MASTERTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9647, 12 November 1909, Page 3

MASTERTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

ENGINEER S REPORT,

The following report was submitted to the meeting of the M ast-nt jii County Council on Wednesday last by the County Engineer:— Opaki Riding, Upper Opaki Road, and Loop line. Contract No. 202.—45 chains of mctiUing and delivering; 400 cubic yards for repairs. The above work has been vrey satisfactorily carried out aa well as the delivery of 11V cubic yards of metal. Upper Plain Road widening.—The setting back of the fence on the various property frontages (half chain from the road centre) between the j Ltetidaff gate and Mr R. Dagg's ! western ' boundary, has been accom- I j plished, I belijve with general satis-J faction to the adjoining owners; the | extended width is a marked improvement. Ruamahanga Gorge Road.—The amount of Johansen's accured thirds 1 I £23, with an additional £5, ordinary revenue, have been expended in levelling and stumping 35 chains of' formation for wheel traffic. A chasm has also bsen bridged with a 30ft span. 12 feet wide, capable of carrying a dray load. Opaki District Road. —Considerable damage havS been made to the recently metalled length towards the Mount Bruce Bridge. As a result of heavy laden waggons attached to a traction engine deep rues have been cut through trie metal and portions of the road greatly disfigured. Te Whiti Riding. Robieson's Road.—A culvert 3ft x 3ft x Ift has been buil 1 ; to substitute the defective bridge referred to in my former report.

Wainuioru Riding. Weraiti Road.—Contract No. 181, metalling 148 chains of road, let last December to Lang]..n Is and Co., and only partly complctid, is now being carried on by the partner, Mr Cranby. The contractor is equipped to make good progress with the work, crushing and carting operations having commenced, 1 would respectfully recommend that another section be let forthwith from the end of the work now in hand to the Taueru Bridge, approximate distance 510 chains. I purpose inviting altrenative tenders for crushed limestone and metal from the Te Ore Ore pit. I would also recommend that a snort section be Itt from the Weraiti Saddle, covering the shaded sidelong ground—approximate distance 18 chains—this length t) be metalled frjm the Te Ore Ore pit. Westmere Roal—At ai einoankmtnt near Coyle's yards the approaches are so steep that it is with difficulty a venicle can n?gotiate the cutting in wet weather; this is a common ground for complaint by the travelling public. By raising the embankment aoout four feet over the culvert, which is sufficiently long to carry the additional earth, or the tuttings can b« adjusted each way to balance the filling and make workable grades. The approximate cost of work would be £35. East Coast Road.—ln accordance

with the rerolution t<f the Cou <il I had two acres surveyed ti r the purposes of erecting a roadman's cottage at the Mutuwaireka, and I purpose calling tenders for the erection of the cottage as provided for in the estimates for the year Rangitumau Riding. Wangaehu Head. —I have; accepted an offer from Mr G. Daysh to deliver broken stone at 12s 6d p-r yard from the Te Ore Ore pit for patphing the road surface between the VVangael u bridge at Ditlon and tle Northern boundary of the Waihi estate. The stone is to be hauled by a broad tyred waggon and six horses; this means of transmission is not so severs on the road surface as that of ordinary dra^ys. Te Ore Ore-Bideford Road.—A side width has been reformed to fhi Wangaehu Road junction, to serve the summer traffic. Upper Taueru Riding. Mangarei Roar I .—Timber for the Mangarei bridge has 'been ordered from Messrs Gardner.and Sons, sawmillers in the vicinity of Taumaranui, a stipulation b'ing made that the timber be inspected at the mill, Olendonald-Wairere Road.—lmprovements have been made to the acute turn complained of by Mr Wilton. Alfredtnn Riding. Moroa Road Deviation (part thirds and grant,—The formation of 23 chains has been completed, this making a continuous formed road connection between the Pah Valley and Alfredton, which affords a short cut to the Pahiatua district by five or six miles.

Alfredton-Weber Koad. —Contract No. 195, metalling 85 chains of road. The contractor commenced testing operations on the sth inst. and says he is confident as the result that he will be uiiable to get any quantity of acceptable stone, the interior of the j hill developing to sandstone. Mr Con • nell is prepared to carry out the contract by carting the metal from the Waitiwhiti river bed, the source from which the last two miles of metalling was got by J. Henncssy. A culvert aft x 2ft on Nga Rata, frontage, under a 20ft filling, is showing evidence of collapse, and it will be necessary to make provision to have it substituted by a new one —approximate cost £SO. A cuvlert of similar dimensions on the Puketoi Road is reported by Mr Murray to be in a decayed state. Waihoki Road.—Contract No. 815, metalling 45 chains of road with burnt papa. This contract, which was unfinished last season, is again being proceeded with, and some papa is being prepared for burning. I