WORKS IN FRANKLIN COUNTY.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 8, Issue 472, 9 May 1919, Page 4

WORKS IN FRANKLIN COUNTY.

Enqineer's Report, At the last meeting of the Franklin County Council, the Engineor, Mr J. F. McArthur, reported as follows

Proposed Alteration in County i Beundary : For some time past a number of settlers in the Maramarua District have expressed themselves in favour of an alteration being made in the boundaries of the Franklin and Waikato Counties so as to take j a portion of the Maramarua District into Franklin. The matter has gone so far that a map has been sent to me showing the suggested alteration ; I would suggest that your Council invite representatives from both the Whangamarino Road Board and Waikato County Council to meet a sub-committee of this Council with a view of considering the suggested alteration in boundaries. —The matter was left in the hands of Cr Keith, the Chairman and Engineer to go into and make arrangements. Contracts Let and in Progress: The following are accepted and signed contracts which require the Seal and signature of two members of your Council, viz.Contract No. 304 : For the supply and delivery of 100 cubic yards of spawls, Rama Rama Road ; Contractor, W. Bremner ; contract price, £lO. Contract No. 344 a : For carting broken metal and stone from Karaka Quarry on to the Waiuku-Drury Road ; Contractor, Cecil J. Renwick; Contract price, Is 6d per cubic yard. Contract No. 352 : For forming 33 chains of the Te Tora Wharf Road ; Contractor, Martii Gleeson ; Contract price, £IOO 9s. Contract No. 359 : For clearing, forming and culverting GO chains of the new Papa-rimu-Maungatawhiri Road ; Contractor, C. Home; contract price, £962 14s. Contract No, 363 : For quarrying and spawling 500 cubic yards of spawls at the Mercer Quarry, Mercer ; Contractor, James Regan : contract price, 4s per cubic yard, £IOO. Contract No. 367 : For gravelling 10 chains of the Manga-tangi-Kaiaua Road : Contractor, Daniel Roe; contract price, £99. Contract No. 233 a : For quarrying, spawling, winding and stacking stone at Karaka Quarry ; Contractor, C. Olsen and T. Yelavich • contract price, Is 6d per cubic yard. Arrangements have now been made with Mr W. N. Mcintosh to take up three contracts for the supply and delivery of stono at landings on the Manukau Harbour which were previously advertised and not let. The contracts are as follows: —Contract No. 331 : For the supply and delivery of 3,'00 (three thousand five hundred) cubic yards of spawls at McKenzie's Landing. Contract No. 33") : For the supply and delivery of 1000 (four thousand) t abic yards of spawls at Whangamaire Bridge Landing. Contract No. 336: For the supply and delivery of 3000 (three thousand) cubic yards of spawls at Glasson's Upper Landing. The total quantity of stone to be delivered under the three contracts is 10,500 cubic yards. The price being 10s per cubic yard, £5,250 —lt was agreod to affix the Seal of the Council to the contracts. Tenders returnable on the 29th April were advertised for : —Contract No. 369 : For forming 34), chains of Geraghty's Road, Tuakau, and for Contract No. 368 : For the supply and delivery of 500 cubic yards of spawls on Waiuku-Drury Road, Waiau. Two tenders being received, namely : For Contract No. 368 : John Brady, 7s :>d per cubic yard : for Contract No. 369 : J. J. Dromgool, £45 10s. —Referrod to the members for the respective ridings and the Engineer to deal with. Satisfactory progress is being mado with most of the works now being carried out undor contract and should the weather prove favourable the most urgent works should be completed before the winter sets in. Government Grants. Authority has been received for Cox road and the proposal to expend the grant by teams and men employed by day labour. The construction of the Waihoehoe stream bridge has been approved, and the £SO Hood damage grant paid to the Council's credit. The original bridge was washed away by flood, and was replaced with a reinforced concrpte pier and hardwood top bridge. In answer to an application for a subsidy on the Mangtangi special loan of £5,070, the Public Works Department, on tbe 10th April, wrote asking for an estimate for forming and metalling both the MungatangiMiranda road and the MungataugiKaiau road. This information has now been furnished, sepai ate estimates being given for metalling and forming each road separately. Bluff Road, Mercer. The liding member, clerk, and myself, met set tiers on this road re proposed loan when the rating area boundaries were defined. It is now proposed to raise a loan of as largo an amount as possible, with a special rate of Id on the new valuation. It is considered that the uroposed loan (if a Government subsidy can t.o obtained) will form and metal the road where required. Paparimu - Mauugutawbiri New Road. During the .month an inspection was made of the abovo proposed road and Moumoukau district. A satisfactory tender has now been r< ceivud and accepted for forming, clearing, and adverting 60 chains of the road. A petition has been forwarded to the Minister of Public Works, asking that the promised subsidy of £1,500 ,'£l for i'l) be nudo available, to enable the remaining length of road to be constructed I would suggest that your Council write to the Minister of Public Works in support of tho petition.—lt was decided to accede to the Engineer's suggestion.

Mauku Creek.—With reference to a letter receivpil from Mr K. (Jilion regarding the estate of the above Creek. An iuspection has been made by Cr Montgomerie, Cr Woods and

myself and it was found that with the exception of one length the creek was fairly clear. The settler responsible has non- been given definite notice to char his portion of the creek as required. Road Improvement Near Ostrich Farm.—A letter was received from Mr John Schlaefer regarding the easement of the road grade near his property. After levels had been taken it waa found that to bring the road to a permanent grade, would mean an expenditure of £9O, funds not being available to do this a temporary easement has been arranged, the cost being £36 15s, this work will form part of the permanent grade when the road is finally formed. Stone crushing plant.—The County portable stone crushing plant has been engaged crushing stone on the Hunua to Paparimu Road a considerable length of road having been metalled there. The plant is now operating on the Ararimu Road and will be proceeding shortly to crush the available stone at Papakura. There is some very urgent metalling work required on the Patumahoe to Waiau road, some hundreds of yards of stone is ready to be crushed. I would suggest that this work be given preference to the lees urgent work of crushing stone required only for repairs. Teams Plant.—The County teams plant is now finishing up on tne Mangatangi roads and is proceeding to do the necessary road work between Maungatawhiri and Pokeno. The report was adopted.