HOROWHENUA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Shannon News, 23 November 1926, Page 4

HOROWHENUA COUNTY COUNCIL.

4. Engineer’s Report. The engineer (Air. W. N. Anderson) reported at Saturday’s Council’s mecting;— “During the period the weather has again been very unsettled and wet. Work has been somewhat held up and the roads have suffered considerably; in fact it has been almost impossible to keep the main roads in anything like fair order, owing to the amount of rain and motor traffic. Tokomam Riding. Maintenance metalling is still being put out on both main and district roads. A grader has been at work on the main road in the northern end, and an attempt will be made to have the southern end roads graded at an early date. In company with Crs. Whyte and Barber, I made an inspection of the Ashley-Temukanui . Road during last month. Although the work is not progressing very fast owing to wet weather, a good job is being made. Re Drainage Board operations in tho vicinity of Kara Creek bridge, I have to report that I have made an inspection of the work carried out by the Makerua Drainage Board and that the work as far as the County is concerned, 1 is anything but satisfactory. In the first place, banks have been erected across the road at. each end of the Kara bridge (on the western side of the railway) and owing to these banks not being metalled, the road is now practically impassable. Secondly, owing to the Board’s operations in,the stream, certain erosion has taken place, which has effected the stability of the bridge. Thirdly, owing to the banking.carried out by the Board, the bridge in flood time is under water and will require to be raised to the height of the stop banks. Also the culvert wffiich was put in under the new approach to the Kara Road, is anything but satisfactory and requires attention. During a recent 'flood, a good deal of flood water came on to the main road, north of tho Kara .bridge, this being caused by the water rising in the Kara Creek, and backing through an old culvert under the railway crossing. A new culvert with flood gate attached, will be required before this part of the road can bo made flood proof. Wirokino Riding. As mentioned before, tho roads have

suffered considerably owing to the wet weather. A power grader has been at work almost continuously on the main roads and several of the district roads. A start has been made with the maintenance of -the district roads in the southern end of the Riding, Re Ohau subway.—A new culvert has ■been put in and a drain cut from same to take water off road in vicinity of subway. During recent very heavy rains, this work has been a great success. ■ Paiaka Road extension to J. McGill’s property. —I have inspected this road, which is approximately 25 chains in length, and have to report that 15 chains of the road is in fair condition for an unmetalled road, 1 but the remaining 10 chains is in very bad order and requires attention. I estimate the cost of reforming and metalling the 25 chains at £2lO. A large box culvert on Gladstone Road has been replaced with a 42in concrete pipe culvert. Otaki Riding. All roads in this riding are in fair order., A quantity of maintenance metal 'is being put out on the main road; and I hope to have a crusher set up in the Waitohu pit in tho near future. . One of the power graders has been at work in this Riding on two occasions during the period. Maintenance metalling will be commenced on Rahui Road, whenever teams are able to get to the river for metal. Improvements in the shape of a culvert extension and filling at intersection of Rahui Road, and road leading to Otaki racecourse, has been completed, also filling of low part of Rahui Road opposite Rahui factory. Te Horo Riding. Owing to very heavy motor traffic and wet weather, the main road became badly potholed, but. has again been put in fair order. A power grader has been at work in this Riding for the past fortnight. Several- of the district roads are in need of maintenance metal—this is now being carried out. No. 3 crushing plant was shifted from Waikanae to Te Horo pit during this week. Repairs are at present being made to water race fluming and culverts through Mr. Ellis’s property, and a start will be made with repairs, etc., to water race in Mr. Best’s proirnrty. A 24 inch concrete pipe culvert on the Rahui Road was replaced by a 42in concrete pipe.

Ranger. The ranger reports that he has impounded 61 head of wandering stock during this period. Works Committee’s Report. Your committee have to submit for the consideration of the Council the following recommendations:— 1. —That the bridge over, the stream on the Muhunoa West Road be altered to take light motor vehicles as suggested by the engineer. 2. —That the engineer be instructed to place more metal on the main road at Pott’s cutting and filling. 3. —That the Makerua Drainage Board be notified that unless plans and specifications and means for raising and strengthening of the bridge over the Kara Stream on the western side of the railway to the level of the existing banks be lodged with the Council within 14 days from date of notice, this Council call upon the said Makerua to remove the existing banks at the approaches to the Bridge. 4. —That the Councillors for the Riding and the engineer meet Mr. J. J. H. Best at Te Horo to see if some amicable agreement can be arranged in rqspect to the fencing of water races through Mr. Best’s property. 5. —That the engineer’s report be adopted, and that in regard to the Paiaka Road extension your committee have to report that as there are no funds available to do the necessary work out of revenue the same can only be done by means of special funds raised for the purpose by the ratepayers in the locality. Cr. McLeavey questioned whether the ratepayers would be satisfied with a light bridge on the Muhunoa West Road. , When lie presented the petition he distinctly stated the .ratepayers were prepared to rate themselves for the work. They wanted a good bridge. The engineer said he never understood that they were prepared to rate themselves and Cr. Ryder was of tho same opinion.. He thought the engineer’s suggestion Iwas a splendid one. iCr. Jensen said that when the ratepayers saw the engineer’s proposal they might accept it. There was heavy traffic on the road particularly from Chinese gardeners. Cr. MeLeayey agreed to find out whether the bridge proposed would suit whc*n they started on the Rahui Road the settlers. The Works Committee’s report was adopted, except clause 1, which was re-

ferred back to the committee, to obtain a report from Cr. McLeavey; that the engineer have authority to attend to fence on approach to Tokomaru bridge; also that turnstiles at the railway overbridge at Tokomaru be. attended to and that the chairman’s action in making arrangements with the Public Trustee for the removal of spoil for filling purposes at Hadlield be, confirmed. Cr. Jensen drew attention to a filling required in front of Rahui factory, where the suppliers congregated. The engineer said this would be remedied metalling. Cr. Whyte (Tokomaru) said he had had numerous complaints about stock being driven over 'the overhead bridge since the turnstiles had been removed. As a result it was almost impassable through the mud. Ohau West Road. Cr. Cat ley said the money available for the Ohau West road \ was £SOO, of which £250 was subsidy. Of that the formation- cost £366. They must see that the fund was not over-expended. The Engineer: It would be the first road we have over-expended our money on, then. Cr. Catlev: I only want to be. careful.