MAIN HIGHWAYS CONSTRUCTION.

Shannon News, 18 September 1925, Page 2

MAIN HIGHWAYS CONSTRUCTION.

HOROWHE.MUA SCHEME STARTED. THE PLANT~ARRIVING, Matters hi connection with the llurowheuua County Council's scheme of roau construction to cost £170,000 nave now. reached the stage of action. Work has actually been commenced on the Levin-Manakau bridge section and Buo cubic yards of metal have been put out in the past ten uays. Preparations are also being made to top-dress with bitumen the mile and a half of road through the Settlement, south of Levin as ; soon as Hie sprayer and bitumen heater comes to hand.

Within a week or ten days, the formation, work will, be commenced on the Waikanae-Otaki stretch. Meanwhile the necessary plant for these extensive operations is being gradually assembled. Two lorries, the small crusher, and the 8 and 14-tan rollers are already in Levin, leaving the electric motors (45 and 30 horsepower) to drive the crusher and chipmaking machine, and the big crusher (which will be located on Mr Camp■neirs property at Muhunoa) to arrive. As will be ( seen from the Engineer's report there is some doubt about the delivery of these owing to unforeseen circumstances. Various activities were referred to in reports presented to Saturday's meeting of the County Council. ENGINEER'S REPORT. The Engineer reported as follows: The survey of the "Waikanae-Otaki section has been completed and Mr Callander is now engaged on the section between Manakau and Levin . and plans are'well in hand. Permission was granted by the Highways Office to commence construction work on the Levin-Manakau bridge section on August 27th, and a stun was made with the work of strengthening existing metal the following day. Good progress has been made and approximately 800 cubic yards of crushed metal has. heen put out from the Anderson crusher. "Re plant, I regret to have to report that the Hecla chip crusher is on board the steamer Kent on which a disastrous fire occurred in Auckland towards the end of last week, but up 'to the present time 1 have heen un- ' able to ascertain whether this crusher is damaged. The electric motors are on board the Matakana, which is held up in Auckland owing to the seamen's strike.. "During the last week I visited Christchurch for the purpose of inspecting parts "of the plant which are being f ouilt. by Andersons,. Ltd., and have t.o report that everything is in first-class order and Avell in hand. "One hundred and 76 tons of bitumen has already come to hand and has been distributed alongside the road from Levin to the Ohau Bridge. The report was adopted. TENDERS ACCEPTED. The following special report was also considered: "Since the last meeting'of the Council several pressing matters in connection with Main Highways were considered by the committee which was set up to' deal with councillors' i travelling expenses. It was decided to submit the following recommendations for the approval of the Council: I.—That the tender of Ellis and Co., of Auckland, for the. supply of one Aero sprayer and heater at £375. and £3OO respectively i'.o.b. Auckland be accepted. 2—That the tender of Ellis and Co. for 1000 tons of bitumen at £7 6s per ton be accepted in terms of specification. 3.—That the Council enter into, a contract with Mr H. D. Campbell, of Ohau, for the supply of 7000 tons of boulders subject to the execution of a legal bond. 4.—The County Engineer be authorised to proceed to Christchurch to v inspect crushing plant before shipment from Messrs." Andersons, Ltd., Christchurch. The report was adopted.