THE ROADS.

Southland Times, Issue 935, 17 April 1868, Page 2

THE ROADS.

"We have before us a most interesting document which has been compiled in the Eoad and Works Department. It gives an abstract of the works completed and in course of completion in the Eastern and Northern districts, dividing and classifying the nature and description of the improvements, so that the reader can see at a glance how rapidly the Government have pushed forward road-making, and availed themselves of the funds placed at their disposal by the Provincial Council at its last sitting. Prom the returns we find that in the Eastern district two miles of road has been completed, and one mile nearly completed between the third and sixth mile posts; and that between the eighth and eleventh mile post two miles have been completed, and two miles and a-half partially completed. In the same district fourteen culverts have been repaired north and. south of the Falls Ferry, and ten chains of road made as an approach to the New Bridge over the river Mataura. On the One Tree Point road, culvert crossings amounting to fiftyfive chains have been partially completed ; on the Waihopai mill road, embankments and repairs to culverts embraces forty chains ; on the Eoslyn Bush road, thirty chains of embankments, and on the road by Menzies' Ferry three new culverts and fifteen chains of embankment are in course of construction ; whilst on the Great North Eoad, through the Waikivi Bush, a mile and a-half has been completed, twenty-six chains partially; north of the Waikivi, twenty-five chains completed, twenty chains partially ; north of the Junction Hotel, 34 chains completed, 20 chains partially ; south of M'Bae's Marsh, 30 chains completed, 20 chains partially ; north of "Wallace town, 5 chains completed, 6 chains partially ; also, the bridge over the ' Makerewa has been re -planked. On the Eivertonroad,west

of the Oreti Eailway, three-quarters of ft, mile has been completed, one quarter parti-. ally. In the north-western districts the, following roads have been made:— Ore* the Waianiwa Marsh, half a mile com* pleted, and half a mile partially; a.% Wright's Bush, 10 chains of embankment completed ; east and west of the Waimatuku, 24 chains; west of the Waimatuku, 40 chains ; near Flint* Bush, 30 chains ; between the Harrier and Eiverton, 64 chains have been partially completed. On the road from Eiverton to the Otautau: — Near the Eiverton Cemetery, 15 chains ; north of G-ummie's Bush, 20 chains; in the vicinity of Mount Pleasant, 40 chains completed ; whilst to the north and south of the Otautau, 18 chains are partially Completed. A new; bridge is in course of construction over the Otautau, and the bridge over the Aparima will be newly iplanked. On the West Plains Eoad, miscellaneous works, extending over two miles, have been undertaken ; and similar works are in course of being carried out on the East Waikivi Plain Eoad.over a distance of a mile and a half, thus giving a total of nearly 20 miles of good road throughout the Province, which has been made within the last four months. We also learn thatthe greater part of the above works will most probably be completed in three or four weeks hence. We cannot conclude without mentioning in the most favorable termsthe activity and vigor which has been displayed by the Eoad Engineer, Mr Dawson". The works above enumerated have been astonishingly quickly performed. And when we mention that all the plans and specifications had to ;be drawn by Mr Dawsos", who had also the duty of supervising the contracts, when let, which necessarily required ias Ipresence in nearly every part of the Province, it will be seen that his duties are both important and onerous. Mr Dawsoit has for a considerable time successfully undertaken unaided the duties which were formerly performed by a numerous 'staff of officials, thus saving to the Province a very large annual expenditure.