £647 12s 6d ; Powell and Gleeson, £470 14s Od ; J. Dunn and D. Fahey, £498 6s. Contract No. 107 : For forming and culverting 32 chains of Pratt's Hill Deviation, Opaheke main road, being the third section :—Aitchenhead and Young, £343 10s ; Powell and Gleeson, £495 13s 9d. Contract No. 108 : For forming 30 chains Jamieson's Road, Buckland :—John Dalton, £ J 9. Contract No. 169 : For forming 22 chains of Brown's Road, Tuakau : No tenders received. Contract No. 170 : For forming and culverting 40 chains of Hogwood's Rood, Waiau A. Moore, £238 ; A. Appleby and Farrington, £253 3s 9d. Contract No. 171 : For forming and culverting 24 chains 05 links of McLennan's Hill, Papakura : —No tenders received. Contract No. 172 : For the supply and delivery of 450 cubic yards* of spawls, Brown's road, Tuakau (upper end; : —No tenders received. Contract No. 173 : For the supply and delivery of 500 cubic yards of epawls, Brown's road, ~ Tuakau slower end) No tenders received. I would recommend that the lowest tender in each instance be accepted, the prices being well within the estimated cost of the works. Payments appear in the list of accounts presented to your Council at to-day's meeting for final payments on contracts which are now completed. Contract No. 114: For forming and culverting portion of Koheroa Road. Contract No. 118 : For supply and delivery of broken metal on Pura Pura Road. Contract No. 134 : For the supply and delivery of spawls Opabeke Main Road. Contract No. 141 : For forming and metalling portion of the Pukekohe East to Drury. Contract No. 15 i : For forming portion of Awhitu Wharf to Awhitu Central (Anderson's Hill). Contract No. 156 : For forming portion of the Coast Road. Contract No. 161 : Forming Smith's to Kariotahi Road.

The following contracts have been let during the month: — Contract No. 165 a: For excayating drain and formation of 30 chains of road Happy Valley. Contractor, John Garea, £37 10s. Contract No. loo: For forming portion of the Awhitu Wharf road to Morrison's (Tram Gully). Contractor, Henry Garland, £34. Contract No. 158 : For carting 75 cubic yards of broken metal from Buckland on to Harrisville road Contiactor, John Dalton, £ll ss. Contract No. 153 : For supply and delivery .50 cubic yards spawls, Hart's road, Pukekohe West. Contractor, W. Slade, £ls. Plant and Machinery.—At a previous meeting of your Council the question of purchasing a county road construction plant was discussed and was finally left to myself and the county chairman to report. The plant required is as follows : 1 Austin grader, - wheeled scoops, 1 •I-horse No. Chilled plough, I Oliver plough, 2 drays, 2 sets harness (double teams}, small tools bucli as shovels, picks, etc., travelling quarters for men. Iu with this plant it will be nece o sar y to have three men permanently engaged ; the different surfacemen i n each riding could assist. The approximate cost of the above plant is £l5O. Wo would suggest that the purchasing of the plant be held over till early next summer with the exception of the grader and the two ploughs which are urgently required for works. The report was adopted and the lowest tenders as set forth were accepted in each case. With regard to Patterson's uncompleted contract at L'ukekohe West the matter was left to Cr. Woods, the Clerk and the Eugiueor to take such action as they thought best. It was agreed to refer the question of repairs to the Waipipi Wharf to Cr Renall. In reference to Government Grant Works, referred to as having been returned by the District Engineer as unapproved, the Engineer explained that authority for the same was issued at Wellington and apparently had not been communicated to the Auckland ollice. The matter of the proposed purchase of a grader and two ploughs was referred to the Finance Committee.