MASTERTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10017, 13 April 1910, Page 3

MASTERTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

ENGINEER'S REPOKT. The following is the Engineer's re- " port as read at the County Council meeting yesterday, on the public works m the County : Opalci Riding. Upper Opakl Road Contract No. 214, building a 24 f t span bridge. The above work was completed about the 19th ultimo, and will be finally inspected before being - taken over. The Black Creek bridge piers, which are in a somewhat dilapidated condition, have been further wrecked by traction engine traffic. I have had the piers strengthened to allow of moderate loads being carried. A section oi this road, North of the cheese factory, i 3 badly rutted, and requires repairs to the extent of 100 cubic yards of metal. Ihe metal layer is very narrow and is subjected to a . heavy firewood traffic. Black Creek Road Extension, Thirds Account, 240 cubic yards of earthwork, etc., to improve the worst features of the unformed length of this road. The contractors, Messrs Miller arid Boyle, are starting work to-day, and assure me that they will put it through with all expediency. Te Whiti Riding. Masterton-Gladstone Road: Contract No. 119, delivering 470 cubic yards of metal for repairs, is well on the way to, completion. , . Manaia, Gladstone and South Roads: Contract No. 218, delivering 140 cubic yards of metal for repairs. The above quantity of metal will materially improve the surface, which ia becoming worn ana irregular. I am having the protninent stones in the metal layer spawied. Masterton-Waimnta Road: Diver's \ Corner to Taueru section. Contract No. 216, delivering 1,230 cubic yards of metal for repairs. The contractor has about 200 cubic yards carted and deposited midway, for the purpose of making convenient trips to the far end, at which he is. now engaged. Rangitumau Riding.

Bluff to Rangitumau pftoad: ■ Contract No. 217, delivering 350 cubic yards of metal for repairs. The contractor has been a week on the ground, and is .making satisfactory progress. The Ruamahanga protective works, for which the Council supplied the wire netting - last year to Messrs McLachlan and Blatehford, have been at last started. Kaka-amu Valley Road: Contract No. 220 ..delivering 892 cubic yards of metal. The contractor, ft ho has been engaged carting metal for the Council, is now getting on to the ground with his teams, and will proceed with his contract. . Te Ore Ore - Bideford Road: The rebuilding of two culverts—4tt x sft x 30ft and 3ft x Bft x 54ft, authorised by the Council, have been executed. The blinding of the Wangaehu Road metal has been completed, and the repairs to the weaker portions of the road will be finished this week. Wainuioru Riding. Weraiti-Fernyhurst Road: Contract No. 212, painting six bridges. The contractor has done the priming coat and stopping to five small bridges, and a second coat has been applied to the Taueru Bridge.

Contract No. all, 80.17 chains of metalling. The contractor has completed 28 chains. It has been deemed advisable to add a further length of 18 chains for which the contractor requires 9d per yard extra; this, 1 think, is reasonable in view of the heavy stripping encountered to. complete the Mdditional length. Contract No. 207, 154 chains of metalling, etc. Fair progress has been made with the work during the past month, thirteen drays being employed, thus completing over one mile of the contract.

Contract No. 223, luilding a roadman's cottage. The contractors are selecting the material and will endeavour to get it on to the ground before the wet season sets in.

Masterton- Waimata Road: Contract No. 208, getting and carting 1,475 cubic yarcs of metal. The above work ia dragging along very slowly, same difficulty being met with in opening up new quarries. There are yet about two miles to complete on

the Kahumingi to Taueru section. [ Blairbgie-East Coast. Road: Con-; tract No. 206, 250 cubic yards of metal for repair;-'. This contract is as being performed steadly, the con- j tiactor having yet 400 cubic yarch to deliver. Alfredton Riding. Alfreaton-Weber Road: Tawataia to Boustetid'a bridge. Contract No. 209, 720 cubic yards of metal repairs, has been satisfactorily finished. Waitawhiti to Tiraumea section: Contract No. 210, with 202 chains extra has been completed with the exception of a final raking daring maintenance month; ths character of metal obfcaicc:'i ha:s very satisfactory. Boustead's Bridge to Saunders' Bridge section, Contract No. 225, Thie work is about finished. As many portions of this section were on ths point of being cut through, 1 deemed it sufficiently urgent; to Exceed the amount on the estimates for it to' keep this length intact, The rebuilding of th*j culverts, mentioned in my lasi report, have been finished in the above and Fukc'coi Road;?, ako two smaller culverts on the Saunders Koad. „ . Te Hoe Bridge : I have taken the •; necessary levela for the ie;onslructson of above and wnl have plans prepared by the I'tsllowit g meeting. Castle Hill Road: Contract No. 2.'4,- delivering 400 cubic .yards .. of 'metal. This work will bs started on the completion of the Tiraumea Koad repairs. Waiboki Road: Contract No, 183: In view of the interest held by Dalgety and Co,. Ltd., with the former ! contractor, I have agreed witn -.i crn j to carry out the work in terras of the , original contract- the work was iair-1 {y on the way on my visit of in p3i:- J ticn on Ist April, and with good weather may 'be, completed this season, as the carting is short. Upper Taueru Riding. Te Ore Ore Bideford Road: 1 purpose carrying out some metpl repairs on the of the road, by day labour, and hired teams. I also propose replacing cH bridges by culverts and embankments on Wrigley's flat, this work might be clone during the winter. I append a statement showing proposals for the expenditure of the various Government grafts within this County.—D. McLACIiLAN, Ocunty .Engineer.