AROUND THE COUNTY

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXIX, Issue 4770, 9 November 1935, Page 2

AROUND THE COUNTY

ENGINEER'S REPORT. The following report was submitted to the meeting of the Waitomo County Council yesterday by the County Engineer, Mr. R. H. Browne. Government Grants.—The District Engineer, Public Works Department, has approved the specifications for metalling Pungarehu and Somerville Roads, and the necessary authorities are to hand. Plans for Ramaroa Road bridges (two) have been submitted to the District Engineer for approval. Public Works Estimates.—The supplementary Estimates provide for an expenditure on Waitomo Valley Upper Road (Hislop's access), also further metalling of Paraheka (Swainson's Road). Proposed New Works.—The District Engineer has been requested to give consideration to metalling of Mokau River Road; also to favourably consider the matter of further tar-seal-ing on Ha'ngatiki-Caves Road.

Tenders. —Tenders have been invited for metalling 2 miles of Pungarehu Road and 1% miles of Somerville Road, in Mairoa and Hangatiki Ridings, respectively. The total number of relief workers on the pay roll is 25, of which 16 are employed on ragwort, a'nd 9 on road works; this does not include 5 men in No. 4 Camp.

Aria Riding.—The washout on Paraheka Road has been repaired, and road is open for traffic; metaling of same has still to be done. Attention is being given to bridge repairs on Kumara-Paraheka Highway. The surfaceman at Mokauiti was to attend" to maintenance metal requirements on Aria-Mokauiti highway between Owen Road and Mokauiti.

Awakino Riding.—Metal patching has been carried out on Manganui highway a'nd Waikawau Lower Road. Authority has been granted by the District Engineer to proceed with the erection of Manganui Bridge, in accordance with final pile driving test. The timber and ironwork have been ordered and tenders will be called for the erection of bridge when the whole of the material is on the ground. Numerous small slips on the Awakau Road have been removed.

Hangatiki Riding.—lmprovements have been effected to filling by widening, near Hangatiki lime works. Subsidence on Ahoroa-Tapairu highway, near Borough boundary, has been attended to by placing extra metal on same. Improvements are being carried out by widening dangerous corners on Ahoroa (Coombe's Road. Arrangements are in hand to place suitable maintenance metal on Mangarino Road.

Mahoenui Riding.—Surfaceman has attended to maintenance on Awakino Valley, Papakauri and Mangaorongo Roads. The subsidence on the latter road is still moving and requires immediate attention. An inspection of same was made with Cr. Roberts and it was agreed that extra labour should be employed to cope with the work involved, and that a suitable man be engaged to carry out about two months' work on this road.

Mairoa Riding.—Maintenance metal has been placed on Te Kumi-Mangao-hae highway near Oparure, also on Boddie's and Fullerton's Roads.

Paemako Riding.—The stripping of Mangaotaki Road quarry has been given attention and arrangements made to proceed with distribution of maintenance metal where required on roads in the vicinity of Pio Pio. Surfacemen have been instructed to attend to removal of projecting rock in stream, Mangaotaki Road. Mr. N. Mcßae has granted permission to deviate stream on his property to relieve erosion of Mangaotaki Road. Piles for strengthening Mokau River Bridge, Kahuwera Road, have been ordered and the work will be proceeded with on arrival of same.

Tangitu Riding.—Maintenance metal has been placed on Mokauiti to Waimiha highway, also on Mokauiti North Road. Patoto Road has been made passable for light traffic. Mainten-

ance metal for Kopaki highway and Kopaki-Mangapehi Road has been arranged for.

Te Kuiti Riding.—During the month maintenance metal has been placed on Maraetaua, Pukenui, Mangatea and Waitete Roads. The temporary surfaceman has been employed in spreading 'and tallying metal placed on the above roads and effecting usual general maintenance. These roads are now in very fair order. The subsidence on Smith's Hill, Waitete Road, has to a great extent been improved; further improvements are to be made during the summer months. Maintenance metal is required on Waitete Road between the Borough boundary and the railway overhead bridge, at a cost of approximately £B.