COUNTY ENGINEER'S REPORT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8551, 9 October 1907, Page 3

COUNTY ENGINEER'S REPORT.

' fc ~*"Tbe following report was submitted by the County Engineer to the meeting of the Masterton County Council yesterday : Opaki Riding.-—Opaki District Road—The money available from contributions and ordinary revenue is being expended in strengthening the weaker portions of above road, north of the Muku Muku Road junction. The work is to be finished this week. The re-formation and metalling on the Lansdowneßoad extension—to the ' golf links —.vill be commenced immediately, if weather permits. Te Whiti Riding. Wangawa River —I beg to recommend the expenditure of about £l2 for improving the direction of the stream below the railway bridge and making a better distribution of the water through the road bridge. The material may be , used in strengthening the boulder bank on the northern side of the river. The recent flood almost topped the bank along a length of two chains, the water being largely confined to the northern branch of the stream. The strengthening of this length seems necessary for security of the works. Masterton-Gladstone Road—l am having the side-widths ploughed between the Makora and the Ruamahaitga bridge, preparatory to forming with the grader, The necessary top-decking for repairs to the Waipoua Bridge .is at hand, and will be proceeded with when the weather is more favourable for conducting the work. Masterton-Wai-mata Road—A short length of the western end of the Ruamahanga Bridge requires re-decking. Upper Taueru Riding.—Te Ore Ore Bideford Road -It will be necessary to reform and metal three depressions in the roadway, caused by slips beyond mile pegs y, 10 and 15, before the heavy traffic commences. Glendonald Bridge Approaches—l have instructed the contractor to pro- | ceed with the earthwork approaches and .metalling as soon as the foundation is sufficiently hard to a'dmit of carting. The. reconstruction of two large culverts on the Maungapurumiru Road is also necessary before heavy traffic can be resumed. The renewal of a 3ft x 3ft culvert on the Wainui o-mapa Road is required before the wool hauling commences. Alfredton Riding.—During last month the heavy rainfall moved many of the existing slips to intrude and hinder traffic on the bye-roads. On the main road a subsidence of about one chain will 'need reforming and metalling when the weather permits. A mils of the metal length on the Alfredton-Weber Road, north of Alfredton, is Severely cut up, and there is little prospect of a. good .supply of metal from the creek beds. The inferior quality in the pits will .have to ba resorted to this year. A fodder shed and tank have been provided at the public pound; the s*gnwriter has painted the boards, showing the schedule of rates required. Wainuioru Riding. MastertonWaimata Road—A 40ft x 4ft x 4ft •culvert requires replacing beyond mile peg 15; the drainage could, I think, be taken in by a 16ft x 12ft culvert. A 65ft culvert near the -same peg, from a point of economy, .should be reinstated by a smaller one which could be built within and thereby avoid the removal of 25ft ■of embankment. In the event of the old culvert collapsing, it would entail the removal of the embankment at considerable cost and would also be a great hinderauce to traffic. Tenders are invited, to close at noon to--day, for contracts Nos. 136 and 137, building a 50ft span bridge and metalling 192 chains of the East Coast Road. Weraiti-Fernyhurst Road—Contract No. 110— This contract is being proceeded wit'i from the southern end, and in a dilatory manner, but the defective alignment and grading have not been remedied. 1 beg to recommend that, unless the defects be remedied forthwith and the work completed by the end of this month, the contract be terminated, and completed at the contractors' expense. Good progress is being made with contract Nos. 113 and 114. The Engineer was directed to attend to repairs and renewals of culverts mentioned in the report. The Engineer's recommendation with regard to the Weraiti-Ferny-hurst Road was allowed to stand over.