LIGHT-SURFACE ROADS

Matamata Record, Volume XX, Issue 2028, 24 April 1939, Page 4

LIGHT-SURFACE ROADS

EFFECT OF DRY WEATHER Serious Position ; “ The continuance of the drought is causing grave anxiety about the Tirau-Putaruru section of the No. 19 main highway and other lightsurtaced roads,” sa.d Mr. M. E. Fitzgerald, Matamata county engineer, nl his monthly report to the County Council meeting on Thursday. The engineer stated:—

“ There are considerable lengths where the hard sun-baked clay subgrade is almost devoid of covering. The advent of heavy rain and probable frosts may result in bogging to an extent which will be beyond our resources to handle in the normal way. To meet the position maintenance gravel is being spread where it will be needed. This materialwill remain dry and loose and be kicked out into watertables. It may also result in excessive corrugation. However, when rain eventuates and softens the exposed clay the graders will be able to pull in the materials quickly and save what might otherwise be a desperate position. There does not. appear to be any leasable alternative to this procedure. . “ The contractor for Morgan's road bridge has completed his work; except for minor matters, and the* county staff is removing the old bridge and diverting the stream to its new course. The concrete portions of the two Waipa bridges at Puketurua have been competed by the county staff, and wing walls are now being constructed. ■ “Reconstruction of Banks’ road is in hand, and Livingstone’s road will be commenced at an early date provided weather conditions remain suitable. Resealing Contract

“ The contract for resfealing throughout the county is nearing completion. There has been delay in commencing reconstruction of the Valley section of No. 312 main highway, and the contractors are being pressed to proceed with the works without further delay. “ Some of the timbers of the Omahine truss bridge on No. 20 main highway have rotted, rendering the structure unsafe for multi-axle or trailer loads. Notices limiting! indi(.viduaL loads to seven tons have! been placed on the bridge, and repairs will be .put in hand as’ soon as possible. There may be some lelay in securing necessary sizes of heavy timber. Abnormal Weather • “Abnormal weather and some other important influences tended to upset works programmes during the last few months of the financial year, which closed with the total works ex? penditure somewhat above the figures ( provided in the estimates (£20,500). However, individual allocations were erratic. These were approximately as follow (allocations in parentheses): Main highways (£3000) £2276, class 11. roads (£7000) £8896, class 111. (£7000) £8239, construction (£3500) £2285. These figures include most of the season’s resealing costs, most of the costs of substantial repairs recently earned out on Waotu main road, only a , small portion of the heavy repairs being effected to Mowbray road, and none of the cost of repairs to Mangawhero which have yet to be done. These matters and the fact that the new year will he loaded with the costs of delayed grant works will need to be borne in mind when the current year’s estimates are under consideration. Materials Used “ Materials used during the past month included: 16 of metal and 32 of sand to No. 19 main highway? 16 of gravel to No. 20 main highway; 10 183 of metal to No. 312 main , highway; 56 of sand to Whitehall road; 633 of gravel to Maungatautari road; 186 of metal to Stopford’s; 828 of metal to Waotu; 162 of metal and 748 of sand to Mowbray; 126il of metal to Tirau-Okoroire; 46 of rhyolite to Baird; 12 of metal and 348 of sand to Mangawhero South; 8 of sand to Matai; 12 of metal to Okauia South; 12 of metal to Mangawhero North; 468 of metal to Old Te Aroha; 75 of metal to Moores; 90 of metal to McNab’s; 141 (*£ metal to Itangitanuku; 69 of metal to Okoroire-Te Poi; 155;a of metal to Bayley’s; 82 of metal to Lake (Okoroire); 46 of sand to Taotaoroa; 144 of sand to Crawford’s; 28 of shingle to Leslie’s; 33 of gravel to Hicks; 36 of gravel, to Pah road (Maungatautari); 42, of gravel to Scott’s; 30 of gravel to Roberts’; 18 of gravel to Hill’s; 186 of gravel to Orepunga; a total of 4567 cubic yards.

“ Third-class roadsr graded included Peria, Okauia Springs, Tui, Graveson's, Till’s, Old JTe Arohn, Puketu* tu, Bayley’s, Okoroire-Te Poi, Pakaiaka, Waiomo, Waiomo-Tapapa, Tirau' streets, Old Tapapa, Taumangi, Overdale, Back Lichfield, Shine's, Old Te Awamutu, Huihuitaha, Old Taupo r French Pass, Te Miro, Oliver's, Brun- * skill’s, Taotaoroa.”