FRANKLIN ROADING MATTERS

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 309, 11 September 1917, Page 1

FRANKLIN ROADING MATTERS

At the meeting of the Franklin County Council held last Thursday the County Engineer (Mr J. F. MeArthur) reported as follows: Proposed deviation Dominion road, Tuakau—During the month the deviation of the eastern end of the Dominion road has been defined, and graded and an estimate made of the complete cost of constructing the same. The deviation will connect up Dominion road with the Whanga-rata-Kazorback road and will give a number of settlers direct access with Tuakau. It is proposed that a loan be raised to carry out the construction work and to pay compensation for land required, etc. The total length of the deviation is 45£ chains and the total approximate cost including compensation and construction is £SOO. Alterations to bridge at Willows, Otaua, Aka Aka road.--The Otaua Drainage Board have asked that the present bridge be lengthened to 20ft and raised above its present level by two feet. This is required to enable the Board's launch to pass under the bridge whilst engaged in clearing the creek, and also to give better drainage. The Drainage Board is prepared to contribute half the cost of tne work. The total approximate cost of labour, material and making up approaches is £IOO. Deviation Otaua-Maioro Hill road. —MrJDenize, the owner of Section 107, Maioro, S.D., has been apJnroached regarding compensation for and proposed to be taken for road purposes the area required being lac 3ro 18pr. Mr Denize stated that he will not take less than £IOO for this and also requires the Council to fence the road on both sides. lam of the opinion that this is an exorbitant price and I would suggest that steps be taken to acquire the land under the Public Works Act.

Access roads, Central station, Drury.—ln company with the District Engineer of Railways and the Council's Chairman I made an inspection of the proposed roads to the new Central railway station situated between Drury and Bunciman. The District Engineer pointed out what the Department intended doing in the way of construction of roads. The plan shows the access road from Drury on the eastern side of the line to the goods shed and the road for passenger traffic on the western side of line past the Public flail to the station. From the Runciman station both the passenger and goods traffic road will be on the eastern side of the line. A subway will be provided to give pedestrians access to the station platform. The roads as shown on drawing A to B and B to C are not at present County roads. It is the Department's intention to construct their roads up to tho points A and C ; this will leave a considerable amount of work to be done by the County. In fact the road from A to B is not formed and the road from C to D will have to be reconstructed and metalled; the works will entail an expenditure of a considerable sum; during the coming month it is intended that engineering surveys should be made of these roads, and the estimated cost of the work could then be sub mitted. I would, however, suggest that an application be made to the Government for a grant to at least cover half the necessary expenditure. Quarry, Manukau Harbour. With a view of locating a suitable quarry accessible by water, the Chairman and I were kindly shown over the different deposits of stone at Mangere by Mr Montgomery. There is a large quantity of stone in this locality but not of a first class quality for road purposes. A suitable per manent quarry could not be obtained, the stone being of a honeycombed and tough nature. I understand that there is a good quarry at the mouth of the Waitangi creak on the Waiuku channel. This should be inspected and acquired if suitable, Metal from a quarry thus situated could be supplied to Waiuku, Waipipi and Awhitu ridings and the Karaka and Waiau portions of the Mauku ridings. Great difficulty is experienced in securing metal for the WaiukuOtaua and the Waiuku - Awhitu roads, consequently they have during the past wet season fallen into very bad repair. Working plant.-During the month three straker waggons have been procured, the amount paid for the three being £IOO. We have now five waggons and when a suitable engine is procured will be in a position to convey metal and spawls to positions where required. Another dray, some harness, tools, etc., have been added to the plant at a cost of £:>3. Travelling quarters for the men are being made and should he completed by the end of the present month. The arranged price for same is £6O. It was thought advisable to procure the lease of an available house and nine acres of land between Drury and Papakura to be used as a depot for the plant and teams. This has been arranged; the rental being 17s 6d per week. It is proposed that the formation of roads in the Karaka portion of the Mauku riding be proceeded with as soon as the weather permits The crushing plant has crushed all the available stone and is now at Diury

undergoing the annual necessary re* pairs. Maintenance.— During the past month a considerable quantity of metal has been spread on the diffierent roads throughout the County. Owing to the continued wet weather the metalled roads are in many places breaking into holes. The metal on hand is not sufficient to keep them in proper repair. Most of the clay roads are in a deplorable condition. In places it is impossible to do much to improve them. Watertables, however, are being kept open, slips removed and many of the worst holes fascined. It is found difficult to cope with the necessary work owing to the short of labour. Arising out of the Engineer's reE>rt on the proposed deviation of the ominion road, Tuakau, Cr Lyons mentioned that a petition bearing 48 signatures of ratepayers had been received asking that the road should be opened up as they were severely penalised by the hilly nature of the .Razorback road. If it was opened up it would give greater facilities for getting produce to Tuakau which was by far the nearest township to the district. Provided the people were prepared to agree to the raising of a loan he would support the proposal as it would prove of great benefit to the district and especially to Tuakau. Cr Lyons then proposed that the matter should be left to the Clerk to make the necessary arrangements with regard to the loan and this was agreed to by the Council. As to the alterations to the bridge at the Willows, Otaua, the Engineer was authorised to put the work in work in hand as referred to in his report. The report otherwise was adopted.