COUNTY ENGINEER'S REPORT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8443, 16 May 1907, Page 7

COUNTY ENGINEER'S REPORT.

The County Engineer reported as follows to the meeting of the Masterton County Council on Tuesday : Opaki Riding.— Te Mara ;Bridge, remedying damage done iin March last—A new pier and an additional 23 feet Bpan have been completed as well as the necessary groin and stone work for the protection of same, the latter having acted effectively during » the recent heavy flood. Mount Bruce Road, -contract No. 126, painting suspension hridge— Has been satisfactorily finished, the adjusting and screwing «p *of same has also been effected. Opaki District Road, oonteact No. 124, 113 chains of metalling, etc.— A 20 chains length of the above contract, re-formation and metalling, has been partially completed. .Since the last heavy storm I agreed to the contractor abandoning the wcoik until more propitious weather. Contract No. 126, 350 cubic yards of annual metal repairs are expected to be completed within the next fortnight. Matahiwi Road, contract No. 129, jf getting, carting and delivering 810 cubic yards of metal for repairs, was commenced on the 26th ultimo. Owing to the rivers (the source of the metal supply) being inflood, slow progress is being made with the work. Black Creek Road, contract No. i 127, metal repairs, has been duly; completed. Upper Plain Road, contract No., 128—The delivery of 580 cubic yards , of metal for repairs has not yet been ; started. The contractor informs me that he will be unable to start the work until 17th instant. Waingawa to Camp Road, Diver's Corner to Mauriceville County Boundary—The delivery is completed with the exception of 200 cubic yards at the Masterton end. Contract No. 134, delivering 391 cubic yards of metal between Diver's Comer and the Borough boundary was executed last week. The work of repairingthe decayed hardwood blocks to the Waipoua Truss Bridge is in progress. The phenomenal rain of the 30th ultimo proved the necessity of making better provision for the overflow of storm water, as the main drains were overflowing, and the culverts in many cases were inadequate to the occasion; the principal obstructions being between the culvert on the Masterton-Waimata Road and the Lansdowne Road. Te Whiti-Riding.—Weraiti Roads —The recent rains blocked the road for wheel traffic, on the hill section, but it-itenow re-opened. I beg to direct, the Council's attention to the fact that the two bridges, approach--4 ing the Weraiti Estate are of light design, old and unfit for heavy loads, and in view of the contemplated metalling of a long length, and the through connection with. the Brancepeth Road, this portion of the road will be subjected to heavy traffic. Approximate cost of two bridges £550. Coiumba Stock Road, formation and culverting—The contractor has been unfortunate in encountering the two last severe floods, which more or less demolished the newly-made embankment§; he, however, expects to finish the work by next week. South Road, contract No. 135, supplying 90 cubic yards of metal for repairs, was let to S. Cornell and duly completed last week. Ruamahanga protective works—l would beg to direct the Council's attention to the dangerous encroachment of the main stream to the eastern abutment of the bridge; during the last two floods about 60 feet of the bank has succumbed to the action of the water. I am of opinion that the groin on the eastern bank is unnecessarily obtrusive to the main course of the stream, and the present inroad to the eastern bank is largely attributed to that. I may point out that it was the intention of the Engineer to gradually reduce the groin as the willow growth below became established, as it is apparent that there is a clearer line of waterway through the bridge towards th? Eastern bank. I would respectfully suggest that a committee be appointed to visit the ground before any course of action is decided UDon. Rangitumau Riding.— Kaka-amu Road, contract No. 116, supplying 150 cubic yards of. metal, together with the " necessary water-table cleaning, has been undertaken and completed by H. Wilton. Two culverts at the junction of the Kaka-amu and Te Rangitumau -Roads have been undermined by the recent floods, and from the unsound state of the timber it will ne necessary to reconstruct principally with new material. Kopuaranga Bridge.— To prolong the stability of the eastern approach it is urgent to protect the toe of the pier from scour, the shoes of the piles being already exposed. Some stonework is needed to protect, as far as possible, further erosion of the banks. I have deemed it necessary, owing to the unsoundness of some of the principal timbers in the structure, to have the carrying capacity limited to four tens, and notices-to that effect have been posted on the structure. Dorset's Road has again been blocked by slips, but is reported open for light wheel traffic. A washout on Northcroft's Road will necessitate a new culvert and embankment. Approximate cost £2O. The Wangaehu Road has been blocked by several slips north of mile peg 9. The roadman' reported that he would be- able to get wheel traffic through by 11th inst. Wainuioru Riding. MastertonWaimata Road, Taueru to Mangapakeha section, contract No. 114— Metal repairs are reported practically completed. Blairlogie-East Coast Road—The exceptional heavy loading practised during the last three months has had a ruinous effect on the metal length. Patanui Bridge, contract No. 123 —lt is reported that approximately 12,000 feet of timber has been redelivered and two loads, I understand, are in course of transit. Weraiti-Brancepeth Road, contracts No. 109 and 110, 30 and 70 chains, respectively, of formation, etc., are in progress. Contract No. 111, 80 chains of formation and culverts— The contractors are laying their final culverts and expect to finish early this we6k; they will then proceed with contract No. 112. Brancepeth Road, contract No. 132, delivering 800 cubic yards of

metal—The Tauerii section <is.\yet to be completed this season ;if the weather permits. Gleanlean Road —This road is again reported blocked with slips, .and the culvert recently put in Jhas been washed out by the last flood.; Messrs Tuxford Bros, are asking ior immediate relief. Alfredton 'Riding.—Hutewai Road, contract No. 105, 35 chains of metal-ling-—l3f chains have been reported laid by the spreader, and of this about 5 chains is from a kiln decently burnt. The large kiln from .which the bulk has been taken is of an .indifferent quality, and shows evidence of the firewood having bean sparingly used. I fear that a quantity will have to be condemned The work is, however, concluded for the season. Rakanui Road, contract No. 123, 30 chains of metalling with burnt papa. The contractors have not yet complied with the contract. The metal supplied has not been properly broken in place. I am, therefore, holding the final' payment. Castle Hill Koad, contract No. 133, delivering 300 cubic yards of metal, has been duly completed together with the 400 cubic yards, contributed by Messrs Kebbell Bros. Contract No. 120, 66 chains of formation and metalling, etc. The work is reported finished by the con- | tractor. Te Hoe Creek—The flood of the Ist instant has proved to be the highest in this part of the district for the last twenty years, and has generally disturbed the banks and severely scoured the fords. Every road in the district have been more or less blocked for a time. The main Alfredton-Weber Road is now open to within a short distance of the county boundary. The Pori, Saunders, and Wingate's roads have severely slipped, and are now being opened for horse traffic. I estimate the extraordinary damage, within the riding, at about £250. i Upper Taueru Riding.—Glendonald | Bridge, contract No. 103. The tim- j ber work is expected to be completed ■ within a fortnight. Taueru Bridge I approach, contract No. 107, 11 chains J of formation and metalling, is now ! being proceeded with. The contractor assures me that he will press on the formation with all speed to fall in with the completion of the timber work. The extraordinary damage in this riding has also been very great, the Mangaparapara and Miller's Roads having suffered exceptionally heavy damage, some large culverts and embankments having been washed away. 1 estimate the extraordinary damage in the riding at £l5O. The flood was the highest experienced in the district, and was dangerously close to the floors of the road bridges; they have not, however, suffered to any extent. The clearing of large areas of country together with the increased obstruction of willow planting within the river banks is calculated to have produced higher water marks than previously existed, and unless stringent measures are adopted to deal with the spread and growth of willows in such rivers as the Taueru, Wangaehu and Kopuaranga, serious results may be anticipated.