COUNTY COUNCIL.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3984, 5 October 1881, Page 2

COUNTY COUNCIL.

The usual monthly meeting of the County Council was held this afternoon. Present: Crs Brodie (chair), Carpenter, Deeble, Coutts, Thorburn, Brown, Bull, Porter, and Bagnall.

The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed, and also a precis of the outgoing correspondence.

subveyob's bepoet

The following report was laid on the table :—

To the Board of Works, Thames County . Council.—Gentlemen, —l hafe the honor to make the following report on roads and works in the Thames County:—

Hastings Riding.—On the road from Tapu to Waikawau a few small slips have fallen during the month, which will require the labour of two men for about a week to remove. On the road up the jtfata Creek, a fair amount of work has been done in accordance with the agreement made with Mr Campbell, but a further subsidy of £10 is necessary to complete the work. Some necessary repairs have been, effected on the Hastings wharf, and mooring piles fixed to assist vessels entering and leaving the creek. The contractor for cutting, forming, and draining the upper section of the Hastings to Mercury Bay road is proceeding satisfactorily with the work, but nothing has yet been done on that portion of this road between the township and Golden Point. The contractor for widening and improving No. 3 section Tapu road is progressing fairly with his contract, but no work has yet been done on sections JMos. 1 and 2. Notice has been given to contractors who have not yet started work. Some of the worst portions of the Tapu road have been fascined; other portions have been improved and maintained, and a number of slips removed.

Waiotahi Biding.—Oo the Moanatairi Creek road repairs have been effected on fluniing, culverts, and bridges. A considerable amount of work has also been done during the month on the Waiotahi road, and instructions hare bsen issued for constructing a bridge at the creekcrossing above the " Australasian, and when this is completed, the road will be passable for drays to Taylor's. The contractor for removing slips from the Waiotahi road has nearly completed bis contract, and the formation of that portion of the Waiotahi road between Taylor's and the " Candlelight" is pr6ceeding satisfactorily.

Kauaeranga Biding.—The footpath up the Karaka Creek has been completed, and repairs have been done on the " Collarbone " road. The contractors for forming, and clearing slips on the Karaka Creek road are proceeding very slowly with the work, and some of them will, in all probability, never complete, their -contracts. '1 he contractors for clearing slips from the Hape Creek road ace proceeding satisfactorily. I would recommend tenders be at once invited for reforming those portions destroyed by the late flood, and to supply metal for that portion of the Hape to Karaka road between that creek and the Joker claim* A number of the roads and footpaths in the largely populated portion of the Biding have been maintained and improved during the month.

Parawai Biding. — A considerable amount of work has been done in the Parawai Biding during the month, and portions of the Kauaeranga Valley road: have been improved. As I found the ground at Kenrick's Creek unsuitable for pile driving, I authorised the contractor for the bridge to excavate down to the rock, and bid the piles thereon, which will in no way detrimentally affect the stability of the structure. Most of the piles are let into the solid rock. I have not yet estimated the difference which these alterations will make in the contract price. Totara Biding.—On the Ohinemuri main road, many of the worst places have been improved, and the road is now in fair condition, when the large traffic and the recent heavy rain fall is considered. Portions of this road should be metalled during the coming summer, and I recommend that a quantity of metal should be broken, where it is available for the pur' pose.

Ohinemuri Rising —Considering the heavy rains, the roads in this district, with one or two exceptions, have kept in fair condition. Kate Kate Road : This road owing to constant traffic has required a considerable amount of labor, especially between Mackaytown and Owharoa. It is difficult to know how to keep it passable without a large outlay. Waibi Road: This road is in splendid condition except where bridges are required. The sawyers are cutting timber for them Te Aroha Uoad : This road, considering the weather, is also iv a tolerable condi tion for travelling, but some complaints are made about Butler's contract not being proceeded with. The Thames Road has required attention to keep it passable, and the Puke Paeroa road: is getting much cut up by the cartage of fascines for the Komata road. Men are now repairing it. The bridge on the Junction road is completed. On the Waitekauri hill track some of the bridges are being repaired. JNothing has yet been done to the Welcome tramway. Mr Wick offers to put his battery in good repair and crush for 7s per ton on condition the Council make a road from the- mines. I recommend this to be done, as the cost would only be about £25. I clso recommend that four culverts be put iv on a branch road leading to some of the agricultural settle* ments on the Maungakara creek. This road is the only means of communication with the main road, as the old road passing through some of the agricultural sections has been fenced across.

Alex. Aitken, County Surveyor.