MAIN HIGHWAY COSTS.

Shannon News, 11 October 1927, Page 3

MAIN HIGHWAY COSTS.

EXCESS IN HOROWHENUA COUNTY. ESTIMATE EXCEEDED BY NEARLY £14,000. METHOD OF EXPENDITURE TO BE REORGANISED. Saturday afternoon was devoted by the Horowhenua County Council to the consideration of an important report by the Works Committee.on the construction and cost of the Main Highways scheme in the County. This has formed the subject of rather a close investigation as the result of increased expenses, almost wholly in the Te Horo riding, and a return obtained by the Committee shows that out of £80,704 so far spent on the whole scheme £13,933 is in excess of the estimate, and of this excess £11,787 applies to the section of highway from the Waikanae river to the Otaki bridge. The committee submitted a lifct of recommendations, which provide, among other things, that the Council thall concentrate on the completion of the highway from WaiKanae to Tokomaru, and that the length from Levin to the Wirokino bridge be held over until the Council are in a position to decide what action can be taken. Before construction is commenced on a new length, the County Engineer is to supply the Council with an estimate of the cost. He is also to supply to the Works Committee monthly a return showing the approved estimated construction expenditure on each length of highway and the amount spent to date; also to supply quarterly to the Works Committee a return of the_ income and expenditure of the various (rushing plants. Prices for metal carting are to be submitted to the Works Committee before- being agreed upon. Provision is also made for an improved system of time-keeping, and Mr Callander is to act as assistant-engineer. The Works Committee, at its next meeting, is to consider the question of improving its system of functioning. A lengthy discussion took place before the adoption of the report, and the County Chairman (Cr. G-..A. Monk) explained tne position, with particular reference to the Te Horo riding, SFnd stated that a good deal of the expense was due to extra strengthening metal which had been found neeessary, esDecially on the swamp' section. He also stated that part of the excess expenditure was accounted for by an increase of 5s a yard over the estimate of cost of metal, owing to the plant not producing as cheaply as the Engineer thought it would and because he did not take into consideration sinking fund and interest on its running cost and the making of provision for a renewal fund. Various other factors which had assisted to raise the cost were outlined by the chairman, and 1 e indicated that most of;the remaining work could be carried out by means .)f the 10 per cent, which the Council is allowed to raise in addition to the original loan of £148,000. The LevyiWirokino section will have to be postponed until the future expenditure on the main road has been more fully considered.