PUBLIC WORKS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XVII, Issue 981, 5 April 1862, Page 5

PUBLIC WORKS.

Atnongst other signs of the times worthy of remark may be mentioned the singular fact that notwithstanding the large amount of public works for which contracts have been let since the passing of the estimates, the labour maket seems to have been but little affected, and considerable competition takes place for the new contracts, the works being in many cases let considerably below the engineer's estimates. This is probably owing partly to the steady influx of labour from other settlements attracted by the railway works, and by the general prosperity of the place, and partly to the determination shewn by the executive at the commencement of the year to let the public improvement's stand still rather than to interfere with the ordinary business of the country by paying a premium for Government work.

In order to carry out the works voted by. the Council, considerable changes have been made in the public works department. The temporary offices in the Market Place at Christchurch have been enlarged, and offices engaged at Kaiapoi, Timaru and Akaroa. The province has been divided into northern, central, southern and peninsular districts, and three district engineers appointed to act under the Provincial Engineer, who, whilst taking the personal direction of the railway works, retains the management of the Public Works departments, and the responsibility of the proper expenditure of the votes of the Council. Mr Wylde takes the northern and central districts, Mr. Williamson has been placed in charge of the works south of the Rangitata, and Mr. Roberts has been re-appointed to the Peninsula. Two additional clerks of the works have been engaged; Mr. Reston for the northern, and Mr. Simpson for the southern districts, Mr. Henwood still retaining his appointment for the district between the Waimakariri and Rangitata rivers. Owing to the protracted sitting of the Council, the best part of the year has been lost, and many of the contemplated works must unavoidably be postponed until the spring; but the great bulk of the work upon the estimates has already been put in hand, and is now either actually in progress, or advertising for contract. Amongst the works actually in progress may be mentioned the Rangiora, Papanui, and Cust Valley drainage outfalls, the Rangiora district road, the completion of the North road up to 15 miles from Christchurch, installing to a considerable extent on the North, Lincoln, Sumner, Harewood, and South roads; the formation of the main road across the Wash-dyke flat into Timaru, and the improvement of the road from Timaru to the Otago frontier. Preparations are also being made for the establishment of a pontoon ferry on the Pukaki and Tekapo branches of the Waitaki. On the Peninsula, the long promised works at Okains Bay are in active progress, and the district Engineer is preparing the contracts for the works in the neighbourhood of Akaroa, in-accordance with the resolutions of n. local Committee appointed to consider the best method of expending the vote for the Wainui district; and lastly, but not least in importance, the Provincial Engineer has been instructed to put in hand the contract for the long talked of swing bridge at the Heathcote ferry, so that it is to be hoped that the execution of this important work will no longer be delayed. Another important change in the Public Works department, is the appointment of an engineer to lay out new road lines, under the direction of the Provincial Engineer, in advance of the land sales.* i Hitherto, with the exception of one or two main lines the laying out of the roads has been left to the surveyors attached to the land office, and an utter want of system has prevailed, and many gross blunders perpetrated, as might be expected from entrusting work of this kind to gentlemen who, however i competent in their own profession, have not only no claim to a knowledge of road making, but are not in any way responsible for their mistakes. The appointment of Mr. Whitcombe to the Road and Drainage Surveys is an important step likely to he attended with very satisfactory results, supplying as it docs a connecting link between the Surveys -end Public Works department, the want of winch has been long felt,.