COUNTY WORKS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 85, 23 November 1911, Page 2

COUNTY WORKS.

SUNDRY REPORTS. The following reports were submitted at yesterday morning’s meeting of the County Council: — Engineer. North Mountain Road: The remetalling of two portions of this rad between Monmouth Road and Riakan Bridge has been* completed with the exception of the blinding of the northern portion. 'lnis work, which has been delayed owing to the broken weather, will now be pusned forward without delay. Beaconsiieid Road: The rc-metailin** of a portion of this road at the lower end of the

North Riding is.; in progress, the crushing plant being engaged in connection tnerewith at the Mangamu crushing site. As soon as the work is completed the crushing of the maintenance metal for the west portion of the North Riding will be put in hand. York Road: An access road is now being made into the stream to obtain tire necessary boulders for re-nietalling a further portion of this road. Waipnkn bridge: Drawings and .specifications in connection with the renewal of this bridge were forwarded to the' Taranakr County Council on July 18th last, for consideration and approval. Since then, with the exception of a letter asking for an estimate of cost, nothing further lias been heard of tiie matter. During this time the corrosion of the existing structure is progressing apace, and it must bo borne in mind Unit the Commissioner, in his report to the Governor, described the bridge as being then

unsafe for heavy traffic. Steps should bo taken without much furtner delay to proceed with the renewal. Upper York Hoad; I have again written to the Minister for Public Works, urging that some assistance lie granted for the repair of a portion of this road. Tne reply is before you today. Upper Pembroke Hoad,: 1 have arranged for the expenditure of the £lO balance over from last season, in repairing the unmetalled portion of this road. Waingongoro bridge, Finnerty Hoad: I have examined the west pier of this bridge and find that the capsill is rotten. A false pier, costing about £B, is required to render the bridge safe. Tne suggestion to put in a concrete pier 1 do not think advisable, as if the bridge is renewed in concrete it would • not servo any useful purpose, the main piers of the arch being on the cdge_ of the waterway. Though tins bridge is as yet fairly sound, it is altogether too light a structure to take with safety the heavy traffic which now passes oyer it, and, therefore, the matter of a renewal should be considered before very long. Second bridge, Finnerty Hoad, west of Ngaire; The decking on this bridge, though not rotten, is too light, considering the span between stringers, to take the traffic on the road, and in consequence is continually breaking through. A false deck, costing about £2O w v ould get over the difficulty. „Cartage of Metal over Finnerty' Road: During the month a large amount of crushed metal lias, been carted by an Eltham County contractor over that portion of Finnerty Hoad, between \\ aingongora stream and Stuart Hoad. i nave inspected the said portion of road, and compared it with a previous inspection made before the . carting in question commenced. 1 find that very considerable damage lias been done. As a result 1 have written to the contractor requesting that a hundred c-übic yards of crushed metal bo tipped along the damaged portion of the road for the reinstatement or same, and have further informed him that if such is not done T will recommend the' Council to reinstate the road itself and recover the cost from him by virtue of the powers conferred by section 150 of the Public Works Act. Concrete bridge near Rowan: The renewal of a bridge in concrete on Opunake Road near Ho Ann Iras been completed. Manga told Bridge Opunake Hoad: This bridge is in need of cleaning, painting, and screwing up, and 1 recommend that the work be put in hand. Finnerty Hoad crushing site: The boundary of the road at this crushing site has been surveyed, and the foreman instructed waere to put the necessary fence. Toko Stream Bridge, Toko Hoad: The work of renewing this bridge in concrete is now in progress. Drain Clearing, etc., New Ivopna district: The final contract in connection with this work is nearly completed, but a cut which is included in the contract lias not yet been taken down to a sufficient depth. Wawiri 'Hoad: As instructed, 1 have inspected the lower portion of this road, and find that at least a mile of it is badly in need of re-metalling. The cost of same, with certain necessary earthwork to improve the very bad grades at present existing, would bo about £7OO. Maknri Hoad: On the portion of metal on this road nearest Huiroa there is a sufficient quantity of maintenance metal, hut on the portion nearest Wawiri Hoad there is practically none at ail. 11 the Wawiri Hoad re-metalling is proceeded with the required amount of maintenance metal for Maknri Hoad can be most economically obtained. Horse and Cart for Maiigaahu Hiding: 1 do not think it would be wise to go in for this, as during a considerable portion, of the year it would not be used. For tiio present the most economical procedure would lie to hire a horse and cart when it is actually required. Waipuku Bridge: It was decided to instruct the engineer to proceed with the renewal. 'Pile Waingongoro Bridge: The erection of the false pier was authorised. Second Bridge, Finnerty Hoad: Engineer’s recommendation adopted. Damage by Eltham County Carters: Engineer’s action approved. Manga told Bridge: Recommendation adopted. Wawiri Hoad: Hiding members to confer with the settlers. Horse and Cart, Mangaohu: Held over till next meeting, Cr. Young to sea the foreman in the meantime. Foremen. 1). Brown.—Most of the roads under my care are in fair order. Mountain lioad; 1 have finished crushing on this road, and have about hall tee now metal blinded with gravel, bat Clio weather has been against getting on very well lately with neavy work. York Hoad: 1 had some repairs done to this road, and made a track into the river, where 1 am to get out the boulders for this season’s metal. 1 will make a start on same as soon as 1 got the blinding of the Mountain Hoad metal out of baud. 1 have repaired Derby, Rutland, Radnor, Monmouth, Flint, and Township Hoads, and also put men on to repair Cardiff and Upper Uembroke Hoads. .1. ivovaleski.—Owing to -the weather, we have been able to make very little progress with the crushing this month.' The heavy carting has broken up Beacousficld Hoad and Kent Terrace rather badly. We have sufficient men and teams to crush 80yds per day if the weather would permit, but owing to the state of the roads I cannot allow them to work full time and this is causing some dissatisfaction. S. Parker.—All the metalled roads

are in fair order, except the upper I Finnerty Road, which Mr funis is i gd'cv to repair to the engineer’s j satisfaction. All the unmetalled ; mads are in fair order now. The j decking of the second bridge in lower j Finnerty Road is not strong enough. The timber is sound enougn, but it is not strong enough to stand the weight of the heavy traffic. L. Roberts.—. During the month wo have been kept busy water-tabling j and patching. The YVaiwiri Road lias | been cut up very badly during the | past month, but is now getting into | fair order again. The Toko Road is also beginning to break up, and requires very close attention while the material for the bridge is being carted. I propose to start blinding those roads on which the metal shows j signs of loosening early next month, j R Hancock.— Heao Road: f have •

done up this road so that a sledge j can get along it, but culverts are i required in some places. Akamai Road; .1 have made a start with this road, but it is in a frightful state. I will get it done as soon as possible. The other roads were in fair order during the past month, but the constant rain has kept us busy on the metal roads. Further, there is milkcarting on the clay roads, which lias made a lot more work. The Maknra factory being burnt down causes some to go to Douglas; hut with a few days’ line weather everything will lie all right. R. Robinson.—Some of the roads liavo broken up very badly owing to the heavy rains we have been having, hut all the metal roads are now in fair order. Hastings Road South: This road has broken up very badly during the past month. 1 would like to re-metal ten or twelve chains of this road near the factroy. Opunaka Road No. II.: I have been instructed by the engineer to raise a Jibing on this road, but owing to the wot weather 1 have not been able to do much to it as yet. Opunake Road No. I. : The engineer instructed me to raise a filling on this road near Mr Malone’s farm. I will got it done as soon as possible. As authorised, I am shifting the road 'over from Caldwell’s fence to make a more even curve in the road. It will be fin-

ished in a few clays. I have not been able as yet to obtain any teams for carting out the boulders. J. Savage.—l have finished banking up the metal and fillings on the Tuttitawa Road. The approaches, and fences at the Kaitieke bridge are finished. The Mangaehu Hoad opposite Mr Woods’ property is in bad order, and 1 bave been unable to do anything to it owing to the wet weather, but I will make a start on it as soon as the weather takes up. The Puniwhakau Hoad is in a bad state, so 1 have put on an extra man for a month. All the other roads are in fair order. Ranger. During the past month there has not been a great deal of stock at large. On the 21th ulc., owing to complaints, I went to Kiore and impounded a horse (since sold). On tiie 2otli 1 went to Boaconsfield Road, Midhirst, and York Hoad, and found nothing straying. On the 26th I found two horses on Wawiri Hoad (released). On the 27tb, 1 found one horse on Croydon Hoad (released). On tiie 28tli 1 went to Skinner, Wingrove, and Cheai Hoads, and found cloven cows on the latter (released). On the 30th 1. found live heifers and one bull on the Mountain Hoad (impounded). On the 6th inst. I went to Midhirst and Denbigh Road, but found nothing. On the 7th 1 found both the Stanley and Makuri Hoads clear of stray stock. On the 9th i went to iieaconsfield, Blandish, Denbigh, Radnor, and Pembroke Hoads, and found three horses on the two latter roads (released). On the 11th i went to Croydon, Waipuku and iieaconsfield Hoads, and found five draught horses (released). On the night of the 7th I impounded twenty weanors from the Wawiri Hoad. On the 12th 1 impounded one bullock from East Road. On the 20th 1 found nine cows at Huiroa (released). The following is a list of dates on which the Midnirst ranger found stock wandering in the township :—lßth ult., one horse; 19th, four horse*; 23rd, one horse; 28th, one horse; 7th inst, one horse; 13th, one cow. All .these were released. He also reports that the teamsters employed by the Council are looking after their horses well and giving as little trouble as possible. The Midhirst ranger also complains of Mr. Baskin herding his cows on the road and refusing to take notice of a warning. Will the Council kindly instruct me in the matter? 1 have, made enquiry, and understand that Jacobsen is doing his duty impartially. 1 mention this, as lie informs me that there is an endeavour in one quarter to have him removed. 1 have not received Milner’s report tins month. The mistake is mine, as 1 was to call for it, but missed him.