THE MARSDEN ROAD.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1233, 11 July 1872, Page 2

THE MARSDEN ROAD.

The Marsden and Greenstone road is fast arriving at completion,- and a splendid road it will ultimately prove after it has thoroughly set. .. That : portion between Marsden township and the New River is now being made by Messrs Hamilton and Co., who have laid .down a temporary tram for that purpose. It almost seems that the Government do not look on this as being a part of their main trunk line,; as only eight inches of metal are being used for it. It was generally understood some time since that the main road was to pass through Marsden, and if that is to be the case, why not complete' it as thoroughly as the other parts? The bridge over the Now River is very substantial, and, to all appearances, likely to withstand the largest floods for sometime to come. It ia built chiefly of totara. The contractors, Messrs Pollock and Dixon, had considerable difficulty to get this particular kind of wood, and had to bring some of it between two and three mile 3. Prom the bridge to the top of the terrace (which will long be remembered by our Premier as being almost inaccessable when he climbed up with others to get a bird's-eye view of the country), the road goes round

the brow of the. terrace, and after, some little winding, the top ia reached without much difficulty, the gradients being easy. The blue reef is pretty bare just here, and will occasionally slip, but, this could not be avoided. From thence to the foot of Donegal Terrace the ground is .'nearly level, and there is a straight course for half a mile ■ or. more, when the road gradually ascends' the terrace, and after .traversing some little .distance enters dri No. 2 'section^ Messrs White arid Matheson contractors. This section is not quite finished, but is expected to be iv a few days. No. 2 wa3 the last let — some month or six weeks after the others were taken.' The roughness of the country frightened the first tenderers, and well it might, when it was viewed from the surface in its primitive state ; but now the work that is done entirely reverses matters, as the stratum underneath, the the surface whenever any little bluff appeared was almost without exception composed of gravel in that particular and unexpected place. On the top of this terrace 1 there is a slight break, 'and over it there is a viaduct. The whole course of No. 2 lies on Donegal Terrace and joinß No. 3 at the summit. This will take about a month to finish, Messrs Cassidy and Clark having completed No 5 and 6 sections prior to commencing this No 3 which joins No 4 on the Manukau Swamp, the contractors of which were Messrs James Hamilton and Co. Nos 1, 4, 5, and 6 sections are completed, and passed by the Government. No 2 will share the same fate in a few days, whilst No 3 will take .about a month. Where all have done their' best to work up to the specification, and have completed their work to the satisfaction of the County Engineer, it would be invidious to make comparisons. As for solidity and ..durability there is no doubt that the whole length of the road will reflect great credit not only on the contractors, but likewise on the engineering staff. It is generally understood that as soon as No 3 is completed tenders will be called for keeping the first five sections in repair. Messrs Caasidy and Clark undertaking No 6of themselves. Of course the necessity of. keeping it in efficient repair is very apparent, as a new road will require time before it becomes thoroughly solidified.