WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL.

Hokitika Guardian, 12 August 1930, Page 2

WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 12th. COUNTY CHAIRMAN’S REPORT. Gentlemen,—l have the honor to report that on the, 21st July, in company with the Overseer and Clerk, a visit v >v,fts paid to portion of the Northern Riding and also to Greymouth to arrange finally about the Chevrolet Dump Track authorised by the Council in June last.. With respect to the truck, a suitable mechanical hoist was approved, and. dual tyres on the rear axle ordered. The body for the truck is being made at Greymouth according to approved • specification. Mr Schaef promised three months free service in respect to the maintenance of the truck which was accepted, with thanks.

Through the courtesy of the Grey County Engineer (J. Higgins Esq.) Mr Millner was' able to procure some special hardwood required for a bridge in the Northern Riding,;} Mr Jiiggins also showed .u* over the plant 1 and storage- accommodation at Greymouth, where the County Council has very cphjinqdioiis .quarters, and a well found plant. • The 1 Council. operates . some jpine-dump trucks in all; • At Greymouth the Main Highways ad Public Works Estimates for 193031 were discussed with the District .Engineer,,.(TV A., Johnston. Esq.) and ’oMcers.’ Air jolinston is fully acquainted with the special requirements of the district, and applications to the full limit available were approved. In the event of any necessary curtailment, Mr Jolinston. indicated that, bridge works in particular would be given j,first preference. Works Which could not be included in the general estimates, were reserved for a special list—Roads, in. outlying districts. Regarding tlie restoration of Alfred Road Bridge at La Fountain’, Mr ) John-

ston, suggested; applying , for' a . flood

damage grant which would carry a subsidy.,pf £ for £•; arid -thi?/,is being -r jjfi jin jAugustj { 1925, «-the Coirntiil;granted f timber ' cuitihg-'.rights, off, an unused \ hoar) 't!ie ' 7 Chi'fstc]nircb nfe ?ff { .-but the jtb|»j lyejhjif; - the CtfuneiJ. agreed, tp the, , ft^ht'(iit' qubstio-n* pjii|sjng 'tp ; t|ip 'Turio 7 .Coyi|.’ and timber i cutI; ..pommeiieedv' :,The ' .Public . qVp.Hks pfficers took; : exception: to this available , is'.'useful for Siwp^bi<k|. I :iti the vicinity;!-and' Mr Johnston asked that the right to cut ,;vthe tirnber .hj-e, withdrawn. Tfliet Cota‘pany- was notified -to v desist cutting, the meantime till the , Council, considered -the matter and 1 this' wilf mfe:.* subj'ectofor t roads inspected, verylittle will suffice to repair Gillums dully where grading is necessary, and the authority a.t last meeting will be carried out. The Kajji tea-Sandy’s Hill old main road needed early at't.tto'trttfin at" a moderate cost, and the work was authorised as soon as a lorry was available. Kumara Junction to Beach road has lately been placed m passable order. Small repairs to One Mile road were authorised, and attention will be given to Arahura Valley road as the staff is available.The approach to Malf-roy’s bridge was inspected at ..the request'of Ctr. Murdoch and found in sound order. Minor improvements will be attended to as the road plant is available in the near future;

The following day several of the roads'in the Central and Southern Ridings were , traversed. . Generally the in very fair order.:/ Cf^^Hng: , of the. year reads'.are/subject to frost, the.secondary -highways were iir good order; Some small .works are to be attended tp on Lake Kanieri road. The . vbfe passed ■■ fast meeting for at-.' tention to Lpper Kokatahi road was V4^t^ es ®*L v ‘> and was to be attend-' ed t6' promptly. Small repairs were also authorisedi'td;Rautapu road. -The road plant has been - Operating freely in the Southern Riding and several' deferred works in the Inter-Wanganui district were attended to, including the culverting of several open crossings for which additional supplies of concrete pipes were sent south. Now that the petrol pump has heen installed at Kanieri, the shed accommodation for the road plant etc. will be concentrated in that locality, and authority was given to move two of the Council’s sheds to- the new site as soon as the County staff are available. The O/ereer is giving close attention to road works, generally, as was evidenced by the favourable-conditions for motor traffic along the roads traversed.

OVEiJeFR’S MONTHLY REPORT, Sjr,.—-I'have the bon or to report upbip Hie progress of work during the month of July. NORTHERN RIDING. Arhluirn-Browning’s Pass Track was cleared and repaired to the First Gorge; soft portions corduroyed and creek'icrqssings placed in order, and a general overhaul made as far as possible. Malfroy’s Bridge Protection. Work was confined to cutting scrub, a quantity of which was carted to the site .of the work by No. 1 lorry. .

MAINTENANCE. Repairs were affected with gravel to bad holes on One Mile and Arahura Roads. A portion of the old main Road being frozen, it was found impossible to do any grading until after the first rain. The outer accumulation of grass growth was graded off a short section of - One Mile Road. Blackberry and gorse growth were cleared from each side of old Kumara and Arahura to Awatuna .Roads. CENTRAL RIDING. Styx River Track'. The work of clearing and repairing was advanced as far as the Styx Saddle, good useful work being performed whi h . renders the track in good order for horse traffic to the junction of the Arahura-Brown-ing’s Pass Track at the Styx Saddle, 10 miles above Lake Kanieri Track. Kokatahi Bridge Protection. Tin’s work was finally , completed, and the vote exhausted early in the month, a dean serviceable job being made of the whole distance constructed. Upper Kokatahi Road Improvement. This work was laid off in readiness to start on August Ist. Crane’s Gnllv Bridge and Approaches, Blue Spur Road. The work of excavating for trestle sills was completed under the direction of Bridge E - man Reynolds, and the southern abutment piles placed in position. ,

MAINTENANCE. Repairs were affected with, gravel to Back Creek Road between the Main Highway and the Digger’s ‘Mill; also to Milltown Road between Lake Kanieri and Dorothy Falls Road. The roadside drains on South Hokitika were cleared and tne lower end of AfthurstoWn- Road was lightly - -graded with the Power Grader a distance of two miles; encroaching gorse and blackberry were also, cleared from the' roadside in short sections where necessary. Defective stringers were removed on the second bridge on McArthur Road, and replaced with. 14x8, 4/20 and 2/10. The decking which was practically new, consisted of 6/16 and 40/12x8x4 was removed and replaced with 4<16 and 12/4x4x4; 4/16.4x2 and 12/4x4x3. Taminelli Greek Bridge, (£25 vote of Council): was overhauled, and two silver pine pilpsj :20 feet in length were driven to support the bridge .at centre.'-: One new stringer 33 , feet x 14x8' one cap 11 feet x 10x10 werb also placed in: pbrition, .the • decki ffg consisted of: oQ/ioxßx4 ; removed]iand re- • laid,' and . 66 ; feet of handrailing re- ' fcdnUitiqiied and secuied.;.;\A quantity pf grsLvel 'and dredge screbiiiVigs 1 were Parted : tp/the site of the ‘petrol pump for filling the foundation, ;ofj the new motor-shed.- The: ten. ton :rotler was used, to solidify material recently placed on Camp Street. Kanieri, also ■the filling at the pump station. The roadside■ drain between the pump station and; the Main Highway was "cleared and deepened to take off -drainage,' and. an eight itttfh 'diameter concrete pipe culvert constricted under the approach to the property fronting the RLighway, ; & 'ikwrSXi • SOUTHERN RIDING.

Cron’s Road. The Contractors have completed the. forming and metalling of Their section 37 chains, in,..length, also an extra 12 inch diameter concrete pipe culvert, in a satisfactory manner. There are 16 chains of road still to complete to reach Cron’s residence, and the balance remaining from the grant will be expended in the construction.

Graham’s Road. The work of clearing and grubbing had been completed the specified distance of 67 chains, and the balance, remaining from the vote will be expended in forming a short portion.

Peterson Road Extension. The Contractors are making slow progress with the work of metalling which should be completed during the present month. Richardson Road Bridge and Approaches. The bridge and approaches- are completed in a satisfactory manner, the balance of the grant being almost expended in extending the metalling and filling: in oRI scours on the roadway, caused by the overflow from the Waitangi River, before the growth construction was commenced.: MAINTENANCE.

■ Repairs were effected with gravel to motor;worn, holes on Detour and Wataroa Flat Roads. A quantity of gravel was carted by the County Lorries from the Little Wanganui River and dumped at Ferguson Road junction m readiness to be carted in for Ferguson Road (Extension. Repaiirs were effected to Robertson Road and several concrete pipe culverts constructed at the crossings, and filled in by No. '2 lorry on Robertson Road which was also graded by the Power'Grader. A concrete pipe culvert was also constructed at an open crossing on La Fontaine Road, and sufficient gravel carted and dumped for an approach at Levett Bros. Mill, La Fountaine Road. Encroaching scrub was also cleared from each side of the unmetalled portion of La Fontaine Road.

SECONDARY HIGHWAY ROADS. OVERSEER”S REPORT. Sir, —I have the honor to report upon the progress of work on the Secondary Highways during the month of July. LOWER KOKATAHI McARTHUR ROAD. Work was principally confined to repairs to motor worn holes extend-

ing from, Kanieri to Municipal Road, a distance of ten miles. Watertables were cleaned on Morris’ Hill a distance of six chains; blackberry and gorse were cleared from tlie roadside for a distance of six chains, and a short section was also cleared on both banks of the river below Kanieri, River Bridge to improve the visibility. Two defective transomos, 18 feet by 1.5x5, and defective decking, 12/ 16x8x4, inner heart of rimu were removed and replaced on Kokatahi Bridge, the amount of timber totalling 737 superficial feet. Roadside dumps were replenished with.4o cubic yards of fiine gravel. The amount of gravel used in repairs to rood surface, amounted .to 142 cubic yards.

UPPER KOKATAHI ROAD. Repairs Were effected to motor worn holes and depressions over a di-ta.noe of two miles, absorbing .25 cubic' yards of gravel. LAKE KANIERI ROAD. Motor worn holes wore repaired with gravel between Kanieri and Ward Road, a distance of 7 miles, absorbing 70 subic yards of gravel. Watertables and drains were cleaned at Stoney Creek, Slip Hill, and Stripland Creek, a distance of 10 chains. A narrow bend on the first bill west of Ward Road was ; widened; four feet at centre; over ' a distance- of 200 links, 72 cubic yards Of material being- l*e-, moved. Defective decking land longritudinaWunners. wel‘e removed and replaced-,, .amounting - to -10/14x8x4,. 373.4 ; and 12/14x8x3, a total of 709.4 superficial feet. In addition, tlie decking was lifted for 42 lineal feet to, allow the longitudinal runners to be. renewed. The. rogd surface, at,, Lake Kanieri fronting' the Tea;,Rooms received a coat 9f, gravel, and. a supply. was also dumped; at intervals along the road. The stone tip on the up"er side cf the road at Slin Hill was nart!v removed to give better visibility to traffic. The amount e,f gravel dumped n.nd placed cn the road by the lorry wa.“ 95 cubic yards, and 35 c-’ i l' , V- yards of stone removed from Slip Hill. 1