Engineer's Report

Horowhenua Chronicle, 8 May 1915, Page 3

Engineer's Report

Tile following report was submitted to the Council to-day by the County Engineer, Mr -J. Malcolm:— " Te Horo Riding. The carting and laying of the maintenance metal lor this ruling is getting on all right; it is done round Waikanae and up to Te Horo. There are lour drayfi at work, but I think there will be one or two more "about Monday next. The Otaki Gorge road is just about finished for this year; there i.s about fifty chains done of the worst part of it. The metal lias l>een rather expensive to get as we have fjeeri quarrying from the Blue Bluff; in fact it was the only thing -within our reach. However, it has taken off a bad point on thfl road, so that is some consolation. lam getting the extension of the Ngarara road fixed up altogether. 1 was able to fix up the extension of the Hautere water supply district with the settlers; it is only a, small matter; my estimate for the lot is only £110. I think that it is likely tho settlers will subscribe the money and save the , trouble and expense of raising a loan 1 regret to say it will be necessary to .replace the bridge over the Mangaone stream at once. 1 much afraid the metal being carted over it will finish it. 1 watched it yesterday when a light vehicle was going over it and I instructed the surfaceman to watch when a heavy-loaded dniy was on it and royort to mo. but 1 huvo not yet got the report. It is a very difficult structure" to examine as there is about nine inches of water from side to side underneath, and aw it i.s very low you are not able to see it. i prepared a plan and would recommend that tenders be called returnable as aoou as possible. They could be dealt with by members lor the riding. It will be a serious matter if it breaks Otaki Riding. In this riding the roads are in fair order; the continuance of fine weather is saving them. I have got nearly all the rotten culverts on the South Manakau road replaced with cement pipes ;■ lfc k not before time. The bridge on ' the Waikawa Beach road over the Mauakaii stream is finished very satisfactorily ; the foundations of the abutments were very rotten. I had to increase tho sizu of the Concrete both in width and depth and then lay it on jarrah planking, but 1 am satisfied it is a good job now and will give no trouble. The erection ox the pound is now completed, and 1 believe it is in use; the only ,tbinji wanted is- a tank. I have been trying to pick up a eecond-hand one, but so far have been unable to, bn>t I will get a new one in a day or two. The new road to give acess to the Otaki cemetery, is in the hands of Messrs Carkeek and Bennett on behalf of the Town Board and the Church trustees. I instructed them to take the levels of the fewchains that we have to pro.vide for and eencl on the plans for our approval when done. I understand they propose to hand over tho plans to us with a request that we carry out the work. - Wirokiiio- Riding;. The formation, metalling and bridging on Ohau East road are completed very satisfactorily. There is nothing doing in this riding at the present time but tho usual maintenance. 1 expect to get on with tho the widening of the Foxton road early next week or as soon a sthe grader returns from Tokoniaru. I got all the necessary maintenance metal round Koputaroa fixed up before I let the railway trucks go. I have called tenders for the carting of metal irom "the crusher at Prouse's pit, Arapaepne road, but I am rather doubtful about getting a satisfactory tender as all the drays with i 8-inch tyres are in use for maintenance metal in other districts. Tt will take five drays to keep the crusher going if it is working well. It may be necessary to let the crushing stand over for a month or two. we might be able to do that if we got the worst holes filled at the present time. Tokoniaru Riding. The contractor for tho maintenance , metal in the Shannon end of the riding s is. working away slowly, and getting through his work all right. The Tokoinnru man has not started yet. Of course he may put <in drays and go through his work quickly. The new road through the Makerua Swamp is finished at last. It is a good road and j should require little maintenance For a long time, if they keep off for a little while and the growth will soon lie suffic- , ient to protect it. The grader has ' been doing good work in (hi* riding. , forming new streets in Tokmuaru and | cutting off the sides from llie metal to the water-tables. I think it will just about finish this week for the present in this riding. T propose getting the pipe culvert put in in place of the bridge in-'Kingston road during the next week if the weather continues suitable. There are also two bridges , to fill in on the Johnston >■"■'.l us soon as poasible; it will save repairing the timber.