COUNTY PROGRESS

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20508, 26 May 1938, Page 14

COUNTY PROGRESS

MAINTENANCE DIFFICULTY EXPENDITURE DURING YEAR CHAIRMAN REVIEWS POSITION (Times Special Reporter) TE AWA.ML'TU, Wednesday “Owing to the abnormally dry weather experienced, coupled with the ever increasing volume of traffic, maintenance of the ordinary macadam and gravelled roads has presented greater difficulties than ever before,” said the chairman, Mr S. <J. 13. .Macky, in his report to the annual meeting ot the Waipa County Council to-day. “Consequently the running surface provided has left much to be desired, and the call for a better type of road is becoming ever more insistent. “The progress made with the sealing programme has been somewhat disappointing owing to the delay in obtaining the necessary authority to proceed with the work, and the difficulty in obtaining contractors to carry it out. It is expected, however, that much better results will be obtained in the current year, and that before the end of next summer a greatly increased mileage of sealed surface will be provided.” The annual balance again revealed that the county fund was in a sound and healthy condition. The financial year ended with a credit of £13,787 3s 6d in the general revenue and expenditure account as compared with £13,086 5s -id last year, and £10.042 7s Id in the previous year. This result was considerably better than was anticipated in our budgetry estimate, and could be accounted for by the fact that receipts in many cases were higher than estimated, and expenses had been kept at the lowest possible level. The total receipts for the year amounted to £107,811 10s 9d, including balance of revenue and loan money on hand from the previous year, and the expenditure to £84,486 11s 3d, leaving a credit on all accounts of £23,324 19s 6d. Outstanding Event The outstanding event of the year was the completion of the reconstruction and sealing of the Great South Road within the county. In celebration of the event an opening ceremony was held at the newly-con-structed Mangapiko bridge, at which members of the Main Highways Board, Auckland Automobile Association and county of Waipa participated- The opinion was freely expressed that the portion of this highway within the county was the most up-to-date to he found anywhere in New Zealand.

Those present at the meeting were: Messrs S. <;. 13. Macky (chairman), D. Livingstone, .1. T. Johnson, E. F. Peacocke, T. Church. C. S. Hall, F. L. Onion, .1. W. Garland, R. J. Graham, W. McGee, G. ?. Clarke and N. Reid. Messrs T. Grant (clerk) and J. W. Civil (engineer) were also present.