ROAD WORKS IN MANUKAU

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 9, Issue 507, 20 February 1920, Page 1

ROAD WORKS IN MANUKAU

COUNTY ENGINEER'S REPORT. At the meeting of the Manuknu County Council on Tuesday, the engineer, Mr. W. J. Lopdell, reported as follows on works done during the month of January:— Mangere Riding.—The grader has been engaged in this riding for the greater part of the month. The roads now completed are Robertson, Walmsley, Kirkbride and Macken/.ie Roads. Massey and other roads are being attended to. Foreman Edgar has spent a considerable portion of his time this month with the water service. Quarrying operations ace proceeding as usual. Pakuranga Riding.—The plans aid specifications for the Howick main road Government grant, £4OO (£1 for £1). have been approved by the Puolic Works Department, for the remetalling of 160 at an average <A 6*4 yards to the chain. 1000 yards at 10s, £500; 320 cubic yards shingle at 12s, £192; labour, etc., £IOB. Total, £BOO.

Buckland's Beach.—l have inspected the proposed road which has a big ditch on the side of same, and I recommend that the ditch be filled in by the owners of the prope.-ty prior to dedication. Papakura Riding.—Several matters in this riding which were left with Cr. Reid and myself to attend to have been duly inspected, and we report on same as follows:—The ditch that drains through Mr. White's propei'ty, under Massey Road and into Jellicoe Estate, requires cleaning out, and we recommend that notice be sent to owners to attend to same. Oram's Road: Mr. Collie and others are prepared to re-form about H% chains of this road if the council will provide two men and metal the portion formed. It will require about 100 cubic yards of metal, and will cost approximately £75. AlfristonArdmore Road: We inspected this road, and as there is £3OO to spend on it, I propose the metalling be started at the end of the metalled portion near Mr. Muir's property, and continue along the flat in front of Mr. Mullin's property; 600 cubi? yards of metal will cover about 50 chains of the road.

Alfriston Road.—Mr. Davies, who has a property opposite Mr. A. Collie, has no access to same other than through a private right-of-way, .md is prepared to put in the culvert if the council will provide the eight 2ft pipes necessary on the unformed piece of road. We recommend that this be granted.

Alfriston to Wairoa Road, Government Grant, £77— We propose that the Department be asked to transfer this amount to the Alfriston-Papa-kura Road to continue the metalling on that road.

A concrete crossing has been put in frdtit of W. Kimber's motor garage, Manurewa, at his expense. The stone kerbing has been linked up between the blacksmith's shop and the corner of Station Road. The Ranfurly Road contract is proceeding satisfactorily. I sold the old piles from the small bridge for £4. The countersinking of the metal on the Alfriston-Papakura Road is now completed. The crossing for Mr. Noel Gibson on the Weymouth Road is also completed. Papatoetoe Riding.—As instructed, Cr. Waters and I waited on the Papatoetoe Town Board re the Wyllie Park Estate roads, also the agreement between the council and town board concerning McLaughlin's Rd. With regard to the former, we found that the road had been constructed in conformity with the specifications,

and have agreed to dedicate the same. The latter can be satisfactorily arranged by the council-inserting a clause to protect the town board by the council's carting over their roads.

Back Road.—A 12in pipe culveit has been inserted o«i this road long enough to provide for a side track. The gully has been filled in by Mr. Henning. Frankham's Road.—A start has been made with the two gullies which needed widening on this road. Quarrying operations are still in progress at the depot. Turanga Riding.—The old cow bridge has been removed, and the creek filled up and metalled vvith scoria, using 32 cubic yards in addition to what was used on the culvert. This work has been carried out by the Papatoetoe foreman ar,d his men. I interviewed Mr. F. Goodman re starting the homestead bridge, aid he informs me that he is held up for reinforcing. Plans and specifications for cow bridge have been approved by the Public Works Department. Wairoa Riding.—Cr. Luke and myself made a trip to Orere, and have to report that Captain HumphreyDavies was absent from home. Hence we could come to no arrangement re gates on the road. Re Mr. Wilkinson's application for a road from his house to the beach, we have to report that the class of country does not commend itself to a cheap job, and therefore the amount of traffic will not warrant the cost of the work. With reference to Wilkinson's, claim for £lO 8s for cutting ti-tree on the road, we recommend that this item be paid. It is difficult, however, to assess the amount of work done, as a fire has been through most of it. Mr. Geo. Munro is at present engaged on the Orere Road. The council's staff and plant are carrying out work on the Mataitai Road.

The metalling is proceeding on the Alf'riston-Brookby Road. I will j.et the plans sent to the Public Works Department for this work as soon as possible.

General.—l have made full enquiries re the cement market, and find that the Board of Trade have taken over the output, and to date we have been granted four tons, Coal Is so scarce that we find it very difficult to keep our stock up to a safe margin. Benzine and kerosene: Again the Board of Trade are handling this and our stock is very low. The hopper purchased from the Elthara County has arrived, and is being fittied up. Re rock drill: For some, time I have felt that our method of quarrying stone for road work is somewhat out of date. I therefore visited a plant at work in Waitemata County, and have to thank the foreman for the trouble he went to in demonstrating the outfit. The Denver clipper drill is a small hindy drill about 50lbs in weight and easily handled, and is capable of reducing the cost of production by two-thirds, or in actual boring would replace about 12 men. It is needless for me to enlarge upon it further than to say that from personal observations I learned that it will be a great labour-saving machine at our depot. The price of the drill is only £3B, but the requisite plant will ccst about £4OO. Building permits to the value of £3288 have been issued during January. The report was adopted.