KAIRANGA COUNTY

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIV, Issue 1188, 10 December 1924, Page 12

KAIRANGA COUNTY

ENGINEER’S REPORT. At yesterday’s meeting of tho Kairanga County Council, the engineer, Mr J. R. Menzies, roported as follows on the work carriod out during the month : —Two contracts have been in hand and an average of 32 daymen employed. All roads in tho county are in very fair order,' und on every suitable occasion tho graders have been put over tho more important roads to rake in loose metal from sides. A fairly largo amount is owing to the council for royalty on gravel taken by private persons from areas under the control of the council. As efforts to collect these amounts have been fruitless, I would like instructions as to whether tho debts are to be sued for or not. The sprayer owned by tho council is not very satisfactory for the bitumen work, and u great deal of time is lost when this class of work is in hand. 1 understand that, at the time this machine was purchased, it wus the only one available and it was quite satisfactory for spraying tar, which was .in more general use then. From tho little experience I have had with this machine I urn quite satisfied that it would pay well to purchase a more up-to-date article, specially made for bitumen work. It may be possible to sell the old sprayer. The cost of one of the latest machines would be about £320 fitted up in working order. Only moderate progress is being made on the Aokautero road deviation, and I understand the contractor intends to wait on tho council to explain his position. .Fenders have been culled for delivery of metal on the new formation. In regard to the Eoxton line, Rangitikei line and Fitzherbert bridge approach loari9, the proposals submitted to the Highway Board on October 15 for the completion of sealing on sections of each of these roads have just been returned approved, so that tho work can now be put in hand. Fourteen chains of Foxton line has been given one coat ol asphalt. The tar was breaking up so badly that we had to go on with the work. It is proposed to start 'on hitzherbert bridge approach this week, and metal chips are now being delivered on this road. The portion already tarred will be given a. coat of asphalt and the tar- extended for about another 20 chains, which will later be covered with asphalt. In connection with the Kahuterawa road loan, tenders have been called for clearing the road above the ford. All concrete work is completed in connection with the jMilson a line bridge, and practically all timber is cut to size and ready for putting together. Surveys have been mude for the renewal of Railway road bridge and preliminary pluns completed. It is proposed to cut a new channel for the creek, so that the water will have a straight run to the culvert, and this will also enable the present embankment to be widened. Mr 11. C. Jefferies has given permission to cut the channel through bis property. In the Taonui riding the grader tractor outfit has been over practically all tile roads. Foxton and Rangitikei lines have been blinded with sand and chips where the asphalt was coming through during the hot weather. Tho trucks will start this week delivering gravel to dumps near Kairanga. In the Mangaono riding work on the Taonui-Feilding road is completed. Two hundred cubic yards of gravel have been carted out to the Kairanga-Bunny-thorpo road between Robert’s lino and this side of Scott’s line. The road lias been scarified, re-shaped and gravel rolled in as well as possible. A portion of this road has been blinded with clay. Hie grader tractor outfit is now at work in this riding, cutting down high sitles of roads, raking in metal and cleaning watertables wherever possible. In connection with Mr Wood’s application to have portion of the road fronting his property formed this is portion of tho unformed road along tho railway between the Bunnythorpe township and Newbury line. Mr Wood requires about 23 chains of formation and metalling, but abou 25 chains more would take the road through to Newbury line. The 23 chains will be fairly expensive to form on account of the numerous hollows to Fill in 1111 d dee}) ditches to cut. A bridge of 10 or 12 feet, span will also be required. The cost will be about- £350. In the Fitzhorbert riding timber for repairs to Sutherland s bridge is now on the ground and the work will be done as soon as the bridge gang is available. A man lias been employed on Kahuterawa road, below the ford, clearing watertnbles and doing general repairs, but one of tho teams should be put in there for about a week to gravel some of the rough portions of the road. Some work has been done on the upper end of ( the Pahiatua track. General maintenance work has been done throughout the riding, and the carting of metal to dumps is now in hand.