PLAINS ROADS.

Thames Star, Volume LXV, Issue 18237, 10 July 1931, Page 3

PLAINS ROADS.

HAURAKI PLAINS COUNTY. Meeting of Council. WORK OF THE MONTH. RIDING BOUNDARIES QUESTION. Mr W. Madgwick presided over the July meeting of the Hauraki Plains County Council at Ngatea yesterday, there also being present Crs J. Motion, W. E. Hale, C. W. Parfitt, J. S. McClune, W. McDuli, J. A. Reid, A. L. Fisher, and F. J. Mayn. The County Clerk (Mr E. A. Mahoney), the County Engineer (Mr F. Basbam) and the County Inspector (Mr J. W. D. Johnston) were also in attendance. A Sound Position. The chairman congratulated the staff and the Council on the reductions made possible in the rates. He stated that the Council was in a position in which very few other councils were to-day. Netherton deserved most congratulation, particularly Cr Reid, who should bt proud to have his roads sealed and his rates reduced in the one year The Mangatarata area also deserved congratulation. Special congratulations were due to the staff for their work in providing for a rainy day. Cr Reid desired to pay particular tribute to the work of the clerk, who had so carefully conserved the finances of the County that it had made his work easy. Cr Motion claimed that there was no particular credit due, since the County should be one of the cheapest run in the country, since the Government had metalled all the roads in the first place. Crs Reid, Fisher, McDulf and the chairman disagreed with the lastspeaker, giving instances. The clerk said that Cr Motion's remarks might apply to the Pipiroa Riding. Cr McClune contended that "the P.W.D. policy in laying down roads in the first place in certain materials was now costing the County dear. He also paid a trbiute to the staff. Cr Hale also mentioned that ratepayers were pleased Avitk the situation. However, some were afraid that the Council had overdone it and feared for too high a rate next year. However, he was assured by the clerk that this would not be s:>. He himself took no credit for the saving but attributed it to the policy of the previous Council. Work of the Month. The County Engineer (Mr F. Bashani) reported upon the work of the month as follows: — Main Highways. Pokeno - Waihi. Between the waterworks, and Ngatea worst portions of the road-have been scarified, and flattened as far as metal already on road will permit. An average of three yards of new metal per chain has been applied up to tho limit of supplies to hand. Balance of road has been kept graded and patched. Road is in fair order. So far approval of sealing proposals is not yet to hand, and I have been unable, to call for tenders closing at this meeting. I propose doing so for the August meeting. In view of the fact that the proposals provide for the Council supplying all metal required to the successful tenderer, I niust draw attention to the slow rate of delivery of maintenance metal. The contract was let in April and up till the end of June only 1246 yards of metal have been supplied. Unless the rate of delivery is considerably increased there is a grave danger of the Council being unable to carry out its obligations in respect to supply of necessary metal for sealing. Pipiroa - Coromandel. Scarifying, levelling and surfacing where necessary is in progress. Orongo - Netherton. Minor repairs to bitumen have been carried out. By-Roads.—On the whole these roads are all in fair order, but are receiving attention where necessary. Flood Damage.—The heavy rain early in June caused several washouts to bridges in the Riding. The worst damage was done to bridge over Mangawhero Creek on the main road. The present bridge is a 20ft span with studs on sills for abutments. At the eastern abutment the scour under the sill caused a drop in bridge of about lft 6in, and should another similar flood occur the bridge will probably

be washed away. In my opinion the present span is insufficient to carry flood water and I recommend a fur ther 15ft span being erected, and also that the present stud piers be replaced with three piles and caps, thus obviating the clanger of furtheir scour. I went into the matter with Mr Clare and his estimate foi the above work is £175/10/6. The next serious damage was to a small bridge at Mr Pullman's gute on the top road. There again scour under sills has occurred, and the substitution of piles is necessary to prevent further scour. One new wing wall on up-stream side is also necessary and extra sheeting at back of piles will be required. Mr Clare's estimate is £SB. The above two bridges have been temporarily repaired but I will not guarantee the safety of either of them in the event of another flood. The matter of permanent repairs is urgent. Further minor damages have been repaired. Patetonga Flood Damage. Referring to the damage to the Mangawhero Bridge and the engineers recommendation, Cr Mayn said that the riding had not the funds to repair the bridge permanently. The temporary repairs would have to carry the traffic. The chairman said that no assistance could be got from the Main Highways Board. Report. The County Inspector (Mr W. J. D. Johnston) reported as follows: — Dog Registration.' —It has been necessary to order an extra hundred dog collai-s to complete the registration. So far these have not come to hand-. Traffic. —Drivers' licences and heavy traffic licences have been inspected in various parts of the County. In one case a motor-lorry was found with a load of approximately 2 tons lOcwt. but did not have a heavy traffic licence. On making enquiries, it ■ had not been renewed. An information ]-%\s been laid. A motor-bus carrying footballers was inspected and found to be well over weight for these roads. There is a letter before the Council for your consideration. A car was found with old plates on, but the owner had not been out to get them renewed. A farmer was spoken to re a heavy traffic licence and this has been fixed up. Five cases of speeding came before ti Court and fines were inflicted in each case.

Noxious Weeds. —Three notice:, have been sent re gorse, and two r blackberry. These have been commenced on. I have had odd patches of gorse cut on the old Paeroa Road. Buildings.—Permits have been issued for the following: Two cowsheds, one addition, and one threeroomed cottage. Straying Stock. —One bull and two horses have been impounded at Ngatea. The bull was kept for a fortnight and then sold. Owners' on tho Turua-Orbngo Road have been spoken to about straying stock and asked to repair fences. Overloaded Bus.' The Te Aroha Rugby Union wrote that the driver of the bus carrying their team to Ngatea had been pulled up by the Hauraki Plains Traffic Inspector and was charged with overloading. The Union pleaded ignorance of the conditions and requested that no prosecution be undertaken. The chairman said that he had been approached by the Union. The matter was left in the hands of the inspector. Patetonga Metalling. The Lands Department advised that the metalling on the Main Patetonga Road and Tramway Road had been completed, whilst an additional 600 yards of metal was being spread on the Maukoro Landing Road. The Department would grade the road until September 30 after which date the road would have to be maintained by the Council. The letter was received. Patetonga Tramline. TJie Lands Department wrote that as the Patetonga tramline was of no further use the Department had intended to remove it in November last but at the request of the Council had delayed their action. Now that the road was metalled the Department proposed to remove the line as the sleepers were rotten and the amount of use did not justify any renewal. On the motion of Cr Mayn the 'Council decided to raise no objection. Speed Limits.

A circular from the new Transport Department suggesting that traffic spued be increased on certain class roads was received. The main increase was in eonnee tion with lorries for which the present limit was 21 m.p.h. and would in future be 30 m.p.h. The chairman did not approve of this considering that a 25 per cent. increase on the Plains roads would be ample. Particularly was the Council objecting to a 50 per cent, increase in the load of multi-axled vehicles. The objection was largely due to the Council's experience with the sides of drains slipping in at Waitakaruru, owing to the spongy nature o£ the foundation. Back Miranda Road. The Public Works Department notified the Council that from July (i the control and maintenance of the Hack Miranda Road was vested in the Council. Cr McClnne asked why the ro&cl was not completed, the engineer explaining that application for the further amount would be on the coming estimates and that the work would be completed. Cr Medline objected to taking the road over but it was explained that the Council had no option in the matter.