COUNTY PUBLIC WORKS.

Shannon News, 19 April 1927, Page 3

COUNTY PUBLIC WORKS.

ENGINEERS REPORT. The report of the engineer (Mr. W. N. Anderson) to the Horowhenua County Council on Saturday was as under:— Although tho weather during the period has been somewhat unsettled, work has progressed in a very satisfactory manner. Tokomaru Riding. I have very little to report on in this riding. The roads are all in very fair order. The bridge over the Kara stream on the western side of railway has been completed. A ,new concretb : pipe culvert is.required to replace the old box culvert in front of Mr. Liggins's property at Tokomaru. This work will be started whenever pipes come to hand. Wirokino Riding. There is nothing of importance to Te-1 port on in this riding. The roads gen-] erally are in good order. No. 2 power grader has been constantly employed during the period on main roads; and a quantity of maintenance metal has been put out. The formation work on Ohau West road extension is practically completed. The formation work on Te Whanga road has been completed and a start made with the metalling of same. Formation work was started on Waihau road during the week. The groyne on Gladstone road has been put in. The pile driving plant will be on the rite of the bridge on the Koputaroa Foxton road early next week, and a start will be made with the erection of the new bridge. < Otaki and Te Horo Riding. I have practically nothing to report on in these ridings, every road being in very fair order. : A quantity, of maintenance; metal is being put out on the' main 'road between' Manakau bridge and Otaki. Whenever the work is completed, a start will be made with the removal of gravel from under the bridge on the Manakau South road.

Work on the, overflow channel at Te Horo will be started early next week.

Beach. Road Bridge,

/ Cr. Catley asked what steps were being taken to acquire land for shifting the Beach road bridge. He had asked the engineer about it, at the Works Committee meeting, and he. had said chat nothing hail been done. The chairman said he thought a survey would have to be done. There was only" one man available to do surveying, and he could not be put on the work at present. ' - Cr. Catley said he would like the, work to go on this year's estimates. The chairman: We could get an out3ider to do it, and have it straight away. Cr. Catley: What would it cost? The chairman: Thirty* or forty oounds. v Cr. Catley: Oh! He added that lie lid not think he was doing his duty until the Council deajt with the danger spots. , The chairman: We cannot drop everything to do it. We have an important matter of survey,, at Te Horo over the flood water. You can make provision in the estimates for it. The engineer said that a survey would cost a lot more than the land was worth. ' River Encroachment.

,Cr. Ryder stated that Cr. Jensen had drawn Ms attention to the • matter of the Otaki river encroaching on the side. 'The engineer should have a look at it. The Waitqhu stream was also mentioned.- /'*

The engineer: I am endeavouring to ?et the Public Works engineer to look it it.

The chairman stated that he and thf ■bounty engineer had inspected the ocality and tried, to get Mr. Ronayne o come up and bring the railway engineer with him. It was more serious o the County than to the railway. Engagement of Labour.

Cr'. Ryder stated that he had wanted \n outside man to assist Mr. Cootes, of L hc County staff, but Mr. Cootes still nsistecl on employing a member of his own family. The speaker had been requested'by the ratepayers from time to time to see that this elid. not occur. The engineer (Mr. Anderson) stated L ,hat Mr. Cootes had not had any instructions from him to put a man on at all. ' : .

The engineer's report was adopted