FRANKLIN COUNTY COUNCIL.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 9, Issue 588, 30 November 1920, Page 2 (Supplement)

FRANKLIN COUNTY COUNCIL.

ENGINEER'S REPORT.

At the annual meeting of the Franklin County Council the engineer, Mr. J. F. McArthur, reported as follows: Land Required for Depot, Awhitu RtmiS. The matter of acquiring land for the above purpose came before your council at a previous meeting. A piece of land at Pollok, part allotments 17-18, Waitara Parish, containing 16ac. Ord. 20p., was offered by Mr. J. McPike, the price required being £2OO. This land has since been inspected, and suitable terms arranged. I would now ask that the action taken Lby the committee left to arrange matters be approved, and the necessaiy steps be taken to complete the purchase of the land in question.—Decided to acquire the land. Southern Access Road to Drury Station.

An agreement was received by the Railway Department and read at last meeting in connexion with the taking over of a road lately acquired for road purposes by the Department. After consideration the mater was left to me for report. The plan as submitted shows that the road as surveyed is partly fenced off and not at present available for road purposes, also the traffic bridge is half on railway reserve and half on the load. A portion of the metalled road is also within the railway reserve. Under these circumstances I would pdvise your council not to execute the agreement in connexion with the legalisation of the road unless the fences are put on the proper boundiries and the road as surveyed constructed and bridge erected to enable traffic to pass without trespassing on railway property. Maungatawhiri Stream to Mangatjtngi Stream.

v In answer to an application made for the vote of £SOO grant to be made available for expenditure advice has been received that on receipt of satisfactory proposals the issue of an . authority will be recommended. The work proposed to be carried out on this road will be laid off at an early date and proposals submitted as requested. t

Contracts Advertised. Contracts were advertised for the following works:— Contract No- 341—For forming 17 chains of Patumahoe to railway station and removing and replacing metal. Contratt No. 415. —For forming and cfiulverting and metalling 15 chains of Taurangaruru to Waipipi main road. Contract No. 443—For the supply and delivery of 250 cubic yards of spawls at Comrie's Hill, rukekohe East, to Drury Road. Contract No. 461.—F0r gravelling 160 chains of Mangatangi to Kaiawa Road. Contract No. 463.—F0r gravelling 160 chains of Mangjatangi-Miranda Road. Contract No. 473.—F0r forming and culverting 99 chains 70 links of the Helvetia Road, Helvetia Estate. Contract No. 475.—F0r forming and culverting 137 chains of Ostrich Road, Helvetia Estate. Contracts are also advertised, tenders being returnable on the 4th day of December, for two quarrying and bpnwliny; contracts as follows:

Sjfiitract No. 476.—F0r quarrying, s|>#wlinp, carting, and stacking 2000 cubic yards of stone at cpuncil's quarry, Paerata. Contract No. 477.—F0r quarrying,

t Mauling, winding and stacking 1000 cubic yards of stone at council's quarry, Karaka. I would suggest that the riding members interested and myself consider tenders received and accept or reject same as the case may be. Signd Contracts.

Contract No. 417.—F0r the supply and delivery of sea shell on to Watson's Flat, Waiuku, Awhitu Road. Contractor, Mr. J. Glasson. Contract price, £243. The following contracts have been signed by the contractors, and require the seal and signature of two members of your council, viz.:— Contract No. 460Aj—For forming and culverting Caddy's Hill, PaerataKaraka Road. Contractor, S. Caddy. Contract price, £B3 Os 4d. Contract No. 4656.—F0r gravelling 107 chains of Stubbs' Road, Maungatawhirie to Mangatangi. Contractor, G. H. Stubbs. Contract price, £852 13s.

Contract No. 472.—F0r the supply and delivery and stacking of 1000 cubic yards of spawls from Ross property, Karaka. Contractors, McSheen Bros. Contract price, £412 10s. Contract No. 478.—F0r quarrying, spawling iand stacking 500 cubic yards of spawls, Murphy's quarry, Purapura. Contractor, J. Fraser. Contract price, 150.

Crushing and Hauling Plants.

Arrangements are now completed to start metalling the PukekohePaerata Road. The crushing, hauling and spreading will be commenced or. Monday,'the 29th inst. The new portable crusher being constructed in council's yard is now nearing completion. Two crushing plants will be available at an early date to undertake the crushing of stone where required. In answer to an advertisement inserted in the local and Auckland papers, 26 applications were received for the positions of motor truck drivers. Out of these Messrs. C. Bridger and A. Russell were the successful applicants They will take up their duties on the 29th inst Mr. R. J. Stevenson has been appointed as engine-driver arid superintendent of the No. 2 crushing and hauling plant. > With the two plants all available stone should be crushed and other necessary work completed during the coming summer. It is proposed to scarify and regrade the Mercer Hill between Pokeno and Mercer at an early date with the No. 2 engine plant. When this is completed and a few other slight repairs made the Great South Road within the Franklin County will be for the whole length in good order.

Machinery and Plant.

With reference to the loan recently carried for the purpose of purchasing machinery and plant required for ioad construction purposes, the following plant is urgently required:— Road roller with scarifier attachment. Compound traction engine or oil tractor for No. 2 plant. Two motor tractors for road works. Two motor-driven elevators fo use at metal dumps. Wheeled scoops and graders. I would suggest that a small subcommittee be set up to purchase such plant without delays, and that such committee be also authorised to go into the matter of arranging for the purchase of a boating plant for conveying road material to the different landings on the Manukau Harbour. Plans have been prepared for a building proposed to be Srected in the council yard for housing motor trucks, etc. I would also suggest that the sub-committee be empowered to arrange for the erection of this building. Cr. Heald moved that the sub-com-mittee consist of the chairman, Crs. Woods, Lowry, Wilcox and Cuff, with power to act. Your council have at the present time plant and machinery which is being replaced with more modenf plant, such as hopper waggons, Mercer quarry machinery and the No. 2 engine. I would suggest that tenders be invited for the puffchase of this and other unused machinery.

Nlangatangi Stream Bridge.

The plans and specifications for the erection of this bridge haye now been approved by the Public Works Department, and in accordance with a resolution passed at a previous meeting of your council notice of a claim on the Waikato County Council for half the net cost of the structure, together with copies ,of drawings, specifications and detailed estimates have been forwarded to the Waikato County Council at Hamilton, and the Minister of Public Works at Wellington.

County Teams Plants.

The No. 1 county teams plant is completing the formation of the Pae-rata-Karaka road, and is to proceed direct from there when the work is finished to form and reconstruct the Tuhimata and Paerata-Runciman roads to enable metalling to be proceded with when available. Difficulty is being experienced at the present time in securing the required number of men for this plant. It is hoped, however, at an early date that extra men will be available and the plant increased to enable the work to be carried out more expeditiously. The No. 2 teams plant has completed the access road to Sections Nos. 13 and 70, Hunua Parish, and is proceeding to re-form the Stewart and Cowan Road and other roads in the Hunua Riding ready for metalling Metal Stocks at Railway Stations.

To enable the necessary repairs on the different metal roads to be carried out it will be necessary to procure stocks of metal and scoria at the different authorised dumps at railway stations both on the main and Waiuku branch lines. I would ask that authority be given me to order metal as suggested.—Necessary authority given. Tempora/y Railway Crossing, Drury, To Waiuku Road. The Railway Department have intimated that arrangements have been made to close the temporary crossing of the above road on Sunday next, the 28th inst., and to turn the traffic through the new subway. Notices are being inserted in the local papers to this effect.

Awhitu Special Loan.

Engineering surveys have been carried out on a number of roads on which it is proposed to expend a portion of the above loan, vizi-

Hamilton deviation (Awhitu Central to C. Hamilton). Awhitu Central to Manukau Heads, widening road at Irwin's, Irwin's deviation.

Millett's deviation and deviation at Short's.

Graham's Beach to Palmer's, widening road at Neilson's and Neilson's deviation.

Awhitu Wharf Road. Awhitu Wharf to Smith's. Pollok Post' Office to Awhitu (two portions). Work on other roads is also being laid off, and the necessary plant, etc., prepared to enable proposals to be forwarded to the Public Works Department, and tenders to be invited where possible at an early date. An engineering survey of proposed road through sections Nos. 131, 142 and 143, Waiuku West Parish, is at present being made, and a full report as to area required to be taken and exchanged and cost of construction, etc., will be furnished at next meeting of your council.

Government Grants. road A considerable amount of work is to be done in connexion with the laying out of works under Government grant expenditure this summer. The following are some of the. {"oads on which it is intended to start at once:—

Ponga Road, Shakes pear's Road, Waiuku to Kariotahi, Koheroa Road, Maungatawhiri, Mangatangi to Maramarua Road ; Hamilton Road and bridge; Tramway Road, Puni, to Waikato River; access roads to Waitangi station; Waiuku to Waipipi, Hunua Gorge protection, Paparimu to Maungatawhiri - Moumoukai Road, Whiriwhiri Road (balance of formation). There are a number of other roads on which works have already been laid out, for which proposals have been submitted and also others yet to be submitted for approval. Most of the votes appearing on the current year's estimates have not yet been made available. In answer to an advertisement inserted in the Auckland papers for a temporary draughtsman a number of applications were received. Mr. P. Lindsay was appointed to the position and took up his duties on the 22nd inst. The report was adopted.