ROAD WORKS IN FRANKLIN.

Franklin Times, Volume 9, Issue 606, 8 February 1921, Page 7

ROAD WORKS IN FRANKLIN.

COUNTY ENGINEER’S REPORT. The County Engineer (Mr. -J. F. McArthur) reported! as follows at Thursday’s meeting of the Franklin County Council:—

Proposed New Road, Peterson’s to Graham’s Besfch. —Mr G. Clark, of Graham’s Beach, has offered to give the necessary land for a, road through his section, N.E. 6, Awhitu Parish. During the past mouth this road has been defined, the sreepest grade being lin 13. As shown on accompanying drawing the proposed road also passes through sections S.W. and N.E 1 . 92, the total length of the road as shown connecting up) with the existing roads at either end-is 1 mile 35 chains 15 links. As there is a Government grant for expenditure when the road is legalised, I would suggest that the necessary steps be taken to legalise same at an early date. I might mention that the compensation for land required from section S.W, 5 and N.E. 92 should not be much as the land is rough and of a broken nature

Application to Open Quarry, Hunua Gorge.—Mr P. L. Guillard, of Papakura, made application for permission to breast back a rock face in the Hunua Gorge* for a stone crusher engine to open up a quarry. An inspection was made of the locality by Councillor Heald and myself and we are of opinion that the rock face should be taken back at least 33ft from the road, before any machinery is installed and also that a substantial fence be erected for about three chains on the outer edge of the road opposite the proposed quarry. No material to be placed on the present road while opening up the quarry and afterwards no nearer to the road than 15. The crusher and engine not to be nearer the road than 33ft. These precautions are necessary owing to the narrowness of the road and also to sharp bends in the road close to the proposed quarry site^

Karaka-Waiau Road. —Arrangements have been, made with Mr. Bryan, of Graham’s Beach, to convey tthe available spawls now at McLaughlin’s to Whangamire Landing, and also ior the supply of a quantity of sea shell. With the material available this season milep should be metalled.

Road Formation, Township of Ottawa. —In connection with the subdivision of the above township, two small lengths of roads had to be formed before being dedicated. Advice was received that this work was completed. It has since been inspected and found satisfactory.

Hunter’s Road, Patumahoe.- —A petition was received at last meeting requesting your Council to supply an estimate of the cost of forming and metalling the road from Fausett’s gate to junction with main Pafcuma-hoe-Woodhouse Hill Road. The total lenght is one mile. The estimated cost of suitably forming this and metalling wouid be approximately £llOO.

Awhitu Special Loan Contracts Advertised.—The following- contracts for road works in the Waipipi, Kohekohe, Pollolc and Awhitu districts are advertised, returnable at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, the 22nd inst.:—Contract No. 4SI: For forming and culverting 91 chains of the Te Tora Wharf Road. Contract No. 482: For forming and culverting 67 chains 52 links of Lee’s Gully to Pollok Road. Contract No. 483: For forming and culverting 36 chains 52 links of Ponsford’s Road. Contract No. 481: For forming and cutvertirig 67 chains 35 links of Kohekohe to Te Tora Road, via Cooper’s. Contract No. 485: For forming and culverting 23 chains 75 links of Waipipi to Kokohe, main road. Contract No. 486: For the supply and delivery of 916 cubic yards of sea shell on to the Waiukp-Awhitu Road. Contract No. 487: For forming and culverting 37 chains of road, Pollok Post Office to Pollok Wharf. Contract No. 488: For widening 13 chains 25 links of the Awhitu Central to West Coast Road at Quinn’s. Contract No. 489: For widening 21 chains of Graham’s Beach to Palmer’s Road (Nelson deviation). Contract No. 490: For forming and culverting 47 chains 75 links of Pollok to Awhitu Main Road. Con-' tract 491: For forming and culverting ’ SO chains of Awhitu Wharf to Central Road. Contract No. 492: For widening and improving 1 mile 38 chains of the Awhitu to Orua Bay Road, via . Tram Gully. Contract No. 493: For | forming and culverting 61 chains of j Dickey Gleeson Road. Contract No. ' 494: For forming 12 chains of Kobe-1 kohe top road at Mr Gleeson’s. Contract No. 495: For forming 41 chains' of Waipipi-Kohekohe top road., Contract No. 496: For forming 80 chains of Graham’s Beach to Palmer’s, Beach to Beveridge’s. Plans an spceifications for these contracts are available for intending contractors at the Council Chambers, Fukekohe, Waiuku, News Office, Waiuku and at Dickey’s store, Awhitu Wharf. I would suggest that the usual course be adopted, that is the riding member and myself con-

sider tenders received and accept or reject same as the case may be.

Allocation of Awhitu Loan. —The committees at Awhitu and Pollok were interviewed during the past month and satisfactory arrangements made, regarding the expenditure of loan money on the different roads.

Contracts Previously Advertised and Tenders received. —Contract No. 476: For quarrying, spawling carting and stacking 2000 yards of stone at Council’s quarry, Paerata. No tenders received. Contract No. 477: For quarrying, spawling, widening and stacking 1000 cubic yards of spawls at Council’s quarry, Karaka. No tender received. Contract No. 478-—For quarrying and spawling 1000 cubic yards of stone a Coughlin’s quarry, Puni. Tender received from Henricksen Bros. Contract price £275, accepted. This contract was started but has since been abandoned by the contractors, the deposit of £ls being forfeited. Contract No. 479: For the supply and erection of a bridge over the Mangatangi Stream of one span of 64ft on concrete piers and two plain spans of 20ft, the total length of the bridge being 104 ft. Tender received from Mr. G. M. Fraser, contract price £2BIB. Contract No. 480: For the supply and erection of a 20ft span bridge and construction of approach, Hamilton Road, Buckland. No' tender received. The tender received from Mr, G, W- Fraser for contract No. 479 being excessive and considerably above the estimated cost, I would not recommend its acceptance.

Crushing and Hauling Plant. —The No. 1 plant is crushing at Karaka, the metal being conveyed by* motor trucks direct from the crusher on to the Waiuku-Drury Road. This plant should be available for breaking stone and metalling the PatumahoeWaiau Road in two weeks. Considerable delay has been caused with the crushing during the past month owing to shortage of labour. Sufficient men have now, however, been procured and the work is being pushed on with all possible speed. The No 2 plant is at present engaged rolling the Paerata Road and will commence crushing operations during the coming week.

Teams Plants, —The No. 1 county teams plant has shifted temporarily to Waiau to reform the PatumahoeWaiau Road prior to metalling being carried! out. This work should not take more than two weeks. The plant is then to return and complete the formation of Paerata-Tuimata Road and a portion of the Paerata-Runciman Road, After the work is completed the plant should commence the necessary work as previously promised in the Pukekohe West Riding. If men suitable for tram work had been available during the pest few months, the road formation works would have been further forward than at present. The No. 2 teams plant is at present completing the formation of roads at Hunua under loan money and will be proceeding at an early date to Beach Road, Papakura, to undertake work previously authorised by your Council. Works Generally.—Work is being done on the Waiuku-Pukekohe Road, Waiuku Riding, widening and improving the road. A small deviation has been formed opposite Morley’s, which gives a good grade and does away with a sharp bend in the road.

The teams at present engaged in this work will shortly be proceeding to 1 Aka Aka to do work previously pro--1 mised and authorised. Formation work in Whiriwhiri Road and Wilson Road, Waipipi Riding, has been done. The contractor has now started a fresh contract on Tourangaruru to Waipipi Main Road, Waipipi Riding. Sea shell has been placed on a portion of the Waiuku to Awhitu Road for a length of 29 chains, The shell has set hard and should make a good wearing road. Portion of Jericho Road, and Jericho to Razorback Road, Pukekohe East Riding, have been formed and improved. The metal has ben removed from the main road at j Buckland, Pukekohe West Riding, be- I tween the Post Office and a dairy fac- | tory; the grade is being eased and 1 the road widened. Formation work j and the gravelling of roqd between j Maungatav/hiri and Mangatangi-Mer- j cer Riding is in progress .and should be completed this summer. The metalling of Pratt’s Hill delviation, Drury Riding, is well in hand, the top portion having been completed. The balance of the work will be finished at an early hour. Works throughout the county generally are being carried cut as expeditiously as possible. Other matters left to me for report and attention will be attended to at the earliest possible date. —The report was adopted.