ROADS & BRIDGES

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 51, Issue 3176, 30 September 1942, Page 7

ROADS & BRIDGES

WET WEATHER DAMAGE NUMEROUS SMALL SLIPS REPORT OF THE ENGINEER “The wet weather which has been practically continuous since last meeting has had a detrimental effect on the roads, bringing down numerous small slips and preventing the clearing up of the storm damage which occurred during the previous month,” reported the engineer, Mr A. H. 'Benham, ta the September meeting of the Coromandel County Council. The report continued as under:— “Our quarry man is still absent on account of his accident, and one of our permanent employees at Whitianga has gone into the LM.R. camp. “The hired bulldozer did good work clearing slips from the tenth to the twentieth of last month, but no word has been received of the possible delivery of our own machine. Since the twenty-seventh of last month to the present time the grader has been out of action, primarily due to the worn-out clutch plate. Whilst this plate was away being relined, the engine has been taken down, valves ground, new piston rings fitted, and the ball and socket joints of the steering arm fitted with new blocks and' springs. The caravan has also been made water proof and painted. It is anticipated that the grader will be on the roads again by the beginning of next week. Main Highways

“Thames-Coromandel, No. 600 1 . — Although the grader is badly required for maintenance grading on this highway, the funning surface has stood up to the wet weather remarkably well. The sprocket for the mobile crusher came to hand, last week and as a result of a couple of days’ crushing 45 cubic yards of maintenance metal were spread on the Manaia flats. About another hundred yards are wanted to complete the. necessary patching, but a

broken elevator chain is causing further delay. I am making arrangements to obtain another chain. Immediately this crushing has been completed the crusher will be sent to Rangihau. The grader will be put over this highway as soon as it is out of the repair 'shop. “Kaimarama-Tapu, No. 485. A few loads of shingle from Jorgensen’s were used to fill the holes on the section between Coroglen and the Five mile, and ordinary maintenance was carried out throughout the whole length. Main Roads

“Coromandel-Port Jackson. Additional men have been at work continuously in the Colville area in an endeavour to keep the roads open for traffic and clear the slips. Temporary low-level bridges were put across the creeks at Colville and Big Bay immediately after last meeting as instructed. The one at Big Bay was satisfactory, but the 12foot span, at Colville was too small and the stream silted up. A couple of SO-foot stringers have been put across the stream and the deck planks reduced to a usable width of 8 feet 6 inches. Mr Thomas, the Public Works Department’s engineer from Paeroa, made an inspection of the storm damage and prepared an estimate of the cost repairs for submission to the head office in Wellington. “Coromandel-Kennedy’s Bay.—As instructed at last meeting' I inspected this road, and arranged with. Mr Hales to knapp down the over-sized rubble, and I understand that he has completed the work. Arrangements for metalling a greasy section of the hill at Tueteawa were made with Mr Pickering, but I understand he has not yet been able ,to do the work. As instructed, I inspected the stop-bank at Mi C. Hovell’s and agreed to his proposal regarding strengthening the same. A slip was cleared on the hill near Tuateawa, and instructions have been issued in respect to repairing the flood; damage below the Fairy Falls. I

“Whangapoua.—'lnstructions were given for fitting the worst pot-holes on. this road at Tererenga, and a man has been engaged on surface work between Owera and Turners.

“Kuotunu-Mercury Bay.—General maintenance has been carried out on this road, the surface of which has stood up to the weather very well. As. surfaceman Sewell has now left the employ of the county, I have arranged with Cr, Simpson to engage

a local man to do such urgent work as is required to keep the road in order.

“Whenuakite-Ferry.—l have engaged a local settler to clear the slips off this road and do other urgent surface work. The timber is now ready, for the Hahei Quarry bridge, and as soon as it is on the site the repairs will be proceeded with. After this is strengthened I propose putting the grader over the whole of this road. Ridings

“Colville. —Arrangements were made through C. Jackson to have the Port Jackson settlement road attended to and I understand the work has been satisfactorily carried out. An inspection was made of the wash-ed-out bridges on the Waikawau Valley road, and instructions issued, for the repairs to be carried out. This is being done at the request of I the Public Works Department engineer. Owing to the shortage of labour and. the grader being repaired, no further work has been done on either Ngamane’s Point wharf road or Wood’s access road. “Coromandel. —Owing to the scarcity of culvert pipes it was decided to dig up those on the disused road’ to the old Success mine. A man has been engaged on this during the showery weather. “Kuaotunu. —In respect to the Opito road an inspection of . that work done by the settlers was made in company with Cr. Simpson, and further* arrangements were made for the carrying out of the necessary maintenance as required. “Whenuakite. —The wet weather has prevented any further formation work being done on Hodge s ; road and the contractor has only bee nable to work intermittently on the metalling of Topp’s road. “Whitianga.—Timber has been ordered for the repairs to a bridge on the Kaimarama Settlement road, instructions given to fill the potholes and the surfaceman has been engaged in letting water off the road. The water pipes in Whitianga Township referred to in my last report have been lowered and the culvert crossing the road at Heald’s has been removed. New culvert pipes have been obtained from Auckland, and the storm water drainage at this vicinity wall be attended to during the ensuing period.”

Further Coromandel news will be found on page 6.