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Patea Mail, Volume II, Issue 201, 14 March 1877, Page 2

TiiK result of the late inspection of roads and bridges in the County of Taranaki, by Colonel Trimble (Chairman of the Comity Council), and Mr G. F. Robinson (surveyor), was made public on Monday, tbo .Oth instant, in the shape of a report from the inspecting surveyor to the County Council. The report occupies two columns and a half of small type in the Taranaki Herald. Full particulars of work requiring to be done to bridges and to the main roads arc given. The report mentions that between Inglewood and the Fatea River (the boundary of the County on the Mountain Road) seven bridges have already been erected, viz.—Kurapete, Ngatwo, Ngatoroiti, Piakau, Maketawa, AVaitepukc, and the Mangamawhetc. One bridge—the Ngatoranui—is in course of erection, and will bo completed by about the 17th of this month. Seven more bridges have been contracted for, and will probably be completed before the end of May next. They are over the Waipukuiti, Waipnku, Manganui, Te Pope, Piakau, Kahouri, and Patea Rivers ; and tenders are called for a bridge over the Ngamangapnra stream. As regards the Mountain Road, it is expected that suitable gravel or agglomerate will be found at convenient distances along the road. Gravel can be obtained near Sentry Hill to do the lower part of the road. It crops out also at various places along the road, as Waiongona, Inglewood, Ngatoronul, Maketawa, and Waipuku-iti. The gravelling cslmate is based on the expectation that material will be found conveniently near the line of road the whole distance, which of course means a great saving of expense. It is estimated that a sum of £20,100 will be required to repair main lines of road where metalled —and to clear, form, culvert, and gravel what yet remains to be done from Stoney River to Waitara, and from New Plymouth to the Patea River. To repair Main South Road will require £1,400, which, deducted from the total (£20,100), leaves £18,700 as the sum required to make a good trafficablc road between New Plymouth and the Patea River on the Mountain Road. It will thus bo seen that the Taranaki County has to bear by far the heaviest portion of the cost of completing the Mountain Road. It is to be hoped the two Councils will work together in the endeavour to get the whole length of road completed within reasonable time, as both districts would be largely benefitted. —The Chairman (Col. Trimble) in commenting on the reports, said the Government had offered to do certain of the works mentioned by Mr. Robinson in his report. They might call the amount rcquTed for repairs and necessary work £‘27,500, but he believed that under some arrangement a considerable portion of the amount would be charged to the Provincial District. He believed the Government had arranged to advance the money to 'make the road between Ilawera and this [Taranaki] portion of the district.