WORK IN COUNTY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 113, 16 May 1933, Page 8

WORK IN COUNTY.

MANUKAU AFFAIRS. RELIEF CAMP ESTABLISHED. "This period has been marked by the advent of winter conditions, with a corresponding change in the routine of outside works," stated the report of the engineer, Mr. J. 11. Page, presented at a meeting of the Manukau County Coun-» -cil this morning. "With some few exceptions metalling new lengths of road, bitumenising surfaces, and other operations requiring dry conditions have been completed or suspended, and winter maintenance work resumed generally. It has been practicable to complete works arranged to be carried out before winter in most cases. Roads generally have been kept in reasonably good order throughout the summer, and the prospects for handling winter traffic without undue difficulty are fairly good. In some localities, however, it is plain that the reduced expenditure of the past two seasons has resulted in weaker surfaces."

Discussing relief work, the report stated that operations under the various phases of No. 5 scheme had pi-oceeded as described in previous reports. There was a slight but steady increase in the number of men employed. There had been no recent alteration in the general allocation of funds. Severe weather conditions had rendered it necessary to incur eonio limited expense in providing tents and emal portable buildings for shelter on some of the works. Work carried on included both private and public tmdertakings in the nature of road construction and improvements, drainage, clearing of streams, quarrying, clearing of farm lands, and various minor matters.

The average numbers of men employed had been as follows:—Mangere Biding, 72 men; Pakuranga Riding, 20; Papakura, 75; Paipatoetoe. 67; Turanga Riding, 27; Wairoa Riding, 5; Wiri Drainage Board, 12; county office, 4; total, 327.

In regard to Pakuranga Riding, the engineer stated that authority from, the Main Highways Board had been received to carry out repairs to the Panmuxe Bridge to the extent of £200, on a £3 for £1 basis. Arrangements had been made to start work next week.

On the suggestion of Mr. B. T. Booker, member for the Turanga Riding, a small camp of about ten men is to be established near Whitford to carry out local road imprevements. Mr. Booker said there was twelve months' work of real benefit to the county to be done. The cost of fitting up a dwelling would be about £20, to be borne by the riding.