Wet Weather Delays Whanearei County Work

Northern Advocate, 15 July 1939, Page 9

Wet Weather Delays Whanearei County Work

Wet weather had delayed the completion of earthworks and metalling, where metalled access was not available, stated the engineer of the Whangarei County Council, Mr J. Norris, in reporting to the monthly meeting of the council yesterday. At Finlayson’s Deviation, the earthwork was now nearing completion. The bulldozer had been unable to work during the greater portion of the tnonth owing to wet conditions and the keeping of the road open for traffic had taken up the surfaceman's time end entailed considerable expense in metalling. The position in regard to traffic was much improved, and further interruption would be obviated.

For Kiripaka Road, the metal was being obtained from paddocks, and the access road became too wet to work, and Mr Tapper had shifted his plant on to the Heads Road to carry out his contract there. He offered to continue the Kiripaka metalling from the Kiripaka Quarry, but as the price was higher, the engineer had arranged for the removal to Tamaterau.

Whangarei-Tamaterau. Metalling was completed in the near section and the lower section was being done from Waikaraka Point. The contract called for metal from Tamaterau Point, and as the contractor erected his plant at Waikaraka in error, the engineer had arranged to take the metal from there.

On Hewlett’s Road, the metalling was started, but wet conditions made it inadvisable to cart over the lightlymetalled road, and he had arranged for the work to be held over.

Keay’s Deviation.—There was no sign of the contractor starting this work, and the quarry arrangements were not yet finalised, so the work was at present in abeyance. The Crown Lands Department was asking for fencing of Bell’s Quarry as a protection for stock, and was suggesting an arrangement in conjunction with the Otamatea County Council. The council decided to negotiate with the Otamatea Council. On Marua Road, metalling was due to commence next Monday, continued the engineer. Marua-Whananaki. —Metalling was in hand at the quarry, and shingle would be worked when weather permitted. At Kaimamaku, shingle was at present difficult to work owing to the wet access road, and fine weather was being awaited. The Kiripaka road was scarified and re-shaped to Waitangi Bridge, and graded from there to Kiripaka, and was now in fair running order. Traffic Causes Trouble,

The graders were working up the arrears on metalled roads, and a good deal of territory had been covered. The main roads were proving difficult to keep in order with the present traffic, and frequent grading was called for. The new grader was due for delivery next week, and he proposed setting out a main road programme for its use. Highway Council Tour.

The engineer thanked the council for allowing him to tour the North with the Highway Council. While it provided a pleasant break from routine duties, it had a real value in regard to his work. Mr Packwood took especial pains to point out the engineering aspects of the roads and bridges covered in the tour, and the inspection of these works was instructive in regard to standards of work at present adopted in reading.

A noteworthy feature was the twoway concrete bridges being erected on main roads, and the general adoption of skew design to suit the run of the stream. The Awakino Bridge, near Dargaville, was being constructed on piles 103 feet in length to reach solid foundation.

He expressed appreciation of Mr Packwood’s invitation as .a, matter of service to the county in giving him an opportunity to inspect the standard of work now obtaining generally. The report was adopted.