MAIN ROADS.

Waikato Times, Volume 105, Issue 17710, 14 May 1929, Page 6

MAIN ROADS.

WAIPA COUNTY ROUTES. THE GREAT SOUTH STRETOH. GIVING IT ATTENTION. In the report the engineer (Mr J. W. Civil) submitted to yesterday's meeting of the Waipa County Council, it was stated in respect of the Great South Road from Hamilton to Ngaruawahia that some 265 cubic yards of gravel sand had been spread. Arrangements have been made for tin; supply of some 400 cubic yards of metal chips to give the road a topdressing, from No. 1 Bridge (Whitiora) to Storey’s Avenue. The contract had been let for carting this material, and the work would be started next Thursday. Grading of the road, the report added, had been carried out by both motor and horse graders.

In reply to a question which was asked at a stage of the meeting, some time after the engineer’s report had been read, the engineer said that there was no likelihood of any increase above two-thirds being available for maintenance work on the route in question. Cr. S. Saulbrey remarked that the road had been cut up a lot of late, and especially suffered by the abnormal car traffic at race time.

Cr. A. Livingstone was of the opinion that the road was not as bad as the members of Automobile Association made out, but Cr. T. Church considered that it was one of the worst roads about, and its position had not been magniAed by the Association. The chairman (Cr. S. C. Macky) said that he had travelled over the road recently, and while it certainly was rough in places it was standing well considering the volume of traffic it had to carry.

It was elucidated in further reference to the route that the cost of laying down a permanent surface vyould be a charge upon the ratepayers of the county as a whole. In connection with the position of the main route south of Hamilton, the engineer’s report stated that in addition to work which had been carried out by the graders, some 526 cubic yards of gravel had been authorised to be spread on various sections in the Rukuhia riding, and this work was now in progress. In respect of the route through (he Kaipaki riding, the report showed that some 100 cubic yards of metal chips were being spread. Concerning the area of the road in the Ranglaohia riding, from Te Awamutu to Ohaupo, twenty chains of concrete kerbing and channelling had been carried out, while the forming and sanding of 2i chains .of footpaths was nearing completion. Some 29 chains had been formed and metalled to permanent grades to be ready to receive the penetration sealed course next season. In the Orakau riding portion of the route, some 97 cubic yards, Punnui gravel had been stacked on the side of the road for future maintenance, and grading had been carried out.