COUNTY ENGINEER'S REPORT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8879, 13 November 1907, Page 3

COUNTY ENGINEER'S REPORT.

The monthly report of the County Engineer, submitted to the meeting of the Masterton County Council, yesterday, was as follows : Opaki Riding.—The reformation and metalline of the extension of Lansdowne road, to the golf links (145 chains), has been satisfactorily finished. Ruamahanga protective works.—During the recent floods the river undermined and carried away a considerable width of the road realong the river bank and is threatening to make a breach behind the existing willow protective works. I beg to recommend the placing of a groin—to the value of about £ls—to fend the water off at this point. Ruamahanga bridge.-Repairs and re-decking have been effected to tne western span, of above structure. Waingawa to Camp Road, Waipoua stringer bridge.—lt has been necessary, pwing to the weakness of the floor'of above bridge, to cover the main deck with 3 inch birch planking. Rangitumau Riding. Matahiwi road—Three small groins have been placed in position on the river bank to check further encroachment on the road reserve: it may be necessary to augment the' groins, as during the progress of the work the river was continually in flood, rendering it difficult to accomplish the work. Kopuaranga river.—l have inspected the river bed, and find in places that there is much intrusion on the waterway, by the growth of willows. On the property of Mr Blatchford the nuisance is not so great as in the vicinitv of the Camp near the northern boundary of the County where the stream is greatly blocked. These obstructions cause an overflow which damages the road and generally the nuisance is spreading throughout the length of the stream, the flood waters carrying and transplanting small branches. Blairlogie-East Coast j Road—As directed by the Council, 11 have invited tenders, to close at noon i to-day, for the following works : Contract No. 139, 67.30 chains of formation and metalling/ Beaumauris Flats. Concract No. 140, 144.13 cfajKrisof metalling, etc., Beaumont Rdad junction to Mangapiu Flats. Contract No. 141, 134 chains of road , metalling, etc., Waikaraka to Pine j Bush. Masterton-Waimata Road— The bridges over the Rorokoko stream are of considerable age, and the timbers are becoming so brittle that it will be absolutely necessary to support the weaker stringer spans for ordinary traffic and to limit the loans to be taken over the structures. I deemed it necessary to build some supports to the weaker bridge. The replacing of the truss bridge by cement pipes and embankment, at O'Connor's homestead, is in progress. Te Whiti Riding.—Manaia-Glad-stone road —I have examined the culvert, complained of by Mr McGregor as being unsafe for heavy traffic, and concur with him that the structure needs rebuilding on heavier lines. ~ This should be done in autumn, when the creek is at its lowest. The work authorised on the Waingawa River protective works has been carried out.

Aif red ton Riding. AlfredtonWeber road, contract No. 102, 25 chairs of metalling with burnt papa. This work has been in an unfinished state for some time. As the metal has been gathered and" broken the work will be taken off the contractor's hands. Hutewai road, contract No. 105. About 13J chauis of papa have been spread. The remaining portion in the kilns seems to be very indifferent and unless carefully ..sifted at the kiln, cannot be accepted yiiy the spreader. Mount Baker road, contract Nu. 81—let to M. Kerins in April last—has been abandoned. I will therefore call tenders for re-

letting the work. Flat Bush roadRepairs are being made to the intruding slips of the above road. As directed, I have called tenders for repairs to the main road section. Bluff to Rangitumau road—ln company •with the Councillor for the riding, I inspected the bridge- complained of by the petitioners on Mr Manning's frontage. The structure is an eld one, and in rather a deiapidated condition. I would respectfully recommend the construction of a 4ft by 4ft culvert and embankment. I haye inspected Mr Blatchford's' road and estimate that 70 or 80 cubic yards of metal will make satisfactory repairs. Northcroft road—The rebuilding of culvert and embankment on above road is being- carried oat. Rangitumaus School, Committee's application • —I visited the ground, and see no objection to the committee filling in the depression opposite the schoolmaster's residence, as it will be an i improved feature to the road. I Upper Taueru Riding.'—Taueru bridge approaches, contract No. 107. The contractor is now proceeding to complete the earthwork. The large * culverts, damaged by flood, on the district roads, are being rebuilt. Te Ore Ore-Bideford road—Three depressions in the road between mile • pegs 9 and 16 have been reconstructed and reinstalled on the original grade. Wainuioru Riding. WeraifciBrancepeth road, contract No. 109. The party engaged in completing above are making fair progress and, weather periritting, they will finish next week. Contract No. 110—Better progress is being made with this work, which is drnwing towards a close. Contract No. 113, 80 chains of formation, is under maintenance. Contract No. 114, 60.75 chains of formation finishing on Brancepeth Road—The contractors report the earthwork completed and the culverts are now being built. An outlet drain to relieve the low-lying portions of the flat has been let to tha contractors, and i 3 in course of progress. Blairlogie-East Coast road —Contract No. 137, 192 chains of formation and metalling; let at last meeting, has been abandoned by the contractor, M. Ke'rins. Under directions from the councillor of the riding, I have re-let the work to Messrs Gadsby and Bartlett (next lowest tender), who intend to proceed immediately with the contract.