COUNTY ENGINEER'S REPORT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8533, 11 September 1907, Page 3

COUNTY ENGINEER'S REPORT.

The following report was submitted to the meeting of the Master ton County Council, yesterday, by the Engineer:— Opaki Riding.—Donovan's Road— Messrs Donovan Bros, have reported the completion of the formation and metalling of above road, giving access to the Kopuaranga Ford. Matahiwi Road— Some judicious metal repairs have been made during last month; in consequence of the firewood hauling the roadbed had been severely cut up. Waingawa to Camp Road, Waipoua River crossing— The widening of the roadway into the river, giving access to the ford on the north side of the truss bridge, has been made. This should serve in a measure to relieve the congested traffic. The footpath north of the Waipoua Bridge has been repaired with metal. Repairs are being made by day work "to the Adams' Estate Roads. Opaki District Road—l beg to recommend that the expenditure of the contributions from Messrs McLeod. Harding, Coradine and Whittaker, be made immediately in metalling repairs by day work; this would render the road du~ing the summer months smooth and even for general traffic. Rangitumau Riding. Matapihi protective works have been started, but owing to the intermittent flooding of the river the work has been postponed for a while. Dorset's Road—Surface repairs are being effected to the metal length and the dangerously narrow portions of the road are being widened. Kaka-amu Road—The water tables and culverts on the southern end are being cleaned. The metal length for a mile and a-half north of Northcroft's Road is in a shockingly weak state of repair, it having been subjected to a heavy traffic during last autumn. This matter was left in the hands of the Engineer. Alfredton Riding. —Pa Valiey Road—l have engaged a man to carry out repairs on the above road. Hinemoa to Alfredton—The cuttings to and from the Hinemoa Ford have slipped heavily since the last flood, rendering the road unsafe for horse traffic; I beg to recommend the expenditure of £4 in making a safe bridle track along the length. The recommendation was adopted. Alfredton - VVeber Road.—The unmetalled portions of this length of road are in u very heavy condition. In addition to the long winter experienced the road has been subjected to a very heavy traffic. Two lengths of about thirty chains on either side of Burling's Hill point much to the need of metal. Roadman's Reserve—As directed by the Council I have examined a piece of land offered by Mr W. M. Kebbell and from an approximate survey think that about an area of seven acres will take in a suitable site for a roadman's cottage. I have consulted Councillor Murray, who is of opinion that the. site is as good as is available. It was decided to acquire seven acres for a cottage. Upper Taueru Ridin~ —Glendonald Wairare Road —As instructed by the Council I inspected that portion of the road complained of by Mr Johnston, as being impassable for vehicular traffic. I was able to drive to and fro over it, although a considerable length of it,was -soft and heavy, I would not feel justified in having the length fascined as there pre many portions of the road within the riding in an equally soft condition, when a little dry weather will overcome the difficulty. Te Whiti Riding.—Columba Road— The uneven portions of the unformed lengths have been levelled off and the depressions filled in with metal and a cutting made into the Waipoua river. The road seems to be already largely used by vehicles. Wainuioru Riding. WerairiBrancepeth Road, contract No. 109 (terminated on 14th ultimo.) —The work is being carried on by day labour with a gang of fuur men. The original contractors, however, have put men on to the work, carrying on work' in an intermittent way since receiving notice from the County Clerk to terminate the contract. They also conducted a survey on the ground. Contract No. 110, 50 chains of formation, etc.—This work is also being carried on in an irregular manner by the same gang of men, and as a matter of fact there is not a chain of the work finished, although the term for completing the contract (June 30th last) has long since expired and the contractors have been carrying on road contracts in the Borough of Masterton for some time past. Contract No. 112 is well on towards completion, and Contract No. 113, G0.60 chains of formation, etc., is being proceeded with. Blairlogie-East Coast Road— A prospect was conducted by a committee consisting of Messrs Moore, Fraser, Taylor and Councillor Toogood, interested in the £3,000 loan for metalling, etc. ' The country was examined north of Beaumauris Homestead, but no material worth working was found until Mutuwaireka Creek bed was reached, this being the principal source from which the length of road south of the creek can be supplied. The quality of the metal in the creek is not, however, so clean .as I should like to have seen it.