WORKS PROGRESS

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 59, Issue 4171, 11 August 1939, Page 3

WORKS PROGRESS

IN OTOROHANGA COUNTY. ENGINEER’S REPORT. The following are extracts from the report of the engineer, Mr G. Jackson, to the Otorohanga County Council meeting on Tuesday:— The usual increased maintenance that mudt be expected at this time of the year has been experienced and although for short periods following storms, pot holes were in evidence on all roads, repairs were effected within a reasonable time. The contractor on Honikiwi Main Highway has got as far with his job as possible under weather conditions, and the completion of the metalling must wait until the road dries. This road had slipped very badly, and the slips have all been removed from time to time, except in one place where a slip has occurred on three occasions until there is insufficient! width without moving the last slip. On Waipa Gorge Road, the river has been diverted where it was cutting away the road, but no further steps have been taken towards widening out the road, washed away. The survey of two new roads through the Waiwhakaata Block has been completed. A list of grants available for the current year is submitted to enable a decision to be made as to what grants will be taken up. The decision should be made as soon as possible, so that the necessary surveys and plans can be made and the work put in hand early.

An employee of the Council with. 18 years’ faithful service to his credit, Mr E. E. Le Prou, has reached the age limit and retired. I would recommend the matter of a. retiring gratuity for this man for your favourable consideration.

Main Highways Bridges have been subjected to a thorough examination, and it has been found that seven bridges require attention to put them in a reasonable state of repair, at the following approximate costs:— Te Kuiti Main Highway, £l5O. Kawa-Kawhia M. H., £250. Honikiwi M. H., £3OO.

This is in addition to the three bridges which are due for replacement on Pirongia-Ngutunui, Honikiwi and Mangaorongo Main Highways. At Pirongia-Kawhia at Whatiwhatihoe the Public Works Department is getting out plans for a new bridge. On Mangaorongo Main Highway, preliminary plans have been submitted and a reply is being awaited. On Honikiwi Main Highway no steps are being taken in the direction of replacement of the bridge at Mangimahoe Stream. Owaikura Road.— Authority for £lOOO, free, has been issued, .but no further money has been voted for completion of the 25 chains balance of metalling required to "complete to Archer’s gate. Haurua Road:—The Public Works Department has notified that the metalling of this road is now completed and the road is again under the care fif the Council. This is another mile and three quarters of metalled road which Honikiwi Riding will have to maintain for the convenience of the foreign traffic receiving any revenue from it. Public Works Grants.:—The Public Works Estimates have appeared mulch earlier than usual and a summary of Otorohanga County vote is appended. New votes amount to £5495, and are:— Barber’s Road, free, £3OO. Addison’s Access, £3 for £l, £lBO. Cottle’s Road, (County to contribute), £2OOO. Chindle Road, (County to contribute), £1650. Ngahape-Korakonui, (County to contribute), £6OO. Waipa Gorge Road, £3 for £l, £390. Pinney’s Access, £2 for £l, £95. Spicer’s Access, £3 for £l, £l5O. Waverley Road, free, £l3O. Last year votes that were not taken un have been revoted as under:— Blackeltt’s Road, £2 for £l, £230. Gallagher’s Road, £3 for £l, £350. Mangawhero Bridge-Dtewa Road; £2 for £l, £l6OO. Items for which application was made without results are.— Bonnett’s Access Road, Aotearoa Road, McFarlane’s Access, Scott’s Access, Scown’s Road, Te Rauamauku Road. The items which appear under the heading “County to Contribute” are problematical. At one time only a nominal contribution was required,

but last year’s experience was that one-third or one-fourth was looked for. 1 It is also noticed that £5OOO is voted for the Mangaorongo Stream clearing under the “Lands Improvement Vote.”