HOROWHENUA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 120, 23 April 1925, Page 9

HOROWHENUA COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. At the monthly meeting of the Horowhenua County Council the chairman (Or. G. A. Monk) presided over a full council. The engineer’s report, which was adopted, was as follows: —For the greater part of the period just ended tlie weather has been fair, and work generally throughout the county has been carried out in a satisfactory manner. The majority of the workmen have been engaged on the crushing plant and on roads being formed out of loan moneys. The district roads throughout are in good order, and, although the main roads are fair, they are again beginning to break up, and in parts require almost immediate attention. The formation work on Waitarero road is nearing completion, and I hope to be able to make a start with the metalling of this road within the next week or two; however, this will depend on the condition of the formation. . Metalling has been completed 011 Waikawa South road, and good progress is being made with the 1 metalling of Waikawa Beach road extension. This work should bo completed within tho next week or ton days. CORRESPONDENCE. From a number of residents of Rata street, Tokomaru, applying for a light to be erected in that street, and suggesting that the light from Ivowhai street might be shifted to their street, as Kowhai street was sufficiently lighted from Main -street.—Referred to Cr. Whyte and the engineer with power to act.

From the Shannon Borough Council asking that the drain on the County road to the Manawatu river be cleaned out. The drain was now blocked to the detriment of the borough and some of the settlers.—Cr. Barber said that the drain was, as far as he understood, on Mr Bryant’s property, and he was responsible for it being kept open.— Cr. Barber and the engineer were instructed to wait on the Shannon Borough Council to ascertain its requirements.

From Mr J. Swindlehurst, Buckley road, drawing attention to the state of a road along the front of his property, which he stated had, until two years ago, been kept open by the council and himself, each doing half. Since that time the drain had not been cleaned out. He stated that he had had two crops spoiled through tho water not being able to got aw’av.—-It was decided that the surfaceman bo instructed to clean the drain.

The Makerua Drainage Board lorwarded a cross section plan of the stop-bank between Wall’s bridge and the flood gate 011 Okuku road. It offered, if satisfactory to the council, to have a land transfer survey made of the new road, which was being constructed, and submit same for the council’s ratification and formal agreement. It was stated further that the plans lor the proposed bridges were now in the hands of the draughtsman, and would be submitted when completed.—The engineer said that he had received the plans for two of the bridges, but he had not yet Jpad time to go through them.—The chairman said that the proposal in regard to the new road was that this should be placed inside the stop-bank, where it would he protected from the floods.— Cr. Whyte said that, with the engineer, he had met the executive of the board, who stated that they had no authority to take the land for tho new road, which the settlers were prepared to give them. They suggested that the county take the land, and they would reimburse them.—The letter was received.

MAIN ROADS GOING TO PIECES. Cr. Broadbelt said that tho main roads were beginning to go to pieces, and he was glad to think that the new year would shortly commence and they would have more revenue to work on. In answer to Cr. Broadbelt, the clerk stated that the main highways contribution to the main roads tor the past eight months was approximately £9OO. Or. Catlev said that the district roads were excellent. It was quite a treat to get off the main on to the side roads. He was disappointed about Waitarere road, which was only what he had expected. He asked if the metal could not have followed up the formation.

The engineer stated that the formation had to be given time to settle. He would like to point out that the approved plans had only come to hand that week, and lie really should not have gone ahead until he received these. He had really gqjie further than he was supposed to in order to get this work done. He would say again that there was no use in throwing metal into loose formation. In fact the Public Works Department would not agree to it.