RAGLAN COUNTY

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20774, 6 April 1939, Page 10

RAGLAN COUNTY

TOUR OF INSPECTION

MANY IMPROVEMENTS fiACK- COUNTRY DEVELOPMENT (Times Special Reporter) WAINGARO, Wednesday Over 160 miles of county roads were covered by members of the Raglan County Council yesterday when they began a tour of inspection of the area under their control. The course was confined mainly to the northern end of the county, the route taken being from Ngaruawahia to Huntly, through Rotongaro. Wairamarama, Waikaretu to Port Waikato. The course then followed the estuary of the Waikato River to Tuakau, where it turned south through Pukekawa, Glen Murray and Woodleigh to Waingaro. The party comprised: Messrs H. W. Wilson 'chairman , W. R. Glasgow, W. Moore, L. Logan. E. Lowe, W. Vernon, P. Kirk. W. Lowe, P. C. Johnstone, 11. Johnstone, K. MWright engineer*, and G. BrownieeSrnith (clerk,. Good Progress On the journey stops were made to inspect various Government and council schemes. Rapid progress is being made with road construction and alignment work, and considering the dry weather, the hark roads are m fairly good order. The dust nuisanc-c. however, is more evident than usual. The councillors inspected the Rangiriri drainage area, which served about 10,000 acres. Mr Wright pointed out that the success of the main drain from the Whangape stream to Rotongaro Lake depended on the willows in the stream being cleared. A scheme costing about £7OOO would shortly be put in hand for that purpose. The reconstruction of the jnain highway from the Tuakau Bridge to Port Waikato was inspected, also those from Tuakau to Onewhero and from Tuakau to Glen Murray. Eleven miles of new’ metalling connecting the Onewhero district with Woodleigh were covered. The work of transforming the clay road from Naike to Waikarea was also inspected. New Deviation Rapid progress, possible by the use of up-to-date machinery, is being made with the construction of the deviation on the Ruakiwi Hill. There a cutting, 48 feet deep, is being made to improve the grade on a portion of the main highway from Nguarawahia to Waingaro and to make the stretch of road less inconvenient for cartage lorries. Several bends will also be eliminated. In the opinion of the county engineer the work will be completed in a few weeks. Interest was taken by the members in the rapid development of the coastal country in the vicinity of Port Waikato. Not only are the European settlements being improved, but the native lands, under the development scheme inaugurated by the Government, are being brought into cultivation at an astonishing rate. Tour Continued To-day the party left Waingaro and travelled to Ngaruawahia, WbatawSata, Karamu and as far south as Te Rore. After returning to Whatawhata the main highway was followed to Raglan. This completed the tour.