ROADS AND WORKS IN THE GREY VALLEY.

Grey River Argus, Volume VIII, Issue 525, 29 May 1869, Page 3

ROADS AND WORKS IN THE GREY VALLEY.

The following are extracts from the reports of Mr J. Henry Lowe, late District Engineer and now Warden of the Grey district, presented to the Provincial Council. It refers to two parts — first, works executed ; and, second, works proposed : — Wokks Executed. Since the Ist April, 1868, a very great deal of work has been required in the maintenance of the horse tracks between Cobden and Ahaura. The tracks are for t the most part on the banks of the river, and are consequently exposed to the damaging effects of freshes after every fall of rain. Almost every month the road has been blocked up in some part or other, and the traffic entirely suspended until the impediment could be removed. These stoppages have either been from slips ou the terrace cuttings and sidlings, or the deposit of driftwood on the tracks, or else the falling in of the banks along which the road lay. This has occurred so frequently that the track has scarcely ever been clear of a road party for a month at a time ; but before the men have restored the road to some sort of order another fresh has rendered it necessary to go over the work again. With the object of avoiding certain parts where the inroads of the river rendered it impossible to maintain a road anywhere near it, three pieces of new road have been formed. First, about one and a-half miles have been made from Coal Creek bridge to the first terrace ; this piece was well made and thoroughly drained, and since its completion in July last, has not required any repairs. It is entirely removed from the river, and shortens the distance considerably. The next piece is near Camptown, Redjack's Creek, and the third between Nelson Creek and the Ahaura, bull the rapid rate at which the river tears down the banks about these latter parts makes it very doubtful how long the tracks may exist. Since I have had charge of the public works, -I have not had any work done on these tracks more than was absolutely necessary for the safe traffic of horses, as I considered the situation quite unsuitable for any permanent roads. Owing to the encroachment of the two rivers, Grey and Ahaura, at their junction the situation of the Ahaura township has become very critical. Finding it necessary speedily to remove the Police Camp and Lock-up, a new site was sought for, and a secure place found about three miles up the Ahaura river. On this spot a township has been surveyed under the Gold Fields Regulations, and roads have been made giving access thereto. These roads likewise provide for a shorter route to the diggings on the Ahaura and Orwell Creek and vicinity, and are substantially formed, as well as being perfectly safe from injury in any weather. It was found necessary to remove the Warden's Camp from the Twelve-mile Landing, on account of the great' danger of the situation in times of flood, and also the principal centre of the mining operations has been moved further up the river. The Court-house, Police Camp, and Lock-up was therefore removed to Camptown, a newly surveyed township at the foot of Red Jack's Creek. At this place, a Camp reserve was laid off, fenced and cleared, and the buildings brought from Twelve-mile and re-erected. Stables have been put up the reserve, and at the new township of Ahaura. A new Lock-up was erected at the Ahaura, by order of the late Commissioner early in the year, which, together with the old Police Campa it was found necessary to remove to higher ground ; the great inroads of the River, Grey and Ahaura having rendered the site of the buildings highly dangerous. The snags in the Grey river has been troublesome, but not to a like extent with those in the Buller. The place where snags accumulate is just in the vicinity of Cobden wharf, and are a constant source of damage or danger to vessels mooring alongside. They have been cleared away at occasional intervals during the year, others still come down. The whole expense, however, during the year has not exceeded L 75, and that has included the removal of several snags of old standing in addition to fresh ones, so that a considerably smaller sum may be sufficient to keep the berth clear next year. Proposed Works. A Lock-up and police quarters at Nelson Creek has been a want severely felt, the constable having been unable at times to find any place in which to secure a prisoner. Estimated, LIOO. Removing snags from Cobden wharf, LIOO. I have, at a former time, reported to the Provincial Engineer upon the state of the Cobden wharf. About Ll5O was spent upon it during the past year. A great part is now rapidly decaying, and it must become very costly to maintain. I do not, therefore, recommend any extensive repairs being bestowed upon it, the whole structure not being worth it. For the present it seems very much less required than formerly. Vessels rarely come alongside as the principal coal depot is, on the Greyraouth wharf. I would suggest that amongst the conditions stipulated upon the lease of the Brunner Mine, in connection with the railway, it should be provided that the company reconstruct the Cobden wharf, the material to be entirely the stone from the adjacent hill side. Ido not anticipate that this wharf will be required to any great extent until a railway is formed to convey coal from the mine to the port, on the Cobden side of the river. To maintain it, however, for any purpose it will require at least LSO during the ensuing year. Sundries for signal stations, gear, &c, at the Grey and Charleston, LSO. Between Cobden and the Arnold ferry, I consider the route chosen for the road is as good as can be obtained ; from thence to the new township of the Ahaura, none of the present track is in a situation that warrants the outlay even of the sums required during the year to keep it passable. Ist. — The new line I propose in continuation of the scheme mentioned for a trunk line throughout the diggings is as follows : — Continuing the present road on the right bank of the Grey from the present ferry about two miles higher up, where a very much better and safer ferry may be established, crossing the river at this point, I would take a new line of road direct to the terrace ground near the river, and continue it along the higher grounds over I^edjack's Creek to Nelson's Creek terraces and thence follow the succession of terraces to the Ahaura. This will avoid all the river banks and shingle beds which have hitherto been a continual trouble. I esti-

mate, from Langdon's Ferry to New Crossing, L6OO ; and thence to Nelson's Creek, LIBOO ; and to the Ahaura, LI2OO. To render the road between Cobden and the Ferry safe from slips, it will be necessary to cut away the hill-side to a proper inclination, and cut down the overhanging trees which do much mischief by swaying in the wind, and loosening with their roots quantities of ground, which eventually falls on the road. About five chains require cutting back, to batter about 10 inches to the foot, which will run the work to a considerable height, perhaps 40 feet ; and 15° chains more require an average of 1 12 feat high. For this I set down Ll5O. I This sum, judiciously applied, should render the terrace sidling safe for the future. To avoid the overflows in this section which are impassable at ordinary floods, and highly dangerous when the the river is rising, about L3OO would suffice. From the Little Grey junction to the Inangahua Saddle the whole road is bad, and insufficient for the traffic even now upon it. I would, however, only recommend the formation of the latter five miles, which even now are scarcely passable, and during the winter and spring will only be travelled at great risk. The further part of the road follows at present the wiudings of a creek to gain the benefit of it 3 stoney bottom, and when this falls off the road plunges into a dense bush ; and the horses flounder amongst the roots and bog-holes for three or four miles. A direct line could be struck mostly over open plain to- avoid this bad place, and shorten the distance considerably. Any attempt to improve the existing track would be a fruitless expense. The road proposed on the open terraces would require the upper soil, which is soft and spongy, to be thrown off, and a hard gravelly surface would be laid bare, and of itself form an excellent road ; some part would be through bush, but without a survey, it is not possible to state what distances are actually required. I reckon, however, five miles at L 250 per mile. Great complaints have been made of the branch tracks to Red Jack's and Nelson's Creek, and considering their requirements at the present time, I should have proposed, for Red Jack's, L 75 0; and for Nelson's Creek, L2OO. Should, however, the Government decide to form the main road above described, from the crossing to the Ahaura, these branch tracks would, to a great extent, be done away with, as the main road would pass through the centre of the diggings. Should it be found necessary still to maintain a landing place at the foot of Red Jack's Creek, some part of the above sum would be needed in this instance, I therefore set down LSOO for Red Jack's Creek. Old established diggings have been steadily maintained at No Town, Duffers', and Noble's Gullies, for which I set down L4OO, L3OO, and L2OO respectively. These have constantly supported a considerable number of miners for years past, and no i help has yet been afforded by Government : in the way of tracks, those that exist, such as they are, having been made by the inhabitants of the neighborhood; The Moonlight Creek is a subject difficult to estimate upon without a more careful survey than I have had the opportunity of giving it. To form anything like a good road would cost a very large sum, and it is not to be contemplated considering that the locality lias retrograded. There are, however, several claims in work, and applications are made for extensive leases on the quartz reef. I should, therefore, propose a small sum to be laid out in improving the passages of the river bed, say Ll5O. Lastly, for maintenance of the above Grey roads, LSOO. The Amuri road has long been proposed in connection with the branch tracks up the Ahaura. As a sum of L2OOO was voted last year and not expended, I need only say it is fully as much required now as then, and I think the opening of the road would assist greatly in the development of the Ahaura gold diggings. Total for roads in the Grey valley, L 9350.