STATE OF ROAD
LONGBURN TO RONGOTEA. ADVOCACY OF SEALING. “I think that the time is drawing very near when we will have to undertake the tar-sealing of the LcngburnRongotea Road. It is costing too nuicli to maintain,” declared Cr P. G.< Mudon at the meeting of the Kairanga County Council, yesterday afternoon. The chairman (Cr D. Collis) said that figures had been taken out concerning the cost of tar-sealmg the road, and they were rather surprising. If the council desired strict economy it would be better to leave the matter where it was at present. The acting-engineer (Mr L. L. Pickering) said that the average maintenance cost of the road over the past six years had been £7O a mile. “The road gets into a very bad state in dry weather,” said Cr Mudon, “and the formation is very bad.” j Cr Voss and the chairman agreed. Cr Mildon: I am satisfied that our ratepayers would welcome an improvement. .. c The cost of three-coat tar-sealing of the si-mile stretch of road was stated by the engineer to be estimated at £13,000. On a £2 for £1 basis the county’s contribution would be £4SUU. The sinking fund was heavy on a loan of such a nature, and with interest would make 9 per cent., equivalent to £405 per annum. The present annual maintenance cost was £538. The Highways Board provided a subsidy of £3 for £1 towards this, leaving the county’s share at £135 per annum. Three-coat sealing over this road would cost about £2OOO per mile. Cr Mildon: This is a secondary highway. The engineer: Two or three coats will be wanted to comply with requirements. Cr Mildon: Something will have to be done eventually. The road has been very bad during the past 12 months. The engineer: The money runs away in the foundations and not in the sealing. Cr Mildon said the BunnythorpeKairanga Road had only one coat. The engineer: With formation, that is costing £I9OO a mile. The chairman: Is there any possible chance of doing part of the work and spreading the remainder over a year or two? Cr Mildon: We have got to make a start some time—the sooner the better. The chairman: We do not want to raise the rates. We had better defer the matter for twelve months. Shoulder work alone on the road would cost £4OO a mile, said the engineer. “I have one opinion only,” said Cr M. W. Voss. “There is no doubt that something ought to: be done if we can manage it.” The engineer: The highways estimates for this year have gone in. Cr Voss: We ought to keep the matter in view. “It is very doubtful at present whether the ratepayers would sanction a loan,” commented the chairman. “T suggest that the matter be left in abeyance and that the engineer be instructed to bind the road. Personally, I would like to see something done.” It was agreed to hold over the matter.
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Bibliographic details
Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 148, 24 May 1934, Page 10
Word Count
496STATE OF ROAD Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 148, 24 May 1934, Page 10
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