ASTERTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3187, 12 May 1909, Page 7

ASTERTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

ENGINEERS REPORT. 'J';.!- following report was submit: <-d to the meeting of the Masterton County Council, yesterday, by the County Engineer (Mr D. McLachlnn) : ■* Opaki Riding. Matahiwi road, Contract No. 200, delivering 390 cubic yards of metal, has just been completed with the exception oi! breaking stones. The replaciiig of an old log bridge by a 4ft x 411 culvert, near the old Matahiwi homestead, tins been carried out, the timber for the work having been some lime on the ground. In this case Mr Holmes had allowed a diversion of the water course outside the road reserve* which facilitates the discharge, and improves the direction of the culvert on the roadway. Upper Opaki road, contract No. 93, 14 chains of metalling, etc.— The contractor has been on the ground for the week stripping the pits and preparing the formation for metalling. With the concurrence of the Chairman, I have extended the contract ten chains, which will absorb the allocation available. I have ordered the timber for the replacing of a small platform bridge near Auiua, which has become beyond the limits of judicious repair. In this matter I have consulted the members for this riding, the money being provided in the contingency funds of last year. Pairau Swamp road.—The cleaning of the side drains, on the above road is reported finished. The trespass*! g of stray stock along this road is being very detrimental to the side diains, which are being trodden in.

Waingiwa to Camp road, contract No. 196, 700 cubic yards of metal for repair?.—The contractor has completed a section from the Opaki pit, and will resume work from the river beds during the end of this week, when he hcs completed some urgent work he has in hand. Opaki Loop Line, contract No. 292, 12 chains of metalling. I have requested the con tractor to proceed with his work, and he informs me he is prepared lo c!o so during this week. Upaki District road, contract No. 199, 910 cubic yards of metal for repairs, was let at last meeing. • The successful tenderers having ju<?t completed th2 Matahiwi metal repahs, and are ready to proceed ac once with the above. Miki Miki road.—Arrangements have been made fur the expenditure of accrued thirds on this road, in remodelling a length on the extreme end. Te Whitijßiding. Masterton-Gladstone roads. —Repairs to the weaker portions of the [op decking of the Te Whiti bridge, hav'S been effected.

Pa Karaka road.—The metalling, in terms of M»* Donald's, offer, on above road has been completed. Weraiti-Fernyhurst road, contract No. 168, building two bridges.—As the contractor did not respond to the notice I served him, to complete his work in terms of the contract, I had the small bridge erected at his cost, deducting same from balance and deposit in hand. I have also had the earthwork approaches to same made and metalled. The old Wangaehu bridge has been dismantled,and some of the material is being utilised in making a lead for stock to the newly-constructed bridge' The mttalling of the improved curves at culvert crossings and the patching of a few weak ruts between the WangEehu bridge and the Weraiti saddle are being done. , Mr Lee has carried out the metalling as suggested in his letter to the Council, from the vVeraili road junction to his gate, and has accepted the Council's offer —the assistai.ee of a man for filling. Manaia-Gladstone road.—A 2ft x ! lft culvert, on the first halfmile from road requires renewing. The culvert i 3 old and defective, t.nd 'is constantly requiring repairs. Rangitumau Riding. Te Ore Ore-Eideford road.—The re-building of a platform bridge, at mile peg 5, has been completed and the approaches same made ■ and metalled. A culvert sft x sft x 24ft, beyond Cameron tires', woolshed, giving access to the drainage at the large outlet drain to the Wangaehu requires renewing. The structure is of a light character, and uas been constructed without a floor, the result being that the walls are under- | mined; son\e of the timber may be I utilised for the new one. | Northcroft's road.—Metal repairs ! have been effected on the first halfI mile of above road.

Wainuioru Riding. Brancepeth road, contract No. 189, delivering 910 cubic yards of metal. —This contract has been completed. Section between Westmere road junction and Branccpeth, delivering 502 cubic yards of metal for repairs. —I have arranged with the cdi;tractor, who is on the ground, to repair the above length for 2s Gd per cubic yard. Homewood-Kaiwhata road, contract No. 181, 51 chains of formation.—The contractors are proceeding with the heaviest portion of the work, &ikl under somewhat adverse circumstances are making steady progress. I Masterton-Wairna a road, TaueruMangopakeha section, contract No. 188, delivering 1,340 cubic yards of metal for repairs, has been duly completed. I am having the stripping carted from the Taueru pit, and deposited on the western end of the Taueru bridge with a view of curtailing in time, a 30ft approach span of the bridge. Weraiti Ferny hurst road, contract No. 181,184 chains of metalling.— About 94 chains of above work has been laid. Although the road has been up till now in good order I fear that the next rain will terminate operations for this season. Blairlogie-East Coast road, contract No. 194, painting two bridges, the Patanui and Motuwaireka. The work has been in progress a week, and a priming coat had been put on the former bridge on my inspection last week. The improvements to the Eperaima deviation have been completed with the exception of building a culvert. Alfredtom Riding. Alfredto.i-Te Nui road, building

a 71ft span bridge.—The whole of the material is reported delivered on the site, and the contractor intends to shortly proceed with the work; the last two wagon loads were overtaken by wet weather, and a considerable length of the road has been damaged in consequence. I have deemed it advisable to have the water cut off in places, and the ruts filled to prevent, as far as possible, extraordinary damage. Springvale road.—The balance of the loan on this road has been expended in improving and paving the creek crossings and metailing the road. • Alfredton-Weber road, contract No. 186, two miles of metalling.—A hundred and forty chains of the above metal length has been laid. I was obliged to terminate the work owing to the lateness of the season, and the heavy traffic by-law coming into operation. Tawataia to Boustead's section, contract No. 185, delivering 965 cubic yards of metal for repairs.— The work has been completed. Government grant and Darlington's thirds.—The rebuilding of culvert and embankment at Darlington's is reported finißhed. Waihoki road, contract No. 185. On this work the supply of metal has not been sufficiently provided for in the kilns, and the contractor has, in consequence been unablejto finish.