COUNTY WORKS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19025, 27 May 1936, Page 16

COUNTY WORKS

HIGHWAYS AND BRIDGES COOK ENGINEER’S REPORT The engineer to the Cook Qounly Council, Mr. K. F. Jones, reported lo (lie monthly meeting of the council today, on works under his control, us under: “Good weather has been experienced since last meeting of the council, and as a result a large number of the smaller jobs have been put in hand. Gravel maintenance work particularly has proceeded rapidly with fairly good supplies of gravel offering direct from the beaches in the Waipaoa River. “In company with Cr. Shanks, an inspection was made of Waingake riding roads.

“A start is being made on the annual bridge inspection throughout, the county. The bridge gang has been engaged repairing bridges and culverts, throughout the county. "Relief Works.—No alteration has taken place in the No. 5 scheme activities of the council, the number of men at present oil the council’s pay sheetbeing 224. ‘ ‘Hangaroa-Waikaremoana Road. —The Public Works Department has completed tho metalling proposals up as far as Mr. Von Rein’s and a first class job has been made. I would recommend that the council agree to take over the work and advise the department accordingly.

“Gisborne-Wairoa via Hangaroa mam highway.—ln company with the district engineer, Mr. 0. G. Thornton, and Cr. Hall, ;m inspection was made of this highway with a view to investigating certain maintenance improvements in the coming season’s programme of works. The department has been effecting a steady improvement in the portion of Hie highway under its control. “Taruheru Creek.—ln company with Messrs. Pilmer, Tietjen and 1 Turner, oi tho Poverty Bay River Board, Mr. Brooks, of the Public Works Department, Mi'. 11. Tucker and Cr. S. T. Gray, an inspection was made of this creek from Warren road to College road. Considerable improvement has been effected by (lie department in removing willows and blockages from the creek. The water level generally has been lowered nearly 3ft., with beneficial results to tho adjoining properties. The question of the maintenance of the work carried out was considered as well as the continuation of tho improvement work. The matter of a contribution by the River Board towards the work was discussed, but no decision reached.

“Removal of trees, upper Fox street-. —An inspection of this locality was recently made as a result of a request by Mr. Legge to have some trees removed. It appears to me that at. present these trees constitute a real danger to the houses, telephone, and electric services in this area as they have reached much greater dimensions than is desirable in trees planted on the road primarily for scenic purposes. "I would suggest therefore that consideration be given to tho removal of tfieso trees and the replanting with those of a more desirable nature and I would he pleased to have the council’s direction on the matter.

"Gisborne-Wairoa, via. Morere, main highway, 2.45-mile to 10.30-mile. —About 400 cub. yds. of gravel and 300 cub. yds. of stone chips have been used to build up the flanks of the bitumen, which have been graded throughout with the power grader. General surfacing work has been carried out throughout. “Gisborne-Wairoa, via. Hangaroa, 6.65 mile to 21.15-mile,—Between 17-mile and

21.15-mile, about 600 cub. yds. of maintenance metal lias been run out, and this section graded throughout with the power grader. General surfacing work has been carried out throughout. "Gisborne-Opotiki, via Coast, main highway, 1.20-mile to 4-inile.—The super-elevation of the curves throughout this section has been brought up to highway standard. General maintenance lias received attention throughout.

“Gisborne-Opotiki, via Motu, main highway, 2.45-mile to 14.10-mile.—One mile of bitumen resealing has been carried out, between 3.75-mile and 4.50mile, and 7.80-mile and 8.40-mile. The gravel section from 11.35-mile to 14.10mile has been graded throughout, and about 260 cub. yds. of screened gravel run out. About 350 cub. yds. of gravel have been run out. on the flanks of the bitumen. General maintenance has received attention. "Gisborne-Ormond, via Waioluka, main highway, 2.75-mile to 8.70-mile. One mile of bitumen resealing has been carried out between 2.75-mile and 3.25mile, and between 4.84-mile and 5.32mile. The gravel section between 6.30mile and 8.50-mile has been graded throughout, and about 150 cub. yds. of gravel run out. “Patutahi-Rere main highway.—About 500 cub. yds. of maintenance gravel have been run out, and about 100 cub. yds. of Patutahi chips patched out. The road lias been graded with a power grader, and general maintenance has received attention. CON STRU CTION WORK is

“Bushy Knoll road, Tiniroto.—The contractor, Mr. li. K. Monk, after stopping work owing to tne wet weather, recommenced and has completed about 50 chains of metalling. Inis used all tile stone quarried to date, and a gang is employed at To Reinga quarry obtaining furtiier supplies. A good search is being made for local stone for this job, as supplies from Te lteinga are becoming much more dillicult to obtain. So far very little success has attended the search.

“Hangaroa-Tahora road (Blue Cutting).—The spalls are in the depot at Taliunga, and as soon as the portable crusher is available these will be crushed and the work gone on with. “Jex-Blake’s bridge, Maugapoike Valley road.—Mr. J. Webb has now completed this work. “Manutuke-Reay Bridge, reconstruction and metalling.—Base course metalling is completed on the season’s work, and the top course metalling held over until proper consolidation of the base has been elfected. A start with the top course will be made about August. “Ngalcaroa road.—The tender of Mr. G. Brocklebank for the gravelling of 41 chains of this x’oad has been accepted, and the work is now completed. The re-forming was carried out largely by the county grader. “Repongaere soldiers’ settlement road. —A contract for the gravelling of about 80 chains has been let to Mr. A. H. Monk, and is practically completed. The re-forming has been carried out by the county grader. “Riverside road (Donner’s). —Proposals have now been, forwarded to the Public Works Department for their approval. It is proposed to form and metal from the end of the present gravel to the approach to Mr. Hegarty’s bridge. “Steven’s road. —The re-forming work has been carried out by the county grader, but the recent wet weather has prevented a start being made with the gravelling work. “Tokanui-Tarewa road.—The contractor, Mr. A. Guthrie, is well on with the re-forming and_ metalling of 30 chains of this road. “Mander’s road bridge.—Mr. D. K. McLeod lias completed this work.’’