PROPOSALS FOR SEALING.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 195, 17 July 1935, Page 7

PROPOSALS FOR SEALING.

HIMATANGI-SANDON HIGHWAY. COST TO COUNTY £4OOO. Considerable discussion took place in oommitteo at the Manawatu County Council meeting, yesterday, when a letter was received from tho district engineer of the Main Highways Board stating that so far no reply had been received, from the council in regard to the board’s offer concerning the Hima-tangi-Sandon Road. Tho board was anxious, the letter, added, to finalise as early as possible the proposals for surfacing the balance of the road, and requested the council's early reply to its overtures. The board further stated that if the financial position could be definitely settled and proposals approved preparation work could bo started early in readiness for sealing work at the 'beginning of next season. The lx>ard did not intend to allow the work to remain in abeyance indefinitely, and if the council did not move in the matter in the near future the board would adopt means whereby a definite commencement would be assured at an early date. Concluding, the board requested urgent notification of tho council’s intentions in the matter.

la reply to Cr. J. H. Perrett, the county clerk (Mr A. Tv. Drew) read the correspondence which had passed l>etweon the council and the board last February in the matter,'the council then having offered to contribute £3600 towards the cost of the work. Cr. Perrett considered that the council should stand by its offer and again say that it would let the board do the work and the council find £3600. The chairman (Cr. W. E. Barber) thought the council could not go as far as that —it might lose all sav in the control of the road. The speaker recalled that the council had asked for a £6 to £1 subsidy on the road, the board in reply offering £4 for £l, and this was as far as matters had gone. The engineer (Mr H. V. Bond) reminded the chairman that the Foxton Beach Road proposals had temporarily s.de-tracked the Himatangi-Sandon Road negotiations, and the matter had not been raised since. The chairman stated lie had been awaiting the result of the half-mile experimental surface that the board was putting down before he had formed any definite opinions as to the procedure of the council. Replying to a question from the chairman, the engineer said that there would not lie the finish on the work Joeing put down that thoro was on the mix-in-place surface. He would have no hesitation in recommending the mix-in-place surface even though it cost a little more. The chairman said the council had been negotiating on the basis of a £6 for £1 subsidy for a road like that put down from Himatangi to Rangiotn, but the board had only offered £4 for £1 for a two-coat sealing job. At'this stage the council went into committee to discuss the matter further and on resuming in open council the following resolution was carried on the motion of Os. Perrett and R< “That in reply to the letter of February 25 last regarding the reconstruction and surfacing of the remaining portion of the Himatangi-Sandon lioad the Highways Board be informed that the council is prepared to cai out this work by contract by the mix place method, the road to be of standard width with a mintmum consolidated metal thickness of six inches at a maximum cost to the council £4000.”