COUNTY WORKS.

Shannon News, 22 May 1928, Page 4

COUNTY WORKS.

ACTING-ENGINEER' S REPORT. » Mr. A. R. Callander, acting-engineer to the Horowhenua County Council, presented the following report to the Council's meeting on Saturday, for the 'month of April:— (Main Highways, No. 1 Highway. t Waikanae River to Otaki River Seet tion.—This length has not required 1 mueh attention since paving was comj ple'ted. Side drains and culverts have been cleared and repaired wherever necessary in anticipation of wet weather. Repair work to last season's paving has been completed. - Office work in connection with the investigation into the over-expenditure on construction is I being continued steadily. j Otaki River to "Manakau Stream. —' Rd-pairs to No. 1 highway where it traverses Otaki Borough have been carried! out and are practically complete. Soj far the work done has withstood traffic; quite satisfactorily. Laying of bitu-| minous penetration course on this sec-' tion has also been completed from the foot of Simcox Hill to the Manakau stream with the exception of the deviation at the Tail way over-bridge and the gap at the Manakau stream. The unpaved portions of this section have suffered somewhat during the past few days' rain and repair work is being carried out immediately. A fresh in the Otaki River during the last few ; days rose over the filling at the north end of the main road bridge, but no damage to the road resulted. Manakau Stream to Levin. —On completion of work on the Otaki-Manakau length, the bitumen gang proceeded with repairs to the sealing course of this section and-have made good progress. There is still a little to be done in the vicinity of Ohau. Repairs have been effected to the edges of the sur-face-sealed portion of this length through the Horowhenua Village Settlement. Shouldelrs near Manakau has suffered- during the wet and will require attention as the ruts tend to hold water near the pavement. Levin to Wirokino Bridge.—A power grader regularly patrolled this length which is in fair shape. A certain amount of patching has been necessary, metal in dumps along the road having been used for the purpose. As so,on as number one crusher is finished in its present location it is proposed to commence crushing for maintenance in the Tararua Road pit. This length of highway should then receive a fair coat of metal where required. No. 60 Highway. Levin to Waoku 'Stream Section. — Upper Queen Street has been patrolled regularly with, power grader outfit and could do with, a little more metal in the |pose wearing course. A start has been i3 made with spreading of penetration metal on the portion of road near Waoku Stream, but the recent rough weather has upset calculations considerably and work is at present delayed. However, it is hoped that sufficient fine weather will eventuate in the next fortnight or so, to enable this shout length to be completed. Waoku & Stream to Shannon.—Some patching has been done on this length and under vigorous patrolling with power grader it has responded and is now in quite good order. As soon as a crusher is available, some maintenance , metal should be put out on this length as the metal has worn pretty thin in places. Shannon to Makerua.—This length has been patrolled with both power and light graders and is in good condition. The embankment to improve the, railway crossing at the Kara stream has • been metalled and traffic is now pro- ! eceding via Otauru Road on the western j side of railway between Shannon and 1 the Kara bridge construction work * The contractor for the bridge has com | jnencod work and is making satisfac- | tory progress. He has dismantled the old structure and is concentrating on i the excavations for the two central piers. No great difficulties have so fai been encountered. Makerua to Tokomaru Kiver.— lhh section is still in good order, having received regular attention from the graders. In addition crushed metal from number three crusher is being delivered as maintenance and will effect further improvement to the surface. Tokomaru River to Northern Boundary.^—This length has also had grader attention and is in reasonable order.* Large stones on the road have been removed. The filling to replace ojkl bridge near the fiat opposite Mabin'a property has caused some trouble late- , ly, having commenced to subside considerably. It has been watched carefully and brought up to grade as required.

Riding Matters. Tokomaru.—No 3 crusher has set up . on the banks of Tokomaru stream on Mr. Kelly's property and is delivering ' metal wly.eh at present is being used for needed maintenance on both main and district roads. A good class of metal is being put out. Some damage j to the recently completed Temukanui ! Road has been caused lately.by traveli ling peat fires, but repairs have been effected. Some of the metal on the J further ends of this road could best be (.described as "oversize" and surfacemen have been instructed to break same up as opportunity offers, with a view I to improving the road surface. There /has been a slip on the Tokomaru Vali ley Road and further slips are threatening. These will be attended to. In this connection I would recommend that the Council appoint a surfaceman to look j after this road on similar lines to those i operating on the Otaki Gorge Road. The (question of accommodation would also s need attention. Metalling on Pretorin J Road, opposite Mr. Liggins, property, has been completed, j Wirokino.—A power grader is at pre- ; sent at work on district' roads in this j Riding. Water tables and culverts

have also been cleaned and repaired by surfacemen responsible. Ruts in the new metalling on Ohau West Road

have also been trimmed. Metalling of a short length of Mark's Road has ■seen completed. A rather serious wash' out on the main water race has occurred just below the intake, the whole side of the channel having collapsed, allowing the water to rush over in a drop of from 15 to 20 ieet to the river. To facilitate the work of repair and also to prevent erosion of the actual bed of the channel, I have diverted the water in the race higher up by cutting the side-bank where no damage can be done. It was found impossible to control the flow in the Tace with the regulating gate at the intake as same is in disrepair. Repairs to the washout are being carired out with all speed. Permission to remove spoil (turf) from the side of Fairfield Road was granted. to the owners of the nursery in that locality. The removal of spoil has been carried out without detriment to the road. Cleaning and regulating of wate/ races has proceeded as usual. Otaki.—Metalling of the Waikawa South Road extension has been completed. Maintenance metal from No. 1 crusher has also been delivered where required on Waikawa Beach Road and some dumps have also been put out. An old timber box culvert on Waikawa Beach Road has been replaced with reinforeed concrete pipes. Water races have received the usual attention.

Te Horo.—Repair work to some af the district roads in the southern end of the riding have been carried out, and routine maintenance work in Otaki Gorge and on. northern end roads has continued. The Hautere water race system has been regularly attended to. Wlandierinj* (Stock. —Tihe tanger reports having impounded or dealt with, since last Couneil meeting, 50 head of wandering stock. Cr. Kilsby asked that something be done to Kawiu Road extension and Pott's Road, also Paiaka Road.

The chairman said that he wanted to arrange for the members for the various Ridings to accompany the engineer on the annual inspection, and he suggested that a start be made with the Wirokino* Riding. Cr. Kilsby also asked for some maintenance work to be done on the Foxton Road. Beyond Poroutawhao, h<3 said, it was pretty bumpy. ~ Cr. Bryant stated that the Waikawa Beach Road had now been metalled. The roller had not been to the outer portion, however, and motor cars were throwing the metal off.. He asked that a light lorry be sent to that end for one day. The matter was left to Cr. Bryant and the engineer to attend to. The acting-engineer's report was adopted. . .