County Engineer’s Report

Northland Age, Volume XVIII, Issue 63, 20 May 1949, Page 6

County Engineer’s Report

Wet weather over much of the period made the roads very sloppy and caused pot-holes to develop in many places. Various works in hand have been much delayed. Houhora Riding : Several weak places have developed on Great North Road and difficulty is being experienced in obtaining metal supplies for patching. A few loads of dredgings from the Awanui River are being tiled as top dressing on hard, rough sections. Two bridges were repaired. L T nalii, Spains and West Coast Roads are also in need of repair. Grader raked in West Coast, Rote Kawau and part of Great North Road. Awanui Riding : Widening was done in several places on Church Road but wet weather made the new work very slippery. Metal amounting to 50 c.yds. was delivered. Repair metal was also delivered to Duncans Road —22 i c.yds., Churtons Road —5 c.yds., and Quarry Road rails on Browns Bridge were completed. Oruru Riding : Grader raked in metal on Oruru-Taipa and Paranui Roads. 20-i c.yds. of metal were put on Oruru-Taipa and 2 h c.yds. on Parapara Settlement Roads. A bridge approach was repaired on Honeymoon Valley Road and tabling done on Peria-Valley Road. Mangonui Riding : Metal repaii' was in hand, the following being put on—Mangonui-Oruru, 23 c.yds.; Hihi, 321 c.yds. ; S. Fosters, 6 c.yds.; Kohumaru, 15 c.yds. ; Mangonui streets, 67 c.yds., and Barriballs, 10 c.yds. Grader shaped up Mangonui-Oruru, Barriballs, Aputerewa, Kohumaru, Hihi, Oruaiti, Akatere and Mangonui , Streets. One new culvert was put in and pipes delivered for another on Hihi Road. Tables, culverts and drains were opened on many roads. Victoria Valley Riding : Tow grader and tractor have shaped up new formation on Bakers Road and cleared tables and raked in on Fishers, Mangatoetce and Wallaces and are now on Duncans Road. Metal repair was done on Takahue Saddle, 2\ c.yds. Snelgars, 20 c.yds., Duncans, 23* c.yds., Metcalf es, 121 c.yds., Mapgatoetoe, 15 c.yds., Carrs, 15 c.yds., and are now in hand on Wallaces, Peria-Val-ley and Te Rore Roads. A culvert was replaced with pipes on Takahue Saddle Road. Metalling of Cemetery Road was interrupted by wet weather and is not yet complete. Metal is now to be quarried for Duncans Road. Ivaitaia Riding : Ruaroa Road was graded early in the period and repair metalling has been done on Church Road, 25 c.yds., Cloughs, 15 c.yds., Ruaroa, 2h c.yds., Farmers, 30 c.yds , and Wireless, 6 c.yds. Gills Road is now being repaired. Hcrekino Riding : Metal repairs included 99 c.yds. on Herekino-Wha-ngape, 17J c.yds. on Diggers Valley and 2i c.yds. on Puhata Roads. A dropout v r as widened on Diggers Valley Road ar.d considerable tabling and opening of culverts etc. done on various roads. Furter metal will now be put out. Ahipara Riding : Patch metalling w'as in hand on Foreshore Road, 32£ , c.yds., Township Road, 2\ c.yds. and Roma Road, 7i c.yds. Government Grants : .Okakewai Road : Meialling has been held up by wet weather but is about two thirds completed. Oruru-Taipa Flood Area: Earthwork has made fair progress when dry enough to work and three or four ’ days should complete. Plant : Auto patrol grader has been held up by a broken gear wheel. New Caterpillar 112 grader has arrived in Auckland and should bp ready fo r immediate delivery. General : Building Permits : During April fifteen permits totalling ■ £4215 were issued.