REPORT OF MR W. H. CLARKE, RESIDENT ENGINEER IN THE WAIKATO, ON THE ROADS IN HIS DISTRICT.

Waikato Times, Issue 201, 23 August 1873, Page 2

REPORT OF MR W. H. CLARKE, RESIDENT ENGINEER IN THE WAIKATO, ON THE ROADS IN HIS DISTRICT.

G-reat South Road. — Mercer to Ngaruawahia. Three contracts have been let on tins road, namely :—: — No. 1. metalling from fiercer to AVhangamarino Bridge, length 5,100 feet. This work has been suspended on account of the wet weather. The load is refascined for about two-Uitrds of its length, and is quite passable. Faspines are on the ground in sufficient number to complete the work shortly as regards fasonnng, and the metalling will be proceeded with when the weather becomes drier; one small cutting through a hill is also nearly finished. No. 2. Raising and embanking road from Whangumarino Bridge to Mere Mere hill, 8,000 feet in length. This is now formed to the full width and height specified, forming a good solid road where no side road exists. A good summer road has been left at the side for more than half a mile, w ith turnoils from the bank, which along this portion is still slightly »oft, but w ill carry a horse No. 3. For providing road metal, and carting it to Taupiri Gorpo. The furthest distance to Oftrt is from Mangawara Bridge, about 7,100 feet. The contractor has opened the quarry and put in a tramway, and will shortly be^in quarrying. A small contract for fasoimng, raising, and gravelling tho Great South ltoad through H >|ju liopu School Reserre has been let, and is now nearly finished The Whangamanno Bridge, in contract No. 1, and Mangawara Bridge, have been repuued, nloo two cuhcrts ; and one new culvert has been put in, and the road has been fascined ami drained m several places where such work waj needed. The punt u*ed for crossing the Waikato at Ngaruawahia requires some alterations and repairs to render it safe and serviceable. These are now being proceeded with — as are a,Uo some necessary repairs to the bridge at Cambridge, where the soft rock on which one of tho piers rested had cracked and rendered the approach unsafe; this work is nearly finished. The bridge at Alexandra is also under rei pairs, for whioh flu* timber is ordered. I Moanatuatua Sw amp Road. — Constabulary labor and hired drays have been omployed on tho Rangiaohm Swamp roac'. Fascines have been laid along the entire distance and covered with earth or sand to a depth of 12 inches and a width of 16 feet, fir 94 chains, leaving 43 chains yet to be sanded. Tho Pukekura Swamp Road, has had no work bestowed upon it for some time, and consequently the fascines are being destroyed, leaving the road in a bad state. Bi'sides the above, a considerable amount of work has been j done from time to time by parties of the Armed Constabulary, on works which had been laid out before the appointment of an engineer to this district, a schedule of which, for twelve months ending 31st May, is as follows :—: — Hamilton West —Earthwork, 2,527 cubic yards ; forming, 53 chains ; fascines, 1,320. Hamilton East. — Earthwork, 561 cubic yards ; forming (Jo£ chains. Hamilton and Cambridge Road. — Earthwork, 906 cubic yards ; forming, 313 chains ; 2 culverts made and others laid. Moanatuatua Swamp Road. — 5980 chains of 7-feet ditch deepened from 2 feet to 5 feet ; 4J chains of ditch 7' x 4i' ; 18± chains of ditch, 3' x 2' ; 7± chains of ditch, 2'i2j 1,700 fascines cut and carried 100 j ards ; 22 chainsifweinmg ; 12£ chains fascines laid ; 90 chains turf spread ; 94 chains of sand spread ; 15 chains oulfa'l ditc'i, 2>' x 3' j one culvert, 15' x 7*'Alexandra and Whata Wliata Road — Earthwork, 3,133 oubic yards; forming, 7l chains; fascines 100". Ngaruawahia and Whata Wliata lload — Earthwork, 1,54.3 cubic yards ; forming 36 chains ; Onote Creek Bridge repaired. Ngaruawah'a Ferry. — .Earthwork, 1,369 cubic 3 ards ; fascines, 250. Ngaruawahia and Hamilton Road. — Earthwork, 320 cubic yards ; forming, 39 chains. Taupiri Gorge, Great South Road. — Earthwork, 363 cubic yards Tinnaliere and Cambridge Road. — Levelling, 321 chains. Hamilton and OhaupO JKoad. — Earthwork, 2,518 cubic yards ; forming, 8 chains. Cambridge Bridge — Sunday repairs. The number of Armed Constabulary of ill ranks employed on roads in Waikato during twelvo months varied from 22 to 89, or an avorago throughout of 59. In connection with this district it is necessary to make a few general remarks on tho roads and the manner in which they have been laid out. As a rule, those in u«e are on the highest ground within reach, running ulong the backs of tho spurs, rising and falling continually, aud in many places steeply, and any improvements attempted on such roada may be described as a waste of money. The country being generally flat between the rivers, roads almost level can be obtained with a little care and the crossing of a little swamp at intervals, and time bestowed in \a\ ing out these roads in a proper manner w ill be well spent. The worst roads occur between Hamilton and Te Awamutu, Otaupo to Alexandra, Alexandra to Ngaruawahia, Whata Whata to Hamilton ; and on the best roads now existing there are many places capable of improvements — the Tamulierc Gully on the main road Hamilton to Cambridge, may be quote <l as an instance ; and in reference to tho work which has been done and is being done b\ the Armed Constabulary and by the lload Boards, it may bo stated that the improvements gained will bear no proportion lo the amount of expenditure and work, much of which hns really been thrown away by adhering to the old lines of road on the spurs, which were, no doubt, tho driest and most available ground, but over which it will require an enormous expenditure to make renlly good roniU, the woik undertaken b\ the Itond Boards consisting very frequently of cuttings to reduce the grades of hills from 1 to 6 to 1 in 9 or 1 in 10 when, by judicious alteration of routes, really good level roads might be obtained at less expense There is no doubt that a few month* spent in surveys of better lines would be productive ol real good and much future economy; and these could be carried on during the winter months, in readiness to begin tho necessary work* in tho spring. Nearly all the old bridges on tho mam linos of road arc in a bad state of repair, some of them quite unsafe, and many renewals will ere long be necessary.

A savant, Dr Struthera, has been making a special stu ly of the bones < f whales, and has (Uncovered that the unfortunate leviathans are sulrject to rheumatism. Considering how much each of them mast have, if they have it all, and considering further that the cold water treatment can't do them much good, we tliii k that the rheumatic whales must ex peuuuee a sense of lclief when they find ll cm >olvcs inoilully liaipo'iiioil.