WAIKATO COUNTY.

Waikato Times, Volume 102, Issue 17076, 13 April 1927, Page 5

WAIKATO COUNTY.

THE MONTHLY MEETING.

PROGRESS OF WORK. The monthly meeting of Waikato County Council was held yesterday, Mr W. Newill presiding. otlicrs present were Councillors - T. Hinton, S. Lye, T. H. Henderson, J. Old, Smith and Sampson. Engineer’s Report. The county engineer (Mr A. A. Woodward) submitted the following monthly report:— Hamilton-Paeroa Main Highway: Arrangements have been made to regrade ail the sanded portions ar.d resand these where necessary. The metalled portions have again become potholed, and these I intend to give a light coat of metal chips. It is only possible to keep the road in any sort nf order by continuous use of the grader. Tauhei Roads: I have made arrangements now for further Worries to go on the work this week, and if permission can be obtameci from the Power Board to use the power for longer hours, the output from the quairy can be increased sufficiently to keep them employed continuously and there will be a reasonable chance of finishing this contract tnis monih. Rutherford Road: The contract for metalling on this road has been completed under the estimate, leaving a balance of the grant available for more work. Proposals have been submitted to the Public Works De-

partment for metalling a small gap porth of the Mangawara bridge and to re-metal the length adjoining the Main Orini.Road which was originally only partly metalled. Proctor Road: The >vork of'forming this road in readiness for the metal is nearing completion. Lye’s Road: The work which was promised on this road by the Council some months ago is nearly completed. This road is being reformed and metalled, and should give no further trouble in future. Ohinewai-Te Hoc Road: 1 Arrangements have been made to cart out a considerable quantity of Shingle on to the road from Matahuru, Bnd, also the worst portions of the road nearer Ohinewai will be repaired with metal from the Huntly quarry. The question of obtaining the land on ■which Tucker’s quarry is situated was discussed at last meeting and a resolution was carried in favour of doing so. On going further into the matter I consider it would not be a good policy to incur this expense at present, as in addition to the legal expenses and the cost of the land, there would be the cost of fencing one side from the main road into the quarry and the fence around the quarry, and at the present time. I am not in a position to ,say how much metal is in the quarry. At the end of the proposed five year’s lease, if satisfactory, this or a new site could then be obtained. Mangapiko Road: With Cr. Smith I inspected this and made arrangements to metal a short length of 'this road which has been left unmetalled. We also arranged to supply hardwood timber for a bridge which has been broken on Storey’s Road, the settlers themselves haring agreed to erect it. The purchase of a motor grader, which was decided on at the last meeting of

the Council, is a matter that should be further discussed. On March 15 most of the Council made a tour of inspection of various county bridges in the Huntly Riding and the Whangamarino Road District. We found most of the bridges in the Whangamarino Road DisriJct in good order. Several in the Huntly Riding require immediate repairs. Th work will be carried out as soon as possible.* The list of bridges inspected was as follows:—Rridges, Death’s corner. Ohinewai-Te Hoe road, in had order; requires a lot of new decking and running hoards. Mangapiko bridge requires new decking throughout. White bridge, Matahuru, several new planks and running hoards. Storey’s bridge. Taniwha, in fair order. Wacrenga Valley and Ohairea bridges (new concrete bridges). Waikaraka bridge, near Mcinnes’ farm. Maramarua, in good order; requires a coat of paint.. Shanks’ bridge, new bridge in good order; blackberries require cutting. Stonev Creek bridge (new hardwood bridge). Canoe bridge, on boundary Franklin County, a dangerous bridge: requires replacing. Mangatangi bridge. No. t, new bridge in good order. Mangatangi bridge No. 2, requires redecking. General Matters. The a</er of the, Tauhei Drainage Board of £75 towards the cost of the erection of a new bridge over the Tailhei stream was accepted.

The application of Mr Parfltt. for permission to erect a bowser in front of his store at Gordonton was granted, subject to the engineer's approval.

An application by the Hillside Drainage Board to lower pipes was left in the hands of the engineer.

The Commissioner of Lands sought the Council’s approval to the sale of Section 13a. liaulapu P.S.TI. —Left to chairman with power to act. Mr A. Smith wrote asking for pipes to carry water off Wallace’s side road. 'Free labour was offered for the work. —Left to Cr. Henderson and the engineer. A request for assistance for draining was received from Mr T. B- Austing in connection with the drain leading into the Esk drain near Ruakura. — Matter left in hands of engineer and Cr. Hinton.

It was decided to call tenders for the cleaning of the Hopuhopu drain. The dismissal of a county foreman by the engineer was the subject of an inquiry in view of statements which had been circulated, and the Council was satisfied that the correct action had been taken.