MASTERTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9542, 14 July 1909, Page 7

MASTERTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

ENGINEER'S REPORT. The County Engineer (Mr D. McLaehlan) reported as follows to the meeting of the Mastertoa County Council yesterday afternoon :-- Opaki Riding. Opaki District and Branch Lines. — Contract No. 199, delivering, etc., 410 cuhic yards of metal. The above has been completed together witli 86 cubic yards extra. Opaki Loop Line. —Contract No. 192, 12 chains of metalling. The contractor reports the contract finished, and an additional length of five chains. The extension was authorised by the Councillors for the riding. Wairgawa to Camp Road. —Contract No. 196, delivering 70 yards of metal—has been duly finished. Donovans's Road.—The formation of about three chains of road has been finished, this being a deviation from the original track, which was not on the properly laid off line, and rendered necessary by fencing of adjoining properties. The work was i authorised by the former member for \ this riding. Miki Miki Road.—Accrued Thirds. The remodelling of about thirty chains of formation at the western end of this road has been carried out satisfactorily, and some repairs in , the way of raking in and breaking done under Cr Forman's supervision. Upper Plain Road. — Widening. The work of removing fences back to the extended road reserve between Llandaff gate and Mr McGregor's western boundary has been let to b. and H. Evans. Lansdowne Roads.—The footpaths in the vicinity of the Waipoua bridges and the lower levels of Adamsville required small repair in the shape of a few loads of metal. This has been done. Masterton-Waimata Road.— The approaches tn the gate of the Lans- ' downe school have been metalled, and small culverts, placed m the permanent edge of footpath to carry off the drainage. The roadway approaches to the Ruamahanga bridge at Tu Ore Ore are wearing narrower than the width of bridge, and I purpose improving fame with the outlay or about a week's carting. Te Whiti Riding. Te Ore Ore Estate Roads—The unformed length between Brown's Road and the Avenue Road has been ploughed and formed with the grader, and depressions in the formation are being levelled by carting. Contract No. 197.—Surface repairs to the Masterton-Waimata Road have been practically completed between the Taueru livtr and the Ruamahanga bridge. The exceptionally favourable season has allowed this contract, which involved long carting, to be carried out without serious detriment to the road. It was found necessary to increase the quantity of metal {specified between Otohoua and the Taueru, as many of the shaded sidings showed considerable weakness —trie result of very heavy timber traffic in the autumn.

Waingawa Protective Works.— The groyne on southern bank of the Waingawa river has been extended. I think to give a satisfactory result, in directing the waterto a more central course, under the road bridge. Good work might be done in villow planting on either bank between the road and railway bridges, but it would be necessary to prevent stray stock from injuring the willow plants, as much harm has already been done to existing plantations. South Road. —The groyne for the protection of the cutting into the Waingawa on the above road has been substantially constructed, and the material from the ciittir,g has been utilised in making up the formation in the low depression betwesn the river and the metal length. The settlers performed the carting of the Stones for the groyne, Rar.gitumau Riding. Te Ore Ore-Bideford Road.-Con-tract No. 198, metal repairs between the Upper Taueru Riding boundary and the Masterton Waimaca Road. The contract has yet about 1£ miles of the southern end of his work to complete. Alfredton Riding. Alfrelr, in-Weber Road.—Contract No. lSt>. Metalling, etc., 160 chains ot road. The unfinished portion of this contract, a length of 1 5£ chains, has been deducted from the contract at the average rate and the final payment has be n drawn. The contractor, so far as the maintenance of the work is concerned, has qualified to receive final payment. A length of 9.60 chains of the worst portions of the Blue Slip near Waterfalls, has been metalled with burnt papa. The work has been carried out by S. W. Green, at a cost of J26 per chain. Alfredton—Tenui Road —Contract No. 190 Building a bridge ever the Taueru River. This work has been expeditiously carried out, considering the lateness of the season and road difficulties, and has been finished in a workmanlike manner. The work was completed on the 22nd utlimo/ ard the contractor provides for the maintenance of the work for a month after that date. Castle Hill Road.*—The allocation for metalling has been spent by day work between Te Hoe bridgejard the township, a very good result having been obtained. The length between the Te Hoe bridge and the Te Hoe homestead hits been repaired by Messrs Kehbcl Bros., free of cost to ' the Council. While carters wore in

the district I took advantage of having some weak portions of the road surface strengthened by metalling between Te Hoe and Girdwood's. Wainuioru Riding.

Homewood—Kaiwhata Road. Contract No. 19], Grant and 0.R., 51 chains of formation and adverting etc. I paid a visit of inspection to the work on the 28th ultimo. The contract was finished with ihe exceotion of sume small defects which the contractor agrees to remedy.