COUNTY WORKS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 49, 22 February 1912, Page 3

COUNTY WORKS.

The engineer reported as follows at yesterday’s meeting of the Stratford County Council: — I have the honour to submit my monthly report as follows: —The material is now being supplied for renewal of Waipuku bridge. The culvert at wash-out on Monmouth Road has been built and as soon as it has sol sufficiently the filling will be pul in. I have arranged with Mr Reesbj re the drain cleaning on Radnor Road. I have inspected Lower Pembroke Road and instructed the foreman tc proceed with the raking and blinding of it. This is now being done. A continuous side track could with advantage be formed along the northern sjUe of the road. On the advice of the county solicitor, and with the concurrence of the South Riding members, that portion of Finnerty Rpad 'redently damaged by heavy carting lias , been inspected by the following engineers: Messrs Climie, Sladden and Basham; and it is now being reinstated prior to the cost of such work being claimed at law from the contractor responsible for such damage. The boulder supply contract, Ohura Road, is in progress. The construction of concrete bridge on the Toko Road ir approaching completion. Steady progress is now being made with the Mangaoapa Road formation contract. The South Riding boulder contract is proceeding steadily. I have inspected the culvert on Brecon Road recently under discussion, and find that there exists at present an 18-inch diameter concrete pipe culvert, which though well put in and at a suitable level is not large enough to carry all the water in times of heavy rain. 1 recommend that a 12-inch pipe culvert be put in as an overflow. . The necessary earthwork prior to metalling along that portion of North Cardiff Road proposed to be metalled is in hand. I have inspected the metalled poition of Ronald Road, and consider that the best way of treating it would be to plough it up and reform the layer of metal, breaking down the large stones to gauge at the same time. An extra surfaceman is required for the western end of AVesf Riding, and in connection therewith the matter of procuring a horse and cart for this riding is worthy of consideration. The cleaning and straightening contract in Makuri Valley is proceeding very well and the results so far are very encouraging. I have inspected the suspension bridge on Tututawa Road, but until an examination of the cables underground is made it is impossible to report anything very definite. The tunnel anchorage on west side is now beingcleaned out and should the cables where they go round the bed log be sound it will bo possible to keep them so by continued tarring, etc. The eastern anchorage will, however, prove a serious difficulty and it is certain to require renewing and a portion of the cables (the part underground) replaced with rods, a matter which will prove costly and tedious as the structure is too high above the stream to scaffold up. I will bo able to report more definitely to next meeting when the western anchorage has been examined. A start has been made with the formation contract on Manga Road and it is being pushed ahead vigorously. The small formation contract on Mt Humphries Road is completed with the exception of a little slip clearing. Other matters of interest and requiring attention are referred to in the foremen’s reports, which are attached herewith.

North Riding Foreman (West sidy) reported-as follows;—Mountain Road: This road'lias been raked from Waipuku bridge to Flint Road, and some hanking done. York Road: The remetalling of a portion of this road has been finished, and a set of 18-ine'h pipes put in near Derby Road. Rutland Road: The piece of now formation has been gravelled from a pit in Mr Jakes’ property. Some of the gravel is rather soft, but the cost was low (about £.‘l2 in all). Monmouth Road: The lower portion has been raked up. Lower Pembroke Road: This is now being raked and

blinded. Several private cross culverts do not take the water and require to be renewed or removed. Holidays: I have mentioned this matter to tbc chairman and would like to got away on the 24th instant if possible. North Riding Foreman (East side) reported as follows :—Salisbury Road : The necessary boulders have been obtained and crushed and a portion of this road remetalled, blinded, and trimmed up. Cross and Kaipoi Roads: The maintenance metal authorised has been delivered on these roads, and the Cross Road patched in places. Croydon Road West: Patching and blinding has been carried out here. Stanley, Cross and Croydon Roads: Raking, patching, and general maintenance is being, carried out here. Ratapiko Road : A filling near Makara Road junction requires raising, and a culvert,renewing with 15-inch pipes. Makara Road : This road will require dressing up shortly. South Riding Foreman reported as follows: —All the roads are in fair order. I have taken down the suspension bridge on Lower Skinner Road, and have cut noxious weeds on County reserves. Most of the month has been spent in blinding and banking metal.

East Riding Foreman (Toko) reported as follows :—The past month has been ; sjrent principally in raking and blinding. Ohura Road has been raked throughout ‘ the whole of my length, and blinded where necessary. Toko Road has also been raked, and the loose metal picked rij). The unmetalled portion' of the west end of Ahuroa Road has been put in a good state of repair. The cutting on Ohura Road near Skinner Road is now being widened out, and the earth used for banking the metal on the east side of the hill.

The East Riding Foreman (Douglas) reported as follows: —My time during the month has been taken up in raking loose stones, banking and blinding Ohura Road. A set of 9-inch pipes has been put in on Douglas Road, and a set of 12-inch pipes on Makuri Road. The repairs to Makuri Road are now being continued.

The East Biding Foreman (Huiroa) reported as follows:—Akama Boad : Repairs have keen carried out as far as the money authorised would go. Heao Boad: As instructed repairs have been made to this Road, at a cost of £4. Mohakau Boad; A small bridge near Mr Jonas’ requires two new stringers and' a'new deck. The cleaning out of draips is in hand. Douglas Road South :' Repairs' have been made to a box culvert on Saddle. The roads generally are in good order. West Riding ‘Fhreman reported as follows:—The necessary boulders are being obtained at the' various crushing sites, but there is grCat difficulty in getting men for the river work. About 700 cubic yards have been obtained at Cardiff at a cost of about 2s Od per cubic yard; about 180 c.y. from Mr Rawles, but owing to the difficulty in obtaining them the cost was about 4s 4ld per c.y. Owing to the narrowness of the Mangatold stream’ and the amount of explosives necessary the cost there will bo hbbut 3s' 10d ! per c.y. Rowan Road 'North: Complaints have been made to me about a settler using a sledge on this road. It has roughed ujj the metal and necessitated raking and blinding.

Mangaehu Riding Foreman reported as follows :—During the month the following works have been carried out: The unmetalled portion of Mangaehu '-load has been formed up. Slips have been cleared on Taihore Road and it has been opened for light traffic. General surfacing work and repairs have been carried out on Puniwhakau, Taurakawa and Mangaehu South Roads. A start has been made with Tlie cleaning out of the anchorage tunnel at McCool’s bridge.