THAMES COUNTY WORKS

Ohinemuri Gazette, Volume XXVII, Issue 3683, 13 October 1916, Page 4

THAMES COUNTY WORKS

REPORT OF ; ENGINEER

The following report of Mr. R. H; Muir, engineer, was read and adopted at tht? meeting of the Thames County Council held on Tuesday list:—^*""\ "During the month although there has been exceptionally bad weather, I am pleased to state that there has been no great damage done to the various

roads throughout the county. In the Tapu district work has been confined to repairing the damage done during the previous month. Four temporary piles were driven in the Waikawau Bridge, pending preparations being made for the construction of this bridge in concrete. The small slips on the Thames to Waikawau Road were removed, and the larger __ ones battered back. The foreman, with a reduced number of men is now engaged clearing the slips between Tapu and the Waikawau. When the weather again picks up it will be necessary to obtain extra assistance and have the slips properly removed.

In the Waiotalii, Kauaeranga and Parawai districts more than ordinary attention was Riven to a number of the roads- The bridge recently destroyed on the Tararu Creek Road was renewed in concrete tiles, a wall was built and a couple of large slips were removed. At the top of Hill and Richmond Streets, a footpath was formed, and the ruts and hollows were filled in on Joker Road. The tiles at the Kauaeranga deviation contract have been laid, and given fine weather the contract should be completed some time . towards the end of this month. In the Parawai district the principal work was the delivering and spreading of 40 cubic yards of metal on the Kauaeranga Valley Road, and 350 cubic yards on the Main Road, between Barret's corner and Banks Street. The 15 chains of Battsons' drain, or creek has also been thoroughly cleaned out, and should not, I think, provided it is kept clean give any further trouble. In addition to the above work general repairs were carried out to the following roads: Hill Street, Hauraki Terrace, Rolleston Street, Edward Street, Lambert Street and Kauaeranga, Valley Road. During the month about 400 cubic yards of metal was broken at the Kauaeranga Quarry.* It is proposed to send this month about 40 cubic yards of metal to Wharepoa for spreading on the Wharepoa roads, when unless the weather be suitable for metalling, work at the quarry will be discontinued. In the Totara, Puriri, and Hikutaia districts the work carried out was of a general nature. The roads to receive special attention were as follows: Omahu and Station, Spicers, Main Road, Puriri Valley, Neavesville Track, and Matatoki Road. In the Turua district work was confined to the cleaning out of the outlet drain on the Huirau Road, discing the Opani-Turua and Huirau Roads, repairing the Turua Netherton Road, and attending to and assisting in the unloading of the gravel for the Huirau and Oi*chard East Roads. The working of the ferry is being carried out satisfactorily under the new caretaker, Mr. W. Thompson. On the Tairua side of the range the usual attention was given to the various roads.

The approach to the Stony Creek was fascined, and tKe bridge across the same creek on the Hikuai Puketui Road was rer paired. To provide for the traffic to the Tairua Broken Hills several of the smaller bridges were temporarily strengthened. A new approach was also made into the third branch and received a coating of metal.

Plans and specifications of Waitakaruru roads formation and metalling: The. plans and specifications for the work on the above roads are now complete with the exception of those required for the metalling. Tt has been suggested that shell be used instead of metal or/gravel. Shell when put on nojt'less than one foot thick has' in certain cases proved to be very satisfactory. The Waitakaruru Stream Road is, however, subject to flooding, and I cannot, for this reason, recommend that it be used. The cost of shell per chain 12 feet wide, one foot thick, would be approximately £8 14s, and the metal or grave! 9 feet wide by 6 inches deep approximately £7 3s.

On the motion of Crs. Cooper and Law it was decided to use metal for the above roads.

Considering the state of the weather throughout the month,. satisfactory progress has been made with the Kauaeranga Tairua Road contract. It was hoped that the work on the Waitakaruru Road contract would have again been commenced. Owing, however, to the nature of the work and the weather conditions nothing has been done.