BOARD OF WORKS REPORT.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2928, 4 July 1878, Page 2

BOARD OF WORKS REPORT.

The report of the Board of Works was read ai follows:—" Tapu to Waikawau. -^The work on this road is nearly completed, and is not only a great improvement so far as gradients are concerned, but the distance between the two places is much reduced. Tapu to Thames.—Men are kept employed on this road cleaning away slips caused by the recent rains, and otherwise maintaining and improving. Waiotahi Biding.—A number of men are employed in maintaining and improving the roads and tracks leading to several mines in this Biding. The traffic on the Waiotahi road is large, and requires the expenditure of a considerable amount of labor to keep it in a passable condition. The cutting and forming of the ruad up the Collarbone creek is now completed, and will, in its present state, make a very sood dray road for the transit of quartz in dry weather, but without metal it will not be a good winter road, except for sleigh traffic. Kauaeranga Riding.—Men have been employed curing the month in clearing drains and water tables, and repairing the roads and footpaths throughout the riding. Xour Board recommend that authority be given to your surveyor for procuring a supply of gravel for the repair of footpaths of both the Kauaerangs and Waiotahi Hidings. Kauaeranga Valley Boad.-The work ione on the contracts recently let is not being proceeded with in a satisfactory manner, but this may be largely attributed to the recent cominuous bad weather. Dhinemuri Main Koad.- A considerable lumber of men have been employed in improving the drainage and maintaining this roadi A new channel for the Omahu Breek has been cut, which has had the sffect of reduciug the permanent level of he water in creek and the road crossing ibout 2f feet. The portion of the road in ;his vicinity will'not be subject to flood as leretofpre. Men are now employed imjroving the drainage of the Onetai iwamp, a, gortion o£ wjufife Uai sunk.

bo much that instructions hare been given to re-fascine and cover with another layer of earth. The permanent line of the road ia now open for traffic between Onetai and Hikutaia, but one block cutting has yet to be made, and several of the permanent culverts are not yet in. Katikati E.oad.—Work is now being done and a number of men employed in connecting the road between the Ohinemuri river near the Owbaroa and the Waitekauri road on the main line to Katikati. A contract has been finished beyond Owharoa of about £ of a mile connectiug with that portion of the main line formed by the Constabulary. The necessary culverts and bridges on this portion are now in course of construction. On a portion of the road through the Waihi the swamps have been drained, fascined, and bridge culverts put in where necessary. Approaches hare been formed ou each side, so as to render the crossing of the Ohinemuri river as easy as possible in the absence of a bridge, and a considerable amount of earth-cutting - and filling has been done on the several gullies and banks on the permanent line. Thin portion of the line is now available for horsemen and cattle traffic. Hikurangi Gorge.—The road through Hikurangi Gorge, has been made sufficient for present acquirements by the employment of native labor,except a small portion o.f the upper end, which is not so complete as intended, owing to the natives leaving to attend the Land Court, now, being held at Shortland. Sufficient, how* ever, has been done to make it available for horsemen. Waitekauri track.—A considerable amount of corduroying has been done on this track, and all the bad • portions have been repaired in accordance with the instructions from the Council. This track is now in very good order. On all the newly made roads within the County a considerable expenditure will require to be incurred for. maintenance during the winter months.—Alexakdbb Bbodib, Chairman of Committee."