COOK COUNTY COUNCIL.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 14589, 26 April 1918, Page 5

COOK COUNTY COUNCIL.

, ♦■ • Mr. J. J. Keane, County overseer, submitted tlie following report to the Cook County Council to-day: — Contract 066, repairs Tolaga bridge.--This contract has been completed since last meeting and was inspected by the consulting engineer (Mr. Fraser) who is reporting to the Council. Contract 592 B, formation 63 chains East^Coast road. — Practically completed. 1 The contractor has also formed a further section of 30 chains to the Pakarae river. Contract 605, formation 46 chains Tokonui road.— Completed. Contract 609, Metal repairs Pakowlrai, Muriwai road. — This contract was completed a few days ago. A total quantity of 393 <Skbic yards has been delivered on the road. Contract 612, Metal.'repairs Kaiti and Whataupoko. — Proceeding slowly, the broken weather bavins interfered with the supply of gravel. . Contract bl6, formation 40 chains Tokonui road.— Satisfactorily completed. Contract 614, metal repairs Whataupoko -Ormond road. — Work proceeding. Contract 617, metalling^ Warren road.— Not yet started. This work will have to be left over until the spring, as the road to the shingle pit is silted up. As no tenders were received for contract 619. formation Hangaroa-Wai-k'aremoana road, I let tho work privately at a satisfactory price. I also arranged to have 28 chains of Foster street, m tlie Tolaga.', township, formed at £3 per chain. , Bridges. — The bridge hands have been engaged on repairs to several bridges and culverts m the Waimata, Pouawa, Hangaroa, Tolaga and Whataupoko ridings. A new bridge was erected near McGregor's on the KangaroaTahora road. A start will be made next week on repairs to tlie suspension bridge, Hangaroa road. Stone is being oarted out for the concrete pier of the Waingake bridge. I have received a reasonable offer for the erection of this bridge from Air. T. Ryan, who is prepared to commence work Avithin the next fortnight. I would recommend that his offer .be accepted. , The . plans for the high level bridge at .the . cemetery have been completed and a copy will be' sent to the Borough Council m the course of a, few days. The low level bridge , aaross the Pakarae river was completed during the month. Tlie road roller has been engaged scarifying and rolling tlie Wairoa road between the Patutalu . junction and CrauTs. This. road will be given a light top dressing of shingle m the spring. The motor lorry has been carting' metal and screenings from quarry to various roads m the Gisborne, Patutahi, -NVaingake and Muriwai ridings. Several' drains are being cleaned out on , the flats. Owing, to the continued wet weather.'. I deemed it advisable not to proceed, with tha raising of the road at Ormond dip until the spring. A quantity of metal ha« been carted out for re-pair j to the Waingake road ; this is being knapped m readiness for spreading on the road. I have had teams employed on formation of worst portions of the Waerenga-o-kuri road, but as very little progress could 1 be made, I am putting thc teams on to collect metal from the creek m the gorge. I propose putting m a small hopper at the gorge quarry, m order to facilitate the loading of stone, and will install the small portable crusher, so as to have every thing : ready for an early st-art with the metalling of this road after the winter. Surface- 5 men throughout the County have been engaged clearing slips, filling, m washouts and generally endeavoring to keep roads open for traffic. New East Coast road. • — On the completion of the low level bridge r cross -'the Pakarae river, this road was made available for light vehicles, but should the present showery weather continue, the road will be little used during the coming winter. I intend keeping a man on the new length to attend the watertables, etc. Flood damage. — The heavy rain on Thursday, 13th inst., again caused considerable damage to a "number of the County roads and bridges. In this instance the Waimata riding suffered tlie worst. A small irid«te on Gray's hill collapsed owing to .the water scouring out the foundations. - A portion of- the roadway on the far side of the bridge was also carried away. A new bridge will have to be ereoted a little below the old site. A small bridge near Fulton's shed was also washed downstream. All the timber has been secured, and 1 most of it can be used again. At the waterfall bridge the water was about 4 feet over the decking, and tbe lattice handrailiug was torn away and the approach at one end was scoured out. Temporary bridges have* been erected across all the gaps, and 'repairs are being effected to a bridge on Mander's road, that was badly strained. In addition to the above, several small slips and washouts occurred, repairs have been effected and the road is open for light traffic. The Turehau bridge (Pouawa riding) was damaged through one of the p|ei*B carrying away; new piles are being driven, and the bridge will be available for traffic »m about 10 days. One of the piles of McMillanJs bridge, Ngatapa, was . washed out. Repairs aro being effected. Tlie Ngatapa creek again overflowed, and! a quantity of metal waa washed off the road. On the HangaroaTahora road a number of slips were brought down, completely blocking tho traffic. I am endeavoring to open the road for light vehicles. Two cuttings on the road between Jeffrey's and Veitch's are m a very bad state. I would recommend that these two sections be metalled at the earliest opportunity. The total distanoe is about 20 chains. A portion of the Hangaroa road beyondi Avondale station is cutting up badly, owing to numerous springs. This section becomes' almost impassable dtiring the winder months, and* requires a lot. of attention. An endeavor should be made to metal this portion next summer; suitable me&pl could be obtained on Mr. Orr's property aboiit three miles way. I propose to enforce the heavy traffic nnd tyre bye-laws on all County roads from Monday next.