AROUND THE ROADS

Waikato Independent, Volume XXX, Issue 2315, 25 March 1930, Page 5

AROUND THE ROADS

IN MATAMATA COUNTY.

ENGINEER'S REPORT.

The following extracts are from the engineer's (Mr M. E. Fitzgerald) report to the monthly meeting of the Matamata County Council on Friday last:— .

Imperfectly shod vehicles have been somewhat in evidence on the roads recently. A tractor with grip wheels has been damaging pumice and Rhyolite surfaces in Tokoroa. A similar vehicle has been on the bituminous surfaces near Matamata, and sledges and konakis are fairly common. .Drastic steps will need to be taken to keep these destroyers in check.

During the past fortnight various payments have been made and final claims amounting to £11,714 have been submitted to the Main Highways Board and the Public Works Department. The total claims for the year now expiring abount to £32,836, which sum includes £17,695 towards loan jobs on main highways, and £11,391 for their general maintenance. Public Works Department claims amount to £3749, in addition to £BB4 carried forward from last year, and about £IBO expended by the department on Smith's access bridge against a cash allocation of £4325. These results have been obtained largely by concentration upon subsidised schemes to the exclusion of other special works. It will be remembered that the first half of the summer was very wet and seasonal work was considerably delayed and completion of the contracts in hand will depend upon a continuance of the present summer conditions.

Another factor in delaying some works has been the increasing cost of general maintenance and the necessity for conserving available funds for this purpose.

It would bo premature to attempt a detailed forecast of expenditure for next year, but it is not too early to foresee the necessity for earmaking less revenue moneys in the future -for development. So far as this county is concerned the considerable sums received from the Highways Board do not fully compensate for the extra roading expenditure occasioned by increased motor traffic, a position which is being felt by many local bodies.