PATEA COUNTY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 77, Issue 108, 9 May 1934, Page 3

PATEA COUNTY

WORK OF YEAR REVIEWED ENGINEER’S ANNUAL REPORT The annual report on work carried out in the _Patea County was presented at the council’s meeting yesterday by the engineer (Air. J. N. Anderson). The report was as follows: Main Road. Works The season’s programme of re-align-ment and widening on the main road consisted of 36 chains in two secti-uis; one section being carried out by council plant and labour and the other section partly by conned work <tnd partly by contract. Section 1 was a length of 7 chains at the top of the Alanawapou Hill, where the road was straightened, widened and re-surfaced. The material for su’.facing camo trcni the crushing plant at Alanutahi Beach. Section 2 was a length of 29 ch&ins at the Kakaramca waterhole and there the whole of the road was re-con-structed on a new alignment. Part of the work was done by contract —Mr. J. Aloyc being the contractor —and the balance of the work was done by county workmen. All the metal for the reconstruction camo from the crushing plant at Alanutahi Beach with the exception of pea gravel for the final seal coat, which was brought from Wanganui. This section was not completed at the end of the financial year as the road was left to consolidate before sealing. There were two other sections included in the major mainten-

ance proposals, viz: Ten chains of widening at top of Waitotara Hill anu 24 chains of widening on the Whenuakura Hill. These sections have since been completed—using shell rock from Waitotara for a foundation course and Wanganui Gravel Co.’s 1-in. chips and pea gravel for finishing. The finishing material and bitumen for sealing arc included in-the expenditure, but all labour and the shell rock for the foundation course will coma into next year’s expenditure. Fifty-four chains of road at Manutahi, 30 chains on tho Patea Hill and a short section near Waverley Racecourse were re-sealeu and general patching and maintenance of shoulders was done where necessary. The steel span and cylinders of the Patea River bridge were chipped and painted with two coats of paint. This bridge requires further attention, which will be given as soon as the bridge builder is available. Arrangements were made for repairs to the Whenuakura bridge and most of the timber came into the 193334 expenditure. The bridge builder is at present at work on the job and has most of the work in connection with strengthening the pier completed. Branch Highways Ball Highway.—Under the heading of major maintenance a length of 14 chains of this highway was re-condi-tioned and sealed with a single coat of bitumen. A length of 30 to 40 chains at Alton was re-sealed and other maintenance work was carried out as required. Kaharoa Highway. —A short length of 71 chains of this highway was metalled under construction proposals and a further length of 27 chains received a two-coat seal as major maintenance. Some of the old metalled portions of this road are in very poor condition and a certain amount of gravel surfacing will have to be done as soon as the material can be made

available. Kohi Highway.—Sixteen chains of new metal were laid during the season, the work being done with shell rock from Waitotara pit and a surface coat of Hurley’s shingle. The existing metalled oorlions of the road were graded and top-dressed with siting u? and other ordinary maintenance work has been kept up to standard. Waverley Beach Highway.—A reinforced concrete box culvert was built to replace the old bridge over the Wairoa Stream. Ordinary maintenance and gravel surfacing has been done and the road is in reasonable condition. Moumahaki Mangawhio Highway.— This highway was extended to the top of the Mangawhio saddle and the Waitotara Station Highway closed. The metal portions of the road have been kept graded and surfaced as far as funds permitted. Some bridge repairs and further gravel surfacing are required on this road as soon as possible. Government Grant Works The following roads were metalled under Government grant proposals during the year. Waitotara Valley Road.—Metalling £2 for £1 and formation: Free. These gants were carried ove from the previous year and were for metalling 180 chains and forming 53| chains of the Waitotara Valley Road. The work was completed during the last financial year and the payments are shown in the attached schedule. Karahaki Road, £lO0 —£1 for £l. This work was carried over from last year and comprised 18| chains of metalling. The proposals were for 15£ chains, but the extra 3 chains was added to complete the gap. Waitotara-Ngutuwera, £lO0 —£1 for £l.--This grant was carried over from the previous year and 22 chains of metal was laid late in last season. Out of the present year’s vote the following work was completed before Al arch 31:

Upper Ball Road, £lO0 —£1 for £l. Sixteen and a-half chains of road were metalled with metal from Alanutahi Beach.

Wainoa Road, £loo—£l for £l.—Two sections, each of 8 chains, were laid on this road, metal from Alanutahi Beach being used. Otaupo Road, £lO0 —£1 for £l.—Fifteen and a-half chains of road were metalled with metal from Alanutahi Beach.

Hensen Road. £loo—£l for £l. Twenty-four chains of the hill were metalled with shell ro'ck from Waitotara pit and finished with a coat of gravel from Hurley’s pit. Waitotara-Ngutuwera Road, £2O0 — £1 for £l.—This road was being put down, but had not been completed by the end of the financial year. Work to the amount of £2OB 16s was completed in time to collect the subsidy. The whole of the 50 chains in the proposal have since been completed.

Since March 31 the following grants have been completed and these will come to charge in the current financial year. '

Afoturoa Road, £2oo—£l for £1. — Forty-two chains were metalled with shell rock from Waitotara Pit. Okutuku Road, £lso—£l for £l. Twenty-five chains were metalled with shell rock from Waitotara Pit and surfaced with pit gravel. Block Eight Road, £loo—£l for £l. —Twenty-two chains were metalled with shell rock from Waitotara Pit. The following schedule shows the amount of these grants received fron the Public Works Department during the year, the name of road, nature of work, and amount received being mentioned respectively:—Karahaki Road, metalling, £100; Waitotara Valley Road, metalling, £823 10s 8d; Waitotara Valley Road, formation, £153 6s Id; Waitotara-Ngutuwera Road, metalling, £100; Upper Bal] Road, metalling. £100; Wainoa Road, metalling, £100; Otauto Road, metalling, £100; Hensen Road, metalling. £100; Waitotara-Ngu-tuwera Road, progress payment £lO4 Ssf total, £l6Bl 4 S 9d. The first four items were carried over from the previous year, work being completed after Afarch 31, 1933. Riding Works (Other than Grants or Highways) Otoia West.—The following sections of road were metalled during the season: Kakaramea Road, 4 chains; Crompton Road, 4 chains; Afakino Road, 5 chains; Wilford Road. 3; AlcKenna’s Road, 2; Bremer’s Road, 3; Spence Road, 8j; Southcombe’s Road, 3; total, 32| chains. The maintenance of othet riding roads was kept going as far as possible. Most of the metalled roads in the riding require further maintenance and this will receive attention as time permits. Otoia East.—Twenty chains of Back’s Road was trimmed up and sealed with bitumen. New metal was laid on Baker’s Road—thre chains and on the Upper Kaharoa Road 5 chains. The Maben Road was put into running order during the summer and the road is now satisfactory for traffic as far as McCartney’s and should shortly be open as far as the old suspension bridge over the Patea River. Ordinary maintenance has been kept going throughout the year and most of the roads are in fair condition. Waverley Riding.—Several sections of metal were laid in this riding. Lower Okutuku 13i chains, Tower Road 5 chains, Hunter’s Road (Upper Okutuku) 1 chain, The Peat Road was graded and re-surfaced with shingle and the other roads were maintained as far as possible. The surfaceman who is permanently located at the back end of this riding has done good work and the clay roads arc in good condition. Aloumahaki Riding.—Two sections of road were metalled during the year. Block Nine Road 2 chains, Block Four Road 12$ chains. Several bridges were repaired in this riding. Bunn’s bridge on the Waitotara-Ngutuwera Road, Warner’s bridge on Block Nine Road and another small bridge on the same road was temporarily repaired to enThis bridge will have to have further repairs later in the year. A small bridge on the Ihupuku Road had new stringers put in and was re-decked. Bruce’s bridge on the Weraweraonga Road was also re-decked. The back country roads were put into order with the offset grader and this plant is undoubtedly improving many of the back clay roads. Kapara Riding.—The Public Works Department is still doing metalling on the Upper Alakakaho and they also intend re-aligning a section of the Lower Valley Road from the boundary bridge. The Alocawatea Roads were put in order with the offset grader and the clay roads in the Upper Valley are being similarly treated. Ross bridge and Leahy’s bridge on the Valley Road were repaired during the year and the council has resumed maintenance on the whole of the AVaitotara Valiev Road.

Belief Works The total payments on relief works during the year amounted to £1192 10s. The work done has been spread over a wide area and a number of roads have benefited thereby. A section of : the Whenuakura Hill was widened and a bad point cut back at the top of the Alanawapou. Another very useful work, carried out in conjunction with the Railway Department, was the cutting back of corners at Ball Road Rail way Station. This work considerably improved the visibility at the railway ; crossing. Most of the other works carried out by relief, though small in ..ize, were of great benefit to the districts concerned. Staff As there was a major change on the staff during the year the various portions of this report are perhaps not as comprehensive as they might have been. 1 desire to record my appreciation cf the assistance given to mo by the members of the staff and the outside employees since 1 took up duty with your council. I would particularly mention the county foreman, Air. Leigh, who has rendered excellent service. When I arrived in Patea the season’s programme was in full swing and the help he so readily gave enabled me to gather up. particulars of rhe work without hampering its progress. General The attached figures show the total expenditure for the year ended Afarch 31, 1934; Revenue. —Ordinary rates, £11,355 16s 3d, 52.8 per cent.; Government subsidy, £406 16s 3d, 1.8 per cent.; main highways subsidies, £3780 15s Hd, 17.5 per cent.; Government grants, £l6Bl 4s 9d, 7.7 per cent.; unemployment grants, £llBl 10s, 5.5 per cent.; licenses, £1202 16s Id, 5.6 per cent.; deposits, £lO6, .5 per cent.; rents, sales and sundries, £752 Ils 10d, 3.4 per cent.; interest, £1125 15s, 5.2 per cent.; total, £21,593 6s 6d, 100 per cent. Expenditure.—Actual works, ridings, highways grants, etc., £14,949 15s 10d, 71.6 per cent.; hospital, reserves, interest, licensing, etc., £3503 12s Id, 16.6 per cent.; administration (office, clerk, councillors, etc.), £833 12s 6d, 4.0 per cent.; engineering (engineer, office, car, etc.), £643 7s 7d, 3.1 per cent.; deposits returned, £96, .4 per cent.; plant, £895 15s 9d, 4.3 per cent.; total, £20,922 3s 9d, 100 per cent. The total revenue and expenditure for the past three years is shown in the following schedule: — Year. Revenue Expenditure £ s. d. £ s. d. 1932 . .. 26,470 11 2 28,715 3 2 1933 . .. 20,594 15 10 20,038 18 8 1934 . .. 21,593 6 6 20,922 3 9 All riding® completed the year working with a sound credit balance and the financial position may be considered satisfactory.