ROADS IN THE COUNTY.

Shannon News, 16 December 1927, Page 3

ROADS IN THE COUNTY.

MAIN highways and”others. REPORTS BY ASSISTANT ENGINEER. The following reports on main highways and other roads in the Horowhenua County were presented at the County Council's meeting on Saturday bv Mr. Callander, assistant engineer:— ' No. 1 Highway. Waikanae River-Otaki River section. —The portion of this length on which foundation strengthening has recently been completed, pot-holed rather extensively during the wet weather.. Patching has, however, been canned out over the full length, and the road is again in satisfactory oidoi. Otaki River-Manakau stream section. Pilling at northern approach, Otnki bridge, is proceeding. The work is being carried up in layers, and a'roller is at work here also. This, with the wet weather lately prevailing, should ‘ result in this filling consolidating rapidly. Contractor Lee has commenced his work at deviation north of G. Bevan’s and appears to be making satisfactory headway. North of this deviation the foundation course of road has been well rolled, and pot-holes and other defects over full length of section have been attended to. , Manakau Stream-Levin. About three weeks ago it was noticed that the Idling of the south approach to Wai-) kawa river bridge had commenced to subside; the subsidence was due to scouring action set up below the leiel of the earth planks of the abutment pier. A short stone gabian groyne, above and against the pier and an apron along the bottom of the earth planks has been installed and should affoTd the necessary protection. The, river-bed has altered somewhat, and-the main flow is now between the centre spans of bridge. The road near Ohau railway crossing has pot-holed somewhat; arrangements have been made to spread maintenance gravel at this point. It has been necessary on several occasions to repair the Kuku bridge j decking. „ Levin-Wirokino section.— Routine maintenance work lias been carried out on this section; a power grader, lias also been at work. Despite adverse weather conditions and some heavy traffic, this'length of road is in satisfactory order. No. 60 Highway. , Levin-Waoku stream section. —The length of road recently prepared for scaling in Queen Street, has been 1 impaired after having pot-holed somewhat. The foundation work on new filling at Waoku stream has been completed. ' . . ’ ’ Waoku stream-Shannon. —This length has had attention from the grader and has also received some maintenance metal. It is in quite good shape. Sh anno n'rjMla ker u a- —During rdeen t bad weather, this road commenced to go to pieces, but metalling and grader work have effected considerable improvement, and, given fair weather, a satisfactory surface should soon be obtained.

Makeruat-Tokomaru, iriver Section. This length of road is in very good order. Grading and patching has been carried-out. This road has stood up to recent rough conditions well. Tokomaru river-North County boundary section. —'The northern end of this length has suffered considerably, and. although patched, is pot responding. It would appear necessary mnv to put out a coat of good gravel; and such action will be undertaken shortly. A grader has been over this length and patching carried out continuously. Plant.—No. 1 roller has been retubed and «now awaits a new axle. The new boiler for No. 3 (quick reverse) roller is expected in New Zealand about the second week in December.

Riding Matters. Tokomaru riding: Mangaore Valley Road. —Bridge -collapsed. —This, matter was inspected by Cr. Barber and mvsell and'is the subject of. a report .before the meeting. A light decking on mud sills has .been put in over the old concrete structure, but it is a temporary expedient only and the first flood wil probably necessitate further attention.

Wirokino Biding. Makahika stream-groyne and fords. A recent, flood resulted in the groynes installed just above road bridge, being considerably damaged. The stream has scoured behind the upper groyne and further erosion towards the road formation has occurred. Opposite this erosion, a bed of shingle is forming. A gang is now at work installing two new and larger groynes, which, it is hoped, will have the effect of scouring away the shingle bed. If this is achieved, the stream will flow past the threatened part of road in practically a straight Teach and the road should not then be in danger. The fords on this road Luther up have also been damaged and are difficult for vehicles to negotiate. The same gang will attend to them and also to several culverts which were noticed .to be in need of repair. Culvert, Denton’s Road. About three weeks ago a large timber box culvert on Denton's Road, about five chains from Queen Street, was reported as having collapsed. In view of the necessity of settlers getting wool out Over the read, it was deemed expedient to replace this culvert right away. Accordingly a 42in diameter reinforced concrete pipe culvert has been installed in place of the old structure. •Mir. Rani's {cnjlve^tj.—The |dulvdi}3 across Foxton Road opposite Mr.

Sloan’s property has been installed as \ per instructions. Twenty-seven feet of 9in diameter reinforced concrete pipes were used. Te Whanga Road.—The metalling of Te Whanga Road has been completed satisfactorily. ..' Roads in .Kuku. —Ohau 'West, Sol-

dier's and Hogg's Roads have all re--1 ceived maintenance gravel, aud Muhunoa West Road will receive similar attention shortly. Heights Road.—As instructed, I visited Heights road from main road to top of hill on Monday afternoon, Nov-

ember 28th. It was noticed that the lower half of this length of road is excavated in ground of a sandy silt and elay nature or of.rotten rock. The acliou of wind, rain and frost has flaked off the rotten rock to such an extent that the water tables in places are quite filled with debris and consequently drainage flows down the road formation. Numerous small slips have .occurred in the sandy clay formation and wherever the drainage is at all impeded, damage immediately Jesuits. The upper half of the road is excavated in more stable rock formation. There are several concrete pipe culverts a'i in good order and the effects of good fttoh&ge were 'lvery) ejyii depit in Ithe absence of slips and other damage to the road surface. It. was found that there are seven old box culverts in bad order, though drainage is still getting through them; four are blocked and in uced of repair and perhaps re-nerval, and four have outlived their usefulness and arc in absolute need of re-ncwal. .It is suggested that instead of installing pipe culverts oil this road, open •fords paved with the rock available be constructed across the road; and that some time just before each, wet season sets in, the’ water-tables be put in. good order. The amounts on the estimates for ‘this road are £SO (Wirokino Riding) and £3O (Tokomaru Riding). The expenditure to date is £sl Bs.

Otaki Riding. Waikawa South Road extension.— The formation of thi« extension is now completed. In due course, after settlement has taken place, metalling wil be proceeded with. ■Manakau township. —Iverbing and footpath work in Manakau is also com-' pleted. Convent Road.—Bridges recently completed have been painted. Waitohu Valley Road.—This road has received maintenance gravel from Waitohu stream. It is proposed to gravel Raliui Road also. Te Horo Riding. Culvert —Mangaone Beach Road. — The surfaceman has been instructed to supervise the installation of' a Din diameter earthenware pipe culvert opposite Messrs Ashdown’s property on Mangaone Beach Road. Otaki Gorge Road.—lnstructions have also been issued to surfacemen to carry out repair work on that portion of Otaki Gorge Road from railway overbridge to Lethbridge's. Removal of spoil from Mangaone Beach Road.' —On a recent visit it was observed that some person or persons had excavated a borrow-pit alongside Mangaone Beach Road and between road and stream. The pit was approximately three feet deep and the edge of same was within two feet of the edge of metalling, thus constituting a dangerous spot. The surfaceman was instructed to fill in the pit and to record time and expense entailed in doing so. It is suggested that the Council consider taking some action towards recovering the cost involved in repairing this damage. There have been numerous slips on Otaki Gorge Road and Mangaone Valley Road. Consequently surfacemen have been very busy repairing damage during the month.