COUNTY ENGINEER'S REPORT

Levin Daily Chronicle, 14 April 1917, Page 3

COUNTY ENGINEER'S REPORT

The following report from the county engineer (Mr J. Malcolm) was submitted to the Horowhenua County Council, at its meeting to-day.— To Horo Riding. The roads in this riding are in fair order for the time of the year. I hardily think the 'same quantity of metal will be required as we used last year unless we are' going to get a roller, tlien I think as much if not more should be used. This can be discussed with the estimates. . I inspected the Otaki Gorge- lioad :on JTuosdiay, the 19th, and I found that although the "Blue Bluff" has been widened there are a few (other places that need alteration in the same direction, tho 'unfortunate part being that. the days are getting too short for doing much where most needed, as the man live too far away from it. I had another look at the place where they want a road on the north side of the OtaM river. It iVlill be a rathe,r difficult job to -say* the least of it. My estimate is £1400 or nearlv £700 per mile; at the same time I tin: k it will be a better. proposition than paying £600 or £700 for a fit >ck bridge will only serve- about three settlers, and then they, are only half served. I intended (inspecting the Pahiko drains on Thursday but w- s I prevented by the rain. T unders'.:ind all the settlers on the Mangao 10 end have finished, but I am not in 1 position to say whether it is the same it the Otaki end. The fencing, of *he dangerous sidings in the. Otaki Gorge is now in hand. If I can pro-cure material I will try to get the mo;t dangerous parts done this season wh-n tlie men are at it. Otaki Riding. Nothing is doing in this riding but fc'-e usivl maintenance and it is being well looked afW. The main road is fairly good throughout; a few loads of metal is much needed on the top of the Pukehou Hill. This l[ will try to get at once. Anything else wanted in the riding will be provided for in tho estimates, and until they are passed will have to wait. "Wirokino -Riding. In this riding there is little doing but the metalling contracts 011 the Tararua and Kawiu Toads. They have made splendid progress during the last -month and both should be finished within a week if the weather keeps good. After finishing the contracts now in hand the Levin Borough will have to get the crusher for a few weeks, but as they are only crushing a small quantity this year, if the weather is good they won't be over a month, and the machine should "be available for us by the time our estimates are passed. In reference jto crushing, wlith .the experience last year, I am more convinced than ever that every bit of metal should be crushed on the main roads, and unless it is we will never be able to cope with the motor traffic. I don't know another county handicapped as we are with that traffic as the greater part of tho cars both for the east and west coasts go through hero on our roads. I am of opinion that in addition to a roller and scarifier wo will have to get another crusher almr6t at once. However, I will leave this subject until the estimates are before us; to keep going I will try to get about 30 yards of metal -laid on the Foxton road before next meeting, and unless I can borrow this from the borough folk I won't be able to -get that crushed. The traction engine broke up one of the small bridges on the Wallace road during the month. It should he placed with' -ferro-con-crete, but I am afraid the cost is prohibitive. The metal will cost at least 15s per yard and the steel is 4os per cwt. We can replace it with jarrah for a little over £50, and for the other it will cost £100. Re asphalting the

| bridge decks I propose with your leave j to try the experiment on the upper Ohau bridge. There is only about | 200 yards of it, and if my information is correct it should be done for £20. There is one thing that- will ; have to be considered and that is a j good deal of the bottom decking will have to be renewed as it has been in use about 22 years. This will iiavo to be added to my estimate of £20, but that would have to be done in tny case. I think asphalting will he less than one-quarter of the price of limber. To cover the deck of fa-s bridge I refer to with heart of rimu two inches thick would cost £40 without any labor or spikes to fix it. You all know how long this would last. I have had a look over the proposed line or road joining on to Sorrenson"s and connecting with the Roslyn road alongside the railway. It is a very rough iline and very hard to estimate what it will coSt) without having the levels before you. I think, however, it will make a big hole in a thousand pounds without purchasing land. We may get the Government land for nothing, but we will have 'to pay the natives for their portion of it, and it may have to be taken under the Public Works Act. I would suggest that a committee with myself get a meeting with the petitioners to see who are iprepared to rate themselves for the proposal. If they are in earnest 1 could go on and prepare plans and get a proper estimate of the cost. I have (inspected l the line of the pnoposrfcl road at Piaka that Messrs Carter and Oasey waited on the council about at last meeting, and my estimate for acquiring the land, fencing and forming it is £300; the surveyors' fees and other incidental have to be provided, T saw Mrs Webb, the owner of the land the other day and she says we have not completed taking 'it under the Public Works Act. However this can easily be ascertained and if it is not done il think it could now be done by consent as Mrs Webb would be willing. Tokomaru Riding. The main road throughout is very fair at present. I have not called tenders for maintenance metal as 1 proposed as all the contractors in the in the riding seem to have gone out of business. Another reason is if broiken metal is to be used on the main road this riding will have to join with the others. I inspected the Tokomaru valley road about a fortnight ago and I regret to sav it is not in good or-'er. lam looking forward to the Government making si £ood rad of it as far as the Tkomaru river. It will become necessary to them when they 1 initiate their hydroelectric scheme as it will be the road to their headworks. Beyond the Tokomaru river in the valley it will be necesary to do a good deal to enable the settlers to get out and in; the principardifficulty will be to get labor. I don't think there is any available in the valley; By instructions from the Health Department I have made the roadman's cottage at Tokomaru into a fairly comfortable dwelling.