HIGHWAY COSTS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 2 July 1928, Page 3

HIGHWAY COSTS.

IN WAIRARAPA SOUTH COUNTY. A comprehensive ;md interesting report on the cost of reconstruction and surfacing by the bitumen penetration method the portion of the Wellington's pier main highway from Somerset Road, near Carterton to the Waingawa Bridge, was submitted to the AVairarapa South County Council at its meeting on Saturday. The work was carried out by the county staff. The estimated cost, including bridge and culvert, was £13,439 Ss and the actual cost was £13,307 Lis 4d, being £l3l Ids Sd below the engineer’s estimate. The cost of reconstruction and surfacing 5718 cubic yards in 1926-27 was £2497 los 6d, equal to a cost of Ss 9d per cubic yard; and in 1927-2 S, 10,393 cubic yards of reconstruction and surfacing cost £3872 Os sd, equal to 7s old per cubic yard. The reduced cost in the second year is accounted for by the installation of electrical power to run the crusher. Wlien the Finance Committee went into flic question of the advisability of installing electrical power, it estimated that on the running costs there would be a saving of three pence per cubic yard. The committee also considered that more metal would be crushed per day and thus a further saving would be ffected. The changeover to electricity has resulted in a considerably greater saving than was anticipated. The power proved cheaper, gave more even and better running, and added to the daily crushing output. The increased output also allowed the staff to handle more metal per day. The result of electrical running has, therefore, been progressive in its saving effects. I The chairman (Mr T. Y. Moore) ' complimented the County Clerk (Mr E. T. Beaven) and the staff upon the very clear report and schedule of costs of the permanent surfacing of the main road north from Carterton. It was very satisfactory to know that the installation of an electric motor for ! the crusher had resulted in a much greater saving than as anticipated, and to know the exact cost of each part of the road work. The figures would lie of interest to engineers and ; officials of other local bodies, as little information had been available so far as a guide. The chairman’s remarks were supplemented by other councillors. The Clerk, in thanking councillors for their, expression of approval, said that' the work of preparing the report was lessened by the completion of the timesheets, which now gave the detailed information necessary for compiling the return. The meeting also expressed its satisfaction at the very efficient supervision of the Overseer (Mr J. A. Wallace) in connection with the work, which was responsible in keeping the cost well below the estimate, and the | council unanimously voted him a bonus of £2O in appreciation of his good work.