FURTHER SLIPS IN NORTHERN RANGITIKEI COUNTY ROADS

Wanganui Chronicle, 4 October 1947, Page 3

FURTHER SLIPS IN NORTHERN RANGITIKEI COUNTY ROADS

.3.R.) Marton, Oct. 2. Further rain early in September caused more slips and washouts on most roads in the northern portion of the Rangitikei County, stated the engineer, Mr. H. Murray Reid, in his monthly report to the council, adopted at the meeting in Marton today. He added that roads were now clear oi slips with the exception of the clay portion of Wairepu West Road. Much work was still necessary, however, to bring the roads back to a reasonable state of repair The chairman, Cr. K. W. Dalrymple, presided, also in attendance being Crs. G. L. Marshall, A. S. Coleman, B. G. Stewart, J. R. L. Hammond, T. C. Chisholm, A. D. Mair, J. M. B. Collier ond V. Smith and the county clerk (Mr. F. L. Nicol) and the engineer. Leave of absence was granted Cr. W. Doole. In a detailed report on the condition of roads and work carried out in the various ridings, the engineer stated that in the Rangitoto Riding power graders had trimmed the Parewanui and Brandon Hili Roads, while maintenance metal had been placed on the Pukepapa and Makirikiri Roads. Upper and Lower Wangaehu Valley roads had also received maintenance metal and a surfaceman had been obtained for this district, with the result that routine work was being carried out. Power graders had trimmed footpaths in the Turakina township and had worked at regular periods on the lower Turakina Valley Road. Much work had yet to be carried out m the Wangaehu Riding, but it would be proceeded with as soon as men could be released from river protection works at Kakariki. Because of an acute shortage of grader tyres, the grader used for Upper Tutaenui roads and Jefferson’s Line (Porewa Riding) had been idle for more than a week. “As we have now secured a new set of tyres lor this machine regular grading of these roads is now being carried cut, ’ the engineer added. All major slips in the Otairi Riding had been cleared by a bulldozer, and the Hunterville maintenance gang was busy clearing smaller slips, repairing culverts and carrying out all necessary work to restore the roads to good shape after being damaged by recent floods. “Urgent and necessary repairs to the Kapakapa Bridge have been completed and the slip that was partly blocking the approach to the bridge has been shifted," the engineer stated “Traffic is now using Griffen’s Pit Road, hut it still requires a good deai of general maintenance work to keep it in any sort of order. A grader is working there at the present time." In the Awarua Riding, in the northern portion of the county, the Makopua and Potaka Roads were blocked with slips. Narrow parts of the Omatane and Kawhatau North Roads had been widened and a safety fence erected along the river bluff leading to the suspension bridge. Slips had been cleared off the Wairepu West and East, Saddle, fuiakina Valley, Mangamahoe and Whaka Roads in the Te Kapua Riding. An old wooden culvert on the mail/ highway had collapsed and was being replaced by 36in concrete pipes haunched with concrete. This work had held up the delivery of metal which was badly needed in the Mangaone area, as ft was unsafe to send heavy ioads ever the filling. In the Ruanui Riding the Turakina Valley, Owhakura and Mataroa Roads together with Hale s Track, were blocked by slips. Hale's Track was also completely blocked by a wash-out past Bald Hill, but this would be widened sufficiently to make a stoqk. track.