COOK COUNTY AFFAIRS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18761, 18 July 1935, Page 9

COOK COUNTY AFFAIRS

ENGINEER’S' REPORT HIGHWAYS MAINTENANCE CONSTRUCTION WORKS The engineer to the Cook County Council, Mr. Iv. F, Jones, reported as follows on the main highways’ maintenance and construction works at the monthly meeting of the council yesterday ‘‘Gishorno-Wairoa, via Morere. —The flanks of bitumen have been graded ‘with the- power grader. About 50 cubic yards of gravel lias been spread on tiro flanks of the bitumen. “Gisborne-Wairoa, via Hnngaroa. — General surfacing work has been carried out throughout. About 15 cubic yards of chips have been patched out. “Gisborne-Opotiki, via Coast. —-About IJ,- miles of clay shouldering has been done. General surfacing work has been carried out. “Gisborne‘o])Otiki, via. Mot 11. —The gravel section has ,been graded throughout. General surfacing work lias been carried out. The- flanks of the bitumen have been built up with about 300 cubic yards of gravel. “Gisbome-Ornumd, via Waiohika. — Grading work has been carried out thronghdut the gravel section. General surfacing, work has been done. “JPatutalri-Rere. The grader has trimmed up the road from the Town Board boundary to -Ngatapa. Two new concrete culverts have been put-in lie tween 8 mile and 9 mile. About. 50 cubic yards of Patutahi chips have been 'patched out and'several small slips vo moved; Geiteral. surfacing work has been done throughout. ' CONSTRUCTION WORK

“Gisborne-Wairoa, via Hangaroa.— (The major work on Gentle Annie is closed for the winter. Proposals. have ’ been submitted to the Main Highways - Hoard for a further two miles of recon- ■ str fiction of Gentle Annie Hill. ( “Gifiborne-Opotiki, via Motu.—-Wet weatlief lias severely retarded progress ■ at. Motuhora quarry and metal is not vet available for this work. It is hoped to - harve the metalling completed to enable tlie bitumen sealing to proceed during the summer. ■ 'T’atutahi-Rere.— Proposals have been submitted tn the Main Highways Board .or the completion of the regrading of : Jim Ngatapa Hill, the straiglitcning ol the road at the Karaka yards and the construction of a new culvert at, Fitzgerald's. “Manutukc to Wairoa, via Mangajoike Valley, Mamrtuke to Reav Bridge 3ec“oa. —The contractor has completed (■2s miles of metalling on this road. Proposals for a further two miles have been "submitted to t.lie Public Works Department for approval, 'the contractor is making good- progress with the supply of shawls for the new work. “Waingakc-Mangapoiko section, JexBlake’s bridge.—ft is anticipated tliat ■ the Public Works- Department subsidy ;-.vill- lie available for, the re-erection of this bridge. Proposals will be snb- . mitted to' the Public Works Department at an early date. “Waimatn Valley road.—Proposals ■have been submitted to the l’ublic Works Department for Rough Creek i Bridge. Tlie contractors have not yet made a start on the supply of spawls .for the season’s' .work on the Arakihi road. QUARRIES AND PLANT “Gillingham’s quarry, Waerenga-o-Icm-i.—Arrangements have been completed ■tfith 'the Public Works Department to obtain- 2000 cub. yds', from this source. The work is being put in hand immediately by Mr. J. Rudsitz, tlie contractor at present operating the ! quarry.' - “Patutahi quarry,—The necessity of -carrying out stripping operations has compelled crushing operations to stop rfor about a month. Over 11,GOO cub. (yds. of crushed stone have been turned out since the contractors started in January, practically all of which lias been used on various county works. A power shovel is being used for the stripping work, this being tlie most efficient and expeditious ivay of carrying it out. “Repongacre quarry.-—lt is anticipated that satisfactory arrangements will be tmada with the Public Works Department for the leasing of this quarry, and it is proposed to call tenders shortly in conjunction with the main construction works for the crushing of about 10.00 C cull. yds. . , “Gravel supplies.—Whilst supplies ol " gravel' have' been , restricted for some 'time the value of the dragline plants has been amply demonstrated and the .quality of the screened gravel makes it 'ranch more desirable than straight run -river gravel. The Kaitaratahi plant output can be- conveniently used in tin Kaiti area and the Waevenga-a-biki. ■ plaint on the- flats from Ormond to "Mata--1 whero. It is desirable that a similar supply bo available in the Patutahi area land I. would suggest that* the approval of tlie Patutahi Town Board be obtained for the erection of a plant at Ell iriers' beach in their area, i “Purchase oL truck.—Consideration Lwas given, by the special committee to the purchase of n truck, and a vehicle was selected. Delivery will bo made in about a month. “Motor graders.—A- thorough overhaul is being given to this portion of the plant, some of which has been in .operation. for 10 .years.. ‘ “Tree-planting.—lt lias not been pos siblo to consult with Mr. Harris with reference to the proposed area at Waterfall- Hill, and the definition of the boundaries of tlie area concerned has therefore not yet been commenced. “Office alterations.—Steady progress is being made with the plans in connection with this work. “Unemployed relief works.—The consolidation of a number of small gangs under permanent, foremen is taking place, and. It is ’ hoped to considerably improve the efficiency in this manner.

"Matokitoki Valley drain.—The recent heavy rains caused a small amount of flooding in the borough from this source. This might be overcome largely by cleaning from the Taruheru up to the lower end of the diversion cut on tho boundary, I would suggest that- 1 be authorised to confer with flic borough engineer with a view to obtaining some assistance from tho borough in flic matter.

“County Collages.—Minor urgent re pairs have been carried out on several of the cottages, hut time lias not per mitted tlie preparation of a, comprehensive report. A considerable amount of detail work is involved, and the matter will be delayed for some time. “Drainage matters. —In view of tinnumber of drainage matters, some of a contentious nature, which come before the council from time to, time, I would suggest that consideration be given to the setting up of a special drainage committee to investigate the powers anil responsibilities of tlie council in these matters and to take any action that may be necessary.’’. RIDING MATTERS

“Gisborne riding,—lmprovement work on Willows road is held up with the wet weather. Levels have been taken with a view to putting a culvert across the highway at Bloomfield road junction and the work will be put in hand as soon as the bridge gang is available. Improvement work is completed on the Mahunga drain and a number of other drainage problems aro being given attention, “Milriwai riding.—An inspection- of portion of this riding was made during the month in company with Cr. Bowen. A ride on horseback into Mr. G. Coop’s, on the Tokormi-Tarewa road, was made for the purpose of determining the worst patches of the road in connection with this season’s proposed metalling work. “P'akarae riding.—No major damage has occurred as a result of the heavy rain and the usual general maintenance lias received attention. “Patutahi riding.—Several temporary blockages took, place on roads in this riding. during the month. The silt deposited by the flooding of the Ngatapa creek has caused very disagreeable road conditions which are being slowly remedied. Tlie cleaning of this creek is a matter of paramount importance to the locality and would he well worthy of further consideration by the owners You-. corned and the council. “Pmiawa riding.—A large gang of relief labor is at present engaged oil Riverside road under I lie surfaceman. Mr. O’Grady. This work has been restricted to the portion as far as Cave’s road, hut it is hoped'later !o arrange suitable transport lo carry out- work on the top end of lhe road. “Tarulimi riding.—A small job inprogress on Faulkner’s road was fm-ttier complicated by si If. deposits following flood .conditions. General maintenance work is being carried on I tlrrniighonf the riding. “To Avnhn riding;—Arrangements aro being made for lhe supply of maintenance melul for tlie T.-tfiuiiga road from Gillingham's quarry. Extra labor is engaged in 1 rimming up (lie lop end of I Ills road. Maintenance work is being carried onl on tlm Waterfall Hill seclion and on Stafford’s road. “Tiniroto riding.—ln company with Cr. Hall, an inspection was made of (lie riding under winter conditions. Most of the clay roads warp negotiated by car with the greatest- difficulty and some. by. horse. Extra maintenance labor was arranged on tlie Wailcareinoami road. A;

200 ft. suspension bridge over (lie. llaiigaion I’iver on the Bushy Knoll road was inspected and repairs will lie necessary al an early date. "Waimain , riding.—General maintenance work has boon carried mil throughout this riding during tho month. “Waingako riding!—The metal in the depot nl Waingake has been crushed and some of il run out. on rim Valley road. The slips at the top end of the road lire practically cleared, The funnel of lhe Pelican lias been purchased and is to hr- utilised as a onl void al Parker's anil Urn preseii 1 wafer crossing done, away with. Il is hoped to carry out- tile work willi llm bridge gang lit an early dale? Maintenance metal from Patutahi quarry has been run mil from (lie end of the n-constrm-i ion contract to, 11 cay Bridge and (his portion of the Valley road is now generally in heller condition. “Whalanpoko riding.—Gravel repairs have been carried mil throughout this riding. Tho usual maiiiteiuumc work has been carried, out. Several applications for extension of gravel were inspected with Cr.. Thomas and arrangements made to carry out tho work in the summer.