MASTERTON HIGHWAY BOARD.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 6, Issue 1612, 18 February 1884, Page 2

MASTERTON HIGHWAY BOARD.

... ENGINEER'SBEFOBT. . Sir,—l havo the honor herewith to tub' ; mit to you my report on the works of ;tho district for the past month, Do. 2 Ward.—The preparation of the ; materials lor the construction of the pltttv ... form bridge fronting Donald's saw mills on the Lower Taueru road is feeing proceoded with at present, and the erection •; of the bridge will be taken in hand in time to ensure its construction by the 28th inst.j the date specified for its completion, Upon the same line Mr Gird-. wood has commenced filling in over the • culverts constructed by tho Bodfd, ftnu. weather favoring, the works will be out;.. of hand in contract time. , The Manaia,; road drains have again become a subject . : of interest and annoyance to the settlers. .■ whoie propntiesabutt on this line. The 'Channels are bo completely choked with' / watercress that the drainage has to' saek - its outlet through the lower levels of the adjoining paddocks to the inconvenience and losa of their ownots.. As I und«r* stand pf ,the aggrieved fgentlemen will wait upon'the Board, it may be advisable to' postpone any suggestion' and wait their proposals, if

any, to assist ill dealing with the matter. Owing to tlio exceptionally heavy traffic on tho lower section of the Matahiwi road, it will bo necessary to havo tho metal made up close to Messrs Burnett and Yule'a mill to the oxtent of Bay seven or eight loadß, I will therefore request authority to have this dono, I have had the Kopuaraiigd bridge on the Opaki to Rangitumau road painted during the past month, and will furthor request authority to havo .the treses counter braced, tho remedy of which defect will Materially improvo its rigidity. No 3 Ward—Allon'a Opaki Contract.— Since tho completion of' the formation works on this contract a little over a fortnight ago, a cessation of operations had taken place until tho 13th inst. Thia was owing in a great measure to the difficulty of procuring the nocessary \ number of carls to enable tho metalling works to bo systematically carried out', 'The contract'time for tho completion of 'this work expired' on the 81st January, but as tho harvesting operations plaoe contractors for this kind cf work at a disadvantage just now, I will recommend that tho Board grant Mr Allen two weeks extension of time from this date for the completion of his work. Pairau Swamp ■formation.—Messrs larsen & Co have broken ground on this work to tho extent of about 20 chains. A portion of this, however, lias . been'labor in vain, owing to sorno mis interpretation on their part, of the specification, and by which thoy understood (heir contract to includo the up of a five feet wide dram along tlafcentre of the formation, Tho clausos tho specification have now been carofully interpreted to thorn, and tho defect remedied, The works in otlior. respects give satisfaction, Matahiwi Road,—The extension of the formation of tho above lino is being carefully and faithfully performed by tho contractors, and weather favoring it is anticipated that tho metalling will bo proceeded with by Tuesday the 19th inst Uppor Pernridge Road.—Mossrs Haslnnssen & Co are beginning to make a fair show with the formation of this line. 50 ehaina of new work hate been opened ■up since last meeting of the Board Tho work displays caie and precision in its execution, end promises to fulfil the requirements of the specification, It is expected that tho lino will be ready for metalling by the end of tho current month.

Upper Opaki i'oad Contract.—Tlio formotion throughout on this lino with the exception uf tliu final trimming, has boeli completed, and iho metalling operations arc being proceeded with, The works, iit present, lire bein« creditably performed. No 4.Ward.—'Waipawa Valley Road.— A privatu. aaaignmont of this contract lias boon inado iu favor of Mr Walter Perry, and will, bo submitted to llio Board for its approval to-day. Under the now management matters havo taken a most favorable turn, and the works aro now being pushed forward in an energetic manner, which augurs well for their Bpeedy completion. With a continuation of tho weather oxporionced during tlio past three days the lino will bo blockod out by tlio oud of next woek, and may possibly bo completed by tlio end of March. Tho bridge works on this lino are proceeding steadily, and will, I anticipate, bo complotea about ihcsame dato as tho earthwork.

Westmero Road.—Earthwork operations have had to bo suspended owing to tlio excessively dilatory manner in which the materials for the construction of tho aio being supplied from tlio Waipaim saw mills. Failing an improvement in this roapoct during next week it will be necossary to adopt moasures to ensure its prompt delivery fnm Other sources. The construction of the Wliakatamahine bridge has been completed; the painting and earthwork aro all that now remain to fulfil this contract, Tbe work has been most carefully and substantially performed under tho superinteudance of Mr Dawson, and does him great credit. Wainuioru Bridge.—A start has been effected with tho construction of this bridge. The first pile was placod in position, and driving commencod on tho 14th inst. The stiffness of the yollow clay formation on tho western bank has beon auch as to render progress in sinkint; tho pile both tedious and slow. lam anxious if tho Warden approves to have the lino of road approaching this bridge and connecting it with tho Wlmkatamahino bridge, located so early as may be in order that tho contract nmy bo prepared and advertised iii timo to have it ready for traffic by tho data tlio bridges aro finished. I will therefore request authority to undertake the survey when I may be able to spare tlio necessary timo. Many of tlio culverts and platform bridges along the Taueru to Brancepeth road, which havo been constructed of inferior timber have heen collapsing under tho heavy traffic of the lato wool season. I have thoreforo .deemed it expedient to order n sufficient •supply of now timber to repay what it has ibeen necessary to borrow from tho homestead for temporary purposes, as woll as ■what will bo required to rouovato and repair tho damaged structures, and to build fresh culverts whero at present rough log crossings aro in use. I havo, &c. ' . C. B.BItEMSEIt.