WAITOMO COUNTY COUNCIL.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 670, 20 May 1914, Page 6

WAITOMO COUNTY COUNCIL.

ENGINEER'S REPORT,

Owing to the wet weather setting in, metalling operations are now practically suspended until next season. During the year ending March 3lßt, the total length of roads metalled was 28 miles, including.the necessary reforming and culverting. A distance of eight miles of horse road formation has been widened for wheel traffic. Two bridges, one 340 feet long over the Waipa river at Kawa, and another 53 feet long over the Mangapu stream, near Hangatiki, have also been built. So that when the works in connection with maintenance and repairs to the many roads in the County are taken into consideration, the past twelve montha Bhow that this Council have carried out a considerable amount of work. The coming year bids fair to become an exceptionally ousy one. The completion of the present metalling schemes, and those to ba shortly undertaken when the ratepayers have given their consent to raise loans, include a total distance of about 60 miles of metalling. In order!to take full advantage of the coming season, I am getting as many contracts aB possible let, and preliminary work in connection therewith undertaken before the season is upon us. Since your last meeting three contracts including a distance of over seven and a quarter miles of metalling were let on the Otewa road. The successful tenderers were as follows: —Contract No. 90, covering a distance ot two and ahalf miles, was let to Messrs Smythe and Mernin for £948 12s; Contract No. 91, two and a half miles, D. Turner, £725 3s sd; Contact No. 92, two and a-quarttir miles, W. Cartwright, £1022 lis. TendersJor widening and metalling a .liatance of 34 ahains on the Waipapa road were invited and the lowest price, that of S. Kickson for £257 15s Sd. was accepted. On the Waiteti road, a contract for forming a distance of 61 chains, was also tendered for and let to the lowest tenderer, J Mayo, for £l9B Is 4d. Tenders are now being invited for metalling a distance of 7 miles 46 chains on the Otorohanga-Kio Kio road, and 2j milea on the Pungarehu road. I also propose in the course of a few days, to invite tenders for metalling 42 miles on the Otorohanga Ouruwhero road, and 21 miles on the south Mairoa road. During the month I arranged to take a metal quarrv on the Pio Pio-Aria road, near Kahu's place, and also another on the Kohua road. I intended to take for a quarry a portion of the limestone bluli on Mr Veitch's property, about a mile south of Aria fronting the main Aria-Ohura road. It was found, however, that practically the whole of it is a native reserve on account of being an old burying ground. As it is absolutely essntial for the metalling of the roads in the Aria district that a portion of this reserve be acquired, I would suggest that the Native Department be approached and the vital importance ot the matter laid before them as soon aB possible. I should also like to have your instructions regarding the taking of metal from the Waipa river for the Otorohanga-Kio Kio metaling contract, where over 12,000 cubic yards are required. About three weeks ago I accompanied Mr Miller, of the Government Electrical Engineer s Department, on an inspection of the Wairere Falls with a view to ascertaining its possibilities. A considerable amount of engineering data was obtained, the result of which will De submitted by the Department in due course. Schedules of thirds accrued in the Auckland and Taranaki land districts to March 31st last h3ve just been received. Proposals for expenditure of same will submitted to the respective Land Boards as eoon as possible. The Public- Works Department are asking for the usual information aa to grantß for road etc., v.orks, for the Estimates 1914-15. 1 his will also be supplied as soon as p jssible.—E. R. Couity Eng:neer.