IMPROVING ROAD

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23213, 6 December 1938, Page 9

IMPROVING ROAD

PUKEKOHE TO BOMBAY CONTRACT AT' £20,884 LET RECONSTRUCTION AND SEALING £fbom otto own correspondent] PUKEKOHE, Monday A contract was let to-day by the Franklin County Council to Messrs. W. Stevenson and Sons, Limited, at £20,884 for the reconstruction and tarscaling of tho connecting highway between Pukekohe and the Great South Road at Bombay, a length of three.. miles 53 chains. Three tenders were received, of which Messrs. Stevenson's was the lowest. Tho highest was £24,414. Another tender accepted was that of Mr. W. Knight, £3283 10s, for the reconstruction in reinforced concrete of McPherson's Bridge, on the RuncimanDrury Road. Mr. J. Parker and five other owners of land bordoring the lower portion of the Mangatawhiri Stream complained that since the flood relief work on the upper reaches of tho stream bad*ibeen completed, the channel in tho lower reaches was not coping adequately with tho water, with the result that portions of their farms were now almost continuously under water. They esti- . mated that they were losing the use of about 200 acres of pasture land. In one case, at least, most of the farm was now under water. Mr. J. Dean said 15 to 18 other landowners were also affected. Dredging of 3J miles of the channel at tho lower end appeared necessary. Mr. W. C. Motion raised tho.question of the landowners forming a drainage board to maintain tho work, should it be done.

The meeting deputed tho chairman, Mr. J. N. Massey, with Mr. Dean and the county clerk, Mr. A. P. Day, to forward a letter to the Minister of Public Works soliciting Government assistance to have the undertaking put in hand. The council agreed to pay, under protest, its assessed contribution of £2OO toward the salary of the district health inspector this year. It was explained that previously the council paid £ll2 per annum. It was mentioned that the new Local Body Officers' award meant an -additional annual cost to the council of £9l.