Horowhenua County Council.

Levin Daily Chronicle, 18 April 1918, Page 4

Horowhenua County Council.

* —. Following is tlie balance of tlie report of tlie last meeting of tlie Horowhenua County Council: Engineer's Keport. The cleaning of the Hauterc waterraces is finished. Some other method of cleaning them will have to be devise!, a3 the district cannot f,pare the services of the surfaceman for such a long time twice a year. I would suggest the preparation of a n.n-1 call for tenders for the races be for-; they are in need again. I have heard nothing about tie surago that he had done all that the Surveyor required, with the exception of C'.iving the pipe* t-t the boundaries, and he had asked for directions where they were to be driven. He, however, assured me that there was nothing in our way, as the survey was right. But the difficulty is we have not acquired the land, and the owners might have us up for trespass. The Railway engineer changed his mind, and fenced his part of the approaches to the overbridge. I intend to leave our part until we get a fencer for the road. It won't require an expert to make as good a job as the part they have done. Mr Tom Morgan, of Otaki, got the contract for the enlargement of the Kafihiku drain. Otaki Riding: Nothing is doing in the riding but maintenance. I had the tally of the traffic taken on the Waikawa bridge from the |Bth to the 31st inclusive. The clerk will give you the tallies. I attach a separate report on the supplementary water supply for the Kuku. Parts of thu main road are breaking up very badly, and will be much in need of metal before we can get any for them. Wirokino Riding: The metalling of the Muhunoa West roal (Mr Iv;bfcell's) is now done, and all this road out to the main road at Ohau has been put in good repair. I propose getting the eastern end of this road fixed up in the beginning of next week, and some of the worst parts on the main road. If a satisfactory tender if rcceivud for the Foxton road, all the drays will have to go there as soon as possible, and it will take tbem a month at least. I have called tenders for a ferro concrete bridge for the main road at Kereru. A sum of £300 was on the estimates for this work fer several years, but it was allowed to drop last year. It, however, can't be put off any longer as it is now dangerous. I have proposed that the Council find the reinforcing steel. Wo will have a better chance of getting it all put in. Steel is very dear low. Tokemaru Riding: I am glad to report that I have got the metal drays away from this riding at last. There is still plenty of room for them, but I think with a little patching we will manage without any largo expenditure for metal this year, that is assuming that there is no extra lrdinary traffic. Ohau East Road. Mr Malcolm reported:—ln company with Crs. McLeavey and Murray. T an inspection of this roa l on the 6th ir.st., and we found about 20 chains that needs forming, and about two chains that should be metalled. We recommend the metalling on two chains, bccawc it will bo raised a bif when formed, and as it is right at the upper end of the road, it will often be necessary to hold sheep when fixing up the gates. We thought it would be liable to churn up into mud if it was not metalled. The other part* of the road we considered do not want metal; in fact, it is better as it is. I estimate the cost at £30. TCUKJ WATER-RACE. Tlie County En gineer reported on the Ivuku Water Supply Extension No. 2: As instructed, I have examined and taken levels-. for i'. supply of water from the Waikawa stream to supplement and join with tho intake in Mr Scholcs' paddock. I att id a section of the levels, and they sho v that the scheme is perfectly practicable. The difficulty is in getting up to the top of the terrace. This I propose to do by fluming about eleven chains. This gets up about seven feet. The balance then will have to be benched along the side of terrace. and then piped. I estimate the cost at £450, but I think it well be well to raise £500, as it is impossible to estimate anything now. I may add that this is the onlv practicable scheme from tho main Oouiit.v road up. I have examined it u tlie way. From tho main County roi.l up to Diinock's is altogether impossible at any price. I think some fo the councillors can bear me out in that. Or. Ryder said he had made an inspi:'' ion, w.th others, and it was pleasing to know that the Waikawa river could be carried over the flats, but he would like to know whose i'.uilt if was that this scheme instead of the old one, was not carricd oat. He conderod considerable money should •ve b?e-i saved. Tlie engineer said his instructions )'!i tho Council had been to see if < v.'at'M - from a eertait, sun! the instructions he carried 1 it. Ther was never any question of uki'.ig it to Diinock's. The chairman said the question was: Was the Council going on with a £500 ■icheme, or going to let it drop? Cr. McLeavey said it seemed to ji.in '■at the latter scheme was the more visible, and that the Council would ve to go on with it. The people anted water, and the question \vn«, :ould the Council borrow money bv special loan? Cr. McLeavey said he had suggested to some of the ratepayers that they raise the money, pay it, aiK. be done with it. Bome were agreeable. It was decided that the clerk take the necessary steps to raise a loan of 'I'M) for the purpose of constructing a water-race from the Waikawa river to the original intake in Scholes' padlock. Cr. Monk said he regretted that he could not attend at Manakau with I others to view the recent contract, but

he understood Mr Douglas' work had been found wanting. Cr. Ryder said he had attended, and •vvai disappointed, as there was nt roadman, no tools, etc., to do the work o': 1 locating pipes, etc. However, the dif ficult/ was overcome, and the pipes were found, as previously to be of insufficient depth, while filling had not been done according to specifications. The contractor, unfortunately, was not present. Cr. McLeavey said the pipis that were supposed to be put down abou 7ft. 6in. wore only down about 31 inches. Cr. Murray said the pipes were inspected in several places, found right in places, and the reverse at others. The pipes would not have burst had not the culvert sunk; it was the culver 1 : that gave the show away. - Cr. Catley said it was very plain the work had not been carricd out according to specifications, and the fault was with the Council. He had asked at the start that one of the Council's men be appointed, but the Council had stupidly 5 delegated the work to outsiders, there- jj fore the blame must be on the Council. J He was not surprised at the turn of | events, but he thought the contractor j, should not be paid till the Council ,j knew why the work was not carried ,| out according to specifications. It | was not fair to blame the engineer. The engineer had certainly acted indiscreetly in appointing an employee I of tlie Council instead of referring it I back to the Council. Mr Douglas should not be paid till the matter was [ enquired into, or till the Council had. to pay. At this stage the Council went into I committee, when it was decided to ask Douglas to meet the Council at 10 a.m. next Council day.