COUNTY COUNCIL WORKS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 1, 17 August 1911, Page 2

COUNTY COUNCIL WORKS.

MONTHLY REPORTS. The following reports wore presented at the mooting of the County Council yesterday morning:— Engineer. Tenders.—Tenders were invited during the month for contract .Mo. 80 (drain cutting and cleaning in New Kopua Drainage District). Only one tender was received, and it was accepted. Work in Hand.—The above-men-tioned contract is now in progress. Contract No. 841 (McGowan’s contract) should lie completed by the end of the week. Contract No. 849' (formation of a further portion of Wanga Road, is proceeding satisfactorily). Contract No. 850 (drain cutting and cleaning in the New Kopua Drainage District), has been completed. The repairs authorised to Wanga Road with the amount of “thirds” applied for and received, are nearly completed. The work of erecting a concrete bridge at Rowan is proceeding steadily, one pier having been put in, and the foundations taken out for the other. As soon as this work is finished 1 will move the men to Kaitieke Bridge site on Mangaolm Road. This work has been delayed owing to shortage of suitable labour. 1 have been endeavoring to obtain this, and should I succeed in doing so the work would be commenced straight away. 1 have inspected the Bird Road crossing over Batea River, and do not consider that a ford at this point would be practicable. The cost of a traffic bridge in hardwood on concrete piers, which is the class I would recommend hero, would be from £750 to £BOO. The survey of the small piece of land at Horseshoe Bond, Oliura Road, for a roadman’s cottage and paddock, is in progress. In regard to the remainder of accrued “thirds,” for which I was instructed to make proposals, 1 find that the whole of this amount was on roads in the Upper Puniwhakau and Manga districts. The new deviation of Manga Road, which has recently been surveyed, alters the whole of the reading, problem in this district, and before sending in proposals I thought it advisable to confer with the settlers interested. This I have been doing, and at the same time I acquainted the Commissioner of Crown Lands with the position. He has replied that in these circumstances the £220 of “thirds” applied for, and so far held up, will now bo paid over to the Council. The work of laying off portion of Mangaoapa Road for formation has boon carried out, plans, etc., are nearly completed, and will he forwarded in a day or two to the Public Works Department for approval.

Foramen. P. Srown.—jiiu ivhids under my Citiu iuu iii iaii uidOi at piGbont. i3a*xtjau: j>iUiUcu nub ioaa iiu vaicutu WiUl Sana. i'uuiiU lc iatiibi ui*o x Kjx' lilt) JOlJj UUU lil tiici UOLtCi tiacUi uii tn. iiuiiunu Xvouu; i'uc nr a cm\oi l w ila bix inn coiiciviu pipes, j.uiiv IwUull i J.* UU lil cl llilVui U it.l toil lOi.l in jyiaCfd ui. ci uiiu ,wou iaiu tu lepaii. xv./uoU. ljivj iiu.* imjtai wllii tjiv iiciCCuii »>ut luunu it adtiier &ai.t uti tiio b*v*,uc> w iiiaivo a ££oyU JuO. X UuuK iu win u/i tno i i. tu Ci too LnO Ci ooiv. til- tuC Hi SI Ml Ufc it Was litl/; tu. taO UUu il it iS lit L lvJiioitOi.l ciuuii Uiv luiU \\ lii autv 0 lu to U&OMj c.o t*io is nut Sciio iui’ noitvy u iUiic axOlixliUvitxi xtOiUi ; O-tUiIOU XmS l UcvU viiia Aiiaao a JOU ui il..\>'iiciu uiou ciS liut too -liUla till Wl ; Ullt 111 XiUiiiO A >itieCvj it v» itk tv/U Soil tO StaiiU ii.v J-i migui/ ~ uvvt 1 iu'j • jjjuruu : ii Vi o tiio to yet sume ut. >J\ liUy WOl K IjilS sCuSO.i it tluuLtl/ Ltino La gut ii Suu l, as tiiei’u are plenty' Oi teams annul, out iqpu aie ucaitL uoo ut ixoic. i jiau ii looa at a new place ou loiK.Jktoatl, wince ttono can ofe got very easily ior tnat loati. iiaii-no.iuaj ; i was plcasea to see jou i»auo iiiiiite a move tu let us too lOwii iu daylight at last; out i do. not tiiuiic it >\jU work in cue winter, as 1 nave tu get out in cue UaiK lui lour nionius m tne yean ac present, and tne senenie woiiiu mean two more mourns. nut i, am ready to ran in vrrtu tne otners as tar as possune.

o. IvovaieskJ. —mo roaus nnuer my con ci ol are m good order, nave put tan teen iMn. may pipes in a niung on oioyclon Roau trcaiUey Uioss ana vnoy dun;. ilavc cut overniuiging scruo on iieaconsliekl Road and Stanley itoad itast; also cleaned tne wat-er-tables. Several or tne settlers luioso trees are very detrimental to tuo road nave not yet commenced cutting them. i gut Mr. otevens to break iys yards of boulders widen Have been lying on Salisbury Itoad lor several yeuiV>. Will tne Council give mo permission to make tracks, etc., in spare tune, so tliat 1 mignt get stone out as soon as one weatnor permits? The lieaconslield Itoad, Iroin the creamery upwards, a distance of aoout one mile, will require re-metal-ling tins summer. 1 thank the Council, for tneir consideration in desiring to provide a'half-holiday for ns, and am iu favour of tiie proposed scheme; but J take the liberty to suggest that the Council consider tne advisability of granting us the option of commencing work at 8 a.m., taking half ;ui hour for lunch during the winter months, as I have nearly' two hours’ ride to got to some of my roads, and could not well got there u't 7.80 a.m. Also, it is generally too cold to rest after lunch. S. Parker.—All the roads are in good order. I have re-metalled ten chains on the Finnerty Hoad. The approach at the Bird Road Brkl&a was in a dangerous condition, caused through a traction engine owned by Mr. fairy. it took three yards of metal to got the road to its usual height, amt I think the least Mr Tarry might do is to lot the Council know of it. This is the second time lie has left the road on my riding in a dangerous condition. 1 had a talk to the meir whom 1 have charge over as regards starting work at 7.80, and having a half-holiday 7 on Saturday. Wo are quite satisfied to keep on going as we'are, because it is too early to start work at 7.80, on account of the distance wo have to ■ go sometimes.

L. Roberts.—The whole of the roads under my control are in very good order. Our attention during the past month lias been given chiefly to the numctalled roads. We got to work ou the Maugaeliu Road with a plough and scoop, and crowned it up thoroughly from the Huianga Road to Jlr 'lowers’ gate. Tliat portion of the road from the tunnel to Toko Road School has also boon put in very grind order. The Makuri Road has been re-formed in a like manner from the Waiwiri Road to the North Riding boundary. The chief cause of the trouble on both the above-mentioned roads is insufficient drainage,culverts in places being too far apart, and in wot weather the drainage from the hills causes a large flow of water, and the culverts arc not canaille of faking it. Now tliat these roads are in good order I propose to nut in enough culverts immediately to take the storm-water convenieutlv.' This will

save a good deal of maintenance iu the future. Number of pipes used:

Maknri Road, 22 Sin cement. I would like to mention iliac Mr. (1 A. Harris kindly lent the use of hif horse and dray on several occasions, for which ho made no charge. Tin unmetalled portion of the Toko lloac is now the only one requiting immediate attention, and owing to the sola finality' of the formation I do no! think it would ho, advisable to do am very extensive, formation work at thit time of tiie year, hut it needs a gone overhauling vith regard to watertables. 11 egaming the half-holiday proposal: in my opinion by starting at T.dO a.in. and working B.V hours per day the half holiday ■on Saturday could he a managed admirably foi eight months in the year, or hy start■ ing_ at 7.-15 a.in. and leaving off at 5.15 p.m. ; but I do not think the hall hour at dinner-time would work well, as it would 'hot do justice to the horse (which requires' an hour). ] spoke to some ol the' workmen of other ridings on the matter. While not in favour of starting at 7.110 a.m., owing to having cows to milk, they said

they could- manage by starting at 7.-15 a.m. and leaving off at 5.J.5 p.m., which would not cause such a rush in the morning. 1 However, in our riding the scheme would be of great heiioht to the workmen, and could be worked without trouble for eight mouths oi the year. In t!io remaining four months I am of opinion that it would not work satisfactorily. If. C. Gallon.—l have lowered the culvert on Gordon Hoad, which Mr. Davis took exception to. 1 have planted with willows any places liable to slip below the road between tiie saddle and the County boundary. J have put in a week removing slips from cuttings with horse and dray, between the 17 and 19 mile pegs on the Main Hoad. The roads are all in good condition, ■ with-the exception of the New Kopua Road, which is a bit rutted. In regard Ito a 'half-holiday for the Council’s employees, I am decidedly in favour of the-Chairman’s proposal. During the cold, ■ wet months when one has to work to keep oneself warm half an hour is any amount for lunch. P. Hancock. Maknra Road West: T have been repairing this road, as it \yas in had order. 1 have had to employ an extra in an with horse and dray for eight hours. 1 have done it up. Ali the length will want a little attention until it has settled down. Tho crock near the factory wants an outlet given by tho owners of the dam there, as it is holding hack tho water. Mohakau Road: Ua this road near Mr. Jonas’s place, if there were two culverts put. in to carry water across the road and empty in the Government drain, I think it would avoid the water bowing over the road when there is a Hood. I would, likewise, have all drains cleaned out when tho summer is on. Other roads: They are all in fair order, I will lie able to make a start with fixing up the clay roads as soon as the weather is at .all settled. Half-holiday: 1 would ask the Council, in my position, to allow me, as , long as .! make up tho time (19 hours) to take a halfholiday when it suits me, as J want to coi.no to Stratford once in two weeks for the week-end. 1 leave it entirely with the Council to decide.

R. Robinson,—Opnnake Road No. 111.: As instructed, 1 have put a pipe culvert in near Mr. Long’s. Opnnake Road No. I.: I have finished the earthwork you instructed me to do, so now the road can be shifted away from Mr. Caldwell’s fence, and it will ‘give the road a Belter turn. The metal could be shifted later'.when the lino weather conics. AVaingongoro Road:' Mr. Morrisoy finds lie cannot get any metal out of the pit near the creamery. 1 have had some stone broken that has been picked up about tho road. There is very little maintenance metal left. If ’there is much wCt weiither 'tliH’roM will break up 'badly. Most of tho settlers have made good progress with cutting ti'oes hack that are on the road lino, hut there are a few not finished yet. There are some trees in the Cardiff School grounds on tho north side of the Opnnake Road which shade the road very badly, but there is no school committee, so 1 cannot give notice. Half-holiday: J think in the uinter months tho time should ho: Five days a week from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with half an hour for dinner, and on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. /In the summer months tho time should ho from 7.30 a.m. to 5 p.rn.j with one hour for dinner. J. Savage.—All settlers have cut away trees overhanging tho road, except Mr. A. P. Wood, hut lie intends inning it done before the-end of the month. All‘the roads are in very fair order for tho time of year, i'havc been cleaning out water-tables and patching metal during the month. Tiie men in tins riding are not in favour of the Judf-holiday. Owing to mud roads and tho long distances they have to travel, they would not be able to put ill the hours.

nafigor. During the past month the County roads have been fairly clear of stray stock. On the 21st nit. 1 went to Douglas and Taiiiore Hoads but found no wantloring stock. On the 22nd 1 wont to Jieaeonsfield, Salisbury, A 1 idhirst, and Denbigh Hoads, and found nothing at largo-. On the 23rd 1 wont (owing to complaints) to Gordon Hoad and found a mob of weaners (released). On the 2-sth 1 went to Xgaire, Hiunerty Hoad and Climie Hoad, but they wore clear. On,the 31st 1 went (owing to complaints) to Skinner, Cheal, and Wingrove Hoads and found four horses (released), 12 woanors (released), and one horse (impounded). On the night of the 31st Milner went to Midhirst (owing to complaints) and impounded two horses. On tno 2nd inst. 1 wont to Ahuroa, Heaconslield, Midhirst, and Denbigh Hoads, but found nothing. On the 3rd I went to Waiwiri and Gordon Hoads and found nothing. On the night of the 7th I went to I'ntutawa and found nothing. On the 6th 1 went to Waiwiii Hoad and found one horse which I understand had just got out. I collected no driving foes, and have left the matter to the Council. On the same date i found ten steers at Svioro, three horses at tiuiroa and one horse and lour eons (during the,night) at Douglas. On the 6th Milner impounded one heifer f rom Has tie Hoad. On the 9th Milner went to Manaia and Palmer Hoad, and found three cows (released) and one horse (impounded). On the !Jt!i I wont to Tntntawa and found nothing. On the f I tii I wont to Staudish, Ahuroa, Beaeousiield, Salisbury, Cross, Croydon, and Midhirst Hoads, but 1 oinid nothing at large except two old horsey. These I aas unable to

got. On the l.'iih i went out the Mast I Jo;;; I to tile County boundary ni'il round lour nous (released) and one ImiKD (impounded). On the lotii ] went to Toko Road and found 110•tSini" _;it large. .As regards my instruction re employing somebod' - in ;V(idliirst township, I imve nnide three trips there for the purpose, and hero interviewed everybody likely to net there, hut imve been nimble to make any arrangement so far. 'l'iie general feeling, i understand, is that any local resident taking the penitioti would nat be able to obtain work from the settlers. • I would propose that the first person allowing stock to

vender in the township after dark he prosecuted. I am satisfied that tho uiace is quite clear during the day.