WAKATO DISTRICT—GREAT SOUTH ROAD. (W. H. Clarke in charge.)

Waikato Times, Volume VII, Issue 353, 18 August 1874, Page 2

WAKATO DISTRICT— GREAT SOUTH ROAD. (W. H. Clarke in charge.)

Great South Road. — Contracts No. 1 and 3 have been completed, and turn-outs made in No. 2 contract. Contract No. 1 was for forming and metalling, 1 nuJo 2 chains of roact, oncl replacing four culverts with stone ; also making small cutting to improve gracic — of this 1 mile and 2 chums forming and metalling, and 3 culverts, were done during this year. Contract No 2 — Bank across the flat from Whnngamnrino to Meremere, 800 cubic j ards ot earthwork in turn-outs, completed. Contract No. X was to provide and cart 160 CO jards of broken metal, greatc-t lead 100 olinini. Tina haa been compUted; 30 chains of road metalled, ai.d the remainder of the metal carted to coimnienfc places for speading whrn required. Two sideling i\.ada have been cut tlnough Tau-

pin Gorge to avoid lull* in the old roiid, and also to mafeo room for the i&'hvay, andjthe whole road formed throughout. An average number of four men baa been employed maintaining the road, over a length of about thirty-eight miles. About 16 chains of fascming and forming have been completed at Hopuhopu, and about 10 chains without fascining. Other works have been executed, as follows viz , — Karapera bridge, one abutment was carried away by a flood, and a 20-feet spun was added, and sheet piling driven to protect the new abutment. Alexandra bridge. — A new floor has been laid on, the abutments renewed, and a pier, which had given way, backed. Tamahero bridge The old bridge wa« renewed, * aerviceroad and bridge made, two creeks diverted which threatened the road, and a new bridgo consisting of six spans of 20 feet each has been built. The punt at Newcastle has been repaired, and new pulleys, gates, supports for landing stages, and crabs for adjusting them, taken from Rangiriri bridge, were supplied and fixed. The works required, and some of which now in hand, are the Great South road repairs, wharf at Newcastle, bridges over Mangapiko, and earthwork across Moana-tuatua Swamp. Surveys. — A survey is afc present being made of a road from Raglan to Aotea, on the West Cottst, and of another from the Waipa road to Alexandra. A frontier road hau been laid out, and is in process of construction by military labour ; and a set of levels was taken across the Paikuku Swamp for the purpose of preparing an estimate of the cost of a road across it. Tlio roads in this district not otherwise described, are generally in the same state as reported on last year — the Road Boards not having funds to make permanent improvements on them.