MAIN HIGHWAYS BOARD

Evening Star, Issue 20310, 19 October 1929, Page 3

MAIN HIGHWAYS BOARD

THE MONTH'S OPERATIONS [Fss Ukited Press Association.l

WELLINGTON, October 13. The monthly meeting of the Main Highways Board was held at Wellington on Wednesday and Thursday. The statement of accounts -submitted to the board for the half-yearly period ended September 30 showed the following receipts:—Tyre tax 1177.836, motor vehicle registration and license foes £-324,107, petrol tax £421,242, making a total of £323,186. The authorisation in the case of the revenue fund for the six-monthly period amounts to £854,000. Of this amount approximately £400,000 has been expended, Li the ease of the construction fund the total sum of £912,000 has been authorised, and of this amount £504,00(1 has been expended. The expenditure in the ease of the construction fund is greater than the expenditure for any previous winter period of the board’s operation. The sum of £400,000 lias been transferred from the Main Highways Revenue Fund to the Main Highways Construction Fund, and a further transfer of £200,000 was authorised.

Several important- paving works which were hold up during the winter season will lie recommenced shortly. The longest job of this nature is between the Paroora River bridge and Wa-imato, covering a distance of approximately fourteen miles. The paving of this section with bituminous concrete is scheduled for completion by. the end of March next. Steps are being taken by the board to finalise the plans and specifications in connection with tbo paving between Rangiora and Woodend so that lenders can ho invited as soon as the annual estimates have been passed by Parliament. Likewise in Ashburton county, oil tin? Christchurch-Dunedin main highway, the necessary preliminary steps are being taken so that a commencement can be made with the re-formation as soon as the estimates have been passed by Parliament, The board lias instructed that the Moutere deviation on the main highway between Nelson and Collingwood is to bo put in hand.' The construction of this deviation will eliminate a had turn on the present highway where several accidents have taken place. The board recently investigated the proposed deviation in the Manawatu Gorge to serve as a- detour.during the reconstruction of the toll bridge, on which, by reason of the condition of the bridge, it has been found necessary to limit the load to three tons. From information obtained, however, the board has decided not to proceed with the deviation. Immediate steps are being taken to build a, new bridge, and the construction will be carried out in a manner which will permit of traffic being served while the work is being earned on. The board has placed a number of unemployed on highway construction works during the past tew weeks, and a further schedule has been prepared. The hoard has selected a' number of essential construction works for unemployed, and a considerable- number of meii will be absorbed on highway construction.