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Wire Foot-bridge, German Gully Track. —A wire foot-bridge of 120 ft. span has been put across the Waimea Creek on the German Gully Track, just above Stafford ; also, approaches to the bridge have been made and metalled. Kokatahi Boad (Baft Creek Bridge). —This brfdge has replaced an old bridge on the main Kokotahi Eoad. The bridge is 47 ft. long altogether, consisting of two spans of 23 ft. 6 in. each. It is built on trestles. The sills, posts, caps, braces, and corbels are silver-pine, and the rest of the timber is heart of red-pine. The approaches to the bridges were made good on the completion of the bridge. Stafford-Awatuna Boad. —To complete this road a sum of £300 will be required, and I intend to let it out in three sections on the co-operative system. Cook Biver Flat Boad (widening).—The survey of this road was done, and 42 chains of the Gillespie's end widened to an Bft. metalled road; also bridge over lagoon renewed. Okuru Biver Ford Track. —The completion of this track is very necessary, and I trust the amount (£150) required will be forthcoming. Track from Boss Boad towards the Banges. —This track extends from the Eoss Eoad in towards the ranges for a distance of 4 miles 27 chains, and passes through a country having indications of being gold-bearing. Several parties have sunk holes, but so far they have not been payable. The track is a great boon to the prospecting miner, as he can now get in his supply of provisions at little cost. W. G. Murray, Chief Surveyor.
CANTEEBUEY. Oxford Bush Boad Extension. —£300 has been granted to the Oxford Eoad Board for this work, and it has proposed to expend the amount in the construction of four concrete culverts and a bridge of one span of 30 ft. across Garnman's Creek on the Main Bush Eoad, the old bridges having been destroyed by the late fire. The bridge will consist of five 14 in. by 6 in. rolled girders crossed, braced with 6 in. by J- in. plate iron, abutments of stone, and the sleepers, decking, and handrailing of the heart of black-birch, and when completed will be a neat and substantial structure. Protective Works to and redecking the Ashley Bridge.- —The total amount expended on this work during the year is £1,116 15s. 6d., the Government vote being £1,000. The work was carried out for the purpose of keeping the Eiver Ashley (which has an estimated drainage-area of 470 square miles) permanently in its present channel, and comprised the formation of a protective bank 22 chains in length, 10 ft. wide on top, with slopes 1\ to 1, and 12 ft. in height above probable limit of scour, faced with gorse fascines, sheep-netting boulder bolsters and willows. Along the toe of the bank a protective fence has been erected, composed of willow stakes and railway-iron posts 3 ft. and 1 chain apart respectively, and seven plain wires. A protective fence has also been erected on the south side of the embankment, consisting of willow stakes 9 ft. apart and six plain wires with one barb-wire on top. With respect to the bridge, it has all been redecked with 4 in. by 8 ft. blackbirch, and the south approach thereto raised. The work, which was carried out under the supervision of the Ashley Eoad Board, was found, on inspection by District Surveyor McClure, to be completed in a most satisfactory manner. He, nevertheless, at the same time gave the opinion, which I indorse, that a further extension of the embankment westward will in time have to be made to prevent the river breaking through behind the present bank. Waimakariri-Ashley Water-supply. —Two votes of £900 and £200 each were granted the Board for this work during the year. The former was wholly expended in the Brown's Rock subdivision, and comprised the construction of a race 7 miles 41 chains in length, being a main branch from the main race, and joining the latter at a point 7 miles 42 chains from the intake at Brown's Eock. The race is 8 ft. wide at the bottom, with slopes 1 to 1, and an average depth of about 1 ft. 6 in. It is provided with suitable sluice-gates of a substantial character at the junction, and with timber falls to break the velocity of the current in the steeper grades. There are timber gate-crossings provided where necessary for the convenience of landowners, and pipes under the race to carry off surface storm-water. The works also comprise a flume of 20 ft. span over a creek, and another of eight spans of 20 ft. each over the Eiver Byre upon piers of ironbark piles. The works were let in three contracts, amounting in all to £1,055 18s. 9d., of which amount £261 3s. 9d. was expended on the flume over the Eiver Eyre and overflow-channel. Of the £300 vote, £200 has been expended in the Cooper's Creek gubdivision, in the construction of about four miles of distributing channels, chiefly in the Oxford Township, in addition to a large number of small flumes, culverts, and fords at road-crossings. A further vote of £1,000 has been granted the Board for the purpose of providing the North Mairaki district with a water-supply. None of this amount, however, can be expended until the ratepayers have carried a loan poll. Waipara-Cheviot Boad. —Amount voted, £100. I have notified the Waipara Eoad Board that this amount is available, and in reply they have advised me that the plans and specifications for the work will be forwarded for my approval at an early date. Selwyn Bridge. —Amount voted, £500, as a pound-for-pound subsidy. The Selwyn, County Council submitted plans and specifications prepared by Mr. Edward Dobson, M.1.C.E., for the construction of this work, which will be a plain but substantial wooden structure, 703 ft. in length, and will consist of thirty-two 21ft. and two 15Jft. spans; width between hand-rails, 15ft. The piles, capsills, and stringers will be of ironbark, and the remaining timber of black-birch and kauri. Thework is now well advanced, and I expect shortly to be advised of its completion. Hae-Hae-Te-Moana Gorge Boad. —Amount voted, £120. This work was carried out in one contract, under the supervision of the Geraldine Eoad Board, and comprised clearing slips, blasting and removing all impediments, forming parts not already formed, building retaining-walls, and constructing fords and water-tables over a distance of 180 chains. The road is now open for wheel traffic up to the point covered by the contract.
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