WAIRARAPA EAST COUNTY COUNCIL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2194, 14 January 1886, Page 2

WAIRARAPA EAST COUNTY COUNCIL.

—* engineer's report. . The following is tho Engineer's report presented (it Tuesday's meeting of the Wairarapa East County Council : Masterton Riding.—Te Ore Ore-Bide-ford Road.—Contract No. 9, 'for 78£ chains formation is being carried out in a satisfactory manner. Ground has been broken throughout tho- entire length of the contract, and the larger proportion of the works which remain to be fulfilled, consist in regulating the widths of formation and general trimming up throughout. Metalling contract No. 10, recently let to Mr George McKay will be proceeded with during the next two or three days,

Waingawa to Camp Road.—The repairs to the bank of the Waingawa river near the southern approach to the bridge- are at present in hand, and are making failprogress.

Masterton to Waimata Road,-(Mas-terton to Taueru Section.)— The repairs are being successfully performed by the permanent roadmen, with temporary assistance. If there is any further sum available from subsidy for extension of the works at present in hand, I would recommend that .its expenditure be at once proceeded with, while the state of the roads is favorable to its- economical outlay.

Casfckpoint Eidinst. Masterton to Waimata road—Whakataki to' Wuimata section.—An extension of contract Fo. 18, embracing a length of 27 chains of formation has been let to Mr Baker, on tho above line, by which a good roadway for wheel traffic will be secured over the Oahanga hill. On the Tinui to Kaumingi Section, contracts No. 8 and 9, are making fair progress, Tho Overseer reports that in his opinion tho hands at present employed on contract No. 8, are insufficient to ensure the work being completed within the specified time. I will therefore examine into this matter and arrange if necessary for an increase of the staff. Eketahuna to Tinui Road.-(Manawa section).—l have given Mr Girdwood notice to proceed with his metalling contract No. 12. and in reply have been advised that the work will shortly be proceeded with. The Overseer complains bitterly of the serious damage sustained by the metalled roads through the travelling of stock in the Whareama districts. There can be little doubt but that the cost of maintenance is annually augmented by the repairs which are necessitated after every mob of cattle or sheep are travelled on the roads. To meet this it is highly desirable that the Council shall adopt measures by means of which they would bo enabled to recoup thomselves for the cost on this extra outlay on repairs as under existing circumstances travelling stock contiibute nothing towards remedying the serious damage they cause to the lines over which they are driven. Alfredton Riding.— Eketahuna Tinui Road.—The construction of the Tehoi bridge has been completed by Mr Dawson. Taking into consideration that the timber has bojn obtained from a considerable distance (over rough country), from the site of the works and in its transmission has unavoidably sustained certain surface injury the general appearance of the bridge is not such as would have been expected had tho materials been conveniently obtainable. Tho w.:rk is, however, of a substantial, and, under the circumstances, satisfactory character, and although apparently' less highly finished than some of the other bridge works in the district is nevertheless equally sound and suitable for its work. The extra culverts have been supplied and built on the bush sections of the road.

Mr Anderson is making good progress with his metalling contract No, 9 on this line, and expects to have the work out of hand by the next sitting of the Council. Opaki to Manawatu road.-Arrange-ments have been entered into for the necessary repairs to the Northern side of this line. On the Southern end where the traffic of the Eailway works has so seriously damaged the road, it has been advisable to let the work of repairing it by contract, The execution of these contracts will place the road upon such a footing as will probably admit of traffic being resumed along the main line throughout next winter. ■ The money, however, at my disposal is quite insufficient to place the line in the state in which it was in prior to the Hailway Works being oommenoed, and the proposed expenditure will at best only admit of the bare necessities of the line being attended to. The public works officials with becoming promptitude, and all that courtesy which they only reserve for one another have ignored the Council's last communication with reference to the grayel reserves, and in consequence of their action the cost of carrying out the repairs will be considerably increased. The expenditure of tho £3O voted for repairs to the Mauricevillb road will bo completed in four days time,