COUNTY ENGINEER'S REPORT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8483, 10 July 1907, Page 3

COUNTY ENGINEER'S REPORT.

The following report was submitted to the meeting of the Masterton County Council by the County Engineer, yesterday :—• Opaki Riding.— Matahiwi Road, contract No. 129, delivering 810 cubic yards of metal—Owing to the weather being unfavourable I deemed it advisable to stop the carting, and agreed to pay the contractor for the amount delivered. The balance of the contract will be expended as opportunity offers, in mending the weaker portions of the road. Upper Plain Road, contract No. 128, supplying 580 cubic yards of metal—The bulk of the material has been delivered. i^i^^-*^ A considerable length of the main Lansdowne Road is shewing evidence of weakness, the metal layer, in places, being worn through to the clay. As the haulage is short this might be metalled forthwith without effecting much damage. Rangitumau Riding. Kaka-amu Road —The filling in of some defined ruts on metal surface of above road has been effected, and the cleaning of water tables on the southern end of the road let. Te Whiti Riding.— Ruamahanga protectfve works — Three short stone groins have been constructed on the eastern bank to prevent erosion in the vicinity of the bridge approach; it has been further necessary (from the peculiar direction of the stream along the upper side of the bridge) to place some stonework on the bank to strengthen the western approach. The earthwork approaches which were becoming dangerously narrow, have been widened out with metal to a point of safety. Waingawa protective works —From a change in the course of a branch of the river to the northern abutment of the railway bridge, it has been necessary to place a small groin to protect some partly established willow growth above the new protective works. I would recommend the planting of willows, during the next month on the partially reclaimed ground on the northern bank. A 30feet wooden culvert in an advanced state of decay north of the bridge approach has been removed, and the depression filled in with stone to allow of the water passing over the road. This, 1 think, will make a safer roadway. Wainuioru Riding. Kaiwhata RoadG —9 chains of formation and culverting. About half a mile of the formation has been opened up to the saddle. As a result of the heavy rains a great portion of the length has slipped. ■ VVeraiti - Brancepeth Road, contracts Nos. 109 and 110—The former contract was reported finished, with, the exception of culverts by the contractors —McMullen Bros. I have, however, to report serious discrepancies in their work; deviations from the pegged horizontal direction of the road as well as departures from the cuttings and fillings figured on the plan in both contracts. The survey has been obliterated in the main features, contrary to the stipulations of clause 2 of the specification, and generally the contractors have ignored my directions when supervising the work. I have, therefore, been unable to recommend any further progress payments, and would enjoin the Council (unless immediate steps are taken to proceed with the work in terms of their contract) to terminate same. Contract No. 11l has been taken off the contiactors' hands on their undertaking to remedy two small, discrepancies in heights of fillings, due to shrinkage, when the weather will admit of carting on the road: the amount being deducted from tieir contract until completed. Contract No. 112—Fair progress h3S been made on this work, considering the weather. A gang of men is employed, and the formation is roughly benched out on the grades throughout. The bulk of the material for culverting is also to hand. The re-roofing and repairs to the roadman's whare at the Parae are being effected. Masterton-Wannata Road— With regard to the proposed substitution of a culvert and embankment at the first truss bridge beyond O'Connor's homestead, I beg to point out to the Council that if an improvement of that portion of the road round the Devil's Elbow is contemplated it would be necessary now to construct the embankment in a much more costly position in order to fall in with the improved grade; I would respectfully ask for the Council's direction in the matter. Alfredton Riding. Castle Hill Road, loan and grant- The protection works to the first, second and fourth crossings of the Te Hoe Creek have been carried out, and the approaches to fords improved. Short lengths of metalling over the treacherous parts of the road have also been accomplished. The swing bridge at Frear's, which was carried away by the recent floods, has been re-erected on a level two feet higher. The roadman reports the Pori Road open for light vehicular traffic. ald-Waircre Read—A "three-feet by j four-feet culvert and embankment, | recently washed out, have been reconstructed. A 60-iect culvert on Miller's Road has also been built, and the construction of embankment to same is baing proceeded with. The Engineer was authorised to expend £l2 in repairs on the main Lansdowne Road. In connection with the WeraitiBrancepeth Road contract it was decided to inform the contractors that unless they proceed with their contract within 14 days, and carry it out according to specifications, the con tract will be terminated. That portion of the report referring to the Masterton-Waimata Road was held over for a month.