TOUR CONCLUDED

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20774, 6 April 1939, Page 8

TOUR CONCLUDED

RAGLAN COUNCILLORS EXPENDITURE WITHIN COUNTY PROGRESS ON MAIN HIGHWAY (Times Special Reporter) RAGLAN, Wednesday Several of the major schemes undertaken by the Raglan County Council w.ere visited to-day when the tour of inspection by the members was concluded. The southern portion of the county from Waingaro to Ngaruwahia and south as far at Te Rore was

covered, while a trip was also made along Lhe main highway from Whaiawhata to Raglan.

Rapid progress was found to have been made with the construction work on the Raglan main highway and in the opinion of the county engineer, Mr Iv. M. Wright, the earthworks would be completed within the next lew weeks. Modern machinery had facilitated the work to a large degree and with the fine weather experienced considerable headway had been made. it was expected that the sealing of the second portion of the highway would be finished in about three months. One of the biggest undertakings of the council is the construction and realignment of the approaches to the new bridge over the Kaniwhaniwha stream. The bridge , a counter lever reinforced concrete structure of five spans, is 150 feet long and was built at a cost of £4196. The total cost was £8072, the approaches, which are almost completed, involving an extra £4490. The total sum included the Government subsidy. County Expenditure More than usual had been spent by the council on roads during the past 12 months, the major scheme on the Raglan main highway taking a considerable portion of it. A sum of £24,297, which included the subsidy from the Main Highways Board, was utilised for highways, while on backblock roads over £30,260 was spent. In all £54,558 was expended within the county. During the final day of the tour opportunity was taken to inspect the proposed Ngaruawahia-Waingaro main highway which would be realigned during the next year or two, the Iluapuke mountain road and the proposed new’ bridge over the Opotoru inlet at Raglan. The native land development scheme, inaugurated by the Government, at Waitetuna. was visited. Suitable dwellings had been erected to accommodate the natives and rapid progress appeared to have been made. There was a noticeable reduction in the prevalence of ragwort. Splendid Progress Splendid progress with road construction was revealed on the tour. In the isolated settlements especially, the engineer and his staff had made amazing improvements and in no part of the county was there any siyns of inadequate means of access for the settlers. The general opinion was that, once the improvements to the main road *.o ißaglan were completed the district would be opened up to a greater extent.