COUNTY WORKS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19998, 15 November 1927, Page 8

COUNTY WORKS

THE WAITOTARA COUNCIL ROAD IMPROVEMENTS At the monthly meeting of the Waitotara County Council, held yesterday, there were present: Crs. W. Morrison (chair), R. Laird, H. Goldsbury, G. Russell, L. Turner, G. Campbell, E. Parsons and L. Jones. The county engineer (Mr T. Dix) submitted his monthly report as follows: Auckland Wellington Highway.— Six portions of roadway situated between the 6 and 22 mile posts, were scarified and reshaped. Rough metal on the Waitotara Hill was blinded with shell grit, holes in the asphalt surface were repaired and the metalled surface throughout Jas patched and graded. Chips are now being carted, and road intersections and curves are being widened for the proposed surface scaling work situated between Maxwell and Waitotara. A concrete culvert was laid to enable wptcr Jo be drained off Mr Henry Taylor’s land at Westmere. Two short lengths of asphalt near the 3 mile post have been cracked for some lime past; on examination it was discovered that water from two springs was causing the damage on the portion of roadway at Gloyne’s Cutting. The springs have now been piped and led away from the road. No water was found on the cracked portion of the asphalt at Virginia Road, nearer than four feet of the road surface. It is surmised that the water that has destroyed the asphalt comes to the surface by capillary attraction. Four rubble drains have been built across the roadway, with a hope that they may drain the road. Rangitatau-Watershcd Highway.—The contract for widening the roadway at three underslips on Paparangi Hill, has been completed, the slips have since been planted with willows. Surfacemen in their spare time are widening the road at the Devil’s Elbow. Twentyeight yards of spawls were carted to erect a retaining wall connected with the widening work. Several slips were cleared and watertables received attention where necessary. One hundred and fifty yards of shell rock have been quarried for maintenance purposes. Tokomaru Riding. —The principle work that has been carried out on all roads comprises the clearing of slips and cleaning watertables. More satisfactory progress is being made with the advent of finer weather.

Westmere Riding.—A shell rock .abutment has been built on the west approach to the Churton Streafti bridge on Parsons Street, 85 yards of gravel were used for patching the HeadsMosston Road. Devon Road has been formed by the grader and a footpath has been formed on Springvale Road. The following roads have been graded, viz.: Tayforth, Springvale, Caversham, Belmont, Seafield, Durham, Cameron, Westmere, Francis, Rapanui, Livingstone, Watt, also Buxton and Parson Streets and Fitzherbert Avenue. Watertables on Rapanui Road and., drains on Seafield Road received attention, the metal on Livingstone Road was patched. Fences at the Junction of Heads and Springvale Roads and also at Junction of Heads Road and Buxton Street have been set back to give better vision. The traffic census on Springvale Road reveals that the daily traffic of motor vehicles is 367, horse drawn vehicles 15, push cycles 194, horses driven or led 14, cattle driven 20, sheep driven 97. Waitotara Riding.—On the Pukerimu Road 192 yards of shell rock were used for patching and 183 yards of fines from the Omarunui Pit were used for metalling the Rangifatau West Road. The Kai Iwi Valley Road was graded and general surface work was done on the Waitotara Valley, Upper Pakaraka, Oruakainga and Rangitatau West Roads.

Brunswick Riding.—On the Brunswick and River roads, portions of the roadway adjoining the City were scarified, reshaped and rolled. Drains were cleaned on the Koatanui, Kaikokopu and Brunswick roads, the Western Line, Westmere Station and Campbell roads were graded and slips were cleared on Roberts Avenue and Tokomaru East Roads.

Contracts. —Upper Pakaraka Road: 654 yards of crushed shell rock were carted and spread on the road. The contractor should complete his work in about ten days time. Campbell Road: Formation work has been satisfactorily completed. Brunswick Road: 436 yards of screened gravel were carted and spread on the road. The contract should be completed within seven days. Ramahiku Punt: The punt has been constructed in Wanganui but has to be debvered before the contract is completed. Mr M. J. Hartwell wrote drawing attention to the unsatisfactory state of the Poukawa Road.— Referred to the engineer to attend to.