WAITOMO COUNTY

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4811, 17 July 1939, Page 6

WAITOMO COUNTY

ENGINEER'S REPORT. The following report was submitted by the Engineer, Mr. R. H. Browne, to the monthly meeting of the Waitomo County Council held on Friday. Tenders have been invited for the following works: —Widening and metalling Kohua Road; Caves-County Boundary Highway, supply and delivery crushed maintenance metal. Tenders were also invited for two caravans.

The widening of Manganui Road is being carried out satisfactorily. Maintenance metal under contracts 419 and 420 is being supplied by Mr. M. Beros, and the work is being satisfactorily carried out. j The annual Highways estimates amounting to £11,230 have been prepared and submitted to the No. 6 District Highways Council for approval. Men working under scheme No. 13 are engaged in widening dangerous corners on Mairoa and Ahoroa Roads. During June the graders worked on the following roads:— Grader No. I.—Hangatiki Riding: Hangatiki-Caves Road 8% hrs; Somerville's Road, 8« hrs 1 . Tangitu Riding: Kopaki Highway, 4 \ hours; Ellis Road, Si hours; Kopaki- I Mangapehi 81 hrs; Poro-o-tarao-Waimiha 21 hrs; Tapuwae 81 hrs. Te Kuiti Riding: Kopaki H.W. 4J hrs; Pukerimu 17 hrs; Waitete 8 1 hrs. Grader No. 2.—Paemako Riding: Pio Pio-Wairere 38 hrs; Pio PioMangaohae 6 hrs; Auahi Road (Wise's) 81 hrs; Te Mapara 17 hrs. Aria Riding: Wairere-Avia 18 hrs; Kohua Road 23 hrs; Auahi Road (Houghton's) 8J hrs. The output for the portable crushing plant for June was 408 cubic yards of crushed maintenance metal. The overseer has inspected works being carried out under No. 13 scheme at Pio Pio and Rangitoto. Bridges on Paekaka, Tiki Tiki, OhuraMokau and Te Kumi station roads were repaired under his supervision. Various roads in Aria, Awakino, Hangatiki, Mairoa, Paemako, Tangitu and Te Kuiti ridings were inspected. Aria Riding.—Kohua Road has been trimmed up with grader as far as Ngatamahine Camp, and further grading is to be carried out beyond this point. Bridge near Owens Road junction has been redecked. Handrailings have been placed on Tiki Tiki Road bridge. Kie Kie is receiving attention by surfaceman, and metal to the extent of 30 c.yds. has been

laid in worst places. Metal trucks

carting toiWaitewhenua Road created damage on corners and the Public Works Department has advised that the damage is being repaired. Metal patching with rubble rock is being placed on Wairere-Aria Highway. Sharpes' bridge on the Kumara road requires two new stringers and redecking. Attention will be given to same as soon as timber is available.

Awakino Riding.—Recent rains caused numerous slips on Awakau and Manganui roads, necessitating extra labour to open roads for traffic. The Manganui road was especially affected. The slips on Te Marama road have been removed. A decayed culvert on Mangatoa needs replacing with 24-inch diameter concrete pipes. Metal patching has been carried out on Manganui road between the 7 and 12-mile pegs. Arrangements have been made to metal Te Marama, Mangatoa, Waikawau and Manganui roads. The decking on bridge at Waikawau, also small bridge near sawmill on Manganui Road, requires attention, and necessary repairs will be carried out as soon as timber is available. Owing to erosins in two places on Mangatoa road it will be necessary to place netting groynes in stream.

Hangatiki Riding.—The Tapairu Road has been widened at dangerous

bends and maintenance metal is necessary in numerous places. It is

proposed to send the portable crusher to this locality. Widening has been carried out on Ahoroa road.

Temporary repairs have been made to culvert on Marae Road. Attention is being given to Fullerton's road. Metal patching has been carried out

on Ahoroa, Mangarino, Somerville, Haurua and Rangitoto Roads, also on Hangatiki-Caves Highway. Mahoenui Riding.—Grader driver has been instructed to attend to Taumatamaire Road. Arrangements have been made with Public Works Department to supply a few loads of metal for Mangaorongo Road. Until finer weather prevails it was agreed by Cr. Roberts that the Upper Awakino Valley Road improvements should be delayed. Mairoa Riding. The portable crusher plant supplied maintenance metal for Troopers', Boddie's, Mairoa, Pungarehu and Hauturu Roads, also on Te Kumi-Mangaohae Highway. River shingle has been placed on Te Kumi Station road. Grading

is being carried out on Te KumiMangaohae Highway. Repairs have been carried on Waipapa Road. The decking on bridge Te Kumi Station road is being renewed. Paemako Riding. to corners in Mairoa Road are being :arried out by men on No. 13 scheme. Instructions have been issued for same gang to widen Paekaka Road at junction with Pio Pio-Wairere Road. Maintenance metal has been placed on Pio Pio-Mangaohae Highway and Mairoa Road. The metalling of various other roads is being proceeded with. The grader is attending to roads in the vicinity of Pio Pio. Maintenance metal has been placed on Kiritehere section of MangaohaeCounty Boundary Highway. Repairs to hand-railing on Paekaka Road bridge have been attended to. Tangitu Riding.—Surfacemen have given attention to general maintenance on the various roads under their control. Maintenance metal to the extent of 57 c.yds. has been placed on weak places on Takiri Road. Small bridge near Pittams' on Mapara South Road requires strengthening and arrangements are in hand to carry out the work. The work of cleaning watertables and cutting scrub on Mangaiti Road is now completed. Plans and specifications have been forwarded for approval in connection with Ramaroa Road culverts.

Te Kuiti Riding. Maintenance metal has been placed on Maraetaua, Pukenui, Te Kuiti-Kopaki and Mangaokewa Roads. Grading has been carried out on various roads in the riding.