COUNTY ENGINEERS REPORT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9139, 15 July 1908, Page 3

COUNTY ENGINEERS REPORT.

The following report by the County Engineer (Mr D. McLachlan) was adopted at yesterday's Council meeting. Opaki Riding—Opaki District Road. The balance of loan and grant has been expended in strengthening the metal length between the school house and the Mount Bruce .Bridge. The side drain for the full length of the Mount Bruce Road has been cleaned. The amount allocated for repairs on McGrath's Road has been expended in stone breaking. Ruama hanga'Protective Works—The recent heavy floods disturbed about a chain of the willow work protecting the groin lately put in. lam having the willows replaced , and will load them with nets of stones. Contract No. 177, building shelter sheds—The erection of the shed is well towards completion, and I have arranged with the contractor to build an additional light lean-to nine feet wide along the back of the shed. This will afford chejp shelter to the grader and timber at the cost of £l3. Waingawa to Camp Road—Contract No. 162,, supplving 1,260 cubic yards of metal for repairs has been delivered with 216 cubic yards extra, which was' rcinlered necessary from the weak state of the road in places. Factory Road—Timber for the replacing of a decayed three feet by three feet culvert by a four feet by four feet, has hen\ delivered on ths ground, Mr Cjttle undertaking to make the drain tiu necessary dimensions to receive the culvert of larger size, the low lying flats in that locality being subjected to flood water from the high ejuntry, which the original culvert laile.l to carry. Matahiwi Rnad — Timber has been provided for a four xeet by four feet culvert to substitute an old log bridge west of the Matahiwi homestead, which is in an advance state of decay. I propose here making a diversion of the water way crossing the road at right angles, and straightening the general course of the stream, using the excavated material to fill up an old one. Mr C. E. Daniell reports the delivery of some 300 odd cubic yards of metal by dray last month, on that section of the road over which he is conducting heavy traffic, and he is also delivering a load of gravel for each had of timber carted. Black Creek Road Extension (deviation)— Contract No. 178, (loan), 21 chains of reformation and metalling, etc. Tne contractor has his teams and pbnt on the ground preparitory to work. The metal length of the above road for half a mile north of the cheese factory requires some 50 to 60 cubic yards of iTie;al to repair the ruts —the renewing of a small surface culvert is also necessary.—Engineer given power to carry out the Wi»nc. Te Mara Kerawhakapapa Road—General surface repairs are being effected on the extreme end of this road, which has been somewhat disfigured by heavy traffic. Mr A. McLeod is contriLuting half the cost of mstal retiairs. Te Whiti Riding—Weraiti RoadContract No. 168 (loan), building two bridges. The bulk of the j material is on the ground for tha 65 feet span to crjss the Wangaehu; the I contractor is engaged in constructing i the trusses and reports that pile driv • I ing will be started to-morrow. Contract No. 155, 80 chains of metalling. The contractor has complied m with the provisions of his specifi-' ■cacim qualifying him t-> draw the progress payment: made in May. I' !.a/e had the outcrop of limestone, ws3t of Weraiti saddle, referred to in a previous report, stripped, the material being used for widening the narrow portions of the road. The | bulk of the material is of very good l quality, but 1 do not anticipata that I a f ice of sufficient depth will be ob I t lined for the economical getting of any large quantity of metal; it will, however, supply sufficient to metal to the saddle. This will well repay fir the outlay and give tha bene-' fit of tha extra width o£ road. Mat-terton-Waimata Road—Contract No. 165, 1,270 cubic yards of metal for repairs. The whol? of trie material has b9en delivered, and the contractor reports hia work complete; an inspector has yet to be made. South Road—The original cuitin*, giving access to the Waingawa ford, has been carried away by cne action of the river, leaving a precitpitjua bank and a deep hole of water. At a point immediately below thi reserve there is a prospect of landing on tha river bed, with a side cutting at small cost. Mr Montgomery has undertaken to provide the stones, free of charge, for the protection of the cutting, if the Council will supply the wire netting. As a track was necessary to give access to the ford, I consulted ♦he Councillor for the Riding, who acquiesced to my proceeding with the work on the terms stated. Rangitumau Riding.—Opaid-Rangi-tumau Road. Repairs to the exte.it a"**"" of 322 cubic yards of metal has been laid on the above and branch roads. J Wainuioru Rising.'—The work of improving the curves on the Blairlogie roads is proceeding. Mastar-ton-Waimata Road. Contract No. 173, building a roadman's cottage. The work has been completed in a very satisfactory manner. Alfredton Riding.—Waihoki Road (Mr Liverton's thirds). A man has been put on to commence the improvement of the road formation from Mr Liverton's homestead. Pori and Saunders' Roads. -The recent rainfall caused small blocks by slips, which the roadmen are undertaking to remove. Alfredton-Webcr Road..—The new metal has been severely tested by the heavy laden store brakes with narrow wheels. As the metal is of fine quality and th 3 season was particularly unfavourable to the consolidation of the formation during the progress of the work, these conditions have militated greatly against the uniting of the metal in layer; it will, therefore, be necessary to strengthen portions of the weak parts early next season. The redecking of Ihuraua bridge will be necessary before the heavy wool traffic takes place—approximate cost £4o.—The Engineer was authorised to do the work when he thought necessary.