HIGHWAYS COUNCIL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 12 July 1924, Page 5

HIGHWAYS COUNCIL.

TARANAKI. GROUP: THIS YEAR’S APPLICATIONS. A meeting of the Taranaki District Highways Council was held at Stratford yesterday, when there were present : Messrs. T. M. Ball (cKair), J. S. Connett (Taranaki), YY. - C. Green (Egmont), J. B. Murdoch (Hawera). E. Long (Waimate West), C. J. Belcher (Elthain), R;. H. Pigott (Clifton), R. Stuart (Inglewood). Walters (Stratford). • The chairman intimated that the business was to consider the reports from the various counties ■ which were to be forwarded to the board..

Mr. Connett said that the question of the date when the estimates must, be submitted had been discussed at a meeting of the Highways Board, and the engineer-in-chief (Mr. Furkert) had agreed that the time‘ was short, and it was ralised that it would be necessary to grant an extension qf time in r soiiiqy cases.

Mr; Walters moved, and Mr. Pigott seconded: “That- the Highways Board be asked to extend the time of each year’s estimates, from March 31 to June 30, as the most f suitable season foy surfacing work in Taranaki extends considerably beyond March 31.’ and it is highly desirable that any work taken m hand should be continued throughout the working season. ’Carried. & The following resolution was also carried: “That in view of the High\\ays Board’s request to county;councils that they should undertake ..the maini ° f , mai . n highways from, April 1, 1924, the district council ,is of the opinion th#t the board should subsidise expenditure under, that heading from April 1 to thq date of declaration;, and asks for an assurance that- the moneys involved will oe provided." Mr Xoug asked- what the position would be where a county made applica tion for widening roads, and for . some reason could not carry out the vork that year.

The chairman replied that the best course would be to notify the board so that the particular money .concerned would be released for other works. ' ' Mr. Murdoch asked if some’ guide could not be obtained as to hou v much money the board was prepared to allot ie +I chairman said h « thought it was the other way round; the board wished quired° W h ° W nmch counties' re-

'Thi. ’And then cut us down.' lhe following estimates were dis,™rfor^aefct4. or &; f as , S llqard’for’ approval *** Public Works Department.—Construction proposals: Government road passing through ■ Tonga norutu , northwards, £18,006, including £2OOO as a, *2 r lhe Mokau bridge. Llilton County.—Construction ,* proone bridge £2OOO (halt subsidy). Mr Pigot said that pi ovicied the bridge loan could be raised, this work would he put in hand «00*iS proposals: .. Taranaki County.—Construction pro- ; ■^ucKhmd-Wellingtoh.' highway piol) in l f /i SU |^ Sldy ?’ • f®PPetton Road 03882 10s (half, subsidy). There was also a proposal ‘to, re-grade Bin- Jim’s .1 a / $ os r t £20() (half subsidy)' and LoO (£ lor £ subsidy) for <>raVelhng a side; track near the tlali. Maintenance hroposals: Devon £ os £ (,?alf . Subsidy),”• side tracks nl'tn ~ , spbsidy.R ’ Junction Road 0600 (third, subsidy!, Mangorei Hill side track £170,-(half, subsidy). Inglewood County.—Construction proposals: Junction Road West £8972 (half subsidy), Mountain Road £5353 (hah .subsidy), Mountain Road EaU £o9Bl 10s (half . subsidy), Junction Road bridge .£3OOO (half b subsidy). Maintenance proposals ; Egmdnt Rdad to j radius line £340 (thirds-subsidy), Junction Road, east-£450 (third - subsuly) Mountain Road north £3OO (third subsidy). Stratford ; County-—Construction' proposals : .Manaia Road.. £BOO (half subsidy), Oliura Road £3720 (half subS dy V Memteiiance proposals: Manaia S oad subsidy); Opunake JJ oad £l2o ° (third subsidy), Oliura Road £IOSO (third subsidy). Mountain Road £ISOO (third subsidy). J

SOUTH TARANAKI. . V' Eltham County.—Construction : One bridge £2200 (half- subsidy). ‘Maintenance: Auckland-Wellington-.. Road £9OO subsidy), Manaia-Egmont Road £roo (third subsidy), Eltham Road £ISOO (third subsidy). • ' Egmont County—Construction: Main South Road £21,625 (half subsidy), Eltham-Opunake Road £llt)0 <tliml subsidy). Maintenance: Main Road £1950 (third subsidy). Waimate West County.—Construction: Manaia Road £1260 (half subsidy),. Mam South Road £1947 10s (half, subsidy), bridge £2200 (half subsidy). Hawera County.—No estimates submitted.

The secretary reported that the totals from the. various counties were as lollows (the amounts. for maintenance' proposals being shown in parentheses): Public Works Department £IB,OOO, Clifton £4OOO (£3600), Taranaki £6309 (£1900), Inglewood £26,424 (£2300), Stratford £4520 (£4075), Egmont £21,625 (£3050), Eltham £2200 (£3100). Waimate West £5408 (£1520). TotalsConstruction £88,466, maintenance £19,545. These totals include work, already authorised. Mr Counett said lie had noticed that estimates from different counties varied the cost and the procedure of. laying down roads. He suggested that a table be prepared showing the vari-' ous methods, from which some uniform standard might be devised. He also considered that the board would have to adopt some sort of supervision of the works authorised.