ROADS AFFECTED BY WEATHER

Southland Times, Issue 23740, 11 February 1939, Page 20

ROADS AFFECTED BY WEATHER

ENGINEER’S REPORT TO COUNCIL

LOSS OF TIME DURING STATUTORY HOLIDAYS

The weather during the latter part of December and all January had a detrimental effect on the roads generally in the Southland county, according to a report for December and January by the engineer (Mr G. R. Milward) to a meeting of the Southland County Council yesterday. Loss of time during the statutory holidays when the graders were not in use caused some of the surfaces to become rather rough, continued the report. However, they had since been repaired and the roads generally were now in reasonably good order. Constructional work in the county had, of course, been rather slow during January and December, but, nevertheless, most of the works were well advanced and should be completed within the financial year. “In addition to the usual routine work in Wallacetown riding, the riding trucks and gang were employed in carrying out reconstruction and strengthening on a section of the LorneTuatapere highway at Wrights Bush in preparation for sealing near the factory,” stated the engineer’s report. “The work has been completed, and the sealing contract is about to be let. Considerable weed broke loose in the Waikiwi creek and accumulated on the bridge piles. This was cleared by the riding gangs. Several minor flood repair works were also undertaken.

“In December the Winton riding trucks were employed carting maintenance gravel from the plant at Winton, this work being completed before the holidays. Since this work two trucks have been laid up, and the remaining truck has been used with the surfacing gang on general work. The power grader has been employed on several construction jobs in addition to its ordinary routine grading. Trimming up has been carried out on the new part of the road from Gill road to Springhills, and a number of slips has been removed. Because of excessive wet weather and the time lost with the graders in the statutory holiday period, the road surfaces have deteriorated somewhat, and it has been found necessary to work the grader and drags for 10 hours a day for a week or two to catch up with the work.

“In addition to the usual routine work in Hokonui riding, the surfacing gang has been engaged on the construction of a concrete culvert on the Waimea Valley road known as the Hut Creek culvert. This work is under the charge of the riding foreman, and a very satisfactory job is being done. Because of flood waters, several nunor repairs have also been necessary during the period. On December 23, 1938, the road construction work on the Croydon-Retreat road, which was undertaken by No. 13 scheme workers, was stopped, and no more work has been done on this road since. During December the county bridge gang was engaged in the Hokonui riding reconditioning a number of bridges on the Gore-Winton highway. In January, however, the work was held over, and the bridge gang foreman and engine driver were transferred to the Oreti river bridge, Bay road, to drive piles for this structure.” TENDERS ACCEPTED The following tenders were accepted: Awarua and Hokonui ridings—Glencoe district roads: D. Swain and Sons, £344 2/6. Toetoes riding—Biggar road: D. Oates, £164 14/-. Wallacetown riding, road from Waikiwi railway station to West Plains road: R. Fotheringham, £52 10/-. Winton riding—Winton Block VIII road: J. Moylan, £126 18/3. There were present Crs G. W. Whittingham (chairman), W. M. Norman, J. Dennis, L. A. Niederer, J. McNeill, F. F. Trapski, A. S. McNaught.