ROAD WORKS CRITICISED

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 910, 1 March 1930, Page 10

ROAD WORKS CRITICISED

INSPECTION WANTED ON EAST . COAST CORRESPONDENTS COMPLAINT ft* ® criticism of the conduct of main works in the Waiwera and A*® Warkworth districts, a Silverdale correspondent states that it has been the hope of the settlers that a full inspection of the “neglected area” would be carried out by members of Parliament. The resident refers to the tour carried out between Auckland and Dargaville by the Minister of Public Works, the Hon. E. A. Ransom, and states that the residents of the districts are definitely of the opinion that lhe position should be investigated thoroughly. “This time last year a contract was 'et for the earthwork for the southern approach to the Waiwera bridge,” the correspondent writes. “The contractor began work facing winter, and the work was not done in six months. Only one side of the approach was completed, and the space was barely sufficient to let traffic through to the ' razy structure known as the Waiwera bridge. A fresh contract for the same work is now being called, and it seems that autumn rains will set In before the work will have fairly begun. “Some tons of mild steel rods for reinforcing work were stacked in the ■pen. In the spring men were being employed to scrape rust from the rods and to build a cover. Rusted steel is quite useless for concrete reinforcing. “The Puhoi-Warkworth bridge over rhe Puhoi River was washed away in a flood six years ago. A temporarybridge was erected with a notice limiting loads to 30cwt. This bridge is still doing duty for heavy traffic. There are piles lying at Puhoi In a state similar to those at Waiwera.”