Piako Roads, Drains and Bridges.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVII, Issue 4487, 11 November 1909, Page 4

Piako Roads, Drains and Bridges.

Ax tho Piako County Council meeting on Monday Supervision W. R. Johnson submitted his report for the term ending November the 6th, 1909, .as follows . instructions from last meeting have been ealt *ith in the following manner Letter from Mr Horn, of Lower Waitoa, e creamery residue discharging into lounty road drain, I have looked into ftiis matter and I find that at the time die letter was written there must have >een a mass of odious matter lodged in bhe drain at the side of the road, bnt this

im since been remedied to a great extent >j the cleaning up of the drain, but I do lot think that the nuisance is yet wholly ‘bated, as there is no flow of water in

;he drain and when this dry weather James the same trouble will exist in a nucb greater degree.’ Waihou Sand Reserve.—Cr Thomas

ind myself inspected this with a view. to arranging for fencing, prior to leasing same, and we have decided to as under : "Well ring fence with seven wires, three posts to jpbain, three pickets between £' ach posjjf JMr Tattersall, the adjoining wner, Jpptit up his portion of the division 4wnce, this fence to he equal to Council’s portion. I submit a rough draft of conditions applicable to this lease, for your approval. Applications will be called for the next meeting. Lockyer’s Water Trouble. —Cr Hughes ind) myself inspected this locality and (lave to report as follows: —The Alexandra Road side drain is at the present time carrying more water than it has a right to, and the major portion of this water is diverted into this drain by a drain running from west to east, and is forcing flood water out of its natural fall through a ridge and discharging into the County road drain. This' has- been assisted by other foreign methods, viz., by attempting to build up small stopbauks, and the effect of such is certainly detrimental to the carrying capacity of the xoad side drain. The proper place for this water is certainly down through Mr liockyer’s property, and I am informed on good authority that the Hungahunga Drainage Board are going to open up this drain and ultimately tap the cross drain which I refer to. ’ I understand that this is to be done this season, and if bo, this part of the trouble will be abated. I recommend that this matter stand over until the fall and then if the Board carries up the outlet that will take this foreign water off the road, well and good, but if this is not done, then I certainly think that the drain should be blocked at the road boundary. Mr Lockyer also complains of the water coming down from further up the road, and is of the opinion that this water should be cut off and a fresh outlet opened up to deal with it. W e also looked into this and came to the conclusion that this is not warrantable at the present time. * Donald McDonald’s request for compensation for works done on the NgutumanSa and Te Kawana roads.—Cr Thomas and myself looked into this matter and have to report as follows :—Mr McDonald’s representations are: Ngutumanga Outlet Drain to bo widened and deepened, about one mile of road side drain, Te Kawana road, and about one mile on the Ngutumanga road. He has cleaned out at his own expense at 3s 6d per chain, and for which he requests Council to pay half. Pipes at the Te Kawana intersection with Ngutumanga road tod small; also pipes at Andersen’s gate. Clean up roadside drain along Anderson’s frontage to let water away from pipeß as above mentioned These items we recommend to be dealt with as follows : Ngutumanga Outlet Drain : We think that this is beyond the Council’s functions at the present juncture, but that when there is a final decision as to public drains, that this is one that will come under that designation.

• Cleaning Roadside Drains.—There is no doubt that the cleaning out of these gide drains has been a decided benefit to the roads for a good length and the work has been well carried out. We have no recommendation to make. The pipes referred to are too small and should be replaced with 18 inch ones, also at Andersen’s gate, and as this work can be done cheaply by using the 18 inch that were lifted on G-ratten’s Road, we recommend that this be carried out, but would like to know whose duty it is to P«t in larger pipes at gateway. The drainage work along Anderson’s frontage i* very necessary work also, but there is not much use of our portion being cleaned until the Ohinemuri County cleans up a further length, thereby allowing our work to be effective.

Outlet by Harris’.—This is the old Government drain and has the distinction of having a reserve along its banks. The drain is in a bad way and requires cleaning out for drainage purposes. There is another drain that should be dealt with when public drains are to be defined. Barnett’s Timber Prices.—l have leoked into this matter and I find that the prices quoted by Barnett are very reasonable and cheaper than we have been able to get timber at yet. I have placed the order for the piles, caps, and girders with this gentleman, for Page’s Bridge. Concrete Piles.—l am persevering with this important work. The necessary data will probably be to hand during the next week, when I shall get on with same as fast as possible. Tenders.—Tenders are before you today for the following works : Contract No o, Knight’s Road. No. 9, Waio-rongomai-Mangakawa Road. No. 12, Piakoiti "Road. No. 14, Scotchman’s Yalley Road. No. 16, Starkey’s Road. No. 18, Walton-Kiwitahi Road. A further lot will be called tenders for at the next meeting, Contract Progress.—The various contracts in hand are, in most cases, progressing satisfactorily, the exceptional cases are Lennox and Corlett, and George Irwin. These contractors are careless about starting their contracts, and I have now finally notified them that unless their contracts are started on ior

before Wednesday next I shall, deal with them under Clause 7 of the printed conditions. Waitoa Estate.—Complaints having been made to me about falling pine trees on Irwin and Johnson’s broperty Jong No. 2 Road, I have inspected the nuisance and find that there are about 20 trees down. These trees were growing m the Country Road and I think that we are duty bound to clear them away tnd repair the fence that has been dainiged. The necessary authority is here squired. Morrinsville Quarry and Road.—The Juarry road on the boundary of the Uorrinsville town district has not yet >een settled between the two local bodies is to maintenance, and it is a matter hat needs attention. The Quarry itself s in need of better attention than it hss ieen receiving, and I am inclined to the relief that there is a quantity of gravel ieing removed from same and no proper heck has been kept of same. I think bat the better way would be to place be County surfacemen at Morrinsville in harge of the quarry-and provide him rith a duplicate receipt book. The*

quarry should always~be locked up. "Nrr one should be allowed to remove gravel without Council’s authority. A royalty j should be paid before gravel is removed. This applies to the River Sand Pit also. J Sfconey Creek Bridge'.—This is thel bridge on the southern boundary of thofl Te Aroha Borough, and the cost ojfl maintenance becomes somewhat heavfl on the Riding of Te Aroha. The Aroha Borough disclaim any liability the matter. Is this right or not ?

It was decided that the various recoi dations of the Supervisor be given effect