COROMANDEL COUNTY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21932, 16 October 1934, Page 13

COROMANDEL COUNTY

ROADS AND BRIDGES DECISIONS OF COUNCIL DESIGNS FOR.. WHARF [by telegraph—own correspondent]] COROMANDEL, Monday At a meeting of the Coromandel County Council to-day a letter was received from the assistant-engineer of the Public Works Department in, reply to the council's request for assistance to repair flood damage. The letter stated that the department was unable to assist. The assistant-engineer also wrote stating that the department had in hand the construction of a particularly heavy work in the formation of the connecting link from tiie granite quarries to Port Jackson, on the Col-ville-Port Jackson Road. The council was urged to make every effort to improve the running condition of this road, as the funds provided for the department's relief work were specifically for formation. The council decided to reply that it would do the best it could to improve the road surface. The Public Works Department advised that the Minister had approved the council's proposals regarding the Kuaotunu-Opito Road, and £79 was being transferred from this road to the Kuaopunu-Whangapoua Road. The council expressed appreciation of the department's action. The Secretary of the Department wrote stating that he was somewhat surprised to learn that no records were kept of goods passing inwards and outwards over the council's wharves. He asked for a rough idea of principal commodities outwards and an estimate of monthly or annual quantities. It was not usual to levy wharfage dues on inwards traffic only, and the council's contention that the levying of wharfage on outwards goods would tend to drive such goods to the road, was equally applicable to inwards goods. It was decided to adhere to the council's considered opinion that wharfage be charged inwards only. It was decided to call for applications for the drawing up of plans and specifications for a bridge to replace the Otakeao Bridge, on the Thames Coast Road. A report stated that one of the piles had been eaten right through by marine insects, while several girders had more or less rotted, so that it would be cheaper to build a new bridge. It was suggested that the new bridge be built 40ft. or 50ft. seaward of the present structure. The estimated cost was £llsO, including approaches, of which the council would have to find one-third. It was reported that a number of men had been employed on the Wai-kawau-Kereta-Manaia section of the main highway, where two big slips had recently come down. The road was now ready for Christmas traffic, with an e-xcellent running surface. Mr. N. Campbell moved that designs for a suitable wharf at Preeco's Point be prepared, also plans and specifications, with estimates of cost, for both road and wharf. The motion was carried.