WAITOTARA COUNTY COUNCIL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 19033, 10 June 1924, Page 10

WAITOTARA COUNTY COUNCIL

The Waitotara County Council met yesterday. Present: Councillors W. Morrison (chairman) Ritchie, Connor, Richardson, Goldsbury, R. Farley, Campbell, G'. Russell, Billinghurst. ENGINEER’S ANNUAL REPORT The engineer (Mr. T. Dix) presented the following annual report:— So far no advice is to hand as to the roads that are to be brought within the jurisdiction of the Main Highways Board. For the purpose of these estimates it will be assumed that onj,y the Great North Western Road will be declared a Main Highway. The motor traffic on our roads shows a steady increase; this is revealed by the census of traffic taken last January, and again for three days during the strike period. It is interest ng to note that on the basis of the first tally of the traffic the annual revenue that could be derived from a toll gate would be £5308. The daily average of motor cars was 224, and motor trucks 17. The proposed toll charges were two and four shillings respectively for each vehicle, and it was assumed that all vehicles would pass through the gate twice daily, hut only toll for one trip would be charged. What a source of revenue we would have if permission from the Government to erect toll gates were granted, but it seems improbable that will ever be. We have anticipated collecting revenue from the licensing of motor vehicles plying within the county, but that idea has been upset by a recent magistrate’s decision. Our revenue can therefore only be obtained from rates.

At different times I have raised the question of heavily-laden motor trucks utilising the bye-roads, which are not built to cary abnormal loads. Legislation is necessary to allow counties power to limit the loading over bye-roads. There is an economical limit to expenditure, which is justifiable o n construction. There is a necessity for building strong roads, but it is not a practicable financial proposition to build all roads of a strength to carry any possible kind of traffic.

Legislation is also necessary for making a rule of road for traffic at road junctions and also for prohibiting heavy vehicles, with studded tyres and cross bars, using asphalt surfaces, as serious damage may be done to roads in hot weather. The past year has been rather an anxious time with regard to maintenance work. The continued wet weather has hindered progress and the metal supplies have been short. The latter difficulty should be overcome to a great extent when the Rangitikei County’s crushing plant is in operation. The metal purchased from outside the county amounted to 2446 cubic yards, it being obtained from the Wellington and Taranaki districts. Main Road.—The cost of maintenance amounted to £2537 of which labour, comprising surface and quarry men, accounted for £1690. The total quantity of metal used, amounted to 3222 cubic yards. The funds available would not allow of work of a permanent nature being carried out.

The proposals for the current year include asphalting the Belmont metal surface through Kai Iwi, comprising 70 chains, and metalling the flat at Westmere between the Rapanui and Blueskin roads. It Will be necessary to widen the first portion six feet to comply with the Highway Board’s standard width. The Westmere flat has not a sufficient foundation to carry the present traffic, and it is quite noticeable the way the asphalt is breaking up. The damage done to the roads during the recent strike shows how inadequate our roads are to carry the present motor traffic. There appears to be no immediate prospect of obtaining loan money at low interest on the local market for road improvements. Under the circumstances the Government could be again approached with a view of obtaining permission to erect a toll gate.

Riding Roads.—There is still a considerable amount of maintenance work to be done to bring the metalled roads into good repair. In the Brunswick riding 1654 cubic yards of metal were used for maintenance work, 501 yards being procured from Te Wera, and the balance being local shell-rock and gravel. A contract has been let to quarry or crush 1000 yards of Kaikokopu gravel for maintenance work within the Brunswick riding. The maintenance metal used on the Westmere riding roads amounted to 698 cubic yards, all of which was purchased from private sources. The metal for the Waitotara was procured from the county’s shell-rock pits, and was carted by our trucks. The surfacemen quarried and carted the necessary metal for reparing the metalled roads within the Tokomaru riding. The earth roads show a considerable improvement after being trimmed by the grader. Owing to several mishaps to the tractor, the backblock roads were not graded u ntil late autumn. The time was too late the season to get the full benefit of grading. During the year a portion of the Abu Ahu and Kauarapaoa roads were handed over to the council by the Public Works Department.

Bridges.—The bridges generally are in fair order, though the truss ones require screwing. The hand rails of practiealy all bridges should be repainted. Repairs are necessary for the Waitotara bridge to the extent of £5OO, the chief work being painting and redecking. Plant. —The plant is in fair order. The additions comprise a tractor and grader. The Bessemer track has passed its usefulness as a metal carrier and has been fitted as a watercart, for which purpose it serves admirably. I would again nrge the necessity of purchasing a light motor truck for maintenance work. It would be especially useful during the winter. Not much use was made of the roller, its excessive wdight being detrimental to the roads when stone of a soft nature is used. The roller is too heavy for asphalt work. It will be necessary to purchase or hire a roller for that class of work. The crusher was used on two of the Rangitatau East metalling works. It is hardly mobile enough for back-

country work. Difficulty was experienced in hauling it around the sharp corners. As practically all the metal that is brought by rail has to be dumped, a loading elevator is necessary, so as to carry out the work economically and expeditiously. Houses.—A very small sum was expended in maintenance. £2OO will be required for maintenance, wh-ch comprises painting and general repairs.

Contracts totalling £6616 were completed, and contracts amounting to £3451 are in progress or have been let. On the average there has not been any marked difference in the cost of the work, though the tenders for work lately let, are lower than prices ruling during the summer. No doubt this is accounted for by the present shortage of work, and an over supply of labour. Government Grants.—Owing to the difficulty in obtaining loans from the Advances to Settlers Department, full advantage could not be taken of the £1 for £1 grants. ENGINEER’S MONTHLY REPORT. General.—The recent rains caused many small slips on the backblock roads. The Rangitatau East and Kauarapaoa roads were closed to vehicular traffic. The former is again open, but owing to the wet nature of one large slip on the Kaurapaoa road, near Scott’s, that road will be closed to through traffic until the weather is favourable for working. Only slow progress was made on the contract works.

Main Road. —Good progress has been made in carrying out repair work. The road was patched between Goat Valley and Waitotara, 763 yards of metal being used during the month. A filling near the Okehu bridge subsided. The old wooden culvert was replaced by pipes. Grit was graded over the newly metalled portion on the Kai Iwi hill, and also up to the edge of the asphalt at Westmere. Watertables were attended to between Kai Iwi and Westmere.

Waitotara Riding.—The surfacemen were chiefly engaged on the different metalling works. General surface work was carried out on the Rangitatau East and West, Kai Iwi and Waitotara Valley and Brunswick roads. Upper Pakaraka, Bushy Park, Okehu Station. Rangitiatau East and West roads' were metalpatcjfed. The crusher was partly dismantled before it was possible to transport it from Waitahinga to the roadman's cottage. Westmere Riding—Watertables were cleaned on the Springvale, Tayforth, Mosstown and Rapanui roads. Metal repairs were carried out On the Rapanui (33 yards) and Springvale and Tayforth roads; 69 yards being required for the latter roads. The metalling of Symes road will be completed in a few days. Drains were cleaned along the Springvale road. Brunswick Riding.—Grass edges were cut off, and grit was graded on to the Western Line and Tokomaru East roads. The new metal on the Kaikokopu road was graded. Ordinary surface work was done 'on the Kaikokopu,. Brunswick, Riverbank, and Tokomaru East roads, and metal repairs attended to on the Campbell, Brunswick, and Riverbank roads. Shell-rock was quarried by the surfacemen on the Koatanui road.

Tokomaru Rid.ng.—75 yards of shell-rock were used in extending the metalling on Buchanan’s Hill, Tokomaru East road. Slips were cleared on the Kauarapaoa, Watershed. Ahu Ahu, and Rangitatau East roads. Protective rails have been erected at the cuttings on the Tokomaru East road. A running slip is causing trouble in the cutting at Brownlie’s turnoff. The cutting has been widened and the road level raised so as to give the road better drainage. A new wire rope has been placed in position for the Te Tuhi punt, which was strained through being stranded during the recent flood. The punt is now being caulked and generally overhauled. CONTRACTS. Junction Road —Water s first contract will be completed within a week. Rangitatau East Road.—Owing to the weather conditions Vincent has ceased crushing operations. He intends to quarry rock until there is more settled weather for carting. Brunswick Road—Hurley has completed half his contract. Symes Road.—Cleveland will complete his contract in about two days. Okehu Station Road.—Sturzaker carted out 20 yards of grit for maintenance work. Main Road.—B9s yards of grit have been carted out to date for metal repairs between Maxwelltown and Waitotara Waitotara Road.—McGlashan expects to complete the widening within a week. Work has not been started on the Watt, Mission and Kaikokopu road metalling contracts.