ROADS & BRIDGES

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 53, Issue 32459, 26 July 1944, Page 7

ROADS & BRIDGES

WORK ON PENINSULA REPORT FROM FOREMAN PATCHING ROAD AT THE BAY The following -report on roads on the Coromandel Peninsula was submitted by the county foreman Mr W. Beech, to the July meeting of the Coromandel County Council. The report read as follows:— Main Highways’ No. 30'9 Coromandel-Mercury Bay. —General surface maintenance has been carried, out on this road, also 44 cubic yards of metal spread from Egan’s quarry. Further metal is required on the hill portion. McLeod’s quarry has been opened up, the hopper has received repairs and crushing will be started as soon as possible. New jaws are required for the crusher. No. 600 Thames - Coromandel.— Thirty cubic yards of crushed metal from Tiki quarry has been spread on this road between the Ladies’ Mile and top of Manaia hill. The surfacemen ■have been engaged cleaning water tables and attending to culverts. Metal is urgently required in places along the coast section. No. 4'85 Tapu-Kaimarama.—The surfaceman on this highway has been attending to water tables and culverts. Main Roads Coromandel-Port Jackson road.— From the Tiki quarry 23 yards of crushed metal has been spread between the hospital and Kikowhakarere bay. At Papa-Aroha, 24 cubic yards of metal from McCall’s quarry has been spread. Further metalling is required on .Strongman’s hill section towards, the Hairpin bend. Coromandel-Kennedy's Bay road.— The wash-out which occurred on this road has been attended to by building up a stone wall. Water tables and culverts have also been cleaned. Metal is wanted for the hill portion and this is now being broken but. Whangapoua riding.—-A lorry has been engaged patching pot-holes between Tererenga and Whangapoua. Repairs to the wharf have been carried out, three piles have been driven and the wharf lifted to its proper level. Culverts and small slips have been cleared off the hill portion. Angledozer.—The machine is still in Colville riding doing private work. A portion of the lifting gear had to be sent to Thames for welding; this has now been returned and the machine is at work again.

Whenuakite riding.—ln company with the chairman and Cr. Hamilton, Hot Water Beach road was inspected, also Te Kauanga wharf road regarding reported damage done by timber truck. It was agreed to have the portable crusher put in working order. Further metalling is required for the Te Kauanga wharf road. This will be carried out as soon as possible. Whitianga riding.—The surfacemen’s time has been taken up mostly on the Mercury Bay-Kuaotunu main road', attending to culverts, water tables and repair to bridges. From Eire’s cornel’ to hospital, metal is urgently wanted. It is l proposed to give same a coat of shell until metal is obtainable. The temporary bridge replacing No. -6, which crashed with the tractor is now reported finished. The chairman also visited this riding and conferred with ICr. Watkins' regarding fencing-off of trees on foreshore and other matters.

A discussion arose regarding the road past the hospital at Mercury Bay which it was reported was in a very bad state and which it was proposed to patch with shell until metal was obtainable.

Cr. W. K. Thompson- maintained that it was expensive work, when the road was going to be metalled, and ad-

vocated waiting till the metal was procurable and making a good' job of it instead of doing a temporary job in the meantime. Cr. A. Watkin stated that a new shell -pit had been opened up close to this road and he was. in favour of putting the shell’on pending the time when metal could be procured'. Apparently the crusher required new jaws and until they were procured, there could be no metal. x It was finally proposed by Cr. Watkin and seconded 'by Cr. W. Hamilton, that the foreman 'be instructed to repair the road adjacent t. 9 the hospital with shell.