COROMANDEL NEWS

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 51, Issue 3150, 29 July 1942, Page 6

COROMANDEL NEWS

MANY SLIPS

ROADS ON THE PENINSULA REPORT OF THE ENGINEER BAD WEATHER AFFECTS WORK “The generally unsettled weather has prevented much more than ofdinary maintenance work being carried out, although the rain has not ■been heavy enough to bring down many slips.” reported the engineer, Mr A. H. Benham, to the monthly 309. The onmeeting of the C •

meeting of the Coromandel County Council.

The report continued: — “Coromandel-Mercury Bay No. 309. Only ordinary, maintenance work has been attended to by the surface-man on this highway. The council’s surfaceman’s hut at the Mahakirau on this highway was used by the military authorities during a route march shortly after last meeting, and either through accident or negligence was set on fire and burnt down. The hut was used without my. authority, and as I have had no communication from the military headquarters relative to the destruction or compensation, I do not know whether those responsible for the damage have reported the matter or not.

“Tapu-Kaimarama No. 4'85. The surfaceman is continuing to cut back the scrub and has greatly improved the visibility throughout the whole section. Culverts and surface maintenance has been attended to and the Kaimarama-Coroglen section was graded.

“Coromandel-Thames No. 600. In addition to ordinary maintenance, a number of culverts between Kereta and the county boundary have been lengthened in readiness for road widening when the grader is next in the vicinity. Stone revetments have been built at two places where the road surface was endangered. by the high tides. A truck was engaged for half a day patching with rubble from Foster’s slip.

“Coroglen-Tairua No. 589. The county grader was hired by the Public Works Department for the purpose of widening some bad corners on this highway, and on maintenance grading throughout the length. Main Roads “Coromandel-Port Jackson. The quarry man and his mate were engaged last week in blasting the rocky corner near Ward’s-which I mentioned in my last report. A little more work is required, to finish the job, but it is temporarily held up as the quarryman met with a slight accident and is incapacitated. These men were to have removed the old culverts from the filling near Mr Deeble’s at Waioro whilst they were in the vicinity but this is also held in abeyance for the same reason. Instructions have been given to Goudie to patch the portion of this road between Bryant’s Creek and Laing’s Hill at Colville and I anticipate this will be put in hand as soon as the carrier can get on to it.

“Coromandel-Kennedy’s Bay. A total of 174 e. yds. of quarried rubble and 14 c. yds. of river shingle were used for patching the bad holes on the flat at Kennedy’s Bay road. The quarrying was done by contract on a unit yardage basis, and the cartage arid spreading carried out on an hourly basis. The total yardage cost being practicaly the same as allowed in my annual estimate figures. Ridings “Whenuakite. Authority has been received from the Public Works Department for this council to carry out the formation and metalling on Hodge’s access road and the grader will carry this work out as soon as the weather permits. When the earthwork is completed tenders 'will be called for the metalling.

“In respect to Topp’s road metalling, the. department has approved of the Mercury Bay Transport Company’s tender and instructions have been given to the successful tenderers to proceed with the worth forthwith.

“My representations to the district engineer for a grant for the repairs of Hahei quarry bridge were successful in that we have been offered £42, £1 for £l, for this purpose. Proposals have been submitted to the department, and approved, and the necessary timber ordered. The winch and derrick is ready to ibe sent over and the work should be put in hand next week.”.