HAURAKI PLAINS COUNTY

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 230, 17 December 1927, Page 25 (Supplement)

HAURAKI PLAINS COUNTY

PROGRAMME OF WORKS The Hauraki Plains County Council met at Ngatea on Thursday, Councillor E. L. Walton presiding over a full council. The county engineer, Mr. F. Itasham, reported that all the main highway roads had been graded in and patched, but the continual dry weather, and increasing motor traffic, was causing considerable wear. The new bridge at Coxhead’s. on the Waitakaruru -Pate, tonga Road, was completed, and the raising of the old bridge and the filling should be finished in a few days. A start has been made on the bridge over the Mangatarata Creek. Good progress was being made with the metalling of the Pekapeka Road section of the Pokeno-Paeroa highway, and the work should be completed bv the end of the month. The work of reducing the grades on the ramps of the Pipiroa ferry was completed, and the crossing was reopened. Extensive grading work had Leen done in the i district on the unmetailed roads. Gravel was required for the Ngarua Road, and bridges on the top road, Patetonga, required renewing.

Proposals for the Torehape-Kaihere metalling had been submitted to the Public Works Depaitment. Tenders would be called for the supply of gravel, and the earthwork could be commenced at any time

The engineer was authorised to call tenders as soon as the proposals were approved.

The treasurer, Mr. E. A. Mahoney, reported that the receipt of subsidv. £1,275 9s 9d, and collection of rate arrears, £1,578 Is 3d. with sundry receipts, £1.684 4s 6d, had temporarily

sised the financial position, but it was Jill necessary to curtail expenditure is far as possible.

The chief drainage engineer advised that the Puhanga canal road from the Puhanga bridge to the Torehape Road,

would be fit for metalling this summer, but the section to the Kaihere landing would possibly not be fit until the following summer. Everything possible was being done.

Representations from the Farmers’ Veterinary Club to have abattoirs established in the county was commended, but a decision on the subject was deferred.

The Lands Drainage engineer advised that the Public Works Department had withheld authority to expend Government subsidy for the metalling of the main Patetonga Road until the council had raised its loan. For this reason, certain works could not be undertaken. It was pointed out that considerable quarry development was necessary before metal could be obtained.

On the motion of tre riding mem ber. Councillor B. L. Walton, the coun

cil decided to apply to the Local Bodies’ Loans Board for permission to loisf a loan of £5,000 for metalling Rawerawe Canal Reserve Road, Orchard West Road, Puhanga Canal Roads (east and west side), and the west part of Ngatea-Kaihere Road. The rating area will be the Ngatea riding, with the exception of tne Kaihere - Torehape Roads special rating area. A similar request was made in connection with the Ngataipua Road loan. Councillor Mayn reported that the Public Works Department had agreed to undertake the building o e the Maukoro Bridge. It was decided to ask the Piako County Council to agree to this course.