COUNTY ENGINEER'S REPORT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9045, 11 March 1908, Page 3

COUNTY ENGINEER'S REPORT.

The following report by the County Engineer was adopted by the Couacil yesterday: — . „,.^d» Opaki Riding- f-.y-ffij Opaki District Road.—Contract No. 124, 113 chains of formation and metalling.—The stone breaking and dressing of the formation are reported finished by the contractor, but the work has yet to be inspected. I have arranged with the contractor, who had finished carting on a previous contract, for delivery of 200 cubic yards of metal for repairs to tho section of above road, between Mild Miki and Opaki Main Road; the work is now being proceeded with. Upper Opaki Road.—Contract No. 152, 16 chains of reformation and metalling—The above work is also [ reported completed. It has been > necessary, in order to cover some treacherous ground, to extend the metalling for a length of about three j chains. Matahiwi Road.—With the concurrence of Councillor Welch, I have let a contract for the delivery of 300 cubic yards of metal for repairs, it foeh£ urgently required to obtain the metal while the river was low. Upper Waingawa Road.—Accompanied by Councillor Harris, I inspected the damage, resulting from the fire raging in this district in the early part of last week. We found that two platform bridges, 16 and 12 feet respectively, had been totally burned, and a third one considerably damaged. As communication is cut off I have been instructed by Councillor Harris to rebuild the struct tures; the material is now on the ' ground, and the work is being proceeded with. Te Whiti Riding. Manaia-Gladstone Road. —Building a nsw culvert. —The reconstruction of a totara culvert on the above road, 8 by sby 22 feet, is completed. Considerable difficulty was experienced in getting the foundations down owing to the swampy nature of the ground and the presence of water at a high level in the main creek. Rangitumau Riding. Wangaehu , Road.—Contract No. 144, 50 chains of metalling. —The carting was finished early last week, and the contractor is now engaged with the stone breaking which he reports about complete. Contract No. 145, 91 chains of metalling.—The contractor is now on the ground preparing for work. Contract No. 160, painting two bridges.—The contract was let on the 17th ultimo to C. Wilson, who worked for four or five days and then abandoned his contract, and a claim for wages has been lodged against the Council by the men employed. I would respectfully suggest that the work be carried out by day labour.—Suggestion adopted. Upper Taueru Riding. Poison's Road.—A culvert 2by 2 by 32 feet was burnt out of an embankment during the recent bush fires. Approximate cost of reconstruction, £ls. Alfredton Riding. Alfredton-Weber Road. —Contract \ No, 148, 133 chains of metalling.— *U'he hauling for this contract was completed on the 3rd instant. Contract No. 149, was finished about the 24th of last month, with the exception.of some slight defect in the formation. Contract No. 150 is well on the way to completion, and the contractor expects to finish the hauling at the end of this week ; the unmetalled ' lengths between Saunder's and Waitawhiti will then be complete. The progress on the above works has been satisfactory, considering the contracts were only started after the New Year. The four contracts let total 4| miles. Three hundred cubic yards of metal for repairs are being laid from Alfredton to foot of Boustead's Hill. I have taken levels for the bridge site, over the Ihurau—on the legal road Alfredton-Hinemoa —and I am greatly pleased with the firm quality of *he banks; the foundations to the main piers being in solid papa. This line of road is about 27 chains shorter to those in communication with the township than the proposed line by Mr Boustead's homestead. Utewai Road. —35 chains of reformation and metalling with burnt papa.—This contract has been in abeyance since last year. The contractors have burnt a fr<?sh kiln of good material, and the work is said lo he progressing more favourably. As instructed by the Council, I made a survey extending the Castle Hill Road, some 27 chains, ending 17 chains on the Manawa side, of the Taueru River. A plan of the work has been prepared.—Decided to advertise for tenders for carrying out of work. Wainuioru Riding. East Coast Road.—Contract No. 125, Patanui Bridge.—The contractor finished on the 24th ultimo, and the work is now on maintenance. There is considerable earthwork to handle in the approaches before the structure will be available for vehicular traffic. Motuwaireka Bridge. —The contractor reported the timber work finished on tho sth of this month, but the earthwork approaches have yet to be made. Contract No. 141,134 chains of reformation and metalling.—Good progress is being made with the metalling. Beaumauris Plats. Beaumont Maungapihu section. Contrct No 140. —Was finished last week with the exception of stone breaking and making up of the formation where deficient. Beaumont to Motuwaireka. —Contarct No. 156, 70 chains of metalling, etc.—The contractor, C. Cameron, who has just finished the hauling on contract No. 134, is repairing his drays before proceeding with the work mentioned. Beaumauris Flat to Motuwaireka — Contract No. 137, 192 chains of metalling.—The contractors expect to finish the hauling this week, weather permitting. Beaumauris Flats.—67 chains of formation and metalling.—The carting on this was completed last month, and the work is now under mainten- j ance. Contract No. 159, building bridges on Beau*mauris Flat and at Twisty Creek, is well on towards completion.