WAIPA COUNTY COUNCIL

Waikato Independent, Volume XXX, Issue 2310, 13 March 1930, Page 3

WAIPA COUNTY COUNCIL

ENGINEER'S REPORT

ROUND THE KOADS. The following are extracts from the engineer's (Mr J. W. Civil) report to last Monday's meeting of the Waipa County Council: — Newcastle Riding. Great South Road, Hamilton to Ngaruawahia: Repairs have been carried out and grading done by both motor and horse graders. Hamilton Riding. Great South Road, Hamilton to Tc Awamutu: Grading has been carried out by motor and horse graders. Some 90 chains in length from Mystery Creek to Rukuhia factory has been given a coat of gravel from Pcrrow'.s pit, carted by F. Waters' lorries; also repairs carried out by surfaceman Garvey and Body. Kaipaki Riding. I

Great South Road, Hamilton to Whatawhata: Metal has been carted from Ohaupo and repairs carried out and grading done by motor grader. Ranby's Road, £ for £1: Forming SO chains of road. Contractor Reilly is making fair progress with his contract. Soworby's Road Grant, £1 for £1: This work of metalling 22 chains has been completed.

Berquist's Eoad: 49ft x 30in concrete pipe culvert has been placed into position and to levels to suit drainage. Norrish's Road: .Some 30 chains of this road has been reformed, and an engineering survey made of a further 30 chains. Plans prepared and formation work well in hand by Higgins with road plant. .Pipes have been supplied for laying 40ft x ISin and 40ft x 9in pipe culverts. Pukekuva Riding. Benn's Road Grant: 32ft by 4ft concrete pipe culvert with concrete wings has been placed into position; 14 chains of large drain excavated and the whole of the forming of 48 chains to 24ft road completed; also the whole of the new work gravelled w-ith gravel from Perkins' pit, 376 cubic yards being used for the purpose.

Roto-o-rangi to Puahue Road: Some 119 cubic yards gravel sand have been carted from Peppercorn's pit and repairs carried out. Marx's Road: Some 200 cubic yards gravel sand have been carted from Peppercorn's pit by the riding motor lorries and repairs carried out.

Grading and general surface work lias been carried out on other ruuds in the riding.

Pukekura Drainage: V< arson ami party have completed the forming, widening and deepening of drains from the 3-mile post on to the Cambridgo-Roto-o-rangi road, up to Vosper's, consisting of a total distance of three miles 30 chains.

The same party arc making a start this week down at Souter's and will work upwards through the poisoned willows to Nelson's and Blennerhassett's.

A start has been made by Wilson and party on main drain running from the White bridge on the Te AwamutuCambridge road, up to and through the Reynolds' Settlement. Traffic Inspectors. The clerk, Waikato County Council, forwarded a copy of a report of a meeting held at Hamilton on the 14th February, 1030, concerning the proposal to group various local bodies for the purpose of traffic inspection, and asked that the proposals be put before the council as early as possible, as a majority of the local authorities in the group were anxious to have the scheme in running order by the Ist April. A resolution was passed in connection with the above, and it was stated that should any of the smaller boroughs or areas fall out of the scheme the counties would carry on as usual. Discussion arose over the Te Awamutu Borough not coming in with the scheme, and it was decided to advise the council of the position with a view to trying to get the council to support them. Waotu Road. Mr E. Bulmer stated that he understood that it was the intention of the council to form and grade the old Waotu road from the Waiteti road to the function of Te Ana road, and suggested that the road be lightly metalled at least as far as the top of the hill, which becomes very slippery in wet weather. He was prepared to contribute £lO towards the cost of the work, or to assist the council in any other way possible. —Left to the riding member and the engineer. English Finance. Messrs Buxton and Co. advised that Mr Buxton was leaving for England about the end of March to conclude negotiations for the floatation of a corporation which is being formed for the sole purpose of investing in New Zealand local body debentures. They believed the result of the efforts would be the creation of an organisation capable of handling any local body loans either large or small on either flat or

amortisation terms, provided first class security is available, and at a total cost of interest, floatation add exchange charges substantially lower than current rates usually charged in New Zealand or Australia. As they desired to place on record with the London brokers the financial status of a certain number of local authorities they asked for a copy of the last printed balance sheet, anU to be furnished with particulars of any sums required by the council.

It was stated that just at present the county was not in need of money.

Kihikihi-Arapuni Main Highway.

Mr A. T. Weal complained that the main road from Woodward's property at Parawera right up through the Pukeatua settlement was in a very bad state with pot-holes, and stated that very little had been done on the road referred to for some considerable time. He would be glad to know if the council proposes to do anything to the road.

The engineer stated that they intended doing the road as soon as the crusher could be taken to the district. It was expected to have the work in hand within a month or two. Tokanui Road.

The Medical Superintendent, Tokanui Mental Hospital, complained that the recent discussion on the question of maintenance of the Tokanui road was unfair to his department; He pointed cut that under the "gentleman's agreement" the hospital undertook to look after the section of the road from Cruickshank's corner to the hospital farm gate, and that anybody now passing over the entire length of the road would have no difficulty in seeing (and feeling) who had carried out their part of the agreement entered into. The engineer stated that it was not a matter to do with the council, but evidently the two departments concerned had fallen out between themselves. The council had looked after their mile and a-quarter, but it was about the next mile and a-half (which the council had entered into no agreement about) that the trouble arose.

It was left to the clerk to draft a ietter setting* forth the previous agreement, and be sent to the new head of the Mental Department.