ROADS AND WORKS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 315, 8 May 1868, Page 2

ROADS AND WORKS.

The Provincial Engineer, Mr. J. T. Thomson has presented to the Council, his aceustomed.Departmental report. Mr. Thomson's ide as of roads and bridge making, are really of a very practical nature, and well worthy the consideration of our readers. As the substance of the report, so naturally relates to this and surrounding districts, we have extracted rather copiously from' Mr. Thomson's summary, which accompanies this report : —He says, "The detailed reports of the DistrictJJngineers will explain fully what has been done: in each locality ; so I shall confine myself to general observations. About 115 miles of metalled, and 30 of gravelled, road have been completed in the Province, ending near Palmerston in and Balelutha in the South. The most important extensions of this system of road that would now | appear to be desirable, are towards the , Goldflelds'of theintorior. Taking the ene north by the Shag Valley, and the other by Tuapeka and Teviot, 1 have suggested/for these, on the Estimates, what 1 can anticipate to be available; but 1 believe the permanent construction and improvement of these two routes to be of % tha highest importance to the Province, and if £40,000 or £50,000 could be devoted to each at an , early date, the expenditure Mould be repaid by increased traffic and mercantile interchange of produce, and settlement of population. Improvement to the central j road by the lioek and Pillar Mountains, I must be kept in obeyance for some years, I owing to the poor high country over which i it passes, and the absence of material for ; road construction, lit recommending liberal expenditure on metalled roads, 1 must give reasons for the same ; and 1 do so the more readily, now that the colonists have settled down to their various occupations, and so become interested in the general welfare of the Province. Their practical experience can therefore be appealed to in asking for an intelligent estimate of the value of works of progress and convenience. This Province, being of a generally hilly contour, and at the same time well supplied with materials for macadamised roads, presents greater facilities for this species of internal communication. The absence of timber and unevenness of surface, again, present great difficulties in the way of the introduction of what has boon proposed as a substitute, the iron horse tramway. On perfectly level surfaces, no doubt the iron tramway has great superiority over the metalled road, in the small power it requires for traction ; but this superiority rapidly diminishes as the gradients increase in inclination, also, the cost of metalled roads may now be taken at not more than £IOOO per mile ; that of iron tramways could not be estimated at under £2500. Again, the former gives great conveniences for local and district traffic and intercourse ; the latter, comparatively none. To the metalled road, as the precursor ef the railway, therefore, I see no rival. In this Province it will always be the best and most generally useful system till railways a'e formed, after which it will become their feeder and supporter, The metalled road, therefore can, without fear of error, be freely extended in advance to all parts. When population and trade warrant the Government to promote the more costly and rapid system of railway communication, than the metalled roads, as feeders, will even be more essential than ever."' During this season two considerable bridges have been completed—one over the Mataura, for carrirge traffic ; the cost was £2752 7s Id. The other, is over the Shotover River, near Maori Point. This structure is designed for horse and foot traffic ; the cost was £1372 3s Od. The Balelutha Bridge is progressing towards completion. This is the heaviest Work of the kind in the Province, being 679 feet long, supported by eight centre and eight abutment piers. The centre spans are 80 feet each. For tbis year, 1 would suggest the confie'eratien of the Governmont to the bridging of the Shag River at Waynes, and the Mr.r.v.hciikia, at Blacks. The vrojectcd

alterations to the Trunk road in the Shag , r Valley, will save six crossings ; and were * a bridge placed across the Manuherikia, at * it near Blacks, several rough and danger- ' ous points ef the trunk line to the .Dun- 1 ; stan would be avoided. The best track for » the trunk line however, has not yet been c surveyed, so that the exact alteration can- n not be indicated. i 1