MASTERTON ROAD BOARD.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 6, Issue 1637, 18 March 1884, Page 2

MASTERTON ROAD BOARD.

■ engineer's report. Sir. —I have the honor herewith to submit to you my report for the past month, on the works in progress within the district as follows:-' No, 2 Ward—The contracts for repairs to the Lower Taueru road, which consist of the construction of embankments, iuprovements of the/isharper corners along the line, and the building of a new small bridge in lieu of the one' worn out, have been .faithfully executed by the^respective contractors,' Messrs Girdwood, and Reese and Dawson, and. the improvements hare materially added to the safety and comfort of the travelling public on this line. The Hoard is therefore in a position.now to relinquish its control over,this line, and to transfer, the 'i ; e3pdrisibility/:pf its future maintenance, to the County Council. The minor works which .consist of the construction of a new culvert and fillings upon the Upper Plain road, and the location of a fencing line for Mr- Donovan's road .have; been [.completed.' In connection with, thisilatte'r item it has been necessary to further extend the line through Mr Elkins' prppei'ty, in order to effect a junction with that portion located on Mr,

Mackay's land. 1 have .therefore executed this survey and communi-' catecl with Mr Elkins advising him of the steps I have taken. As I have received no response to my circular sent to the settlers interested in the cleansing of Lower Manaia road drains, I have, in accordance with the terms of the resolution passed at last meeting, taken no further steps in the matter. No. 3 Ward-Mr Allen's contract for the formation and metalling of the Upper Section b£ the -Upper" Opaki road, it is supposed will be completed this evening. When recently inspected, the works were being carefully and satisfactorily 'discharged. The Pirau swamp section pt the same lino, in the bands of Messrs Larson & Co., is alsowell advanced, and ; wili in nil probability, be completed by the next sitting of the Board. In order to render: the formation less accessible to the effects Of'theheayier traffio, which may travel on thia .line, I will recommend that in order to onsure more complete: and i efficient drainage for the road bed,: that the original drain on the eastern sido be deepened throughout its entire length, to an average depth of say 14 inches. T. am of opinion that advantageous arrangements may be made for the execution of this work, while the contractors are still on the ground, and will, therefore, recommendits execution to the favorable consideration of the Board. Messrs Rasmussen k Co., on - ; - tfro Upper, Fernridge line are pushing , ■ ajicad with their work, and .the formaritionNvorks are y/ell forward. -It is. anticipated that with a continuation of 'fjnVweather they will bo able to pro- ■ '.peed with the metalling at an earlv jidate. Mr McKay's contract on the lower section of the Upper Opaki road Bas been proceeding slowly of late , owingtohis unavoidable absence during the harvesting of his crops, Work has" however, been resumed, and the contract will probably bo fulfilled during next ' week. Tho formation and metalling of a portion of tho Matahiwi road let to Mr Enton has been performed in a most creditable manner. T understand that it is the intention ot Messrs Holmes .Bros., to request that this contract should be extended to meet that which was metalled last season This I will recommend, as the traffic over tho intervening secoion in the execution of the work recently completed, has so cut it up as in all probably to render it ;m impassablequagmire during next winter unless some steps are taken' meanwhile to glvo it a solid surface. This can only bo done by metalling it. Tim length will be somewhere about 10 or 11 chains, and ought not,. including what light formation may be necessary to exceed .£2l 10s, Upon the Mildiniki line it is desirable that a short length of about two chains should lie formed before the weather finally breaks up. This is a option accidentally omitted from the work undertaken under the Roads and •Bridges Construction Act, and for want of which a serious inconvonienee is suffered by those making use of this line. Upon a recent examination of the Mauriceville road I find that the planking upon one of the bridges near Mr Gunderson's store is. in a very dangerous state. This bridge was originally covered with rimu planking, and has worn well during the last seven years. It has, however, recently become very much decayed and may fail entirely at any moment, which will mean a complete obstruction to traffio in the southern end of the settlement. No 4 Ward.—Waipawa Valley road —Good progress has been made with his work since last meeting of the Board, and, weather permitting, I anticipate the line will be open for traffic by the 15th of April. Westmere road-This work has been all but at a standstill for the past four weeks owing to the failure of the timber supply for the. bridge work. This has at last been delivered, and the work will in all probability be completed in the-course of three weeks. The earth work approaches to the vVhakatamahine bridge have been completed, and the bridge opened for traffic. The contractors have requested, and 1 havo granted, consent to defer the metalling for a short time. This will allow of the embankments settling, and being trimmed up to the proper level before tho coat of gravel is applied. The cutting of the timber for the construction of the Wainnioru bridge is proceeding fairly well, and tho piers on both sides of the river have been put down. It is expected that the construction of the trusses will be* proceeded with in a fortnight's time. ■ ; I have, fa., C. E.Bremner,