MANAWATU MAIN HIGHWAYS.

Shannon News, 21 February 1928, Page 2

MANAWATU MAIN HIGHWAYS.

PART OF WORK TRANSFERRED TO MAIN HIGHWAYS BOARD.

It was resolved at Tuesday’s meeting of the Manawatu County Council to accept the Main Highway Board’s offer to seal the Sanson-Bulls section of the Auckland-Wellington highway, and also to accept the Public Works Department’s offer to metal the Fox-ton-Shamion road.

This is a step in the direction of transferring the control and maintenance of main • highways to the Highways Board. There is an agitation afoot from various local governing bodies to get legislation passed to relieve County Councils from responsibility in connection with main highways and to empower Highways Boards to take over control. It cannot be denied that the present dual control is causing trouble and it would be ' more satisfactory to place the matter in the hands of a national board. County Councils are burdened with complaints and agitations in connection with main highways, and in endeavouring to meet the situation the by-roads are neglected. The only satisfactory solution is for the Government to put an end to the present overlapping. ENGINEER’S REPORT.

The acting engineer, Mr 11. Y. Bolland, reported at Tuesday’s meeting of the Manawatu County Council for the past month as follows: — Main Highways. —The preparation and first coat of the sealing work was completed from the Bulls bridge to Ohakea corner on Friday, January 27, a distance of 97 chains. The second coat work was commenced on the 10th inst. and a distance of 40 chains lias been covered. With the continuous dry weather this 97 chains of road should be completed by Saturday next. This road has been closed to traffic and the deviation roads have been maintained. The remaining portion of this highway has been graded and maintained in the usual manner. The following main highways have been graded, patched and maintained, but owing to the continued spell of dry weather, ravelling lias taken place, leaving the roads in a very bad state: Sanson-Awaliuri, SaiiscuFoxton, Himatangi, Himatangi-Rangi-otu, Awaliuri-Feilding, Foxton-Shan non, and Wirokino Roads. An old,wooden culvert has been taken out and replaced bv 24 inch concrete pipes-on the Foilding'-A waimri Road. The length of peiietration wmk put down last season on Sanson-Awahuri Road has been patched and sealed with bitumen. The vVirokino Bridge and the drain bridge on the Levin Road have been repaired. The approach to the Shannon punt has been built up. _____