WAIT FOR SUMMER: RESTORATION OF COUNTY ROADS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22697, 23 July 1948, Page 3

WAIT FOR SUMMER: RESTORATION OF COUNTY ROADS

"The roads generally are showing the effects of the flood very badly, and with the continuous wet weather are in very poor condition. Fortunately, reasonable supplies of gravel are available from depots and also from the river beach at Kaitaratahi,” reported the county engineer, Mr. K. F. Jones, at yesterday’s meeting of the Cook County Council.

"It is on occasions such as this that the full value of establishing depots of gravel in the summer months becomes apparent,” he continued. "Real improvements cannot be effected to the roading system until fine weather eventuates, and it is obvious that the task of getting the roads back reasonable state will be a long job and calls for patience on the part of all concerned.”

The engineer detailed some aspects of flood damage to roads and referred to an inspection of the Tiniroto area undertaken in company with Messrs. M. T. B. Hall and P. W. Mossman. Results Achieved With Settlers

As the result of the splendid cooperation of ratepayers in that locality, Mr. Jones reported, a very good job had been made of keeping the roads in reasonable order during the Hood period. The now light gravelling work had proved extremely satisfactory, and every care was being taken to see that heavy traffic did not knock these lighttraffic roads about. Every effort was being made to provide for the coming season's metal programme from the Patutahi quarry, and it was hoped to make an early start on providing the necessary lay-out at the Wacrenga-o-kuri quarry. Every effort had been made to put the Tangihau station access road in reasonable order, but it would not be possible to make a satisfactory job until the summer. Co-ordination with the Main Highways Board on improvements to the Tatapouri Hotel access road was being sought. The vital importance of developing the existing improvements to the Ngatapa Stream was emphasised by the engineer, who suggested that the council confer with the P.B. Catchment Board on the matter.

Difficulties in obtaining new pipes of suitable diameter for the replacement of collapsed culvers was mentioned by Mr. Jones, in connection with drainclearance work now being carried out by the P.B. Catchment Board by means of off-season labour.