ARAPUNI.

Matamata Record, Volume VII, Issue 587, 4 December 1924, Page 8

ARAPUNI.

TE AW AM UTU-ARAPUNI. Mr. W. Hall-Jones, assistant engineer at Hamilton, for the Public Works Department, asked the Waipa council on Monday of last week to submit proposals for expenditure of £750 (£3 for £1) for metalling between Pukeatua post office and the Waimanu road junction.' The Minister for Public Works wrote: "I am in receipt of your letters of August 16 and October 20, in reference to further metalling on the Te Awamutu-Arapuni road beyond Pukeatua. It is noted you only discuss me a:!in: 1 ; of a further 70 chains from Pnkoatuu to the Waimanu road deviation, and while it is agreed this would bo some small benefit to local settlers, the road between. Pukeatua and Arapuni would har- 0 ' - therebv be improved in standard

estimated cost of metalling this ..s----tance of 4i miles to a standard suitable for ioca, requirements is approximately £6OOO. It is probable that if the metalling of this road were completed to that standard, heavy all tire year round motor traffic would use it, so that heavy maintenance would be required, and it seems that your council would, in the face of the statement in your letter of August 16, find great difficulty in providing for its adequate maintenance. I think it will also be agreed that for through road purposes the route via Owairaka Valley has very material advantages. Under these circumstances I regret that it has not been found possible to make further provision for Puke-atua-Arapuni road than the £252 (£ for £), appearing on this year's estimates."

The chairman explained that the Minister's letter was forwarded on October 30 and since then he (the speaker) and Cr. Macky had interviewed the Minister, who had agreed to find £750, provided the council found £250. On an assurance being given that this money would be found the district engineer had written asking for proposals. Cr. McGee asked how the £250 was to be raised.

The chairman suggested paying a visit to the district as soon as possible, to discuss with the settlers just what works could be held over so as to leave money clear for lifting the Minister's grant.

This was agreed to, and probably the visit will be made this week, an inspection of the Owairaka route being undertake the same day.—Waipa Post. POWER FOR ROTORUA. A contract has now been let for the carting out of the poles for the extension of the Horahora-Arapuni electric power line from Arapuni to Rotorua, and the contractor has the work in hand, while the authorities are arranging for another contract for the erection of the line. The fact that this line will pass through Lichfield and Ngatira should not be forgotten by residents of the adjoining districts, who might be well advised to immediately take steps to ascertain whether or not power for general use for homestead, mill and farm en route could not be obtained from it. If the answer is in the affirmative, then the necessary transformers could doubtless be installed as the line is erected and the power made available before next winter. THE WAIKATO BRIDGE.

The low-level bridge over the Waikato river at Arapuni can now be used by traffic, though as yet no announcement that it is available for public use has been made, while a visit to the locality a few days ago revealed that the Public Works Department has still a good deal to do before the bridge and the approaches would be safe for general use. In fact, a bar across the bridge indicated that as yet only Public Works traffic or contractors' vehicles would be allowed to pass. The reasons for this were obvious, as the painting, etc., of the upper structure of the bridge had yet to be completed and the approach on the western side was still dangerously narrow, a large amount of filling work—which was then in progress —being necessary, while further up on the western approach tram rails in use were laid across the roadway. From a point on the roadway close to the western end of the bridge the road into the powerhouse site is beingformed. ACCIDENT TO WORKMAN. j An accident occurred at Arapuni on Monday morning shortly after operations for the day had commenced, an elderly workman, Mr. J. W. Traill, being struck by a boulder and his. leg broken. He was brought to Putaruru in Messrs. W. H. Barnett and Son's motor lorry and an examination by Dr. Haslett revealed that the injury was a simple fracture of both bones of the leg below the knee.

(Continued iu Next Column.)