73
α-i
Akaaka Swamp. —About a mile and a half of road have been formed through the swamp, and about a mile of drain. The work, however, cannot be gone on with at present owing to the heavy rains. Satisfactory arrangements have been made with the owners of the section through which the main outlet goes, and the work of deepening the drain will be gone on with as soon as possible. The expenditure during the year includes the cost of grassing some of the sections through which a fire had run, and which expenditure is being recouped by "loading" the lands benefited thereby. Maioro Swamp. —There are still some 400 acres of Crown land in this swamp. Tenders have been accepted for the construction of a mile and a quarter of drain, and the works are now in progress. Whaingaroa-Nga,ruawahia Road. —This bridle-track has now been formed into a cart-road, 12ft. wide, for about six miles from Ngaruawahia, and works are now in progress which will carry the formation to within about a mile and a half of the junction with the Huntly branch. The work done during the year consists of a mile and a quarter of road 12ft. wide. Akatea and Fireivood Greek Village Settlements. —The money authorised for expenditure in these settlements has been expended in widening to 12ft. a portion of the Whaingaroa-Ngaruawahia Eoad which passes through the settlements. The works were chiefly in the portion of the road through the gorge, and were consequently nearly all heavy rock-cuttings. About three-quarters of a mile were constructed. Mangapiko Road. —This is a road from Whaingaroa to Churchill. The small vote granted this year is being expended in the construction of one of the bridges (the largest) over the Kahuhuru Biver, with its approaches. A further sum ought to be expended in constructing this road, as it is the main road through the Baglan District, and the only outlet for a considerable number of settlers. Alexandra-Kamhia Road. —This road goes chiefly through Native land, but is the only outlet for the Kawhia settlers. A considerable number of slips have occurred, and one large culvert has been swept away and several of the bridges much damaged by the last heavy floods. Men have been employed by day-labour at a cost of £52 in opening the road for horse-traffic, but a considerable sum will be required to make the road fit for wheel-traffic throughout. Kawhia-Aotea-Raglan Road. —This road is entirely blocked from the Aotea Harbour towards Baglan. The road passes through some sections which have lately been cleared, and now that the land is denuded of bush it is everywhere slipping, and fully half a mile of the road has slipped away,while more is sure to go after the next rain. To again open this road means at least a mile of new formation in steep side-cuttings. All of these roads have been under the direct charge of Mr. A. B. Wright. Gerhard Mueller, Chief Surveyor.
NOBTH ISLAND INTEEIOE EOADS. The Oxford-Rotorua, Tauranga-Napier, Maketu-Rotorua, Waitomo Caves, Rotorua-Waiotapu, Huka Falls-Puketarata, and Taupe -Tokaanu Roads have been maintained as dray-roads, and are in good order. The Rotorua-Galatea Boad has been maintained as a dray-road, and 1 mile 5 chains of new formation, mostly in side-cutting, made, so that now drays can easily reach the Kaingaroa Plain. The Tunnel-Karioi Boad has for the greater part been maintained as a bridle-track only, as it is not accessible for drays from either end, and there is no local wheel-traffic. Sixty chains of bridle-track have been made on the part of the road in the Ohinemoa Valley. The two bridges which were floated from their foundations last winter are in course of re-erection on more secure foundations. The Rotorua-Te Wairoa Road has been only maintained as a bridle-track, as funds were not provided to re-establish it as a dray-road. It is in good order. Turangarerc-Tokaanu, Road. —A contract for 3 miles 45 chains of dray-road, including the Waihohonu Bridge, was completed last winter, and the road has been maintained as a dray-road throughout the year. Rotoaira-Waimarino Road.—The first twenty miles of this, from the Botoaira end, is maintained as a dray-road, and the remainder as a horse-track only. The bridge over the Wanganui Biver has been completed, and the road and track are in fair order. Ongaruhc-Stratford Road. —Mr. Adams has done twenty-seven miles of engineering survey. Six contracts of one mile each in length of dray-road, including everything but metalling, have been let, and at the end of March were well advanced towards completion. The plans and drawings for another six miles are completed, and are being copied prior to calling for tenders for construction. Nine miles of pack-track in bush, from Mangaroa to Heao, have been made and thirty-eight miles repaired and maintained. I believe the Crown has recently purchased some land along this road, but do not know the extent of it. I consider this is one of the most important settlement roads in the colony, and that the works of construction should be pushed on with diligence towards early completion. C. W. Hursthouse, Boad Surveyor.
REPORT BY MR. G. T. MURRAY. Wanganui-Murimotu Road (Field's Track).' —The work done has been chiefly maintenance, such as cutting scrub, removing trees and slips, repairs to culverts, and watertables, &c. The new work completed comprises one 20ft. bridge, new decking Wharepu Bridge, twenty new culverts, &c. The slips during the past winter were unusually large and numerous, necessitating at times the 7—C. 1.
Use your Papers Past website account to correct newspaper text.
By creating and using this account you agree to our terms of use.
Your session has expired.