COUNTY AFFAIRS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 March 1939, Page 7

COUNTY AFFAIRS

MEETING OF MASTERTON COUNCIL

DEVIATION ON HOMEWOOD ROAD.

STANDARDISATION OF CATTLE STOPS.

The chairman, Mr R. E. Gordon Lee, presided at the monthly meeting of the Masterton County Council,' held yesterday. Others present were: Councillors W. I. Armstrong, P. R. Welch, J. W. Colquhoun, J. Donald and G. Moore. An apology for absence was received from Councillor H. H. Mawley.

The treasurer reported a debit balance of £1713 12s 8d and accounts amounting to £4884 5s 6d were passed.

Messrs Seaton, Sladden and Pavitt wrote stating that the proposals for the construction of the Bridge Creek bridge at 4.25 miles on the Te Ore OreBideford Main Highway had been approved by the Main Highways Board. On the current year’s estimates, a subsidy of £lOO, £3 for £l, had been appropriated, and in view of the small amount of subsidy voted, it would appear that tenders should not be called until some time after March. The District Engineer, Public Works Department, advised that the plans for the new bridge at the 0.75 miles and the vzidening of the No 1 bridge at the 0.7 miles, had been approved, the subsidy provided for the renewal of the Sulphur Wells Bridge No 2 being £1,065, £3 for £l. No subsidy was provided for widening the Sulphur Wells Bridge No 1 on the current year’s estimates. The subsidy was practically sufficient to cover the estimated cost for both structures and tenders could be called for the work. If after the tenders are received, it was found that additional subsidy over and above the amount provided would be required, the matter would be furthei referred to the Main Highways Board for consideration. A letter was received from the En-gineer-in-Chief, Public Works Department stating that with the general adoption of 24 feet as the standard width for two lane bridges, it might sometimes occur that these would be erected on roads on which the present standard of construction was such that the formation width was the same or possibly even less than that of the bridge. In some cases, arrangements should be made to increase the width' of formation and metalling at thsbridge abutments, so that the shoulders and the formation extend at least three feet beyond the line of the face of the kerbs on the bridge, and so that the metalling was taken out to the full width of the bridge. Such widening should extend for at least | chain from the abutments and should then taper into normal width. The length of the tapering should be not less than 1 chain. The Engineer-in-Chief, Public Works Department, wrote directing attention to the Public Works Amendment Act, 1925, which authorised the erection of cattle stops in conjunction with gates on public roads, Which provided that plans of such cattle cattle stops must be approved by the Minister of Public Works before erection. From consideration of numerous proposals submitted in-the past, it was stated, it was very apparent that some form of standard or typical design was desirable, and with the object of producing such designs or at least data upon which they might be based, a large number of existing constructions have been examined, in some cases together with reports as to their efficacy. It appeared that a cattle stop, which was part of a public road, should be capable of carrying any load to which that road might be subject, and moreover, it should not constitute a restriction or “bottle neck” to the passage of traffic. While the cattle stop should be of sound engineering construction, due regard being paid to the life of the structure, it was realised that in some cases, requirements of long life might give rise to expensive construction, in particular where there was the possibility of subsequent fencing of the roadway. The basis of the design of cattle stops was stated in detail by the department.. The Chief Surveyor, Department of Lands and Survey, advised that the plans of the Twisted Creek deviation on the Homewood road had been ex aminea arid found correct as far as the survey was concerned. He pointed ou’ that the portion of road which was being deviated had never been proclaimed or dedicated as a road. In 1932, the council furnished a certificate to the District Lands Registrar, that the road was in public use, but as that die not fully comply with the requirement: of Section 110 (d) of the Public Work: Act, 1928, it would be necessary for r to become a road within the meaninf of the Act before it could be closed and a title given to the area. The council decided to take step: under the Act to have the deviatioi registered as a road. ' The ranger reported having deal with six head of cattle during tfu month. Fees collected amounted to 6s making the total collected to date £l6