WORKS IN WAIPA COUNTY.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1994, 18 April 1885, Page 3

WORKS IN WAIPA COUNTY.

The following report of the Engineer of the County of Waipa was piesented to the council at its last meeting :—

To Thk Chvirmvv Wup\ County , COI NCI 1,. Sir,— In compliance with instructions received at the List meeting of the council Ihiiveniade i net-turn <>f the drain down the side of tho Hamilton WlwUwhata main load with the Mew how f«u it would br practicable to conduct the vv.iter down tins course instead of making the long drain from the It chain hw.unp. The length of this line Is <>6 chains, about 2."> chami wide h.v\e to be cut through clay, thr remaining 40 chains would be through iwamp. The deepcKt part of this drain at piesent on the road side is 18 feet, and when cut to the new grade would be 21 feet or '6 feet deepei than it is now at this point, tins being about the a\euige depth that willicquirc to be cut out of the clay cutting to meet the piesent requneinents. The deepest portion of the dram ranging from 10 to 21 feet would extend to about 1") chains m length and the piobable quantity of clay to be removed 2300 cubic yaidn. Two new culverts would be required, and Mipposing the portions through the swamp to ba done at the s«nno rate as now being paid to Murphy, I estimate the cost of the work at £32"). Comparing the cost of this with the line through the swamp 110 chains in length, which would have cost £270, showing a saving of £."w in favour of the swamp line, so th.it if nionctaiy consideiationa were all that was to be taken into account the latter line would be the one to .vdopt. The road line, however, gives a much better fall, a little over su feet on the length of the dr-un, (5(5 chains, and would be much quicker than tho swamp line, discharging a much larger qiuutity of water in a given time. On the fii>t 20 chains of the swamp line theie only ih iiiuo inches of a fall, and along this stretch, the action of tho water could not, but be very Hluggish, and would take very much longer to draw off the same quantity of water that vv ould be discharged by the road line. Besides the advantages to he obtained fioni a ditch alongside the load would Ikj entnrly lost fioin tho swamp line. Fioni these consultations, I would recommend the ro.wl line, unless the council are m .my way bound to the ( Joy ernnient to cut the swamp line, as by the former route, I consider their interests it would be better seived.— Day's Diain : In accordance with induction, I in*i>ected this di.un where it cm-ses the main road n*ar Whatawhata. The roadway is carried over the dram on unsquared timbers covered v.ith fascines and clay. It is 20 feet long, but unprotected at the end*. The ditch here being 7ft. deep, the walls of the drain are quite firm and sound. Permanent levels in town of Te Awamutu: At last meeting it was suggested that advantage should be taken of tho present opportunity to improve the grade and crews section of the road through Te Awamutu, opposite the scene of the late fire. I have accoidmglv ptepared a longitudinal section of 30 chains at the load beginning at the post-office and going on towards Kihikihi. It is, however, proposed only to do about .V) chains of tho load through ttie township at present. The •idex of the road at the building lino want lowering in imiio pi ice» about 2ft. There would be about 1000 cubic y^rdi of earth to shift, which could with great advantage be used m raining and widening the present embankment at Inneb' gully. The cost of the excavation and gravelling would be £."kS. A.C. Force : During tho last week the balance of the A. C. Forcr forming the ro«d paity have been removed from Kihikihi. C msequentlytheearthwoiksontheKihikihr Tan po load have been stopped. One cutting near the school-house ha.s been left in such a condition as will necessitate its being finished by the council. In its present condition it ks dangerous. It will cost £10 111 1 finish it. I would recommend that tho work be done. — Tender-* have been called, to be opened today, for gravelling the Kihikihi-Te Awamutu road out of the money voted foi this pmposc at last meeting. — I met Mi Councillor Cm boy, and arranged about the woik to be done on the rnjul from Whatawhata, pa*t Hmdelbndge, for which money wo* aulhoti-cd at the tat meeting. The woik will be started in the couise of ten days. — Mr Tisdale, Alexandiri, ought to be notified to cut the weeds opposite hi-» propeity on tho Te Av.annitn Alexandra nnd. There is a deep ditch on the «idi* of tho road past the propeity lefencd to which is completely overgrown with fein, &a, and in its present condition ahim-t useless. That, when cleaned out, w ill greatly aid m keeping this portion of the load dry.— Referring to tho eucioachnient of the road on Mr Finch's piopnty at the Mangapiko bridge, Alexandra, I havo not yet been able to ascertain definitely how far the ioa'l line heio extends on to pnvate piopcity, but I expect to be in possession of tins information before the next meeting of the council. I find there ih a properly foimed road running almost pamlled with lot No. 87, This road is formed right up to the bank of the river and then turn* sharply to the left towards the bridge. It is completely overgrown with fern, &c, and does not appear ever to have been used.— l have met tho various contractors for tho works let at the la.st meeting, gone over thoir contracts with them, and when necessary set it out. They have all signed the necessary papeis, i" and several have started active operations. — I have not been ablo to overtake the levelling of tho MauKahoe creek, but I expect to do prepared with this work by next meeting. — I have the honour to be sir, your obedient servant. Alfa. AuiHiKON'Cr, County Engineer.