HOROWHENUA COUNTY.

Otaki Mail, 16 October 1922, Page 3

HOROWHENUA COUNTY.

MEETING OP COUNCIL. The October meeting of the Council was held on Saturday, members being present being Crs. G. A. Monk (chairman), 8. A. Broadbelt, J. B. Whytc, 11. Barber, F. J. Ryder," C. I. Harkness; H.' (j. Uiyant, and J. MeLoavey. Hospital Upkeep. 'flic Palinerston North Hospital Board notified that tho'second instalnicut of the maintenance levy ~£1441 7s, v.M- ; due on November 1. The Board also asked for the fifth and last special contribution to the hospital's capital expenditure.—To be attended to when finance permits. Waikanae Cemetery. Mi A. Johnston. Secretary of the Waikauae Cemetery Committee, submitted names of new committee, and ask- ,..] that the approach to the cemetery gates be put into a better Mate of repair. The committee asked fur a grant of £l3 for general work.

The Chairman said the cemetery was in a omewhat wild stale, and as there va a balance of some £3O in hand, by the f'ouneil, he thought it should be handed over. The committee its submitted was up proved, the committee to be informed that the sum of £3O was., to the credit of the cemetery fund. North Manakau Road. 31 ;■ 1,. Darous, Manakau, asked thai ;i hole in the road opposite his house in North Manakau Eoad be repaired. He also offered to purchase some pipes from t.h'' Council. Left hi the hands of Cr. Bryant and the Liugineer with power to act. Te Horo Water Race. Mr Mickle, of Te Horo, waited on the Council and complained of (ho con rtition of the water race through his property. The Engineer said In- would pay an early visit anil make tin inspection. Engineer's Report. The Engineer reported: —Since las! meeting the weather has been favourable and good progress has been mad'' with the work throughout the County. In the Tokomaru Riding everything is in fair order. The grader has done good work on the main roads. Further protection work has been carried out below the bridge on the Shnnnon-Fox-ton road and a start was made at the beginning of this week to put in the concrete pipe culvert across the main road adjoining Mr Bowler's property. During the month I had the ground tested in connection with the proposed gravel pit on part of Mr Hennesy's property near Shannon, and I estimate the quantity of gravel available is from 10,000 to 12,000 cubic yards, f would recommend that the Council take steps to acquire two acres of this land. Wirokino Riding: Work in this Riding is well advanced, and the roads generally are in good order and approximately 1000 cubic yards of maintenance gravel has been put out during tin- period. A contract for supply and delivery of maintenance gravel for

various roads iu the, southern end oi' this riding was let to R. Close at a satisfactory price, and the contractor is muking good progress with the work The county lorry is at present working; on the Levin-Foxton road between the' Kawiu-Foxton road and Hcataerlen 'jorner, and the metal is being deliver-; ed on to this section at 5s od per cubic yard (this price includes crushing) The five miles of this road which wa ■ repaired before last meeting, and -which >»as in good condition at that time, has again been cut up badly owing t;.> the heavy motor traflic on that section, and as the amount allowed on the current year's estimate:: has been practically expended. I am unal.de yi the Meantime to make further repairs. The material for the tarring of the main read through the AVeraroa Settlement is on the ground and a start will be made with this work immediately. Ke Ohau Bridge: The decking on this bridge still continues to break up under the heavy traffic passing over it. and within the last few weeks, no fewer than 16 planks have had to be reuewed from time to time. As I have now spent practically all the money available for repairs to this bridge, there is a danger of having to close it for all traffic at any minute, unless the Government come to the assistance of ''' 'Jouncil at once.

Otaki Riding: As regards the roads, the same applies to this as to the AVirokino riding except that the portion of the Main Road near Manakau is becoming bumpy and requires breakingup and re-rolling. During the period > a "bad motor smash took place at the Waitohu bridge, when between 4.0 and SO feet of the hand-rail, 'wheel guard, and the ends of a number of'planks in the decking was carried away, and as the bridge was in a dangerous condition I thought it advisable to close it for all traffic, a good ford being avail...nle alongside. The pipes are npw on the ground for culvert across the main road near the Rahui factory, Otaki, and a start will be made with this work at the beginning of next week. In connection with Mrs Power's complaint re flood water coming on to her Ifciid, I met Mr Freeman on the ground during the month and a satisfactory arrangement has been arrived at to try and abate the nuisance. Te. Horo Riding: I have yerv little to report on in this riding. It is iny iatention to call for tenders during the coming week for the supply and delivery pf maintenance gravel for various roads. The patching and earring of the main road at Te Horo will also be attended to. Re forming footpaths and tarring at Waikanae: I reported on and supplied sn estimate for this work at last meeting, but as no provision was made in the current year's estimate for the *-ork, I -would recommecd that it receive consideration wheu next year's »*ti}nat*B t»re being framed.

Cr. Barber {Tokomaru) said Kingston road should bo put in repair. If the asphalt on the Shannon-Foxton bridge had been repaired, he considered it would have saved the decking a good deal more. Cr. Whyte (Tokomaru) stated his attention had been drawn to the sway in the Tokomaru bridge. It could do with a tightening up. ' Cr. Harkness (Wirokino) said he was glad that good work was going on satisfactorily in the southern end of the riding. He asked if it was intended to repair Ohau West road. The. Engineer: Yes. Or. Broadbelt (Wirokino) reported that there was a danger of a sand. drift crossing the road near tho Oturoa Settlement. The Tavistock road bridge was in need of repair. The Beach road I was getting in a bad state owing to the heavy traffic. He asked whero the

Engineer was getting the money to do ' the tarring on tho Weraroa main road. , The Chairman: By saving it on other ' portions of the main road. ! Cr. Broadbelt said lie was glad to hear it, but thought it a good idea to ' tar roads that wore not easily maintain- j ed by ordinary metalling. 1 The Chairman: We have not got a suitable piece of road for tarring in ' the-more remote parts of the country. I There is no harder road to maintain in the county than the main Weraroa road. '

Cr. Ryder (Otaki) said they should have an estimate of the cost of the Weraroa tarring work. The surface of the main mad between the Otaki bridge and Jubilee Road was bad with potholes. There were also four or live very bad holes in the asphalting of the Otaki bridge. The Engineer said he did not know what was best to bo done with the Otaki bridge, but he thought the whole of tho asphalting should be taken up. In reply to Cr. Ryder, tho Engineer said the Waitohu bridge was adequately.- lighted at nights. Cr. Bryant (Otaki) reported that the settlers on the private road leading towards the bench in North Manakau were anxious to re-form and metal the road, and would bear the cost of tho work if the Council's staff and plant wore employed on it. The matter was referred to Cr. Bryajit a.iul the Engineer.