COUNTY AFFAIRS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVIII, Issue 11046, 1 November 1921, Page 6

COUNTY AFFAIRS

HOROWHENUA COUNCIL. . BUSINESS TRANSACTED AT MONTHLY MEETING. (Special to the “Times.”) The monthly meeting of the Horowhenna County Council was attended by Councillors G. A. Monk (chairman), F. J. Ryder, H. G. Bryant, R. Knox, S. A. Broadbelt, C. 1. Harkness, J. McLeavey, H. Barber, and J. RWhyte. SIFJ. G. Harkness asked permission to erect a gate across the road adjacent to the southern boundary of section 24, Pahiko Estate, Te Horo. The chairman said this seemed a matter of Mr Harkness coming to a satisfactory arrangement with Mr Jenson adjoining. The council had already agreed to Mr Harkness’s application. Mr H. Bowling, Manakau, drew attention to the unsatisfactory state of the Manakau-Kuku water-race. As the race passed over some very stony country the water was nearly ‘all gone before it reached solid land again. The matter was of importance to dairy farmers, who depended on the race to water their stock. He thought the intake should be widened. . Mr Bowling was present, and pointed out that his was the last property the race served, and by the time the water reached his place there was little left owing to leakage. He suggested that the intake should he widened and cemented in places to prevent the water escaping in the very stony ground. . Councillor Bryant 6aid a piece of Sinning which carried the race in one place leaked very badly. This might be the cause of the troube. Councillor Ryder pointed out that no provision had been made for preventing metal and other rubbish getting into the pipes which fed the race. He suggested that one of the pipes be lifted and an inspection made. The engineer said this race gave more trouble than any other in the county last year. The matter was left in the engineer’s hands to attend to. ENGINEER’S REPORT. The engineer reported:—During the month things generally have again been fairly quiet. A fair amount of maintenance metal has been put oat on various roads throughout the county. Pipes axe on the* ground for the new culvert on the Florida road, and timber is daily expected for the bridge on the Muhunoa East road. Everything is in readiness to start work on this bridge whenever the timber comes to hand. Everything appears to be in fair order in the Otaki riding. The contractor for the carting of maintenance gravel on the Rahui and adjacent roads intends to commence work during next week. I have not made, an inspection of the Te Horo’riding during the period, but as there have been no complaints I presume everything is in order. Fair progress has been made with the metalline of the Ohau East road, and should the weather continue fine this contract will be completed before next meeting. Councillor Ryder asked if anything could be done to improve the holes in the asphalt on thegLOtaki bridge, also the asphalt at Te Horo. The chairman said 1 both matters were to be attended to. Councillor Harkness said he did not agree with putting gravel on bridges. The metal, when forced into, the deck - ing, opened the surface of the timber, ana caused it to hold the water. Asphalt, of course, was quite different, and protected the decking. The engineer 6aid he agreed that, gravel was not a good thing on bridges.

Councillor Knox asked if there would be any objection to Chinamen' taking water from the proposed race at Te Horo for irrigating their gardens. The chairman said they could not countenance interference * with the races.