COUNTY ENGINEER'S REPORT.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 9 December 1916, Page 3

COUNTY ENGINEER'S REPORT.

At the meeting of tlu> Horowlienua County i'cnmcil to-day, the engineer's ivport was lead as follows: Te Horo Riding. The main road through the riding is now in fair order. I have had aill tiie pot holes filled with metal during tlio kst ten days. 'I he district roads on the whole are fairly good. The two floods during the month were ..responsible for a good many slips on the Gorge and Waihoanga roads. There is 110' chance of any fencing being done before the holidays as the removal of the slips and thy cleaning of the water-tables will keep the men fully employed for the next three weeks. I inspected the Paliiko dia in s on the 28th of last montii and I found them in very good order; t !< ro was some flood waters in them but they looked very clean. Otaki Riding. I got the Waitohu bri:lge on the Otaki beach road 'renewed early in tlio month, the superstructure is now jarrah and inn. it. should not trouble us for some tine. I arranged with the Town Board officials tor their men to clean out the Afangap: uri Stn am and for us to contribute half the cost. As it is only, a small 1 job it would (•( st as much for gurabeots as the work will cost. Tlio deviation of the road at the sandhills on the Wnikawa Beach road is now completed, metalled and thatched; it is now a very creditable joh. I shall call tenders for the extension of tl Ktiku water-races as soon as I know that th - money is available. The settlers are very anxious to see the work in hand as the existing race ■will he dry in a week if this worthier continues. The tenders can be dealt with by the members for the Tiding and yourself. S:ime of the settlers are very anxious to get the large fir trees round the Manakau cemetery cut down, and I think it would be a good thing as they are too big ; out men could do the work as there is nothing pressing at present. I promised them that I would draw the attention of the oouncil to the matter. WIROKINO RIDING. II got the Foxton road repaired as Iproposed at last meeting; I also proposed to see to tlio worst parts of the \Florida road, but have not been able to get drays as they have been too busy putting in crops, but f think T will get two early next week. I called tenders for the formation of the extension of the Tararua road, but as the lowest tender was a good deal higher than my estimate we returned them. The fencing of this road i«s nearly finished and I have got the deviation of the water-races done. When - the weather has been suitable good progress has been made with the metalling of the A'rawliata road and the formation of the Kawiu load. With reasonable luck tliev should be both finished at next meeting. I have called tenders, for the metalling of the Kawiu road and they are due to-day. If a ■ reasonable tender is received T will try to get the contractor to finish portion of it to let the metalling go oil as soon as possible. I would like you to set up a committee for the purpose of acquiring a gravel pit, if possible, alongside the I Tararua. road extension. I think an acre would do, and it would reduce the cost of tho metal one half. It is a pity it was not taken under the Public Works Act at the same time as the road was taken. Tokomaru Riding. The main road iin tins riding is very good. Some of the district roads in the Shannon end still metal ; this I will try to get before the holidays. I have tlow got all tjie timber for tho bridges. The two at the nor- j them end have been renewed and the other will be done early. next Wenk. There is only another bridge in this riding that T know off that needs immediate attention, *and that is ond that I proposed to do away with and substitute pipes for, and to which Messrs Mabiri and Hume exception to. In spite of their engineering views I am still of opinion that my proposal is the best.