BULLER ROAD.

Westport Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1168, 17 April 1874, Page 2

BULLER ROAD.

[from: our own correspondent.] Since my last letter the flood has subsided so that anybody can soe the amount of damage done by the late burster. Several slips have taken place on the Buller Road, the largest of which is near Hawke's Craig, a whole spur having fallen across the road, over which a temporary track has hoeu c'eared. Several slips have also taken place on Stitt's contract. On the new road several parties of sub-contractors arc making good headway in forming and side-cuttings ; and contractors are offering 12s per day, which is not bad wages considering the moderate puces of provisions, and beef only 7d per pound, but men are scarce, and the contractors have had great difliculties to contend against in the shape of slips and bad weatlx r. Some extension of time ought to be granted. Tlio bridge which was reported as washed away by tho flood was not finished, and only suffered some slight injury. Mr Thomas Thompson, t'ae contractor, has got the contract to cut a horse road through tho rock near Hawke's Crag, which will do away with tho necessity of having a bridge over the ravine. The late flood has made the Ohika and Inangahua rivers dangerous for fording, owing to the usual channels deepening and the quantity of snags deposited on the fords. The farmers up the Inangahua Valley suffered considerable damage, all the low ground being flooded, and several inches of sand deposited on it. Tho Lauding punt was not washed away as reported. Travellers coming up here from Westpdrt complain about having to swim their horses across the iiuller river at the end of the new .Nine Mile road, and make many enquiries as to when the new punt will be placed in position and in working order.