PENINSULA NEWS

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 58, Issue 4125, 20 April 1949, Page 9

PENINSULA NEWS

ROADS AND BRIDGES

WORK ON THE PENINSULA REPORT BY COUNTY FOREMAN The following report on work done to roads and bridges on the Coromandel Peninsula was tabled by the foreman, Mr J. T. Hincho, at the last meeting of the Coromandel County Council. 309 Main Highway. Maintenance work on this road has been limited during the period owing to the staff being engaged repairing the hopper and preparing McLeod’s quarry for operation. A full time surfaceman is now engaged on the Whitianga side of the range. At the quarry, the crusher engine was given a trial run and second growth and overburden was cleared. Stripping is being proceeded with. A set of new cheek plates is on order for the crusher. It is hoped to be able to bore the quarry face with the proper drill if Mr Pike’s compressor is available. Kuaotunu— Whitianga. Arrangements to have metal placed along some stretches on this road at the discretion of the surfaceman has been arranged. The surfaceman here is at present assisting the Whitianga workmen reconditioning the plant, etc., at McLeods quarry. As there is no other certificated man in the area, it is proposed that- Whilst operations at the quarry are in progress that J. Davis be in charge of the quarry at McLeods.

Whitianga: The . work of removing the cattle race at the Whitianga wharf is almost completed, the remaining work being the lowering oi the rail on the seaward side plus taking away the gate pillar to give available space for the erection of the hand crane. On the completion of the work at McLeods it is hoped to make crushed metal available for the Whitianga and 309 areas.

Whenuakite—Hahei: Workmen have been engaged clearing back growth at the junction of Camps and Te Kauanga wharf roads, to improve the vision. An inspection of the shingle deposit at Camps showed that there is a considerable deposit of reading material there. The necessary access will require grading for several chains and shingle will have to be placed on the wheel tracks. Concerning the timber being cut on Donovan’s, measurements taken from the centre of the existing road' to stumps of trees logged. All appear to be clear of the road boundary at present. Approaches, Hare’s bridge: These appear to be of very narrow construction, and owing to this fact it is extremely difficult to keep metal on the surface. It is suggested that these approaches be widened. Whangapoua: Very little maintenance has been effected in this area during the period owing to the county workmen being required on jobs elsewhere. However attention will need to <be given to a broken culvert at Hawkeswood’s corner, also for arrangements made for metal in the near future.

Kennedy Bay: Metal has. been placed on the bad stretches of road between Tuateawa and Kennedy Bay. The surfacemen have given some attention to the flat. At the earliest opportunity an endeavour will be made to metal the bad sections on the eastern side of the Tokatea hill. Pratt s access road has received attention.

Port Jackson—Colville: A start has been made to repair the storm damage on this section of road while the bulldozer and grader are in the district. The compressor has been forwarded with a view to boring the metal points on No. 15 ready for blasting. These points when removed will help the position considerably in allowing for better drainage from the waterfall.

Colville: One new head stock has been fitted on the northern end set of piles of the Colville bridge. The two centre stringers are now on fairly sound foundations. These stringers carry the complete weight of the structure and although reasonably good, have a somewhat limited life. Metalling could be carried out to advantage between Colville township and the foot of the hill.

Colville — Coromandel: Approximately 250 yards of metal from Amodeo bay quarry has been placed on this road, on the following sections 12, 13, 14 and 15. (During the month).

Coromandel; Forty yards of crushed metal from Egans quarry has been spread on the Coromandel No. 11 section of road. The stock pen and race at the wharf has received some attention, and although not entirely completed, is in use.

Grader: The machine has been delayed at Port Jackson owing to having repairs carried out on the engine,

before returning to Colville. lam of the opinion that in view of the county’s vast roading commitments plus a limited fine weather season that any further private work should be curtailed meantime.

Water supply: Several small repair jobs are awaiting attention and one new supply, awaits connection to the county’s main.

Vacation: I desire to thank the chairman and councillors for their favour in granting approval to my request for a vacation. Whilst on my vacation I travelled through a number of counties and was privileged to see the functioning of the outside staffs and mechanical appliances pertaining thereto. At one county (larger than Coromandel) I saw four graders 6f various sizes and a half-yard mechanical shovel. This was mounted on a truck chassis and was capable of loading the county’s three two-yard lorries in 12 minutes operating in a single pit, whilst a smaller bullodzer was clearing the overburden. The foreman in charge informed me, that when necessary, the winch operating the shovel was used for driving piles, lifting heavy materials and various other jobs.

The observation emphasis by engineers and foremen in the various counties visited, was that the ordinary labourer with pick and shovel was past, and that mechanical means and tianspcrt with efficient operators were the answer to many county problems, or, as observed by one engineer, “ the nearer to the bread line any contractor or local body is, the more necessary it was for them to utilize cheap, fast and efficient methods, and the answer to that was machinery and transport.