HOROWHENUA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Shannon News, 25 January 1924, Page 3

HOROWHENUA COUNTY COUNCIL.

THE ENGINEER’S REPORT. The following report relative to the work of the County during the month was presented to the Horowhenuaj County Council on Saturday by the engineer:—“The weather has been fine during the period, and although there was a good deal of broken time, owing to holidays, work has progressed in a satisfactory manner. Tokomaru Riding.

I have very little to report in this riding. The roads generally are in very fair order, excepting the portion of main road betwleen the mill and Makerua Station. The Shannon-Foxton Road has received some further maintenance gravel and the contractor is at present metalling on Victoria Road. The timber for bridge on Main Road near Mr. Judd’s should arrive shortly, whim this work will be put in hand. Wirokino Riding.

Everything in this riding is in good order. Metal has been put out on Queen Street, Gladstone, Kawiu, Koputaroa, Foxton and Piaka Roads, and lorries are at present carting to the Otarua Road. Approximately 200 cubic yards of metal have beion carted on to the Hokio Beach Road. A further 60 cubic yards is required to finish same. Arawliata Road and Sand Road will be commenced when Beach Road is completed. The reforming of Main Road Weraroa Settlement has been completed and a start made with the tarring of same. The Aratangata Drain has been cleaned out but the flood gate has not yet been repaired. This work will be put in hand when men ate available. Potts Road bridge has been completed and.the Main Road bridge over Potts’ creek has been re-deeked and the conctetc culvert on Potts’ Road will be put in hand at an early date. Otaki Riding.

Work in this riding is progressing. The roads in the northern end of this riding have been attended to, and the plant is now working in the Waitohu pit and a start has been made with the metalling of Gteen Lane. Te Horo Riding. The southern end of this riding is in good order but in the northern end - a good deal of metalling is required. However, the crushing plant is gradually working south and I hope to have the plant in full swing in this riding in about four wjeeks time. The Hautere water races are now in good order and should be completed by the end of the month. Re Waihoanga bridge: I have just received advice that a Public Works engineer will, some time next week, visit the above bridge with a view of making a report on sam’e. ’’ The report was adopted. The County Car. Cr. Harkness said ho had been told that the engineer had used the County car on his recent holiday trip. He asked whether it was a fact. The chairman: I know nothing about

The engineer admitted that he used the car but it was not altogther a holiday as he spent most of his time in inspecting the different bitumen and other roads in view.of the big highway undertaking pending. He supplied the benzine and oil and there was only the little wear on thtJ tyres and the car and the oil and benzine in the car when he started. Possibly he should have asked the Council but several Councillors knew he was going. He was taking a little holiday and it gave him a chance to see what was being done in other places in roading. Cr. Catley said several ratepayers had come to him about the matter.

Or. Harkness commended the engineer for his frank statement but thought he should have asked the permission of the Council and stated his reasons for the journey. If he had done this he (Cr. Harkness) would havfc voted against permission.

The cnairman said the 'engineer had not approached him and he had thought that ho should have done so. Personally he would have given his permission if ho thought the journey would have been of benefit to the Council.

Cr. Ryder commended Cr. Harkness for bringing the matter up. It was unpleasant to have the matter thrown up at one bv the ratepayers. At the same time he thought the trip the engineer had taken had been of advantage to the Council.

Cr. Harkness gave notice of motion that the agreement between the Council and the engineer be amended to read that in future the County car is only to be used for County work and is not to be used for private use.