ENGINEERS REPORT.

Manawatu Herald, 22 February 1881, Page 2

ENGINEERS REPORT.

Since last meeting my time has bora principally taken uu with preparing jdaan ;inO B(»tciKcatioriß fur work* authorised by dio C U'jcil and survey of the road at Otaki. I have prepared four sets of each i.f the plans and specifications, so that more publicity should oh given of the works to bo tendered f«»r. Tnese plans, Ac., I hava depo;-i>d at Foxton, Sauson, Feildiui{. aud Palm ntou. Before preparing specifications for the Awahou Bridge, I Kr-ut iv the Cuairmau of tne L hmil B >ard at Foxtnn, asking if footpaths should be mcm lad. After waitiug for a few days an auatyor (»ine that I was uot to include the footpaths, at» that auy teudera that may be i ec-ivtd will he for the roadway only. I have not called tenders fur metalling the Train -v»y at Foxton, as the resolution iiasß*d was thtt the m »ney was to bo paid 0 the L>cal B iard, and work to be subject to my approval. OROUA lUDINO. The roads are in a very fair state of re* pair. According to instructions I have called tenders for formation en Kakarikt road, Penny's Hue of road, and Taiporoad. The Kakanki road tendered for is that acrosi the wont p*rt knowu as <a the eli£" KAWA KAWA XIDIKO. The Sanson-Foxton road is in vary good order. i)enton has completed his oontract in a satinfaotory manner. Matthews has signed his agreement, and was to have started his work last week. AWAHOU RIDINO. I hive called tenders for metsiliag the Avenue road, also for erecti >n of Awahou B id^e. I hnve also ordered the timber from Messrs Bsilley for the bridge, so that should a tender be accepted no delay •a.ouM occur i" the erection of new bridge. When last in Foxton C<»l«y had not quite finished claying the cattle paddocks at K.xton. Rcc-ve was pushing on with his work. I cautioned his man about spread* the proper quantity of clay. BOROWHEXCA VXDI^Q. I have be*n engaged for some days on the survey through the township, and have .lour a* far as R:»neHeld'« bridge across the M ikirikiri stream. I shall go down again shortly Mtul finish the survey. I examined one of the bridges at Otaki, and found the ,<i 1 and supports for sill quite retten, aad one onier of the bridge sunk 9 inches. Tho bridge was in a dangerous state. I therefore arranged with two carpenters to Nupply material and erect a trussel pier for -arm •, aU<« to taise bridge to level, fill in approach**, several new decking planks, :«ud 0 her ncoettsary repairs to same. By instructions from the Cliainran I proooeded to Ot»ki on Tuesday last to nest Mr Merchant. I waited th« re till 4 p.n». «a Wdne?day, aud he not arriving by that ;iwe I left. BRXOOIS AND PSMtnSL The ferrief are in very good working ordi r. A i th- O»r^re Fe r> I have had • f net- put across the old road line ts> pre* vent travellers taking the said old road. Thflre has been an unusual amount of traffic »inoe last meeting at the Gorge Ferry, there having been no leu than 16,800 *hevp ferrifd over from 7th Janvary %tt present date. 1 have u|M>n several oeoasiors instructed ferrymen at F>xt4>n to repair both fence* and nads to beach.

Witikawa Furry— Acocrding te your insti notions I have enquired into the working «f this ferry. Mr Bevan at«te>l he was It charge of the ferry up to Ist of J«MS*y last, that he authorised Mr Drake to take charge of Wajfcawa F^rry I^r hi* ft»4 W%

his canoe m Mr Drake'B charge for that P ur »]° 8e - I did not make over the ferry to Mr Drake, but only employed him to oross any one that came along and wanted to Ik, crossed at tho river, I myself down occosionly to shift poles for foiling . the river. This waa not left for Mr Drake to do. I have had nothing to do with the ferry or crossing Bince Ist January. No one ia in charge or has been in charge since then. I told Mr Drake that if he ohow x I would maj| >ver the ferry to him from f }*}. J«y»«P»'He said he would not mind taking it ov«f if he aud myself could come to some arrangement to do so. The arrangemint he meant wa.i about the cauoe, tt> take it over from me, not the subsidy for working the ferry. Afterwards I interviewed Tuos. Roach at the Oaau Ferry, who Btated he was willing to lo -k after the Wi.ika.va orosaiugfor the C»uuty Council without any further subsidy, that h« will erect th«accessary poles at the eroding, aud do everything requisite at the s -til rivtr. | I gave him charge of «ame.