Mangonui County Road Work Reviewed

Northern Advocate, 21 April 1939, Page 3

Mangonui County Road Work Reviewed

Reporting on the month’s work at the Mangonui County Council meeting, the engineer, Mr R. Torrie, stated that all metalling jobs under Public Works Department grants had been completed. These were: Waiharara Road, 25 chains; Werner’s Road, 42 chains; Apeuturewa Road, 45 chains; and Church Road, 180 chains •resurfaced).

During the financial year ended March 31 the following works, under Government grants and subsidies, had been completed by the county: Roads reformed, 9J miles; roads metalled, 13| miles; culverts, 83 or 1567 lineal feet.

Metalling was carried out on 15 different roads and in all cases one or more settlers had been given metalled road access for the first time. Twelve of these items came under the five-

year programme. The number of settlers, still to be provided with metalled access had been considerably reduced. Repairs to Bridges.

Bridges in the county were being repaired as timber became available. Stringers had been replaced in Maria’s Bridge, Oruru, and the decking strengthened and strapped. A power grader was working on Waipapakauri-Houhora Road, but difficulty was being experienced in working the loose sand. Metal had been placed on parts of the Waipapakauri-West Coast Road. Some investigation had been made into the question of opening a rubble shale quarry on the Kaurinui Hill with more encouraging results. It appeared that large quantities of shale were available, with not more than two to three feet of stripping, and the material seemed to be very suitable for surfacing. He would like authority to open up a face and try the material on the Fairburn Road.

If suitable, a quarry in this locality would do away with long-distance carting of surfacing material, with a considerable saving in cost and wear

and tear on access roads. Shale Deposits Near Peria

There were also indications of suitable shale deposits on the Pena end of the Victoria Valley-Peria Road which would warrant investigation.

The engineer was authorised to try out the shale deposits on the Pama-puria-Fairburn Road and the Victoria Valley-Feria Road. Very favourable comment was rhade by Cr. Holder and other members on the report. Kaikohe Centennial Float. A letter has been received by the Kaikohe Town Board from the Kaikohe Chamber of Commerce, requesting that if the chamber arranged for a float in the Bay of Islands Centennial Celebrations, the board should give the undertaking its financial support. The board decided at its meeting this week to defer action for the present.