WIREMU ROAD BRIDGE

Taranaki Daily News, 11 September 1940, Page 10

WIREMU ROAD BRIDGE

GOOD PROGRESS MADE

EGMONT COUNTY COUNCIL Good progress had been maintained by the contractor in the construction of the Taungatara stream bridge on the Wiremu Road, it was reported by the engineer, Mr. R. S. Martin, at the meeting of the Egmont County Council yesterday. Cold patching had been attended to on the Eltham, Skeet and Kahui highways. Reporting on the riding roads, the engineer stated that on the Warea Road in the north riding three chains of the newly metalled part that went out of shape were reshaped and rolled, and a further mile was top-dressed with crushed metal. The Newall, Cape, Pungarehu, Wataroa, Mirikau, Bayly and Ruakere roads also received attention. In the central riding three new culverts were laid on the upper Kahui Road preparatory to reconstruction, the Wiremu, Manihi, lower Kahui and Ngariki roads also receiving attention. In the south riding the Wiremu, Kaweora, Puketapu and Patiki roads received attention. Good progress was made with the repairing and painting of bridges, the Kapoiaoia, Waitotara, Pungareere, Waitaha, Okahu, Oaoiti, Oaonui, Otahi and Waiaua having received attention. The grading of the Coast road was to be put in hand when the weather was suitable and plant available. Riding Financcs.

The financial position of the ridings was as follows: North, expended £491 18s ld, available for expenditure £1423 ls lld; central, expended £872 Is 6d, available £1752 18s 6d; south, expended £557 3s, available £1437 17s. All roads were fairly quiet, the most prevalent offences being cutting corners and failing to dip lights, drivers in each case being warned, reported Mr. C. E. Varcoe, Transport Department inspector. A check was made on motorists for drivers' licenses and warrants of fitness, two drivers having been reported for failing to renew their licenses and others having been warned for failing to carry them. Four breaches were reported to head office and 27 warnings were issued. Sixty-five head of stock, comprising seven horses, 27 cows, 4 heifers, 2 yearlings, 3 steers and 22 pigs were seized at large on the roads and were subsequently released, reported the county ranger, Mr. W. Weaver. Some were seized as the result of a night raid. The Under-Secretary of the Internal Affairs Department forwarded an extract from the Local Legislation Act 1940, authorising the Opunake Borough Council to lease to the Egmont County Council six acres containing the county depot, formerly leased by the council from the Opunake Harbour Board. It was decided to ask the borough council to surrender the present lease and issue a new lease on the terms arranged.