ROADS AND BRIDGES.

Shannon News, 13 August 1929, Page 3

ROADS AND BRIDGES.

COUNTY ENGINEER'S REPORT.

The report cf U»c Engineer (Mr J. T. M. Brewster) to the Horowhenua County Council, on Saturday, was as follows: — . Tokomaru Riding.—

General maintenance has hoen .carried out on tne roads’ in thin riding. Metal patching has been done on Hume’s and Shannon to Buckley Roads, also on the Main Highway. The grader has also been at work on the Main Highway. The bridge over the Waterfalls creek on the Main Highway has been completed and is now suitable for two-way traffic. * Permission has been granted to Mr Herbert Seifert to take his caterpillar tractor over the County roads, subject to his being responsible for all damage the machine might do to the roads. A culvert , has been supplied to Mr Swindlehurst.

Wirokino Riding.— Maintenance metal has been put on Kawiu, ITeatherlea East, . McDonald, Potts, Paiaka, Heatherlea-Koputaroa, Muhunoa'East, Muhuuoa West, Ohhu Township, Arapaepae and Arawhata Roads, also on Ncs. 1 and 60 Main Highways. Grading has been earned out on various roads in the riding. A. pipe drain has been put in from the Main Highway on Ihakara Hill to a gully 3£ chains distant to take water from the Main Highway. Work is being carried on putting dolvn foundation metal on the LevimF’oxton iMjain Highway. To date 1200 cubic yards of pavement metal and 690 cubic yards of metal chips have been delivered on to this Highway. A culvert has been delivered to Mr Webb. Two culverts have been delivered to. Mr C. Adkin. .Two culverts have been delivered to Mr W. E. Kilsby. Th survey of the various clay roads referred to for loan purposes is being carried out.

Tenders closing on August 19th are being invited for the construction of the Kuku Stream bridge on the Main Highway., Otaki Riding.—

Metal has ben placed on the pavement shoulders in various places along the Main Highway. The foundation work on D’At-h’s Deviation lias been completed. Work will now commence on the section at Otaki Bridge. A small, groyne has been put in the Manakau Stream near the bridge on South Manakau Road. A 2ft diameter concrete pipe culvert has been put in on the South Manakau Road t-o replace broken earthenware pipes. The contractors have commenced work on the Waikava Bridge.

Te Horo Riding.— General maintenance work has been carried out in this riding. Metal patching has been carried out on Te Horo Beach and Soldiers’ Roads, Also on Waikanac Beach and Te Iloro-Waiho-anga Main Highways. The grader has been at work on Waikanae Beach and Waikanac Township roads.- Slips havebeen removed from Mangaone and Otaki Gorge Roads.

General. — It is apparently the practice of some people to take metal left in dumps on the sides of County roads. I would be pleased if the Council would authorise me to prosecute offenders if found neCG ASIILEA —TEMUKANUI ROAD. .Cr. Whyte mentioned having heard complaints as to the state of the Ash-lea-Tc Mukanui Road, and asked if anything could be done to it. The w&te.tables and drains were full of water and there was a natural soakage through the road. It .was not a yevy

big j°b. Cr. Barber: I understand there is a very good opportunity to get meta: on at present, if we take advantage of it. There is a tramway right down that road that ik metalling the..extern sions. Good crushed metal is being put on. . The Engineer promised to look >». the matter. MAIN HIGHWAY SOUTH.

• Cr. Cat-ley said he -wished to drayattention to the shoulders of the ManHighway at the Settlement. Pothole were biting into the edge. Just souU of the Ohau bridge the shoulders .shoul ’ he lowered to allow the water to gel away. The piece of main road on tlu other side could be taken as a standarn roac q—what he had had in his mind’: eve since the beginning of the High wavs scheme. If the shoulders were put down as they Were on that section ; they would work out, on to the side and make a light wearing-course; HOKIO-WAITARERE ROAD.

Cr. Gimblctt asked if the Engineer could improve 'the llokio-Waitarore Road. He understood that it was. utmost impossible to bring sheep out. Could the Engineer say whether it was at all practicable to try to repair an unmetalled road? The Engineer said he could not do much to the road at this time of the year. It was a sand rpad; it, cut up into deep ruts, and the' water lay all over the place. The only course was to form and metal it in dry weather. D’ATH’S DEVIATION.

Cr. Evder asked what arrangement, the Engineer was making for boulders for D’Ath’s Deviation. The Engineer: I am calliiig for tenders for that straight away. They will go on as soon as we finish the Otalci Borough section.

UNAUTHORISED REMOVAL OF METAL. Cr. Jensen referred to the clause in the Engineer’s report concerning the taxing away of metal’ from dumps by unauthorised persons. He considered that the Engineer should have the sanction of the Council to prosecute if they thought it necessary. The Chairman: We will give him that authority.' MAINTENANCE METAL. ■ Cr. Jensen: I would also like to know if the Engineer has gone into the ques-' - V vA;. ..;

tion of supply of metal for the roads down there, because it is recognised that some maintenance metal will be wanted there before long. The Engineer: That will.be got out before long. NEW KUKU BRIDGE. Crs. Catley, Gimblctt, Colquhpun and Ryder, with' the chairman and the Engineer, were appointed a committee to open tenders for the Kuku bridge, and, if a satisfactory tender is received, to accept it. - Thc Engineer’s report was adopted.