HIGHWAYS COUNCIL

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 28 May 1927, Page 3

HIGHWAYS COUNCIL

ANNUAL MEETING.

CHAIRMAN RE-ELECTED,

ELIMINATION OF (LEVEL

CROSSINGS,

The animal meeting of the Tarauakj District Highways Council (No. 7 Group) was held at Stratford yesterday, Mr. T. M. Ball (chairman) presiding There were also present: Messrs J. S. Connett (Taranaki County), T. R. Anderson (Stratford County), N. R. Cleland (Whangnmomona Comity), H. A. Foreman (Clifton County), J. B. Murdoch (Havvera County), 0. J. Belcher (EltJiam County), E. Long (Waimate West County), and R. Stuart (Inglewood County).

ELIMINATING DANGEROUS CROSSINGS. In connection with the elimination of dangerous crossings, Mr. Connett referred to the Highways Board’s remarks on what was regarded as an unreasonable attitude in declining to contribute towards the elimination of railway crossings. He agreed that some help might bo given by the counties generally, and suggested that the association might consider a contribution of 10 per cent_ of the cost, the balance to be found by the Railway Department and the board. The county would contribute 5 per cent-, and the other 5 per cent, would come out of heavy traffic funds before the counties’ allocations were decided.

Mr. Belcher was opposed to any contribution being made by the counties, but he thought that if a scheme were adopted by the association his county would fall into line. Mr. Stuart expressed the opinion that not much progress would be made unless the association co-operated with other parts of the Dominion. The crossings to be first eliminated would be those for which assistance would be received.

Mr. Murdoch agreed that the elimination of many crossings was desirable, but it would be unfortunate for a county with a large number of crossings to be called on to contribute thousands of pounds towards elimination. He thought the fairest method was to raise the cost out of the general fund contributed by motorists, taxpayers and all alike.

Mr. Ball said that all counties would not be asked to contribute. It was decided to defer Mr. Connett’s suggestion for decision at the annual meeting of the Taranaki Local Bodies’ Association at Eltham next week.

REQUEST FOR COMPENSATION

Mr. F. W. Eurkert, chairman of the Highways Board wrote in rclerenco to several matters brought under the notice of the board. “When the board was in your district,” he wrote, “the Waimate West and Patea County Councils irequested compensation for tar-sealing work which they had carried out prior to the operation of the Main Highways Act. After a careful review of the request, Mr. Eurkert pointed out that the councils concerned maintained that they had adopted a progressive policy, building good roads before the Highways Board commenced operations, and therefore did not receive any compensation from the board. The Waimate West Council referred to the fact that compensation was received by those counties which had previously had toll-gates. The board held that the alxdition of toll-gates in the Hawera county had, according to the Waimate West Council’s figures, effected: a saving of £I2OO per annum, and in addition the mere fact that the Waimate Council had embarked on a. road construction policy such as they had, and could not have anticipated any Highways Board, would indicate that they were of opinion that such a scheme was justified by their own requirements and resources. In view of all the circumstances, the board .regretted that it was unable to recommend any amendment to the law which would enable it to pay compensation to those local bodies. As the law stood, the board had no power to make such a payment as was requested..

HIGHWAYS MAINTENANCE.

During the year ended March 31 the sum of £51,860 was spent in maintaining the highways in the Taranaki district (No. 7). The total mileage was 32G, and the average expenditure was £l5O 3s Od per mile. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. Officers for the ensuing year were elected as follows: Chairman, Mr. T. M. Ball (district engineer); executive, Messrs C. J. Belcher and T. R. Anderson. Complimentary reference was made to the ability displayed by Mr. Ball in his capacity as chairman.. Mr. Ball briefly acknowledged the kindly expressions, and said he would continue to concentrate his energies in the interests of the council.

PROPOSED NEW, HIGHWAYS

Suggestions were iceeived from various councils to recommend the following additional main highways to the board:

Clifton County.—Ngatimaru Bead. Stratford County.—Pembroke Road, Douglas to Puniwhakau. Road, and Beaconsfield Road from Kahouri bridge to Stanley Road. Hawera County.—Meremere Road. AVaimate West County.—Nonnanby Road from Inaha Road to Manaia Road and a portion of Skeet Road. Eltham County.—Portion of Skeet Road and the Rawhitiroa Road extension.

Inglewood County. —New PlymoutliKaimata. Road extension to Tarata.

ft was resoived to reaffirm last year’s recommendations and to submit the same roads to the board for declaration, as follows: Ngatimaru Road, 2* miles; Rawhitiroa Road to the foot of iMangamingi Ridge, 7 miles; and iho Junction Road extension, -I miles, it was decided to recommend the declaration of the Skeet Road to the Egmont County boundary. Consideration of other roads suggested was postponed pending support of the claims bv traffic tallies.

ANNUAL REPORT ON MAIN HIGHWAYS.

The report of the hoard’s representative on the works carried out in No. 7 district for the period ended March 31. 1927, stated, inter alia : Egmont County Section. —Extensive reconstruction work has been carried out during the year by the Egmont County Council. The work is bitumen penetrated surfacing four inches thick and 16 feet wide north, of Optra ate,

and. four inches thick and 14 feet wide south of Opunake. A total length ot six and a quarter miles has been completed during the year, of which, five miles is situated north of Opunake and one anil a quarter miles south of Opunake. A length of 60 chains between No (Kir a road l and Ouri river has been reeoatedl and surface sealed with bitumen. This work was paid for on a maintenance basis. Elrtham-Opunake.—On the Egmont County section four and 1 three-quarter miles hare been refaced with four inches) of macadam 14 feet wide and bitumen sealed, and a further three and a half miles harve been; refaced with bitumen pentrated macadam 14 feet wide. The work done is of a very high standard. A reinforced concrete bridge 60 feet long and 18 feet between wheel guards has been completed over the Manga,hurne stream. The deck of this bridge is surfaced with “Laykold.” The work was carried out by the Egmorit County Council. Between Kapon.ga and Awatuna several depressions are noticeable, due to the) subsidence of embankments. These should receive every attention, as they are dangerous to cars travelling -at high speed. Opunake Town District Section. —< Ninety-one chains of bitumen penetrated macadam surfacing 15 feet wide has been completed through the Opunake town district. Eltham and Hawera Sections. —The surface on these sections is bitumen sealed throughout, but in many places was only 10 feet to 12 feet wide. Extensive widening work was carried out by adding bitumen penetrated macadam shoulders, thus increasing the width to 16 feet and 18 feet. This class of work deserves particular mention, as the resulting improvement is very marked in comparison with the amount of money expended, and in a very short time "the Stratford, Klthnm and Hawera sections will be widened to 18 feet throughout by this) method. The sections through the boroughs' are all in excellent condition, being of the bitumen penetrated macadam type, and during the current year Waitara Borough Council have laid down the whole of their section in this type of pavement. Lepperton, Junction-Hawera, via Opunake.—The condition of this highway throughout is excellent, and the greater portion is either bitumen sealed or bitumen grouted macadam. 'Hie maintenance work consisted of extending the sealing on the Taranaki County section between New Plymouth and Punohu, scarifying and re-rolling certain section in the Egmont County, and repairing and widening shoulders with bitumen penetrated macadam on the Hawera County section. The work on the Waimate West County section was confined to re,sealing where required. Ordinary maintenance in connection with keeping watertables and culverts clear has been well attended to throughout the whole length. • ~ , iManaia-Mount Egmont. —This highway is l in excellent condition. The work carried out during the year consisted of widening with bitumen penetrated macadam and sealing certain lengths in the Stratford County seetl'Stratford - Opunake. Considerable maintenance work has been carried out on this highway, consisting of bitumen sealing three lengths, widening shoulders, and cutting off dangerous bends. The greater portion has now been sealed, and a, marked improvement lias been made in the condition of the highway during the year. Nornianby-Okaiawa. —This highway is in excellent condition. Considerable work was carried out in the form of widening by adding bitumen penetrated, macadam, shoulders in the narrow places. . ~ General. —The maintenance of the highways in this district lias been excellent.' The expenditure has been fairly heavy on account of the large amount of widening work carried out. but it is expected that in another year the bulk of this work will have been done, and then the maintenance will only consist of keeping the surface in order.

The local bodies have entered! whole ■lieartedly into the matter of providing improved highways for the increasing motor traffic, and 1 tlio results ootaiiiccl are outstanding. The greater portion of the highways are now bitumen siwfaced, and in the near tntuie all the highways except the Ohura highway "ill he 'bitumen surfaced. This will he- a. great advantage. Macadam surfaces'are difficult to keep iw order in this district, owing to the excessive rainfall and lack of good binding material in the macadam used.

A matter for future attention is the improvement of the sealed surfaces that were carried out prior to the advent of the Highways Board. This sealing was carried out to preserve the existing macadam, and was rushed through before sufficient attention was paid to obtaining a: good foundation, the correct camber, and a true surface. consequently the camber is excessive and the road very uneven in places.