PUBLIC WORKS—SOUTH WEST GOLDFIELDS.

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 236, 4 May 1868, Page 2

PUBLIC WORKS—SOUTH WEST GOLDFIELDS.

WEST COAST ItOADS. The Provincial Engineer, Mr T. Blackett, has presented a report to the Council detailing the works executed during the past year, under the above heading he reports as follows : On my return from the West Coast in September, 1867, 1 made a special report on all the works there executed, or in hand, to which I may refer you for any required iuformation. Since that time, nearly all the roads on the "West Coast, in common with other districts, have suffered more or less from the action of heavy rains and floods, and it has required a considerable expenditure

in consequence to keep them in working order. The principal new work which has since been accomplished, is the making of a road up the Ahaura Valley, through what is known as the Fifteen Mile Bush (ten in reality). This has been felled and cleared twentytwo feet wide, and formed for a width of seven feet in the centre; a good hard road and likely to bo durable, part of it being on level ground, and part on the hill side where side cuttings were formed.

This forms only a portion of what is deemed to be a very important work, and which I have beforo reported on, that is, the extension of this road to the Saddle, and over into the Amun. The most expenditure will be required between the Saddle and the Fifteen Mile Bush. If this line should be well laid out and executed, it will save nineteen crossings of the Ahaura, and a comparatively easy road will be the result.

Contracts have been let for clearing the main road as surveyed across Coal Creek Flat at the Grey, and its extension along the terrace to meet the old road.

Also, for the repair of Cobden Wharf, which had been damaged during a flood; this involves some new cap pieces ■and a few new piles, besides chafingpiles in front of the wharf. WESTPOBT WHABF. This work was let by contract to Mr T. Miles, and, during its construction, was seriously retarded and injured by a succession of heavy and continuous floods; all attempts to finish it according to the original plan beiDg frustrated by the rapid washing of the river-banks, by which the piles were completely undermined, and at last one flood heavier than the rest carried away the whole of the work which had then been erected. Thus the whole of the labour was lost; the timber, however, or the greater portion of it, was recovered, having been washed ashore at the North Beach. lam now endeavoring, by the erection of a series of small jetties, to provide the requisite accommodation for shipping, and to secure the banks from further damage. NEAV COT7BT-HOTTSE AND LOCK-UP AT WESTPOBT. These buildings, with some additions to the original design have now been completed and occupied for several months. I believe we shall have to still further extend the accommodation at the lock-up, or gaol, which has been reported as insufficient. Some provisions also must be made for increasing materially the hospital accommodation. Plans and specifications were sent from Nelson for a new Custom-house : at Westport, which building is now in 'course of erection. tJPPEB BULLEB BOADS. A considerable length of new road has been opened in the Buller-valley, hut one or two rocky places still require to be passed over ; one at Hawksoray, and the other at Ohika Hill. Were these completed as intended, the horse-road would thus be available from Westport, by way of the Inangahua, into the Little Grey, thence to Cobden. I should strongly urge the completion of this work. The road is now completed from Nelson to the Lyell on the north bank, and thence to the Inangahua on the south bank. Many substantial improvements have been made in the roads of the Upper Buller. The dray road has been extended to the Howard store, and the existing roads have in the worst places been cleared and widened, and metalled where necessary. Much, however, yet remains to be done, and many repairs have been rendered necessary by the frequent floods of last season ; one of which, unexampled in height, carried away a cart-bridge erected over the Upper Buller. This structure while it stood, was of the greatest service, and means must be taken to restore it, on some Weli-selected site, where it will be free from any future damage. The road to the Grey by the Maruia Plains was entirely blocked up by trees blown down by a gale of wind. A party has been at work on this for some time, and the line has been much improved in many places, by means of deviations judiciously selected on better ground. During the same gale, the road through the Big Bush was also blocked up in the same way, but was promptly opened again by a party sent expressly for the purpose. I have left unreported the execution of many smaller works of minor importance, a description of which would only needlessly lengthen this report. I am now preparing a list of public works, and an approximate estimate of their cost, proposed for execution during the ensuing year, and will forward the same at the earliest opportunity for the approval of his Honour the Superintendent.