COUNTY ENGINEER'S REPORT.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 230, 28 November 1916, Page 1

COUNTY ENGINEER'S REPORT.

At the meeting of the Franklin County Council, hold last Wednesday, tho County Engineer (Mr J. F. McArthur) reported as follows : ROAD FROM KOHEROA GDM RESERVE THROUGH FRIEDLANDEJt's. Attached hereto is a survey tracing of the above road prepared for the Council by the Lands and Survey Department, showing land required for road purposes and severance The Lands Department has advised that it is prepared to consider tho purchase of severance for about £2. per acre. APPLICATION TO LEASE RESERVE Mr A. P. Kelly, of Mercer, made application to lease, at £1 per annum, a road reserve of approximately two acres on the Koheroa road. The matter was referred to Cr Lyons and myself for report. After inspection we would recommended that the request be granted, provided Mr Kelly keeps the reserve clear of noxious weeds and erects a gate at entrance to Cross road in a suitable position. PROPOSED LOAN. Mauugatawhiri to Mangatangi road, including road through Koheroa Gum Reserve and portions on Mangatangi road. It is proposed by the settlers interested in this district to raise a loan to gravel and form portions of the above-mentioned roads. Estimates are now being prepared of the work proposed to be undertaken, and will be placed before the Council at the next meeting with other necessary information required. ABBOWSVILLE ROAD, AKA AKA. The length of this road over which it is proposed to expend the loan and Government subsidy has been chained and is 1901 chains. The loan of £IOOO is now assured, and I would recommend that tenders be called for 800 cubic yards of spawls to enable the portion of road between :he Aka Aka bridge and outlet drain ;o be metalled this summer. As joon as time permits proposals will be forwarded to the Public Works Department for their approval of the irhole scheme. OTAUA TO MAIORO TOP ROAD, At the last meeting the matter of icquiring land and constructing a leviation at Denize's was mentioned, instructions were given me to furlish a report as to cost of construcion, fencing and probable compentation. An engineering survey has )een made and a good line of road ibtained, tho grados being a groat mprovement on the present road, die total length of formation required is 30 chains, a portion of this >eing on the old road. T would istimate the cost, including fencing, onstruction and compensation at 1320.

keswick's aoad, waipipi riding

An engineering survey has been made of this road, the length being 22 chains. The settlers interested have agreed to contribute towards the cost of the work, £1 for £1 up to £37. Should the Council see its way clear to subsidise this amount the whole length of road could be formed to good grades. TAUHANGAPURU TOP ROAD, WAIPII'I RIDING. This road is much used by settlers and will require reforming in places. I would suggest that the work be undertaken this summer. WAIUKU-AKA ROAD, WAIPII'I .RIDING, AND WAIUKU-AWIIITU ROAD, WAIPIPI RIDING. Before the end of the present season these roads will require some attention. They are both main roads of considerable importance and require at least 450 cubic yards of metal to bring them into a fair state of repair. AKA AKA DRAINAGE BOARD. A letter was received from this Board requesting the Council to erect a bridge on the main road at Aka Aka creamery in place of the present pipe culvert, also for permission to widen the western drain under the concrete bridge. These matters were left to Cr Higginson and myself for report. As regards the erection of the bridge, we are of the opinion that the Council should not go to any expense in the matter as the present drainage is sufficient for present road requirements. We thereforo cannot recommend the application. There is no objection to widening the western drain under the concrete bridge, provided, however, that the Drainage Board take all responsibility in connection with any damage which may occur to the bridge piers caused through such widening. CORONATION ROAD, AWIiIIU HIDING.

A portion of this road from bridge at Mr A. Jones' up hill towards the Waipipi creamery gets into a very bad state during the winter months and becomes hard to nogotiate. I would suggest that about 3 chains of the hill be metalled. The metal lying at the top of Creamery road could be used for this purpose. L ETTER FROM MR CROTI'Y, AWIUTT RIDING. Mr Crotty, of Waipipi, wrote asking that a portion of his road be formed. The matter was referred to me and has now been arranged for. KOIIE JCOHE SCHOOL TO JJttff OVU.Y, AWHITU RIDING. This road forms a portion of the main Waiuku-Awhitu road and is,

largely used. A length of formation was done last summer. I would now suggest that £25 be expended on improving the hill and completing formation of the flat.

Jackson's road, awhitu riding

With an expenditure of, say, £lO a portion of the above road, starting at junction of main Waiuku-Awhitu road, could be greatly improved. Up to the present time practically nothing has been done in the way of construction, the road being unformed for the greater part of its length. APPLICATION FOR METALLISG ROAD, HARUISVILLE. At the last meeting Messrs Strickett and Pook waited on the Council and made an offer regarding the cost of metalling a portion of the half-chain road at Harrisville. After inspection it was found that the cost to the Counc 1 would be £SO. This matter was left to Cr Wilcox and myself for report. We are of the opinion that the sum as mentioned is too great to be expended on a side road of this nature at the present time. We would, however, recommend that the road be formed up and put into good repair, and also that the property owners be asked to cut back hedges, etc., which are shading the formation. DOMAIN ROAD, STEWARDS .ROAD AND CONTINUATION OF POLLOCK'S ROAD, PUKEKOHE WEST. These roads are in a bad state and require forming and metalling. I would suggest that this work be undertaken. The approximate cost would be £220. The sum owing by the Pukekohe Borough Council will cover the greater portion of this expenditure. SUTTON'S ROAD, PUKEKOHE HIDING. At a previous meeting the matter of improvements required on this road by Mr Sutton was referred to Cr Woods and myself. On investigation it was found that the road is a private one and vested in Mr Sutton. We have now agreed not to expend any money thereon. PROPOSED DEVIATION MANGATANGI ROAD. This deviation has now been laid off and surveyed. The survey plans have been forwarded to the Lands Department for approval. The road passes through two sections, one of one of which is Native land. This means that the land required will have to be taken under the Public Works Act. The matter is being pushed on as speedily as possible. MILITARY SERVICE ACT. Advice has been received from the Government Statician stating that all the permanent surfacemen have been enrolled in the Reserve created in under the Military Service Act, 191 C. Contractors have been given notice not to employ men unless onrolled and also to furnish evidence to show that they are themselves enrolled.

BRIDGES, OPAHEKE MAG? ROAD

The repairs and renewing of bridges on the Opaheke Main road at Ararimu have now been completed sufficiently to enable the crushing plant to get where required. Crushing will be commenced on the stone stacked last summer as soon as the roads are in a fit state to carry an engine. DISCISSION. The report was adopted and the various recommendations as contained therein were approved. With respect to the Waiuku-Aka Aka and Waiuku-Awhitu roads it was agreed to secure the necessary metal for repair and the other works suggested in the Waipipi riding and on the Otaua to Maioro Top road were authorised. In regard to the road at Harrisville Cr Wilcox explained that only three ratepayers were interested in the road and thus only a small expenditure was warranted.