Engineer's Report

Horowhenua Chronicle, 10 July 1915, Page 3

Engineer's Report

The following roport was submitted to the Council by tho County Engineer, Mi- J. Malcolm:— t Te Horo Riding. In the southern end of the riding the' main road was getting very lumpy when I was over it the other day, and 1 instructed the roadman to get it attended to at once. This has been done as you will seo by the time sheets. Tho Land Board having approved of the scheme- for the expenditure ol* the thirds ,puts at your disposal £7'6" for expenditure on the Mangaone-Reiki road. I think it would bo good business to culvert the stream at Padden's folly and ii 11 it up. If this is done Ave will be done with for all time. A rimu bridge is only a temporary expedient and may last fifteen years. J think the money will just about bo sufficient to do the work. I beg leave to recommend that pipes be got and laid, and that tenders be called for tho earth "filling. 1 inspected the Mile Drain road in company with Or Cately on the Ist inst., and I think we fullv agreed that the road was far too oig an order for us to construct Mt of revenue. It will cost about £360,.t0 make anything like a road from the main road up tothe conor, the distance heiig I have asked -the memberToTthe district, Mr ~ Field, to try and get £250 for us by way of a grant; we will see what he / can do. I repeated the order for grants when sending in a "list to our member; we may get some. Otaki Riding. All the maintenance metal in the southern end of this riding 'that was provided for in tho contract has been put on with the exception or that for the South Manakau road and that we had to leave on account of the weather, as the drays were doing more harm than good. This road has never had a coat of metal; only short patches here and there. I have eaHed tenders for fixing up the roads in the northern end of the riding. I have called for ' alternative tenders for crushed metal and for Ohau river shingle. I think the crushed metal should be the cheapest- H "»y satisfactory arrangements can be made I propose to hire the crusher to the riding at a reasonable rent; there will only be about ten days' work. The Railway Department are now ready to g(T on with the overbridge and have submitted a plan of the structure and the posiflbn. 1 shall be glad to see it done. Wirokino Riding. • The main road in the southern end of this riding has cut up very badly during the last month; 1 am now getting it repaired. The Levin to Poxton road widening is done. The formation of the road into Totara homestead is also done; but it is a very unsatisfactory job, and 1 know it will How out again as soon as tho dry weather sets in. The formation of the Tioputaroa to Eoxton road from Mr Kilsby's gate out to the Eoxton road has been done and done well, ready for metal, but it is being badly cut up with flax carting. 1 stopped - them carting with narrow tyres, but i the wide tires are making a mess with < so much rain. The metalling of the Eoxton road is now in hand and not < before time as it is in a bad way. I i am afraid it will take more metal ; than was provided for it to make any- -, , filing like a job of it, as it has cut up 1 very badly during the last month ; the j greater part of the motor ear traffic from Palmerston North is now coming that way. The metalling, of Pott' 5 * road is well started, about 300 vards fcemg laid, but I was forced to"send the drays homo as it is now too bad to lay metal on. I wanted another 200 yards of metal crushed before knock- < • iiHJ off the crusher, but wo had to J clear out on account of tho water in J the pit. The stook bridge over'the .' Ohau river is finished satisfactorily, i I have a little fencing to do to make < it convenient; this will be done in a i few days. I think it will he well to ; • put on gates at both ends to regulate J the number of stock on it at one tiino. It is only for sheep. Tokomaru Riding. The roads in this riding are a'l fairly good at the southern end at present. Tho maintenance metal that was provided is all laid. The contractor at the northern end is making up for lost J timo; he is putting on three Vxtra \ - drays and all will be finished in about a fortnight. The small bridge at the ' northern county boundary is going to give ins some trouble. The settlers were allowed to deepen tHo stream \ about two feet. This was done by \ taking out the bottom of the original culvert and leaving the" sides in which f • would have been alright had the sides lasted. They are now rotten and the greater part of them has jono down f tho stream; consequently the sides of * the stream are taking their # own batter c and that batter is now to the'sills. If the ' worst comes to the worst we will have * to put trestles in, and this will not r be a big job. There is no fear of an t accident as it can only sink a little s but I hare inrtnioted the siu-faoeimm l to keep a flood lookout «nd le* mo * know if any alteration takes pkoe, t All the maintenance is being well look- \ ed after considering the weather wo ' - have experiencoA-last month". f