COUNCIL PAPER.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IX, Issue 120, 21 May 1874, Page 2

COUNCIL PAPER.

PROVINCIAL ENGINEER'S REPORT.

The following is the report of the Provincial Engineer for the past year upon public works in the eastern portion of the province : — Government Buildings. The Bum of £397 14s 5d has been expended for general interior and exterior repairs and painting the whole exterior in two coats. The Buildings have been carefully examined throughout, and found in good repair with the exception of the white pine flooring, which has been much eaten away by tho worms. The floors of the Provincial Hall and the Reporters' Gallery are in the worn state, and should be relaid duriDg the present year. In reflooring, red pine (Maitai) should be used. It is not necessary to provide for the reflooring of the other offices at present, as slight repairs from time to time will keep them in habitable order.

Hospital Buildings.

The sum of £170 3d 4d has been expended in general repairs and painting, together with improvement of grounds. The tender of Mr Moore has been accepted for tbe erection of a dead house for the sum of £93. This will supply a want which has been long felt.

Powder Magazine.

A powder magazine has been erected on the Boulder Bank for the sum of £195. It is a substantial brick structure standing on stone foundation with a slated roof.

Nelson Gaol.

Additions consisting of three cells and some extra fencing have been made by the prison labor. The cost of material was £61 2s 6d.

Lunatic Astlum.

A contract has been entered into with Mr John Scott for the erection of

a new Lunatic Asylum for the sum of £4897 10s on a design prepared hy Mr Beatson. The contractor i 8 miking fair progress with the work. The contract for excavating the site amounted to £123 153. The purchase of (he land for the site was £450.

Wharves.

The sum of £253 2s 9d has been expended in driving fresh piles to replace those eaten through by the worms, and in layiDg new joists. This has kept the structure open for use up to the present time, but the whole superstructure is getting so rotten that it is impossible to repair any more in a satisfactory manner without rebuilding. I cannot advise the Government lo expend any more money in repairs. If funds cannot be obtained to build a new wharf, I would recommend that the site be leased for a terra of years to any one willing to erect and maintain a wharf of a desigu to be approved of by the Government. If it were decided to build a new wharf, the work might be carried on a little at a time, using the soundest timbers found in the old portions for patching up the outer portions, so as to keep it open for use. By this means the expenditure could be spread over a considerable period. Bridges, Maintanance, &g. During the year £487 2s lid have been expended in maintenance. This sum includes a part of last year's expenditure on the Wairoa bridge which was then temporarily repaired. This bridge will not be safe for traffic for many months longer, but I cannot recommend the Government to attempt any more repairs as I do not consider the material worth it and would advise tbat the bridge be closed for traffic as soon ss it becomes dangerous if funds do not permit tbe erection of a new one.

Collingwood-street Bridge,

This will require considerable repairs. The cost however will not bo great, as the timber is all found. The work required is to make good the under settlement, caused by excessive shrinking of the timber. Bridge- street Footbridge. This is now exceedingly rotten, and will require either to be renewed or abandoned. Footbridge, Newton River. The amount voted for this work being quite inadequate ior the purpose, a wire rope and cradle were fixed 'at a cost of £22. This answers for the present, as the dray-road will probably be extended to the Newton at an early date. I would recommend the erection of a cart-bridge on a well selected Bite, the cost of which would not much exceed that of a horse-bridge.

Glen Allen Bridge.

A site for tbis bridge haa been selected, and plans and specifications forwarded to tbe Amuri Road Board, who will undertake the erection, the money being provided by the Government.

Main South Road.

A now dray-road from ihe top of Kerr's Hill to the Big Bush has absorbed the greater portion of this sum, and the remainder bas been spent on general repairs throughout the whole line from Rae's Valley to the junction of the Alma and Acheron. I recommend gravelling the new cutting on Kerr's Hill as soon as possible, or it will become impassable wheu the wet weather sets in. I also recommend (he improvement of some of the worst pinches in the Big Bush. Both tbese works can be executed within the sum recommended to be voted for this road.

District Roads.

District roads have been opened id. various parts of the province, the settlers adjoining contributing to the cost either in money or labor. This sum of £119 expended also includes the opening of a road from Riwaka to Sandy Bay.

Pelorus and Wang amoa Road.

The sum of £165 4s 8d has been expended in general repairs, and renewing bridges, with the exception of removing fallen timber, but little expenditure is ascertained on tbe Pelorus road during the ensuing year. The sum above stated includes £77 expended under the supervision of the Eoad Board. Lesser Public Works. In small works for which no special vote had been passed, £295 7s 9d have been expended.

Protection to River Banks.

There have been expended in small amounts on the Wai-iti, Waimea, Wairoa, and Motueka river banks the sum of £92 4s 6d.

Removal of Channel Rock.

This rock has been removed to a depth of 3 feet 3 inches below its original level. A depth of 10 feet 6 inches is now obtained on it at low water springs. The amount of rock removed was 43 cubic yards. The work was successfully carried out by Mr C. Bray for £645.

Amuri to Ahaura Saddle.

A cattle track has been set out and specifications forwarded to the Amuri Road Board, under whose supervision the work will be carried out. The money for this work together with the O-len Allan bridge will have to be revoted at the ensuing session.

Hope to Lyell.

Eight miles of tbis road have now been completed, the whole having been executed in four contracts. A fifth contract is now in hand but will be finished during tbe present month,

which will complete a through dray road from the Owen to the Government clearing. The total cost of the work when finished will be about £5,070, averaging about £500 per mile. Total expenditure during the year, £3481 5s 7d. Specifications have been prepared and tenders invited for widening and improving the existing road between the Hope aud the Owen for dray traffic to join the dray road in course of construction by the Motueka Valley Road Board from tbe Motupiko to the mouth of the Hope. When these two works are completed, a thorough dray road will exist from Nelson to the Government clearing below the Mangles.