COUNTY COUNCIL.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4398, 7 February 1883, Page 2

COUNTY COUNCIL.

The usual monthly meeting was held this afternoon. Present—Crs Brodie (in the chair), Eraser, Bngnall, Bull, Porter, f Thorburnj J. Coutts, and W. Murdoch. ■*.-

The following report tas laid on the table :— ■■'■' '"■■ '- ■ :"■■'• '.;-:-;; •' iV-- '•■./■'■<■'■ ..

subveiob's befobt.

i To the Board of Works Thames County < Council.—Gentlemen,—l have the honor to submit the following report on roada and bridges in the Thames County:— Hastings Riding: The Hastings and Mercury Bay road is in passable condition for summer traffic, with the exception of two rough bridges which require repair. There has been considerable traffic on this road since it was cleared and rendered passable for dray traffic, about two months ago. Instructions' hare been given to clear and improve the road between Tapu and Waikawau. The road from Thames to Tapu is open for drays from Thames to Waiomo, and the re' mainder is open for pack-horse traffic to Tapu, although in many places the road-' way is narrow. On the road up the Waiomo Creek, about which complaints were lodged by Mr Trotter, a little work has been done, and the cause of the complaint has been' remedied. Waiotalii Hiding : On the rOads of the Waiotahi Riding, only one man has been employed constantly during the month, principally on the main Waiotahi Eoad.—Kauaeranga Biding: The work done during the month in this riding has been principally on the Hape and Sieraka ■ Creek Roads. The Hape Road is now open for dray traffic to the bridge at the upper end of the road ; the rock point that formerly impeded the traffic having been removed. Some of the worst .portions of the Earaka Road between the City of Manchester hopper and the water race are being widened and improved.— [ Parawai Riding: One man has been con- ■ stantly employed in the Farawai Riding, and the main road has received the largest amount of attention. This road is at present iv a very bad condition, and a quantity of metal will be required on the road before the winter sets in. The cutting at : Kewi's hill requires to. be cleared out, as the sides have, been crumbling into the.. cutting during the summer. The Cemetery road should be improved and metalled at an early date, as unless . this is done the road will be in a baJ state* during the uext winter.—Totara Riding : I would recommend that the metal now broken at Totara Point be made use of on the unmetalled portions of the road during the month of February.. Arrangements might be made for carting the metal and delivering it in such quantities ~~ and at such points as it might be required. .' The work of re formation and spreading . the metal to be done by the men jat pre- "' sent employed by the Council, assisted•--temporarily by one or two extra hands. ~ One or two portions, of. the road- in the neighborhood of Hikataia require immediate repair, and the bridge and culvert approaches should be at^jace improved. The last remark applies i^J.h^psa^iS'^ of the road between Hjlrufca^and Paeroa", as well as to the other portionsiof tho. roid; ■;• —Ohinemuri Riding: Thjs road is iv very good conditiou !or tt^c, but one of the bridges had to bo revoked, several, had to be repaired, and ou<gcg]vert had-to y bo put in; without this wori'" being "dona the road would ha?e been impassable. \ The contractor for widening,, re-forming, v and metallin? is getting on ye y rapidly *'~ with his work. A large quantity of metal of good quality has been carted and placed on the road, about 300 yards of which has been broken. On the Waihi road nothing has been done during the month, but a culvert at one of the road crossings is very much needed.. The , Waitekauri road is not in a good state of repair. Some of the bridges on the Waitekauri bill; track are iv a bad state, and one has been re decked and others - repaired to keep the road safe for traffic. ' The Te Aroha road is in good condition * for traffic, with the exception of some of the bridges in the Rotokohu busb. Some of them have been repaired, and three or four more require to be re-decked, otherwise accidents are likely to occur. TAje , drains on the Puke-Paefoa road-require clearing out before winter. The ferryboat at Mackaytbwn has been slightly damaged,'and repairs are necessary, as the ' boat is in a leaky state. 2he contractors for the road to the Karaugahake goldfield have made a good start with the work.— . I would recommend that a line six feet ia t width be cleared from the settlements near the head of the Puru creek to the pack track leading to Gumtown and .Mercury Bay. The cost of this work would be between £10 and £15, and it would open up a line of 'direct communication ... between the Thames and the mills and * bußb.es in the Mercury Bay district.— Alex. Aitken, Couuty Surveyor-