THOMPSON’S TRACK.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 438, 18 January 1890, Page 2

THOMPSON’S TRACK.

The following particulars, with respect to Thompson’s Tr .ck (Te Aroha-Katikati) are extracted from the’'report of the last monthly meeting of Taurarigu County Council, held on 7di in-t, which appeared in the Bay of Plenty Times of 9t i inst. The following letter was rend from Capt. Turner, C-E. : Tauranga, January 6th, 1390. Chairman County Council, Tauranga. Sir, —Many reports are in circulation an-1 h*.VJ come to my knowledge reflecting adversely as to the manner in which *he contra -fc for the above roacl has teen carried out. Tew as it is well known that I surveyed a large portion of the road and. laid down the grades, I felt that althou. h I had not tne supervision of the* work, my professional repu-':tion was at stake. I decided to visit the 1 eadity and ascertain for myself if the reports were true. I would here remark that the road was laid off by me according to instructions received from the Engineer in Chief, the plans and specifications were approved by him, and upon whicli the work was tendered for, and contract let. The guides were to be easy and suitable for a main coach road to connect the Tauranga district with the railway at Te Aroha. On going over the line on the Tauranga side of the ranges I found the grades had been nsiderably altered for the worse, apparently to avoid work, but not to such an extent as to destroy it as a road graded for coach traffic. On the Thames side of the ranges, on that portion surveyed by Mr Deere, over which I also took levels and hid down grades to the best advantage within the survey, I found the grades had been completely ignored, and to such an extent in places as to comp'etely destroy the line as a coach road, some grades being as steep as about 1 in 6 and 1 in 8 in places, and in others the road with a rise instead of a decline. To make it a coach road the line in many places will require to be again graded end re-constructed, unless your Council intend it for ordinary horse traffic only. That my statements are not exaggerated can he proved by any competent engineer inspecting the works, and I think it only fair to myself that one should be appointed to do so, and for my own reputation I have forwarded a copy of this report to the Enginoer-in-Chief, who having approved of my plans and specifications would expect works paid for by the Government to be carred out accordingly, and for the survey of which the expended a large amount of money for ,h purpose of obtaining easy gradients and a good road, —I have, etc.. A. C. Turner. C. E. Cr Killen said the opening: phrase of t te letter was wrong, as he had never heard of any reports in circulation, and if there had been any he would have heard them, Cr Macmillan : No report had been heard except those circulated some time since in this Council. He thought it was an extraordinary proceeding of this Engineet (who had taken the Council into Court, and refused to give up his plans) to make .•such remarks in his letter. He considered it was an insult to the Council. Cr Pratt considered this' was a serious question, and should like to hear the Engineer’s veision of ihe matter. Engineer; Capt. Turner had not the courtesy to send l.im a copy of his letter, and so he was taken by surprise He considered it was a dastardly attempt to take away his reputation as Engineer, and lie intended to take steps to vind’c it.e himself. Ke would he prepared at next meeting of the Council to lay before them a full report in answer (q this letter. Cr Pratt asked whether the grade was mentioned in the specification. Cr Macmillan said the Engineer would lay his report before the Council at next meeting. The Chairman considered this was a serious charge. If it could be proved then the Council would be damned in the eyes of the Government, and would never he able to get any more loans. The Council ought to;nsk the Government to send an engineer to repo’t ; and see if the contract had been carried out according to the specifications.Cr Killen said Capt. Turner’s report was not correct, as he considered the contractor would never have allowed the grade to be .removed. He could only- say that when he went over the line of road, and on the other side of the range he could not find anv pegs, TheChaii man said he was sorry to hear the remarks made by the last speaker, as to not finding any pegs. He had known Capt. Turner for the last 20 years, and never knew lmn to tel! a lie. He considered Cr Killen was the cause of all this mess, as he had signed the contract before the Council had. seen it, and he doubted whether any of the Councillors had ever seen the road. Cr Killen said he had seen the road. Cr Pratt proposed that a copy of the letter be.'sent to. the Surveyor-General requesting him to send an independent engineer to examine and report as to the carrying out of the contract with regard to the specifications. Capt. Turner then entered the room. Chairman informed Captain Turner that Cr Killen had stated that no pegs had been put in. Cr Killen said it was the pegs on the other side of the range. Capt. Turner said he had put in all the pegs, and put a peg in at eveiy chain. Cr Crawford seconded the proposition. ; Cr Bennett wished to know who was going to pay the expenses. Cr Pratt said if the report showed .that the road had not been properly made, the Engineer should refund his commission. The Chairman then put the motion and dichred it'carried. iA3UW>