MASTERTON COUNTY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10558, 14 February 1912, Page 5

MASTERTON COUNTY.

ENGINEER'S REPORT. The following report from the Engineer (Mr D. McLiiichlan) was read at yesterday's meeting of the Masterlon County Council:—

Opaki Hiding

I Coote's Road.— Contract No. 273, metalling eighty chains of road. Rather slow progress lias been made; about 20 odd chains have been completed. The character of the work is, however, satisfactory. As directed by the Council, I have arranged for the fencing, etc., of the road recently proclaimed, giving access to the Kopuaranga railway (station . Kiriwhakapapa Road (Government Grant), Contract No. 265, forming 14 chains of road.— The contractor reports that he has broken eight chains of the formation. 'Northern Approach, Contract No. 237. I have to recommend that the* final payment be passed on the above work, and additions and extras as per account, and that the contractor be relieved on the 17th inst., the work being found in order. Contract No. 238. This contract is not finished j there is yet some small amount of work to do which I a.m giving the contractors notice to complete.

It will, be necessary for the safety, of pedestrians to have some short lengths to the bridge approaches fen-" ced, making a total length of about 9 chains. I anticipated that some of the old fence would have been sufficiently, goqd,-for ...re-erection; -it.was;, found, however; to be too unsound, for reconstruction. Approximate cost of proposed fence, £6O. Waingawa to Camp Road.— A small platform bridge over the Waipipi has been erected, by day lab-.' our. .

Te Whiti Biding. " ' * Masterton-Waimata Road.— The: re-decking of the Wangaehu Bridge - and a 20ft platform span were completed last month. Upper Taueru Riding. Te Ore Ore - Bideford Road, build-; ing a roadman's cottage. —The above work is reported complete by; the contractor. Glendonald-Wairere Road, Contract No. 250, 68ft of formation and culverting.— The contractor left the work in an unfinished condition ia September. I have been unable to get any satisfaction from him, and therefore gave him seven days' notice on the 16th of last month, to complete his contract. I shall Lavs to dp the -■ necessary work . with the permanent roadman.

: , j ,'Alfredton Riding. Alfredton-WelM?!* -Road, ContractNo. 269, delivering 940 cubic yards 6i, nietal for repairs. Jhe contractor has completed about one half of the quantity on the Alfredton end of the ■ work, and he is now engaged on thelong haul- at the Tawataia-Barton's Line section. ' Contract: N0.;.270, delivering 1450 cubip yards of metal for repairs, Boii r .; stead's to Tiraumea section.— The contractor only made a start last week, but- is making fair progress.AlfredtonTinui Road, Contract No. 264, 53 chains of formation and culverting.— The above contract is well toward completion. Barton's Line (Government grant); Contract No. 227.—.The contractor finished his contract and about 8£ chaiAs extra: This will absorb the remainder of * the Govorjimeiit- grant. Repairs—have been" made to. . the ' weaker portions of Barton's Line and . the Mangtatakato road, to the extent of 40 and 35 cubic yards respectively. ' ' Te Hoe Bridge.— The delay in advertising tenders was due to the Government specifications providing t for the use of rimu in portions of . the. structure, which on request it was agreed to eliminate. Castle Hill Road.— I have let the construction of the bridge culvert (for which timber has been provided on the ground), to G. Benton, contractor.

Wainuioru Riding. Uriti Road, Contract No. 275, 90 chains of road metalling, etc.— The contractor is now on the ground, and has commenced work. East Coast Road, Koliiwai-Home-wood section, metal repairs.— Three days have been engaged during the pas.t month in repairing the metal on this section of the road. / Blairlogie-East Coast Road. — Contract" No. 272, delivering 2010 cubic yards of metal. The contractor has completed the Blairlogie-Waihora section, and is now shifted tq the Kohiwai end. (Masterton-\Vaimata Road, TaueruMangapakelia section, Contract No. 271, delivering 177u cubic yards ct metal.— The contractor has been engaged between mile peg 15 and the Castlepoint boundary. This season the creeks have provided a very small supply of metal. It will therefore be ' necessary to largely supplement the difficulty with rock. Stronvar Road (Government grant) —A 3ft x 3ft x 64ft culvert is being erected by the Council's staff, also Sift length of 18-inch pipes. Westmere Road. — 17 culverts are being replaced bv cement pipes. An unsound bridge is being replaced by 7ft x sft x 20ft culvert.