County Engineer's Report.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 9 May 1914, Page 3

County Engineer's Report.

The following report, submitted by Mr J. Malcolm (County Engineer) was read at to-day's meeting of Horowhenua County Council: —

Te Horo Hiding

The contractor for the maintenance metal on the main road is now getting , on well. There was some delay and trouble at the start about the Bin tyres, but all is right now.

I will call for tenders for the fixing up of the district roads in the north end of the riding, to be in at next meeting of the council. I roultl not pet time to go over them to estimate the quantities needed for this meeting. I will also call tenders for repairing the Waikanae Boaoh road, the tenders to bo in at the same time. I would suggest tliat the landowners in the Otaki Gorge be written to asking them how many fencing , posts they are prepared to give towards finishing the fencing of the rood this year: a similar expenditure to Inst year, if they will give half the posts, will finish all the worst places and make the road fairly safe. A washout took place at the intake of the Te TToro water-races. Rome of the timber in the Mnngoane stream gave wny with the recent fresh and allowed tho intake to scour. I have piit in a weir of boulders in wirenetting across the stream. This. I think, will cure it for all time. Otaki Riding. The bridge at the end of the-To Roto road is finished. 1 propose (with your leave) to get the other one on the South Manakau road done at once. The pile-driving , and other gear is in the district. Tt will save carting it backward and forward if we go about jt now. I have metalled a portion of the main road in this riding with crushed metal. ] propose to do some more bye and bye. Wirokino Hiding. Metal crushing has been the order of the day in the southern cud of this riding for the month, and all the roads within reach of the river have been attended to. the consequence being that they are practically closed for motor traffic. I will have to do some binding with clay at once, but a roller will have to be got, as it seems it is now compulsory on us to do our best for the motor car.

I propose to do no more crushing for a time, as the weather is so uncertain and the days are so short; tlnerc is so much time lost. The Levin Borough Council ran do their bit where it is all short hauling, and I will come again. Tokomaru Riding. The metal contractors at both ends of the riding have got going and are getting on well. The contractor for the big road through the Makcrua swamp is getting on very well considering the weather. I think if a big flood keeps away he will get the formation and bridges done this season, but it is hardly likely that it will be possible to the metalling done. The contractor for the Albert 7'oad deviation has Hie work well in hand, nnd even with (he wot weather he will be able to worry through in time. General. Uur road grader Has completely given out with, us. All tiie parts nave become so much worn that it is now impossible lo do any good work with it. 1 have interviewed the mayor and officials oi UicLcvin Borough Council, and they are quite prepared to contribute about a third or £2o towards ilu> eost of u new one. Andersons, oi: Christen urch, are making what is said to be a good machine, and the cost is £77 f.o.b. Lyttelton. 1 think all things being equal we should gut a machine of Colonial manufacture on account of the facility in procuring spare parts. Our old grader has been a capital machine—the Council have had it thirteen years —but the greatest drawback has been the difficulty in getting blades. It has been often necessary to send to Melbourne for them, and by the time we get them here they run into about £4 t and they have no right to cost more than 5Us, aa other colonial makers supply them at that for their own machines.

I think it is well that we should join with the Borough Council in the purchase of a grader, as one will easily do all that the two councils want, but if tbe council thinks of getting a roller it will not do to join with anyone: in fact my opinion is we could easily keep two going, and it would pay to get them, 1 think, instead of joining anyone. Get two, and hire to the Levin Borough Council when we could spar© it. I would suggest that as soon as money is procurable at a cheap Kite tho council t;ike steps to procure a loan to buy two up-to-date, rollers. This does not apply to Uh , JJ»"'dor. I should ask that as soon as i( is ascertained which is Ihc ninsl up-to-date grader on the m;itket I be authorised to get it.