Manawatu County Council.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue III, 14 February 1891, Page 2

Manawatu County Council.

Mr Bray's Report on Ranchtikei Bridge. I inspected the bridge over the Rangitikei river at Bulls with Mr Thorns, as requested, arid find the whole ofthe timber in the superstructure thoroughly sound with the exception of a small piece of dry rot in the end of one of the lower cords, which does not materially effeot the bridge, it being near the end and rests on the corbel. Some of the top cords are out of line and some of the blocks are slightly out of place, but they appear to be set firm now I do not think they will move again. The river being higher - than usual when we inspected the bridge we could not get to see the piles afc .low water, so we purpose to examine them some day soon when the river •is low. The whole of the superstructure is in good repair, and wilk if painted and attended to, carry the 1 traffic safely for many years. One of the wing piles in the southern approach is completely decayed with ( dry rot, a new one should be driven in by its side. 1 Mr Bray's Report on the Trami way. I have the honour to inform you that I have inspected the SansonCarnarvon Tramway and find it very rough and out of repair, espeoially thi'ough the sand hills on .each side of the Carnarvon . J^j^e^^L^tf-i^ft ■ number of bad jsla.cfa-.^i^p^--^S3 loose sleepers h6re ahd thereSfcioiig ■ the whole length of line, which require attention. Upon the whole, the hne is not in as good repair as i _when I last inspected it. With rei ference to the bridge mentioned, the j Westfern ends of the piers have settled down considerably, and have drawn the stringers about 6 inches t out of their proper place. If the ■ sills settle down any more the bridge ■ will become dangerous and the foundation will have to be made good • by sinking under the sills down to a • solid foundation, and paoking up i with heart of totara blocks, and concrete. The packing under the sleepers is put in in a very slovenly manner, on the whole of the bridges along the line. I would recSmrnsad^y that the whole of the present *j>a£k=--3 j ing be taken out and that the bridges Jj be fresh packed with all heart of 3 1 totara, cut the width of the stringers - and the proper thickness so as to r raise the road to the proper level and • securely nailed lengthwise along on the top of the stringers under the 3 sleepers, The engine Fox is in fair working order with the exoeption of ' the buffer rings and the bearings of -J the side rods, which Mr Brooks told „ me were ordered and would be put in as soon as they arrived, The engine Wallaby does not appear to I have been used since I last reported and is going to ruin for want of attention, having heen exposed to the , weather for a considerable time, she ' will be useless and worthless soon if 5 not cleaned and put under cover, 1^ understand the Government Inspeotor of Engines has ordered some repairs to be done to her, this should I be seen to at once, and if she is to be , laid up, her gear should be cleaned and covered with tallow and lead to prevent rust, so as to be in good go- „ ing order in the event of anything happening to the engine Fox at any- ' time.