HOROWHENUA COUNTY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 88, 12 March 1935, Page 10

HOROWHENUA COUNTY

MEETING OF THE COUNCIL. The Horowhenua County Council met at Levin on Saturday, those present being Crs. G. A. Monk (chairman), L. H. Best, A. J. Whyte, A. M. Colquhoun, A. J. Gimblett, G. P. Catley, F. J. Ryder, C. P. Jensen and L. H. Atkins.

The secretary of- the Manawatu Automobile Association wrote drawing attention to the increasing number of wandering stock on the highways at night, particularly on the roads between Palmerston North and Wellington. The letter stated that it had fc-een reported that a number of accidents had been narrowly averted and asked the council to take the necessary action. Crs. Ryder, Colquhoun. and Catley said they had seen wandering cattle on the main highways. Cr. Jensen pointed out that the drought conditions had caused a shortage of feed and the council should not be too hard on offenders.

Cr. Gimblett held that this was the case on the side-roads, hut those who used, the main highway were not in that category and the matter should lie taken up. Leniency could be shown on the sude-roads. The letter was referred to the engineer to take the matter up with the ranger. The Shannon branch of the Farmers’ Union asked if the new bridge over the Otaura Stream near Shannon would not do awav with the drinking ford for stock. The letter stated that the branch would appreciate anything the council could do to leave a place for travelling stock to get water. —Referred to the engineer. Mr P. L. Arcus wrote asking the council if it would carry its waterrace along the south side of Kawiu Road. It was at present running along part of the front of his farm. — Referred to the engineer for a report. The Levin Borough Council wrote thanking the council for its offer of assistance towards improving No. 1 Highway at its junction with Kawiu Road.—Received.

Mr T. ICearins, of Weraroa Road, Levin, asked the council to withdraw Californian thistle from its list of noxious weeds. The writer stated that his experience showed that the thistle grew out quicker than it could be cut out. —The council were of the opinion that Californian thistle could be withdrawn from the list without affecting the county as it could he re-included if it was thought necessary. It was decided to refer the matter to the Department of Agriculture for its omnion. Mr L. BradfiekL of Ihakara, wrote asking the council to seek the placing of the weed tutsan on the No. 1 schedule of noxious weeds, because of his inability to check _ its spread on to his land from an adjoining farm. The chairman expressed .the opinion that the weed was one of the worst existing and one of the most difficult to eradicate as stock would not, eat it.; It was resolved to ask the advice ot the department on this weed also. Messrs James Burton and L. H. Roberts, of Tokomaru, wrote pointing out the condition of a bridge on the Tokomaru Valley Road, which, they said, was on the verge of collapse. They asked that the council do something in the matter as the bridge was unsafe, but an expensive structure was not necessary.—Referred to the engineer with power to act. Mr S. L. Wright, of Tokomaru. wrote asking the council to repair the culvert at the entrance to his house in Nikau Street—Referred to the engi-n-e-er for inspection. ENGINEER’S REPORT. The report of the engineer (Mr J. T. M. Brewster) stated, injter alia:—Toltoniavu Riding: The fires on the Makerua plains roads have been prevented from damaging the metalled portions by digging ditches between the fires and the metal. This has proved an expensive item. The grader has been over various roads in the riding. The crusher is working in the Tokomaru River _ and will supply metal for various district roads. Noxious weeds have been cleared ■from county reserves. Slips have been cleared from Mangaone Road. A culvert has been installed on Kingston Road to replace a collapsed culvert. Heights Road is again giving trouble with slips. The drain on the old Foxton Road has been cleaned. Whirokino Riding: A pipe culvert on Gladstone Road that collapsed at the outer end has been lifted, lengthened and replaced. This road is showing signs of bad wear through a big lorry carting logs and firewood. The road was overlooked when other roads were classified. I would now recommend that Gladstone Road be classified in the fifth class, which mean* that a maximum load of three tons including the weight of the vehicle would he permitted. If some restriction is not placed on the road the heavy traffic now using it will do considerable damage during wet weather. The decking on No. 2 bridge on the Mnhvnioa West Road has been spiked down. This lifted badly during the dvv weather. Three new planks on Nos. 1 and 2 and new planks on No. 2 blidge on Gladstone Road were found necessary to replace broken timbers. A. culvert has been lengthened on Gladstone Road. I have made an inspection of the bridge across the Holdo Stream referred to by Mr Read +, the last meeting of the council, the old bridge has collapsed. It is 30 feet long and gives access to Mr Read s farm. The bridge site is approximatelytwo chains from the metal road. I am of the opinion that the rebuilding of the bridge is purely a private matter. Main Highways: The building up of depressions on No. 1 Main Highway is practically finished as far as the £250 grant‘will go. The drains affecting the main highway in the Waikanne swamp have been cleaned. A flood last month in the Waikawa Stream did considerable damage at the main highway bridge. A system of heavy groyne work is being constructed to protect the road with the building up of that portion washed away at the south abutment of the bridge. Approximately two tons of wire will be used in the groyne work The contractor has now driven all the piles and put in the concrete of the northern pier of the Mnngnore Stream bridge on No. CO Main Highway. The widening and foundation metalling of Potts Hill on No. 60 Main Highwny has been completed. A certain amount of widening has been carried out on No. 374 main highwny. live 'chains of No. 51 highway at Waitarere Beach have had the metal widened from 12 to 18 feet. The road over the Ohnu River bridge will shortly be reThe county ranger reported that he had dealt with 33 head of wandering stock. i