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Lyttelton Times, Volume V, Issue 266, 19 May 1855, Page 9

Working Plan and Section. 51. The working-plan and section now in course of preparation will shew in detail the direction and gradients of the line, the private property required to be taken for

its formation, the dimensions of the cuttings and embankments, the extent of the retaining walls, and the positions of the culverts, as well as the system of drainage proposed to be adopted in crossing Sumner valley and the flats between Sumner and the Heathcote Ferry. 52. Summary of Estimate for opening the Sumner Road on the line set out for Contract, March, 1855.

Remarks on Estimate. 53. The above estimate includes the execution of the whole of the cuttings to their full intended width throughout the line, the completion of the Gollan's Bay tunnel, the building of the sea-walls, and the formation of the road ditches and the culverts under the roadway. It also includes the metalling of the road from Lyttelton to the tunnel, and the metalling of some portion? of the road between Sumner and the Ferry. When the works above-mentioned are completed the road will be ready for traffic. Supplementary Estimate. 54. The additional works required are included in the following supplementary i estimate, and consist of a short piece of embankment at the foot of the incline leading from Sumner up to the tunnel, "23 chains of embankment through a tussock swamp between sections 309 and 261, the I raising of the road along the beach near the Heathcote Ferry, a draw-bridge over the navigation, with a bridge-keepers house, and the gradual metalling and improvement of the surface of the road between Heathcote Ferry and the tunnel. Metalling throughout not required. 55. With regard to the supplementary estimate, I would beg to observe, that a great part of it is for a thorough metalling, to make the road suitable for heavy traffic, which in all probability will be wholly unnecessary. For horsemen and light traffic many portions of the road will be best left without metalling. Supplementary Estimate. Additional works required for the ultimate completion of the Sumner Road. Embankment at the foot of the incline in Sumner £ s. D. Valley . . . . 400 0 0 23 chains embankment through tussock swamp between Sections 309 and 261. . . 230 0 0 Culvert and outfall for drainage . . . 70 0 0 2| miles forming surface, and making low embankment along the beach between Moabone Point and Healhcote Ferry . . . 800 0 0 7s? miles thorough metalling and surface drainage* .8,190 0 0 * [_Note. —This item includes the shortening of the tunnel at G«lU.n's Bay. The rock removed will be used for ruad metal.]

Drawbridge over the Heath- £ s. D. cote navigation, and bridge keeper's house . . 3,000 0 0 Total estimated cost of additional works . . . 12,690 0 0 Estimated cost of opening the road in the first instance . 12,310 0 0 Total estimated cost of road fully completed and metalled throughout . .25,000 0 0 Time required for the completion of the Works. 57. The whole of the road may be opened without difficulty in the course of twelve months, if contractors can be obtained. The tunnel is the heaviest work on the line, and ought to be put in hand as early as possible. Additional works to be considered in the light of maintenaace of ways. 51. The expenditure on the works included in the Supplementary estimate may with advantage be distributed over several years, and may be regarded more in the light of maintenance of way than cost of construction. i Number of men required. 59. The number of hands required to open the road in 12 months may be roughly estimated at 150, viz. : On the tunnel works . „ 50 ' On the rock cuttings and seawalls 90 On the ordinary earthworks . 20 Total . 150 The employment of a greater number of hands would have no effect in expediting the opening of the road, as the tunnel cannot under any circumstances be done under eight months, and may probably take some months longer. Outline of the Manner ix which it is proposed to carry on the works. Special ordinance requisite to obtain land required for making the road. 60. Before commencing any portion of the works between Lyttelton and Sumner beach, it will be necessary either by private negotiation or special ordinance, to obtain legal possession of the laud required for taking the road through the following sections, viz. :— No. 130. PolhiU's Bay. „ 205. Gollan's Bay. „ 204. Sumner valley. „ 144. Sumner valley. „ 2. Sumner valley. I have not included in the estimate ary amount for compensation to the owners of these sections, because I consider that the improvement of the properties resulting from the construction of the road will deprive them of any claim to compensation for severance;; and the mere actual value of the land to be taken for the purpose of making the road is too trifling to be worth consideration in a general estimate of this nature. Road shoiddbe open from Sumner to Heathcote Ferry as early as possible. 61. From Sumner beach to the Heathcote Ferry the road can be made without any interference with private property. A reference to Captain Druvy's report* and the chart of the ci.trance to the Sunnier river, will show that with the assistance of a steam-tug, vessels of 200 tons may be [Note. —Ext met from Capt. Dvury's report. " 1 t;<ink I tie establishment of a small, short, substantial paddle wheel steamer will be found an inclinable (indeed necessary) adjunct to she property of Canterbiuv, ami there is ample room for such a vessel to turn. A small tug would auswa1 atlmitably."

brought into the river without risk or difficulty ; and the river banks afford great facilities for erecting wharves alongside which vessels drawing 10 feet water may float at all times of the tide. So soon therefore as the Suruner road is completed from the Heathcote Ferry to the Shag Rock at Sumner, on the west side of the intended sea wall, the merchants of Christchurch will be able.'to trade direct from the river to Sydney and Melbourne, and thus avoid the cost of the transit of goods from Sumner to Lyttelton, and the expense and risk of lighterage in port. I would therefore strongly urge the opening of this part of the road with the least possible delay. It may be done with the labour available in the settlement at a costof about two thousand pounds in a period of 6 months from the time of commencing the work, the only difficulty throughout the whole distance being the rock side cutting at Moabone point. Work to be done by contract. 62. Except in special cases, I do cot think it advisable to execute any portion of the works otherwise than by contract, the contracts to include every thing requisite for executing the works, with the exception of gunpowder, which must be provided by the Government, as no pi'ivate individual would be able to obtain the requisite quantity. Six tons of Powder required. 63. It will be necessary to provide 6 tons of powder for the purpose of the works, and this should be sent for as soon as the powder-magazine about to be constructed at Polhill's Bay can be completed. Temporary magazine at Sumner. 64. In the meantime one ton of powder having been sent for, which may be expected to arrive in a few days, I propose to fit up the temporary magazine at Sumner as a dep6t for the use of contractors, by putting in a rough floor, and weather-boarded ceiling, to protect the kegs from the wet that occasionally drips from the roof. The cost of this will not exceed Twenty Pounds, and I should recommend it to be done immediately. Accommodation of Workmen. 65. I do not think it necessary to make any provision for the accommodation of the road parties.—as turf barracks can be run tip in a few days, by the men themselves, at a very trifling cost. The principal stations for the workmen will be at Polhill's Bush, at the head of Sumner valley; in M'Cormack's flat; and at fhe great curve at Moabone Point. Wood and water are to be had in abundance at the two points first named ; and at the two last there is plenty of water, and wood can be brought down with bullocks, from Mount Pleasant bush, at a small expense. Store at Sumner. 66. The Association's store at Sumner is not adapted for a barrackJ on account of the impossibility of obtaining wood and water, except by land carriage. It will, however, be required (subject to arrangements to be made with the agent of the C uiterbury Association), as a contractor's depot, fur tools and stores, and as an office for the business of the road work. I propose, therefore, to make the loft at the west end of the building a temporary office for the Provincial Engineer; and to use the two small rooms underneath ; one as a lodging for the Clerk of the Works, the other as a temporary hospital, for men who may be badly hurt on the works. I propose that the cost of medical attendance and maintenance of the men in the hospital should be paid by the Provincial Government, and deducted "from the amount of the contract.

The warehouse I propose to let to the contractor for the works at the sea wall, at a nominal rent, as a depot for tools and stores. This portion of the building has- been used for some years past as a temporary church ; divine service being regularly pei'formed on Sunday mornings by the Rev. G. Cotterill. As the settlers in the district are not yet sufficiently rich or numerous to undertake the building of a permanent church, it is very desirable that the use of the store for the usual Sunday service should not be interrupted, if arrangements can be made to that effect with the contractors. Benching to Side Cuttings. 67. Before letting the side cuttings, I propose to cut a 3-ft. benching along the outside edge of the cuttings, and to drive headings at short intervals, so as to bare the underlying rocks, and enable the engineer to ascertain the proportiins of earthwork and rock cutting in each contract. Until this is done, it is impossible to make more than an approximate estimate of the valae of the work, as it would be difficult to let the contracts, except at a speculative price. This banking will be required during the execution of the work as a barrow road, for wheeling the dirt from the spurs to fill up the gullies. As the contracts between Lyttelton and Sumner cannot be let until this benching is completed, I should recommend that it should be commenced as soon as possible. Division of Contracts. 68. I propose to let divisions, Nos. 1, 2, 3, and 5, and the portion of the road traversing Moabone Point, in five separate contracts. The whole of these contracts are for the formation of the road through rock cuttings, and will involve a considerable outlay in tools and blacksmiths' work. It would be impossible to set work of this description in shorter lengths, unless the Government provide the contractors with drills, and maintain a forge for the use of each road party, which I consider a very disadvantageous mode of executing the work. The ditching and ordinary earthworks, I propose to let in short lengths to small road parties. Supply of labour. 69. From the information I have received from parties who are willing to tender for the works, I apprehend that no difficulty will be found in procuring labour ; provided sufficient time is given to the contractors to bring men down from the other settlements. I think that the best mode of procuring the additional labour required, will be by advertisement, issued by the contractors themselves after the contracts are taken. I think it would be advisable therefore to draw up the contracts so as to give the contractors ample time for procuring hands, at the same time giving an inducement to the early completion of their contracts by a bonus of land, tax free, proportioned to the extent of each contract and the time within which it is completed. Summary rf Report. 70. In conclusion, I beg to recapitulate the leading points of this report which are as follows, viz. :— The length of the proposed road from the Post Office, Lyttelton, to the Heathcote Ferry, is 7 miles 4U chains, and the estimated cost of opening it /or traffic, Twelve thousand, three hundred, and ten pounds (12.310). Before lelting the contracts between Lyttelton and Sumner, a special Ordinance must be passed to authorize taking the land

required for the road, where it passes through private property. The road from Sutnner to Heathcote Ferry, can be made without interfeience with private property,^and should be commenced at once. I propose that the whole of the work should be done by contract, and that the Provincial Government should provide nothing but powder for blasting. I anticipate no difficulty in finding contractors, provided sufficient time is allowed for them to collect labour, native and European, from the neighbouring settlements. 71. Lastly, I have only further to report that on receiving instructions to proceed with the works, I shall be prepared to let the contracts at a few days' notice, the necessary drawings being in a forward state of preparation. E. Dobson,, Provincial Engineer.

No. of Distance. Estimated Division. M. C. l. cost. 1. From the Post-office, Lyttelton, to Polhill's Bay 0 68 0 £1,500 2. Polhill's Bay to Gollan's Bay , . . . 1 13 50... 2,288 3. Gollan's Bay Tunnel 0 15 90... 4,190 4. Gollan's Bay tunnel to Sumner Beach . . .2 3 60... 755 5. Sumner Beach to M'Cormack's flat . . 0 52 0....1,873 6. M'Cormack's flat to Ferry Road. . . . 2 47 0... 1,704 Total . . 7 40 0 £12,310