MAIN HIGHWAYS IN THE MANAWATU COUNTY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 2842, 5 February 1925, Page 2

MAIN HIGHWAYS IN THE MANAWATU COUNTY.

At Tuesday’s meeting of the Mannwatu County Council several matters in connection with main highways were discussed. COMBINED LOAN. The Kairanga County Council wrote suggesting that the Manawalu Council combine in approaching the Minister of Finance with a view to urging him to arrange for a combined loan to local bodies for the necessary amounts required by them for miain highways. It was decided to agree to the proposal. SUGGESTED DELETION FOXTON SHANNON ROAD. The Public Works Department wrote stating that the Main Highways Board propose to delete the Foxion-Shnnnoii Ifoad from the list of highways in view of the fact that it is not considered to possess the same national importance as other main highways and also because there is a direct communication between Palmerston N. and Shannon. It was important that the local authorities consider this aspect when dealing with the question of restoration of means of communication other than the punt, which has been built at the Manawalu River Bridge, wrote the engineer. It was decided to protest most strongly .against any suggestion of the Alain Highways Board to delete the Foxton-Shannon Road from flic schedule of main highways. ESTIMATES CONSIDERED.

The chairman reported that he had had a conference with Messrs Hannah and Murray, members of the Alain Highways Board, with regard to the Council’s proposal of re-forming the main highways in its district. The matter had been diseussed very carefully and the estimates prepared by the engineer ( Air Flick ford) had been muddied. The original estimate had amounted to £lol,into, hilt this would probably lie reduced to £95,000. The council would have to find about £:>(),(lOO. The conference had resulted very satisfactorily, although a few aiiicndmenls had been carried out. Ci'. Boyce considered that it- would he advisable to ask for more money than was required. TTe did not. like the idea of having to ask the ratepayers to pay an extra amounl after the loan had been raided. “It would he much safer to have a. little ‘to go on with’ because ii; would he practically impossible to carry out the work as estimated. That seldom or never happens,” he remarked. It was finally decided to raise a loan of £60.000 to meet the expenses alter the Main Highways Board lout |>n*.-o‘<l I lie estimates. WHIROKTNO DEVIATION. The question of the deviation lietween No. 2 Line -and Whirokino Bridge was discussed. It was stated that owing to the swampy nature alongside the road it was too expensive a proposition to keep the road in good order. It was decided that, provided the Alain Highways Board would temporarily finance the undertaking of the deviation and a satisfactory agreement being arrived at with regard to the required land, the engineer he authorised to prepare the necessary plans and specifications.