Engineer's Office, Napier.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 4, Issue 189, 4 May 1861, Page 7

Engineer's Office, Napier.

4, 1861. Sir,— l have the . honor to inform you: that, since 1117 last report for the previous six months, no new work has been comijiiiced, except a bridge between Olive and Awanga which is now ooinpletecT : and the labor on those then In progress has been closed, except a few men kept on repairs. I am glad to have it in my power to inform you that the made parts of the several Roads have sustained very little injury during the past six months, and have stood the traffic on them well. Onthe T.e Aute Road this has been very considerable — a large portion of what formerly went over the. Middle Cine passing along this, it being no ''. unusual occurrence to meet in the . of the^nay 10, 12, or as^many las 15 bullock drays* going over it, and all heavily laden, although, 2\ years ago^.the passing of^even one was a rare event. T6 meet this heavy wear it will be requisite to make liberal provk|on for ,: maintenance ; by doing., sp^phd .by "\ degriees making good the worst parfai of , the: liatural road, it will be capable of any amount of traffic that is :> l^e^ to arise. Bjut few drays nov^ ; A ••^maJs.e : £|ige; of Middle i Road, yet it is, % ::^^^^^o^^^^.'i^^i^^^^L.^ line

but it is certainly more convenient and must be used by many settlers living, in. the locality, who are in a manner quite cut off from deriving any advantage from the other road. The Poratigahau Hoad, though e*xposed to the very serious floods of the past year, has suffered less than I anticipated. One excellent fridge, built under the Wellington Government by the Road Wardens, has been removed (causing some delay and inconvenience to travellers). Owing, however, to the substantial manner in which it -was constructed, it has not been broken up and the materials will nearly all answer again. The banks of the cuttings have slipped in a good many places, but beyond the labor of removing the stuff from the road no injury has been done. The bridge over th.c Eperaima Biver, has been completed, and is a strong substantial work. .; To . insure its pror. tection against the action of; the weather, it' will be necessary to paint it or give it a coat of. tar. The former will be the most expensive,, but- it looks and isj.the best. As yet thereis not much traffic on this line, but I have no doubt it will not long continue so. Much of the* produce now .forwarded to Napier for shipment will find its way to Blackhead, which, although merely a ro'ad,:stead,":ha3jbften^';:.fqand by the ! settlers, /and :#uejfr%?essels~ as bavev tajken in or lanjded rcaifgo < there; q[uite ; suitable for 1 ?#£/ 'v }* -;t' :^:%- ?';■>

stood tolerably well, and as there are a good many occupying small freeholds in the neighbourhood who would be likely to contract for, its maintenance, I would consider it advisable to invite tenders from such as would feel disposed to become contractors for its repairs. An arrangement of this kind would be an improvement on the system of carrying on those repairs by day labor. That part of the Mohaka Road through Petane has stood well, and it would -be desirable to complete a few chains more of formation, when a good line will be . open from Petane. Valley to Napier. The Bridle. Track, lam informed, (for I have been unable to visit it) has suffered much from the action of /the weather; many slips have taken place, always most annoying on a narrow, track, particularly : when they are.caused by springs from the hills, which is chiefly the case in the present instance. If some arrangement could be entered into with, the natives for keeping the track free of slips and turning the^ater off it, Ishouid recom-mendits-adpptipn.: They are frequently passing to^aoad iro along it, and could remove any obstruction/immediately on its occurrence. Improving^ , the ;road along the i*etane valley is desirable as a imeans of affording* this Small agricultural^district more facilities for getting ' theb? produce to Napier* to whicKit is so : nearj; atll^if /ppssiblei continuing:: the :.i^i|^me^

The small Bridge over the muddycreek at Clive — between that place and Awanga — is just completed, and .will be of much advantage to persons living on the suburban lands of Clive. I regret that the settlers about the Aorangi district have suffered serious inconvenience. fVom the washing away of the approaches to the bridge crossing thePatiki stream ;, but to provide against a similar accident in future the water-, wayjnl "been increased by additional openings, and I expect very shortly to be able to report it completed; The time allowed the contractor has^sgpired, but he informs me he meif . with niore difficulty in procuring the timber than he anticipated. The < road fr^rh the ferry to Clive has stood remarkably well under a heavy traffic, and^though it,. with the lands , adjoining, has been flooded several -Jimes, it has^uffered no injury. In future it sbjoullPpe kept in

repair by contract. > / : ,; ;: I would beg to caU yoiir Honor's >: attention to the necessity o^^ppjfetmg^ the metaUingo^so-miichcCTpe^se^r^V? lines as have beenformecl,^ifc^;^(^mip^, mencing any new "work; said^makmg-^. provisions for the I miaiiqtenance x'6tj ;Mli4& completed; as -"i^ ''.woul^L ;jl>e-a ? ;prfeyJ;:tog|J allow any of them "to; sufifer injury frd^^i neglect after-such large itogjlia^beeri@||; expended on them. Bjr^eepin'g-^m^^T ■works ■ and~-inakrag : ->oi^'^es||^^^K ■the :^tu^]^rof^.;iß:lii^:j^ ;^^^^^^^g ■ time;;;t6,-:;§ny; undCT;^tig;i^er|a|^^^^^^g the expenditure wiUna^ecoiisi|^^^g|||

<vTJbte 'circumstances of this district have changed since these undertakings were commenced, that no such difficulties as had then to be overcome, can again occur ; and, by adhering firmly > to contracts in all; future works, the Prbyiiice will soon experience the great advantage of -the system. In under-taking-work in unsettled localities » a: depart?u.refi:om this may be unavoidable, but as a rule the .employment, of day labor by a government or public body

cannot fee recommended." I have the honor to'be* Sir, I Your very obedient servant, Thomas Gill, Provincial Engineer. S