PIAKO COUNTY COUNCIL.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 2987, 5 September 1891, Page 2

PIAKO COUNTY COUNCIL.

Hsgin'eek'sßbpout.— Tlio following is the Enginoer's report fi>r tlip western division of the county, uml tlio business counected therewith.—Mr Sandes reported : I have inspected tho road from Cambridge through Taotaoroa'towards Mataiuatu, as instructed at last meeting of the Council, and I beg leave to state that lam of opinion that Brace's hill should be gravelled, as it cannot be improved as regards grades, except at an enormous expense. Beyond that eastward, in order to put the road in good working condition, sundry cuttings and fillings will be required, and these could be done from time to time as funds become available for the work. I think the be>t thing to be done would be to get the levels of the hills taken from the foot of Bruce's hill to the flat at Himiera. The plin of the road would then bo available for all time and improvements could be carried out systematically from year to year, and the permanentgrado properly reduced,gravelling could be carried on, but at present, with the exception of Bruce's hill, I would not reconunen j any expenditure on gravel, as the chances are that after putting the gravel on the bad hills, it would thrown to waste at some future time whau the hills are graded. The cost of taking levels and miking plans for the five or six miles required would not exceed £25, and permanent bench marks put in at suitable places would, as 1 have said, render tho plans available for all time. With regard to the gravel pits at Gorton, I have inspected them and I find they want immediate attention. The use of these pits was originally granted to the Taot.ioroa Road Board by the owner of Gorton, but no title to the laud was obtained, consequently they still really belong to the estate, and the Board or the County as the case may bo arc getting gravel on sufferance. Tho fact of the pits being opened has certainly caused danger, as the water has been let into and through them, causing large rifts in the sides of the gully, and if the evil is not remedied soon, it is quite possible thut during soino heavy fall of rain the main road itself may be washed away. With regard to Wattam's maintenance contracts on the main roads, I have to report that ho is carrying out his work very well. Ward has not yet completed his contract for putting the Oxford-Matamata road in order, but he has done the innjor portion of the work and tho road is fairly good. The contractor for keeping open thoCiimbridge-Taurunga road through the bush 1,11 the ranges Ivis doii« his work well. Recent gales brought down a lot of trees, but they havo all been lemovod. I have not been able to ge.t Shine's work finished yet, owing to scarcity of labour, but I havo now arranged for the compl.tion of the job. I have had to lift and repluco two sats of pipes, and the stumping will take even more work than lat first thought. I havo to report tint the bridge over the Mangawliern crpek on the Oxford-Matamata road, near thfi Mangawherc. station, is not safe for heavy traflic 1 havo called for tenders, as per instructions, for improvement!) to the road from Isaacs' and Woodside to Tapapa. and they are returnable to-day. Mr John Hiker obtained this contract at £50 llh. The Chairman said Mr S mdfis' suggestion about gravelling Bruce's Hill at Taotnoroa had already been adopted, a contract having been lot for the work.—Mr Sondes said nothing had yot been done to the hill. -The Chairman said the road was badly laid out, it had been taken over hills where it could more conveniently havo been taken along tho face, and there was no doubt that it would have to be altered at some future time, but at present the funds would not allow nf its boinn done. The matter was then deferred sine die.—Mr Sandes said the shoot that was formerly erected in the Gurton gravel pit now lay at the bottom of the ftullv, it having been undermined and washed away by the water that caiiio off the mail.—lt was resolved to at once re-erect tho shoot, and it was resolved to make application to the proprietor of the Gorton estate to convey apout Inlf an acre of land, tipon which tho gravel pits are situated, to the Council, a supply of good gravel would then be available for use upon tho main road. Thamks-Waikato Road.—lt was resolved to expend £10 upon this road between thn confiscation boundary and Waitoa.—The road for about a mile on tho Tawwhare side of Morrinsville is in a wretched state and needs gravelling badly.