MAIN HIGHWAYS

Northern Advocate, 27 June 1935, Page 8

MAIN HIGHWAYS

IN THE NORTH ANNUAL MEETING OF COUNCIL LAST YEAR’S WORK REVIEWED The annual meeting of the No. 1 District Highways Council was held in Whangarei yesterday. The chairman, Mr. R. H. P. Ronayne, district engineer, presided, and was re-elected chairman. The following were appointed to the executive: —Messrs. R. H. P. Ronayne, R. Coates and R. B. Russell. There are four new members of the council. They are: Messrs. J. A. S. Mac Kay (Whangarei), Leslie (Whangaroa), Thompson (Mangonui) and F. Reed (Bay of Islands). A resume of the year’s work showed that there had been no new formation, but four miles of new metalling. Twelve bridges, totalling 991 ft. 1 in., were completed, the Puhoi and Orewa bridges being made two-way structures in reinforced concrete.

Four miles 35 chains of road - had been treated with one coat of tar and 10 miles received a second coat. Works in progress were the construction of eight bridges at Awanui (since completed), Grimmer’s, Kirikopuni, Beresford’s, Rangiahua (since completed), Whangateau, Wharenine and Salt’s, totalling 787 ft. In addition many structures were replaced by box culverts and concrete pipes. Many dangerous bridges had been replaced, and it was hoped to continue the policy this year. A commencement was made with a flood prevention proposal at Whakapara, which had been completed, thereby moving a serious block in time of flood.

The total mileage of main highways in the North now amounted to 957 miles 31 chains, the report stated, going on to review the estimates for last year, which showed that £57,000 had been voted to the construction fund and £38,000 had been spent. In the revenue fund the vote amounted to £78,000, and the expenditure £79.000.

In a statement this morning, Mr. Ronayne said the funds available this year for construction and maintenance would be. approximately the same as last year. That meant, as far as maintenance was concerned, that more modern methods must be adopted to keep the highways up to a reasonable standard. The construction money, he said, would be spent mostly on the renewal of bridges.