WINTER ROADING

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19121, 16 September 1936, Page 16

WINTER ROADING

FAVOURABLE PERIOD COOK COUNTY WORK REPORT BY ENGINEER Roads in the Cook County have come through the winter in good condition. The county engineer, Mr. K. E. Jones, reported t.o this effect to the council meeting to-day. His report stated: — "The month lias been largely devoted to preparation of data in connection with the sitting of the Arbitration' Court, which'is anticipated to take place shortly. RIDINGS. "Maintenance work is progressing favourably throughout the riding roads, and fortunately owing to the extremely good winter experienced most of the areas have come through the winter without suffering any heavy damage. . "Some of the ridings which were subject to the storm damage in February last have in several instances had assistance granted from the Public Works Department’s funds to help m the repair work. In the Pakarao riding, however, particularly, no such assistance was granted and the very heavy repair work necessary has left this ' riding somewhat embarrassed financially. . , r “Gisborne Riding.—A large depot ol "ravel has been put at Wueienga-a-hika and it is intended to use tins tor maintenance work on the gravel roads on the flat early next year. 1 lie gravel loads generally are in fair order and the graders are giving them careful attention. The most difficult road to maintain is probably Nelson road, which is the road to the cemetery, and it is hoped that a Government subsidy will be available tins year for the purpose of reconstruction and sealing. “Mnriwai Riding—Most of the gravelling work on the roads in the flat lias been completed and a number ot now culverts have been put in to replace.old ones which were in a had state of repair. Proposals to install a flood-gate together with a new culvert to provide improved drainage facilities adjoining the old beach road have been considered. “Pakarae Riding.—'General surfacing work is being carried out. the contractor for the gravelling, Mr. H- /*; Monk has completed his contract, but further gravel is still required to satisfactorily repair Hie damage caused by Hooding earlier in the year, the finances of this riding prohibit any nether work of this nature being carried out. “Patutahi riding. —Most of the mam tenance gravelling work lias been com plctcd for this season, and the improvement, particularly on Totangi and Lawnham roads, as a result is very noticeable. Some new culverts are required on Hilnroroa road, and these will be put ill as finances permit. The Gentle Annie stock track lias been improved by draining out some very wet patches and stock will be able to. use this route without any difficulty in the future ’ “Pouawu riding.—A dose . watch has jcen kept on the new footbridge at Maikareru, as there is a'tendency for erosion to take place at this locality, borne rravel maintenance has been provided on jkitu road, which was becoming m a bad state of repair. On Riverside road a cer tain anfoimt of patching work lias been carried out with the county lorry with t\la law hero gravel, and it is proposed to ontinue this work. “TaiTiheru riding.—R is probable that the depth of the present gravel roads is eingi considerably diminished each yeai is no great quantity of gravel can be applied with the finances available in tins “Te Arolia riding.—The spawls in the lepot at Tahunga nave been crushed by he portable crusher in readiness for metalling work to he carried out shortly it the upper end of the JlangaroaTaliora road. Oil the lower end of this road, about 450 cub. yds of maintenance metal from Watrenga-o-knri quarry have jeeu patched cut, and the road has been graded throughout with the powei grader. Some 20 cub. yds of new metal have been provided on Rice’s road to ini prove a bad patch on this settler’s access. "Tiniroto ridiug.—Beyond general surfacing work, very little lias been carried out so far this season in this riding. The riding funds had been purposely conserved for the institution of now metal work by means .of subsidy from the employment promotion fuiid. As the prospect of putting this work in hand is remote and maintenance metalling work is essential, particularly on the Hanga roaAVaikaremoana road, it is intended to go ahead shortly with the crushing of the spawls in the depot at Burns-Graham’s. Improvement work is being carried out on Von Bein’s access road, which became impassable during the heavy storm in February last. With the assistance of the Public Works Department’s flood damage vote, it is hoped to put this portion of the road in reasonably "good order, but a suggestion to carry out a deviation has had to lie discarded on account of the cost involved.

"Waimata riding.—The improvement effected on the main Valley road by the application of river gravel is noticeable, and its finances permit each year this work will he continued. Tn view of the. failure to institute No. •> scheme contract work, the proposal to carry out new metalling work on the upper end of the Waimata-Arukilii road is not very hopeful. A certain amount of planting has been carried out. on the upper Waimata road in an endeavour to overcome the damage caused to the road by the slipping ot the country. The grader will he sent up to Newman’s road, Waiinokn, shortly, and the creek crossings on this route are to be improved also. It is hoped biter in the season to install several new culverts on Trafford’s road, and effect some very necessary improvements where the road is tending to slip away altogether.

“AVaingake riding—Gravel from the council’s plant at Alatawhero has been used to advantage on the maintenance work on the main Alangapoike Valley road. The melal in the depot tit Waingakc has been crushed by the portable crusher, and as finances permit this material will lie used for maintenance work on the Waingakc hill section.

“Wlmtaupoko riding.—The council’s l.ony has been engaged 'in carting Matawliero gravel for patching out throughout this riding, and it is proposed to continue this work as conditions permit. The surfaceman is effecting a considerable improvement in the drainage generally around Kaiti, and has a number of jobs of this nature in hand. Proposals are in hand in connection with the reconditioning of Riverside road, whore the slipping occurred recently and in

conjunction with the reconditioning of the river wall it is hoped to effect a considerable improvement, in this locality shortly.”