COUNTY ENGINEER'S REPORT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8379, 13 March 1907, Page 3

COUNTY ENGINEER'S REPORT.

The County Engineer reported as follows to the meeting of the Masterton County Council.yesterday:— > Opaki Riding.—Te Mara Bridge . ■ —Eight days labour has been author- , ised by- Councillor Harris for improving the direction of the waterway immediately above the bridge. This , involves the removal of some logs and boulders," giving unfavourable • direction to the current on the south- , em bank. The expenditure of Mr | McLeod's subsidy with the annual ' allocation has been made in strength- . ening the weaker portions of the road with metal, and cleaning out the necessary water-table. The rods in the Te Mara and Waipoua'bridges have been tightened to bring the' members in proper bearing. Mount Bruce Road,,contract No. 123, paint-; ing Ruamahanga suspension bridge— The contractors are now making favourable progress, the first coat being about complete. Piatt's Road —The metalling of 'above road, with a 9 feet by 7 inches layer, has been completed with the exception of the stone .breaking, which is now being done. Waipoua Bridge—The replacing of some of the partially decayed hardwood blocks and adjusting the trusses would cost, approximately, £2O. I would not, however, recommend' that the bridge be then subjected to a higher speed of traffic than a-walk:'as the wear and tear on the structure is greatly multiplied, ' and it is not at all uncommon to have the restriction of speed on long spans, even on newly-constructed bridges. I would respectfully sub■mit for the Council's consideration the advisability of. widening the nor,'thern end of the embankment to give [ a better access to the ford, and thereby relieve the bridge of much traffic, when the higher rate of speed can be „ made., Black Creek Bridge—The .earthwork approaches to the re-, 'yceritly-built ..platform bridge have ' bean completed.' Adams Estate Roads , ! — : Mr.\Fohnston's complaint:. In view i-of the excess!ve, concentration of the water from the road-channels, at the point cbmlplaiued of, it was agreed ■on the ground to alter the direction •'. of the culvert carrying the nW along the western frontage. ■ ,The grading of Qpaki loop-line is now being carried but, a good deal of '-carting to and fro being necessary to improve the longitudinal grade. t : Te Whiti Riding.—Waingawa pro- ' works—The works,are now pracatically complete, with the ex- • ception of some willow planting, which will be necessary for the pur.pose of reclaiming and offering .. stability to the banks. Weraiti Road • —The cleaning of water-tables and necessary repairs to the above road ; . 'will be carried out this month, i Columba stock road, contract No. 121, 19J chains of Bft formation and ■'Culverts—The draining and culvert- . ing in the main has been executed, • - -and the ground has been broken along . the formation. I have had an offer. j i from the contractor extend the ■ formation to a 16ft width for an adr . ditional sum of .£lB. At this stage -of the work he is in a position to ' extend the formation at a reasonable ' rate. . If the Codicil have in view . the opening of \£ road to wheel I traffic, I would recommend that the offer be accepted.' ■: -Kangitumau.i ' Riding.—Bluff to Rarigitumau Road, contract No. 117, getting and \ s delivering 370- cubic ■ yards of .metal for repairs? . The de- . -.livery'is reported finished, and the ". .contractor is now engaged breaking ", -stones. Kaka-amu Road —In view of the Government grant not being available for repairs, it would be well to.expend the allocation in repairing , the worst ruts throughout the length, 1 taking the metal from the Northcroft pit. H. Wilton is prepared to carry /out any repairs, on the basis of his ( - tender for the work advertised at last i meeting. I would suggest that 140 cubic yards.be, let to him. Warigaenu 1 Road, contract No. 74—The above " contract. has been extended 8.35 chains,-which absorbs the balance of . the grant and loan. The contractor is _' engaged in the final dressing up of his work, preparatory to having it 'taken off his hands. Wainuioru Riding.—MastertonWaimata Road, contract No. 114, delivering 1,640 cubic yards of metal. —The contractors are making sound , progress, about half the. contract being complete from the northern end. '•• i Homewood-Kaiwhata Road (Government grant, and loan) —I have made -arrangements for the carrying out of 57 chains of formation by day labour, -and \[ the work 1 will be started forthwith.' The timber for the culverts and for a 30ft span bridge is being delivered on the ground. East i Coast Road—Plans have been prepared' for .'a 65ft span bridge, with approaches, over the Patanui Stream, -and tenders invited for the same, as instructed at last meeting. Metal repairs are in progress on the Blairv logie-Beaumaurice section, drays being ; supplied 'by the settlers on the usual terms. A length is also be- ■ v ing metalled on the Eperaima sec'tion,..on a contribution: basis, by Messrs Moore and others. WeraitiPernyhurst Road, contracts Nos. 109 ' , and 110, 30 and 70 chains,, respective'ly, of formation, etc,, let last month to McMullen Bros, have not yet been started. I received a com- ' munication yesterday intimating that they will start the work this week. Contracts Nos. IJI and 112, 80 and 81 chanis of formation, culverts, : . ,-etc, let to Cul'oty and 1 Power, are in • progress. A considerable length of 't ground is broken along ithe-JEirst mile, ■ and concrete pipes sfor'cufwerting are being taken on to the ground.- ■. .. Alfredton Riding. 1 Weber Road, contract' No. 115, delverng 710 cubic yards'of metal for • repairs.— The I contractor expects to complete by the 14th instant, when he will proceed with • contract No. 120, 65 chains of formation and metalling »on the Castle Hill Road. '.' Rpkanui Section,, contract No. 102— ' As the breaking, of the stones and .'-the maintenance have not' been at- ',., tended. to' work is still on the hands. " He assures me ■ that he will,complete it next week. Hutewai Road, contract No. 105, 35 '■" chains of metalling with burnt -papa. —The contractors have burnt one kiln, and are preparing further *" material;'they ."expect to complete by the encf of the ' month. ■ Pori Road, contract No. , 119 tloan and .grant), 90.chains of rqad metalling —The contractor has made good progress during the last month, and ■•• ', he;expects, to finish, this week. Sur--I?.y> '.-fade.repairs have; "been effected to .";'--■ 'the' Maungatakat'o, Mount Baker, Tawataia,-Pofi,.- and Puketoi Roads .and Barton's Line.

- Upper Taueru Riding—GlendonaldWairere Road, contract No.. 102, building a bridge over the Taueru River—The piers arc nearly finished,and the framing- ol' the trusses for the superstructure is well advanced. Te Ore Ore-Bide Ford Road.—Temporary repairs have been effected to the small bridges, reported unsafe, on the above road. Kepairs are being made to the weaker portions of the metalled length north-of mile peg 10. I regret being unuble, this month, through pressure ol' work, to inspect and report on the ror.dmtn's whares.