WORKS IN THE COUNTY.

Shannon News, 19 July 1929, Page 2

WORKS IN THE COUNTY.

REPORT BY THE ENGINEER. ...

The Horowhenua County Engineer (Mr .J. T. At. Brewster) reported as follows to the meeting of the Council on Saturday—

Tokomaru Riding.— General inaiiitemimv has been carried out in this riding. The consistent rain caused a slip to come down on the Kaihiiiau Road, which caused a little hii-oiiveiiioiu-e lo settlers at the back end of the road. A washout also occurred o:i this road,-which has been icpaired by timber sheathing and fill-

ing. The grader has been employed on the Alain Highway, Jiamieson's and Tokomaru Township roads. Extensive repairs to the bridge over Waterfall Creek on the Alain. Highway, which collapsed some time back, are receiving attention. White lines have been painted across the Al.iin Highway on either side of llie Tokomaru School.

Wirokino Riding— The culvert- asked for by Air Apliu has been installed. I have made an estimate for the improvement of the water supply to paddocks at Ohau and posted a copy to the persons interested. improvements to the Wallace Road. as referred to by a deputation to the Council some time back, have been carried out. The culvert granted to Air A. J. Mark has been delivered.A suitable culvert has been delivered to Air P. A. Page in accordance with his application. The Levin-Foxton Alain. Highway has been blocked by flood waters during a considerable portion of the month, and at the time of writing this report (July 3rd) there is a depth of water of at least four feet on the northern side of the bridge.

Otaki Riding — Maintenance metal has been placed on Rahui, Te Whata, Freeman's, and Blair's Roads, and the Alain Highway. The painting of the Otaki River bridge on the Main Highway has been completed. Foundation metal is being put on Bevah's and D'Ath's deviations. This work has been considerably hampered through wet weather. The metal on the Waikawa South Road has been blinded. Patching of pavement shoulders has been carried out at Alanakau and Otaki.

Te Horo Riding — General maintenance has been carried out in this Riding. During the month, heavy rains caused a railway filling south of Te Horo to slip out and deposit on the Main Highway, which blocked water and caused the shoulder of'the pavement to be considerably cut < 'away. A scour occurred on the Te Horo Beach Road.| Slips occurred on the Mangaone road at both ends. All damage to roads has been repaired. _ Grading has been carried out on the Waikaiiae Beach and Waikaiiae Township Roads. A certain amount of metal patching has been '.carried out on the » Alangaone Road.

General — It has been necessary to have considerably repairs carried out to the old I'ordson tractor. This machine is now in good working condition.' I find it very difficult to grade off the shoulders of roads with the light graders. The Council own a heavy machine which would do the work, well,,but it needs an offset hitch. If -this attachment was on the grader, the'work could be carried out on the narrow roads without the tractor leaving the centre of the road. The offset hitch will cost approximately £36, and I strongly recommend the Council to purchase one. RIDING REQUIREMENTS.

Cr. Barber stated that, just beyond Mr Law's, on No. 60 Highway, a little extra metalling was required to prevent the skidding of cars, which were apt to go into the water table. The alternative was a stone water-table, to enable cars to get out again. On the Buckley Road, on the eastern side of Mr Saxon's house, there was a very bad bend, and the settlers would like a little improvement in the way of cutting the corners. Cr. Whyte said he had a request from settlers on Hume's Road. Before the road was laid off and the sections cut up, an artesian water supply was put in, to provide water for the sections. The settlers had a pipe laid on the north side for about 60 chains. When the survey was made it was found that this artesian supply was along the rjad, and although Mr Mabin and Mr Hume had give the settlers permission to tap this supply, some of the nearer settlers had put in ballcocks, with the result that those being at a distance could not get water. A eomplaint that Te Mukanui Road was in bad repair was mentioned by Cr. Whyte, who stated that a lot of the trouble was said to be caused through ■soakage from drains. These were filled to the brim at present, and settlers •would not clean them out. The drains had been cut to form the road; they' were on the roadside, but all the land in that locality was under the control of the Makerua Drainage Board. There was a question of 60 or 70 chains or! drains.

The report was adopted, and the matters mentioned by Councillors were referred to the Engineer.