Engineer's Report.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 818, 25 June 1879, Page 2

Engineer's Report.

Sib, — I have the honor to forward for your information aud guidance the following report on works m progress within the Borough. . In accordance with permission granted, eXtra day laborers have been employed on the following works :-*-Cleaning nutlet drain from Stanley-road to Waikauae drain ; repairing culvert, Ohiiders and Grey-streets, from Ohilders to Gladstone-road, along Derby-street, and on Gladstone-road from Derby to Oobden-street ; cutting new drains oh Stanley-road, Herbert-street, Disraeli and Carnarvon-streets, Palmerston* roud, and the forty foot road, from Roebuck to Herbert-road ; also repairing culverts on the- line of Roebuckroad, oil the intersections of Palmerston and Aberdeen-roads, and culverts at the crossings of Herbert-road and Derbystreet with the Gladatone-rnad. Most of the above works were rendered imperatively necessary, owing to the great accumulation of water on the various streets, after the late heavy rains, and though m some cases are necessarily of a temporary nature, will be made available when the permanent formations and water tables are constructed. . In addition to the expenses incurred, I have the honor to request that a horse and dray be engaged for the space of two days, for the purpose of carting soil for backing up the culverts on Palmerston and Aberdeen-roads, as the distance is too far for barrow work, and also that the present day laborers be retained for the space of six more tUys, aiid be employed on that portion of the Palmerston-road from Grey to Lowestreets, cleaning out the drains and temporarily forming the roadway. The works oii the Gladstone-road contract are progressing, and if the weather holds fine ought to be completed within the .next week. I regret to have report that I shall be unable to construct the open pitched crossing as proposed, at Derby-street, owing to tliu metal supposed to be available for the works having become silted up during the late fresh, and from enquiries made, as much as 2s 6d per cubic yard is asked for the excavatiori alone, which would entail an expense to the Council, before the work was completed, of about twenty pounds sterling, I would therefore ask permission to lay a box drain m lieu of the open crossing, the cost of which I estimate at fourteen pounds sterling. In reference to the arrangement entered into with the contractor for spreading gravel on the Gladstone-road, I have to report that some delay is likely to occur m the delivery of the same, as owing to tho late freshes, a large amount of silt has accumulated on the Island, and some time, must elapse to enable the contractor to reach the original deposit. I have at present about' 50 cubic yards available, which I purpose spreading to a width of twenty feet, so as to sate the formation as much as possible. Waikanae Drain.— l have taken the levels and pegged out the course of the drain, • and would beg to recommend that the' drain be cut from Grey -street to the Nesbitt-road, at an average depth of two feet six inches, with a width on bottom of not less than eighteen inches, . and ihat tenders be called for the completion 'of the same, the expenses of which to be allocated amongst the various proprietors, m accordance with the frontages. The expense of constructing box

drains, and making good the approaches to same, of Custom House, Lowe, Peel, nnd Bright-streets, I, estimate at £50, with an additional £10 for fuscining one chain on Grey-street. Should these Works be carried out, ..direct communication with the Waikanae sections would be afforded. I would beg to recommend wages payments as follows : — Thoriias Pratt, 12J days at Bs, £5 2s ; John Kenny, 111 days nt Bs, £4 10s ; Arthur Martin, 111 days at 83, £4 10a; William CLirk, loj days at Bs, £4 2s. Total, £18 4s. I have the honor to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, JOHtrDRtMMOND, Town Surveyor. Upon the Engineers re£o*t being read, it was rosolved that he inspect that portion of the Road by Mr, Hurray's mill, and report if any damage is being done # to the Borough drains or roads by their servauta ot? machinery. And that tenders be called for cutting a drain from the Waikanae from Nesbitt Road to Gray-street.