COUNTY ENGINEER'S REPORT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8392, 10 April 1907, Page 3

COUNTY ENGINEER'S REPORT.

The County Engineer reported to the monthly meeting of the Masterton County Council , yesterday, as follows :

Opaki Riding.—As a result of the heavy rainfall o:> the 18th ultimo, the river was in exceptionally high flood, arid in consequence of timber drifts the stream was acutely diverted on to the southern alluvial bank, undermining the earthwork approach and leaving the bridge isolated. As the bridge was in jeopardy (should another flood occur) the Councillors for the riding instructed me to proceed with the repairs. The work necessitated the driving of four 12 xl2 piles to support the main structure, and an approach span of 25 feetjs required. The protection, with stonework, of the bank above the stream, is also necessary. As the existing structure has been up over 14 years, I consider red birch of sufficient durability for the repairs, the cost being little more than half that of totara. Mount Bruce Road, contract No. 123, painting Ruamahanga suspension bridge.—The screwing up and adjusting of the above bridge is nearing completion. Black Creek bridge.—The recent flood has greatly shaken the structure, as the bridge crosses the stream obliquely the alternative up and down stream end piles are subjected to great scour, the bottom of the piles being almost exposed. The structure has, however, been rendered temporarily safe for ordinary traffic. Should a new bridge be contemplated, a slight deviation from the road on the upstream side would be an economical site, as the crossing of the stream would be made at right angles. Black Creek Road, contract No. 127, delivering 80 cubic yards of metal, unlet at last meeting, has been undertaken by G. Dagg, who is going on with the work. Upper Waingawa Road.—The cutting into the ford of the same creek, at the Kaituna School has been washed away. A temporary crossing has been allowed through Mr Falkner's property, until the cutting, which is now being made, is re-opened. Pairai Swamp Road.—A small platform bridge, on above road, has collapsed from j decay. I am substituting the bridge by a 2ft diameter concrete pipe, which will meet the requirements of the drainage. Te Whiti Riding.—Weraiti Estate.—Surface repairs have been effected to the roads on the above estate. Columba Stock Road, contract No. 121.—Little progress has been made with this work since last meeting. I have the contractor's assurance that it will be pushed on forthwith. Surface repairs, provided for in the annual allocation, will be undertaken on the South Road and Manaia-Gladstone Road next week. .

Eangitumau Riding.—Kaka-amu Road, contract No. 116, 190 cubic yards of metal for repairs, is being proceeded with. Dorset's Road, which was partly blocked for wheel traffic, has been re-opened. The Bluff to Rangitumau Road has also slipped slightly, and the northern approach to the Kopuaranga Bridge was secured out beneath the sheo'ing, blocking traffic for about two days. I had the pier rc-sbeeted and the roadway restored. ,Waimiioru Riding. MastertonWaimata Road—Taueru to Mangapakeha section, contract No. 114, metal repairs. The contractors have about three miles to complete on the Taueru to Kahumingi length. JBlair-logie-East Coast Road. —Repairs to Blaidogie-Kohewai section have been completed, and some forty odd chains of metalling has been laid by Mr G. Moore's teams on the Eperaima section, and a length is now being undertaken on the Deviation. A platform bridge on the Waikaraka frontage was rendered, by recent floods, unfit for traffic. Repairs have been effected under the direction of Councillor Toogood. As instructed by the Council, negotiations were entered into for trie erection of the Patanui bridge. The tender of W. D. McCalmont, for the construction of the bridge without earthwork approaches, has been accepted by the Councillor fort the riding, and 6,000 feet of timber has been delivered on the site. Kaiwhata-Homewood Road.—Formation is being proceeded with by day labour. Owing to the slips on the Wharau-Kaiwhata Road, the timber for the culvert cannot be delivered on to the ground, and it has been arranged to cart it to Homewood via Whareama, necessitating a second haul of over a mile. WeraitiBrancepeth road, contracts Nos. 109 and 110, 30 and 70 chains of road formation. The contractors have opened up the lighter part of the formation on contract No. 109. Contracts Nos. ■ 111 and 112, 80 and 81 chains of formation. The contractor is making good progress with 111. He has a gang of 14 hands on the work. Glenlean Road. —A culvert in a 12ft embankment, on the above road, proved insufficient to carry off the storm water, and in consequence the road was washed away, necessitating the re-filling of about 200 cubic yards of earthwork. There are also slips on the same road, requiring 8 or 10 days' labour to clear. Brancepeth Road, contract No. 132, delivering 800 cubic yards of metal for repairs, is being proceeded with.

Alfredton Riding. AlfredtonWeber road—Hutewai road, contract No. 105, 35 chains of metalling with burnt papa. The contractors report that they are ready to proceed with the carting. Pori road, contract No. 119, 90 chains of metalling, etc., is reported completed by the contractor. Messrs Kebbell Bros, have contributed £SO towards the metal repairs on the Castle Hill Road, the money being expended with the balance of the ordinary allocation for repairs. Contract No. 120, 66 chains of formation (loan and grant). —The contractor has a good length of the formation on the way, and will follow up with the metalling on completion of tne road repairs. Extraordinary damage has been done along the eastern length of this line. The river in the valley was higher last month than it has been for years, and has threatened an encroachment on the road in two important places. I.have deemed it necessary to put in a small groin near the junction of the creeks, at the roadman's whare, to protect the roadway. There was eminent danger of the road being washed away. Between Messrs Girdwood and Wingate's considerable damago has occurred, from the culverts being blocked. Two embank-

ments have been carried away and several large slips are intruding on the roadway, entirely blocking traffic. I have arranged for a horse track to be opened. Expenditure of loan and grant.—A ford has been constructed with paved stones on one of the deepest crossings of the Castle Hill Creek, a culvert 18in by 12in is beingplaced beneath the paving to carry the ordinary low water, thus rendering a dry roadway for sheep driving, the paving being protected by bolsters of stone. Flat Bush Road. —lt is reported that a platform bridge on the above road has been removed by the floods. The Baker and Mangatakato Roads haye also slipped considerably, and I have arranged with the settlers to open the roads for temmporary traffic. Upper Taueru Riding.—Glcndon-ald-Wairere Bridge, contract No. 103. —Owing to one of the chord pieces being damaged, the contractor has been delayed in erecting the second span, and was overtaken by the extraordinary flood which carried away some 4,000 feet of timber and staging. A great portion of the timber, I understand, has been recovered, and the contractor is now proceeding with the erection of the second span. The Commisisoner of Crown Lands wrote stating that the Land Board was unlikely to agree to the proposal to expend Mr W. Ply's thirds from section 20, Block VL, Puketoi, in metalling the road in front of the property. It was decided to forward a copy of the letter to Mr Fly.