HOROWHENUA COUNTY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 13, 13 December 1932, Page 3

HOROWHENUA COUNTY.

ENGINEER’S REPORT.

The engineer (Mr J. T. M. Brewster) reported as follows on the month’s operations at the monthly meeting of the Ilorowhenua County Council on Saturday:—“Tokomaru Riding: General maintenance has been carried out on road 3 in the riding. The Shannon East Road as far as the power house is rather rough on the surface. No doubt the greater part of the trouble is caused by the extraordinary traffic between Shannon and the power house and settlement. Willow trees have been cut back at the junction of Albert Road with No. 60 main highway. Buckley Road from the end of the metal to Manawatu River ha 3 been formed up with the power grader and will be ready for metalling any time after the holidays. I would like to know if it is the intention of the council to metal this portion of road during the present financial year. The road will take about 70 cubic yards of metal and this would cost approximately £24. Permission has been granted the Makerua Drainage Board to place a fence alongside No. 60 main highway, immediately north of the Kara Stream, providing such fence is not-erected nearer the pavement than six feet; also providing that the Drainage Board accepts all responsibility should any action arise on account of the fence being on the road. Instructions have been issued to clean drains on Kingston Road. A culvert has been granted to Mr R. Millar, of Tokomaru. The grader has been over the main highways and most of the roads in the riding. cubic yards of maintenance metal have been put on Makerua-Rangitana Road. Whirokino Riding: General maintenance has been carried out in this riding. Lupins and general growth have been cut .back on the road corners to improve the view. The contractor has made good pro- ; gross with the construction of the Ohau River bridge on Muhunoa East Road, 'lhis work will be completed by the middle of next week. The bridge should then bo open for traffic. Water races generally have received attention. Wherever complaints have been received through shortage of water, immediate attention has been given the trouble. I have made an inspection of the bridgo over the drain giving access to portion of Mr A. Hustler’s property at Ihakara. Mr Hustler’s main access is from Wallace Road, both to nouse i and sheds. The bridge referred to access to a paddock from No. 60 main high.way. The old bridgo is 8 feet epan by 1-

feet, wide. The stringers arc in fair condition, but eight of the planks have either rotted away or are missing. If the council wished to give the necessary planks there will not be any seoond-hand timber available until the Muhunoa Road bridge is being dismantled. Apparently the access referred to has had very little use in the past. General: The ranger reports having dealt with 15 head of wandering stock. He also reports that to date 1050 dogs have been registered. This would appear to bo about all for the year. “Unemployment Relief.—Waikanae: Nine men have been engaged by the council and the wages paid for one week were £ll Is 3d. There are three men over the fence at Waikanae and the wages paid for the week were £5 Is 3d. Levin: Under the jurisdiction of the council there were 155 men employed with 95 farmers and the wages paid for week total, £226 17s 6d. The total wages paid wero £243. There has been a deoided slackening off in the demand for men by farmers during the past month.” The report was adopted.-