Page 4 Advertisements Column 4

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 21, 26 January 1901, Page 4

(continued from inside page). THE QUARRY ROAD. The Secretary to the Treasury wrote stating that [the sum of £SOO would in a few days be paid on account of the .£2OOO loan for construction of portion of road to quarry reserve, Patutahi. S.D. Mr W. E. Akroyd. of “ Te Omu,” Waimata Valley, complained of the condition of three places on the main Wainiata Valley Road, viz., Richardson’s Hill, where a slip had occurred, causing the road to be very soft, Deviation north of Te Omu where road had slipped away, and a bad wash-out close to Osmond’s wliare, where there is now barely room for a waggon to pass. With regard to the first mentioned spot the writer pointed out j that several. waggons and buggies had been bogged, whilst the road was narrow and dangerous. The Chairman said that it was a strange tune of the year to have boggy roads.. Or .Jex Blake said that the Matawhero road also was badly cut up. The engineer said that the Waimata road was referred to in his report. STONE CRUSHING. Mr John Griffen of Napier wrote, regarding the stoppage of the crusher at the quarry, which he said, was due to the fact of there being no more room for small metal (3k). He asked the Council to arrange for the contractor to assist him by carting to the rear end. He was willing to put on a double shift if required, but did not see the use of doing so, until satisfactory arrangements were made in regard to cartage. Two other letters from Mr Griffen upon the same question, and the purchase of a crusher, were also read. It was stated that the difficulty with regard to carting had been overcome by the Engineer, As to the purchasing of a crusher, it was decided- to go on with the old one, as it was too late in the season to erect a new one.

A SEA OF MUD. Mr Andrew Beeves, of Tologa Bay, pointed out the necessity of putting the road at Mangopika in a passable state before winter set in. For the past three winters it had been in an almost impassable state, being a perfect sea of mud and water. Pie estimated the cost of putting stone on at about .£7O. The Chairman said that the Engineer had been over the road and would have something to say about it in his report. A DISPUTED CLAIM. Mr W. D. Lysnar, Solicitor, on behalf of Mr D. Courtney, applied to the Council for payment of the sum of .£B, for the repairing of fences between Mr T. CrailPs, and the “ Gentle Annie.” The sum claimed was for extra work (as authorised), after the contract of 29th May last. The communication was received. ENGINEERS REPORT. ■ The County Engineer, Mr De G. Fraser, reported as follows: Section 2, Waimata-Arakihi road: On the date of my inspection this contract was within a few days of completion, and so far excellent work had been done; Section 8, same road, also nearly complete. Quarrying and breaking 200 yards of limestone, Gentle Annie, is not yet completed. The erection of Mungatuna bridge has been satisfactorily completed. Boad for formation near Tombleson’s, and at No. 1 crossing, Waimata: The contractor has made a fair job. Some light block cuttings are rather narrow, and the level formation on the first p'ortion will have to be properly rounded up. On the second portion of the contract the approach to the river should be pitched. Stock track, Poututu : This contract was reported to bo finished on the 23rd inst., but on my inspecting the work on that date I found the last half-mile not nearly completed. The first portion presumably finished was not according to specification, and the work was slovenly and unworkmanlike; As regards the roads generally, so far as I have had an opportunity of judging, the Wairoa-Gisborne road from Hangaroa junction towards Gisborne is in fair order, with the exception of some few places. The long hill towards Parikanapa and on towards Tinoroto is very much out of shape, and water-tables arc required through the bush portions. From Tiniroto to county boundary at Te Reinga the road, particularly at the far end, is in bad repair, and I have instructed the roadmen to attend at once to that portion. Gisborne-Tolago Bay road, inland road, Cooper's to Makarori; A number of Culverts are broken and projecting in one or two places. Extra culverts arc required. The road at present is dangerous to traffic. At Tapuae Point a slip almost blocks the entire track, and permanent work is required to protect the lower side from the tide-wash. The hill on the far side of Waimoka bridge requires the boulders that arc protruding to be lifted and broken. The punt at Pakarae is in need of a new apron flap at one end, and also a hinge. As regards the proposed metalling at Putai Hill, it would be advisable to call tenders for-collecting all available beach shingle and boulders, and have same deposited at a convenient depot, when other tenders could be called for laying on to the road. Tolago Hill: About 32 chains of large boulders will have to be lifted, and the roadway re-formed, and the stones broken and spread. This work will be expensive, but is absolutely necessary, as the road is quite unfit for wheel traffic. Along the Tolago flat several portions require fascining, draining, re-forming, etc. On the road near Mangapeka bridge I proposed having some 20 chains formed out of funds available, and a small bridge re-decked. The road beyond Mangatuna will require slight repairs if wheel traffic is to be kept open. (Two small bridges hi the county boundary are only fit for light traps and will not be secure for the carting of timber for Waiapu County bridges. Hauiti-Takapau road: It is proposed to have about 10 chains formed along a wet flat, and fascining and filling at two block cuttings, also up the hill towards Arikihi some of the turns should be straightened. The road from the top of the hill to Arikihi is in excellent order. Waimata road is hi fair order, except at Richardson’s hill, where it would be advisable to have a permanent timber breastj work to stop the toe of slip, and the hillside planted with willows. Inland Waiapu road from Ormond to beyond Mr Caesar’s homestead is in fair order except the portion beyond the second portion beyond the second gate. The road from Waipaoa station to'Whatatutu, and on through Ormond as far as Waerenga-a-hika Hotel is in very fair order, and the Motu road from near Poututu to tho bridge. Some repairs to small bridges and culverts are required on this latter portion. Parts of the Ormond road from Waerenga-a-hika towards the borough badly require metal repairs and the depots filled up. In future I recommend that only in exceptional cases should the system of “pitching” the roads be adhered to. I consider that when the limestone is of fairly hard quality, as much of it is in this district, a better road can be obtained by breaking the stones throughout not necessarily as small at the bottom as at the top. This would do away with the objectionable boulders that are to be met in every direction, and render it so difficult to effect repairs, I am aware the system of pitching is advisable where the stone is of a very soft nature, as much of it is in other districts. The roads then wear down perfectly smooth throughout; but much of the limestone here is sufficiently hard to .allow the roads to be built of broken stone throughout, and, where worn, easy to effect repairs. I propose at all events to adopt this principle generally in future. The road to the Patutahi quarry should bo formed up and metalled, to allow stone tQ bo parted out at any geasga, »