MASTERTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9688, 12 January 1910, Page 3

MASTERTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

ENGINEER'S REPOR

The following report was submitted to the meeting of the Master - ton County Council yesterday, by the Engineer (Mr D. McLachlan)• Opaki Riding Tbß overflow from the Lansdowne reservoir, which was deposited :n the watertable on the road and liable to scorn, I have had carried across the road in a inch pipe. Messrs V. Donald and other settlers have mads suitable provision for conveying it through private property to a natural watercourse. Te Whiti Riding. . Masterton-Gladstone Road : As the condition of the creek was favour able, I have had the cement pipe culvert at Cresswell's, duplicated. I have had the willows in the vicinity of the Te Whiti Bridga, felled to give a better view of approacning. Wainuioru Riding Weraiti - Fernyhurst Road: Contract No. 181, metalling 1 4fc5 chains of road. The metalling on above contract was finished on the 16th ultimo, and the contractor's representative reports the metal having been raked in and if the conditions of contract are complied with by tha 16th instant, I recommend the final payment of contract. Contract No. 207, metalling 154 chains of road let at last meeting, has not yet been commenced The 'contractor, who is finishing a metalling contract in the Alfredton district, report* that ha will be able to commence work on Monday next, 17th instant, and he will hasten the ' completion of the contract by employing additional teams. Contract No. 203, 18 'chains of "road metalling, is within two chains of completion. Blairlogie-East Coast Road, Contract Nb. 204, delivering 2,t>40 cubic yards of metal. The. contractor has commenced on the Southern end of the work from the Kohewai quarry, from which he has delivered about 500 cubic yards. . Motuwaireka Section, Contract No. 205, building a roadman's wh&re. The contractor reports that he has had mien on the ground for the last fortnight, and they are making good progress with the work. Westmere Road: The improvement to the grades approaching the embankment at Coyle's yard, is upon completion. Upper Taueru Riding. Te Ore Qre-Bideford Road: From examination of the 28ft trusp span, at Bridge Creek, built thirty years ago, much of the timber i 9 in a perished condition, and calls for reconstruction, before another summer's heavy.traffic. I should recommend substituting a 27ft stringer span, placing same on the down stream side and thereby improving the curve of the road. This bridge is subjected to special stress from the fact that there are descending grades on to it from either side and vehicles usually cross it at a high rata of speed. Approximate cost of construction £125. A new'top deck to the Tikirangi bridge has been laid. ' Mangarai Road: The bulk of the timber for the proposed bridge on above road, is being delivered on site. I purpose making a survey for the extension of the road under the proposed loan, Alfredton Riding. F Alfredton-Weber Road: Tiraumea section, Contract N0.'195, metalling 85 chains of road. Carting operations are completed-and the contractor has the maintenance of the work for a month. This contract has been carried on expeditiously, fifteen teams being employed in the hauling. , Te Hoe Bridge: To make this structure temporarily safe for moder- < ate. loads, it has been .necessary to put in a false pier on the Southern boundary. Sine** my last report I have examined the bridge carefully and am satisfied that the structure is not worth extensive repairing, I have • therefore, limited the load, including ] vehicles and horses, to be carried ( over the bridge, to four tons at a , walking pace. 'Under these circumstances I would recommend its re- J construction in time for next season's , wool carting, as I fear the difficulty of regulating traffic to the limit indicated, the road being a main • artery of an important district. The approximate cost of a new structure would be £6OO. Alfredton-Tenui Koad: Approaches to Taueru Bridge. Contract No. 171 (Government Grant), 19 chains of formation, etc. The above work, let in February last, for which final payment was held over owing to defective grading, is being rectified by the roadman and will be charged against the contractor's account, as agreed' upon with him. Repairs have been made to Flat

j Bash, Ihuraua, and Barton's line | roads; the men are now engaged on r Castle Hill Road, on similar work. I Tenders closed at noon yesterday for the following contracts, and will be laid before you for consideration: Contract No. 208, delivering 1,475 cubic yards of metal, MastertonWaimata Road, Taueru to Mangapakeha section. Contract No. 209, delivering 720 cubic yards of metal, AlfredtonWeber Road, Tawataia to Alfredton section. As M. Kerins is the lowest tenderer for both contracts and only desires one I would recummend that his tender tor contract No. 209 be accepted.