PIAKO COUNTY COUNCIL.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 2852, 23 October 1890, Page 3

PIAKO COUNTY COUNCIL.

Kn'GlN'uku'h Rki'Oht.—Mr T. O. Handes, the engineer for tiio Western division of the County, reported as followH ; I have inspected the repairs on the Oxford-Cam-bridge road and found them well done ; also the repairs to the Oxford-Matamata road near Oxford. Mr Rose's bridge approaches are in good order. I have had the bridges over the Mangawhero creek made safe from fire, and also some culverts. The man who is cutting the stuff away will sow some clover and grass round the approaches which will keep thera safe. A large number of trees were blown down on the Cam-bridge-Tauranga road, but the contractor removed them promptly, and the road at date (October Oth) is open and in good order. An old culvert taken up from the Cambridge-Oxford road, near T9 Rau, I sold to Mr Hume for 7s Gd, as I thought it better to sell it than to allow it to be used, probably by tramps, for firewood. It was of no use whatever to the County. I have to ask that the Council will enderse my action in the matter. Contractor Walker has mado fair progress with the Oxford-Matnmata Road, which will be finished in a month, or less, provided he has not to build bridges in lieu of a culvert. Now that Mr Hunt, manager at Matamata, has fenced off a long stretch of road on the Hinnera flat, the old traffic road has been " wiped out." The Matamata Road Board are clearing the fenced line of road, and ploughing 10ft. in the centre, levelling all lumps, etc. This is being done at the cost of 2s (id per chain. I would recommend the Council to have the work continued on their road for some distance, as a present travellers will be rather in a fog as to where the roads really are, and in one instance at least the travelling public will, for the present, have to force a road for a short distance, through ti-tree and fern. The cost of what is necessary to be done would be about £1710s. I find the hand rail of the old bridge over the Mangawhero creek, near the entrance to the Auckland Agricultural Company's property, has been destroyed oy a waggon having been driven straight on to the end of the hand rail. All the uprights are smashed completely and the centre rail broken. It will require about 80 feet of timber to replace the rail, which ought to be done at once, as there being a rather sharp descent not far from the bridge it would not be safe to leave the structure without hand rails. It will cost about All. I would also like to get authority to spend about tli on the approaches to this bridge which have got into a terrible state of disrepair. The bridge is on the main road from Oxford to Matamata, and has had nothing done to it for years. It will bo much used in the immediate future owing to fencing which is now going on.— T. U. Sandks, Engineer.—Mr Saudes was ordered to get the portion of the Cambridge Taurauga road, near Mangawhero, formed, as recommended in his report. It was thought the price being paid by the Mata inata Board was reasonable, and that very probably the contractor would undertake the work at a similar price. The amount will not come to £20, therefore it is not necessary to call for tenders. —The engineer's action in selling an old culvert for 7s (id was confirmed. He was authorised to spend a sain not exceeding !50s upon the Mangawhero No. 2 bridge.—The report was then adopted.