MASTERTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3163, 14 April 1909, Page 3

MASTERTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

ENGINEER'S REPORT. At the meeting of the Council yesterday the Engineer's report was read as follow : Opaki Riding. The painting of the Mild Mild bridge is reported finished. The autumn clearing of the side drains to the Pareau road, has been let and the work is in progress. Lansdowne road—As instructed I am having the weak portions of the metalled roadway and footpaths, in the vicinity of Lansdowne repaired. Te Whiti Riding. Pa Karaka'road—The metalling of che southern end of this road (in terms of Mr Donald's offer) is being carried out. and 13 near completion. Masterton-Waimata road —Te Ore Ore section—The construction of a 42 feet and a 30 feet, 4 feet x 4 feet, culverts to relieve the flood waterß on Messrs Percy Bros', frontage have been completed and some repairs to the existing old culverts have been effected. Weraiti-Braneepeth road—As provided in the estimates, I have had a lien-to cottage built (8 feet x 12 feet on skids) for. the use of roadmen on this section of the road. I purpose placing it near the Taueru bridge for the convenience of water. Rangitumau Hiding. t Te Ore Ore-Bideford road—The timber for reconstructing the platform bridge at mile peg 15 has been delivered on the site, and I intend proceeding with building this month unless hesvy rain makes it unfavourable for putting down the piers. Kaka-Amu Valley road—Metal repairs have been effected to the weaker portions of this road. In terms of Mr Kemble's offer nine chains of metalling have been laid on the road to his property. Wangaehu road -Contract No, 145, 92 chains of metalling—The contractor has yet some stone breaking to do before the March work can be taken off his hands. Wangaehu road, 200 cubic yards cf metal repairs on the nurthen section of this road, and mentioned in my last report, have been completed, this practically exhausting any metal covenient to the roadway. Any further repairs necessary between the Wangaehu bridge and the County boundary would entail an average haul of eleven miles from the Te Ore Ore pit. Wainuioru Riding. Masterton-Waimata road, contract No. 188. delivering 1,340 cubic yards of metal—The length between Kahumingi and Mangapakeha has been finished, and the contractors are now engaged on the Taueru end of the section. Brancapeth road, contract No. 189, 910 cubic yards of metal for repairs —Two thirds of the work irom the south end has been completed and the contractors are engaged in finishing the northern end. Blairlogie-East Coast road—ln terms, mentioned in my last report, the contractor, J. Curry, has carted 217 cubic yards of metal and covered the unmetalled lengths at the Waihora Flats. Homewoud-Kaiwhata road—Contract No. 191, 51 chains of formation—The above contract has been let to Messrs Ciark and Harland, win are now proceeding with the work. I purpose expending the remainder of the grant in making an additional six chains of formation and putting in some culverts. Weraiti-Bancepeth road (L andG) —Contract No. 192, 126 chains of metalling, was completed last month. The contractor is engaged in improving ?n additional length, which was badly cut up in performing his contract. Contract No. 181, U8 chains of my visit of inspection on 9th inst. the csntracter had carted 1 and laid 53 chains of metal across the

Parae Flat. This length covers the weaker portion of the flat. I have taken levels for two miles thirty-seven chains of the Riversdale road and plans are on the way for the purpose of an estimate. I have also made an engineering'survey of,a mile of road through the Fernyhurst Estate, giving access to Ngatahuna, and the plan for same is about complete. I have had seven of the recently built truss bridges screened up and adjusted, four in the Wainuioru Riding, and three in the Taueru Riding. Alfredton Riding. Alfredton-Weber road—Contract No. 186, to miles of metalling—The contractor was making good progress uritil the intermittent wet weather : set in, since which little has been I jdone; about three-fourths of the 'I metal has been laid. Contract No. 195, delivering 965 cubic yards of metal —The above contract is drawing towards a finish. Edwards Hill to Brooklands' Boundary—The strengthening of the weaker portions of the road has been done by hired teams. Castle Hill road—Contract No. 171, 19 chains of formation, etc. — The work has been roughly put through, and it will be necessary for the contractor to re-define the grades and outline of his work. Contract No. 90, building a 71 feet span bridge—The contractor has not lost much time in getting the

material for this structure together, but I fear, unless unusually fine weather prevails, that he will be unable to get it over ihe unmetalled length this season. Mount Baker road (L and tract No. 81, 103 chains of metalling—The contractors are now dressing up the metal, before having the work taken off their hands. Hinemoa road bridge—Contract No. 179 —When I visited this contract last month there was some adjustment of the bolts and small detail work required which the contractor undertook to do forthwith. The earthwork approaches have been finished, andjthe bridge was open for traffic during last month. Waihoki road —Contract No 1. 183, 6 chains of metalling with burnt papa—Eighteen chains was reported spread at the end of the month. The I spreader anticipates a shortage of J burnt papa. Springvale road—A portion of the loan is being expended in improving the narrowest part of the formation, making a stone ford and metalling portions of the road.