A.—No. 17
58
CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO THE
Estimate of Work axd Kxpkxbz ox the Boas j;et'»vee>: Whakatane ud Ohgpe. From Flag 1 to 29— 9G3 cubic yards of rock, including drain ... ... ,£l2O 7 6 From Flag 29 to 59— 1,901 cubic yards of earth ... ... ... ... 59 8 0 160 chains ditching ... ... ... ... ... 39 5 0 Clearing fern and levelling 120 chains ... ... ... 15 0 0 Bridge and culvert ... ... ... ... ... 10 (1 0 From Flag 59 to 92— 2,548 cubic yards of earth ... ... ... ... 79 12 6 Ditching 58 chains ... ... ... ... ... 13 5 0 Clearing bush 1 chain on side of road— 12 chains, at £3 10s. per acre ... ... ... 5 0 0 Clearing roots and bush on road— 12 chains, at £8 per acre ... ... ... ... 100 23 chains of fern clearing ... ... ... ... 2180 £345 16 0
No. 123. Copy of a Letter from Lieut.-Colonel St. John to Hon. D. M'Lean. Siu, —■ Auckland, 7th March, 1870. I have the honor to forward the following report on the road between Whakatane and Ohope, now complete :— Starting from the foot of the range of hills, which extends to Kohi Point, the road follows the ■windings of a small stream, which, owing to the rapidity of the descent, does not swell even in heavy rains. The siding along this was almost entirely through a shaly rock, with hard underground, which disintegrates rapidly on exposure. A shoulder of this rock had to be blasted and cut through. From flfg 0 to flag 21, a distance of fifteen (IS) chains, the siding is through this rook along an almost precipitous face of cliff, and twice the stream is crossed by culverts. For about 1-^ chain the gradient is lin 5, the remaining part being easy. This was the hardest part of the road. At flag 21 the road turns to the south, taking advantage of a plateau lying S.W. of Kopu Hill. Here occur a good many cuttings and sidlings, until the 98th chain from flag 21, where a long sidling leads with a gradual descent down to the Wairaka Stream, here a deep swamp. At this spot an embankment and bridge have been formed, the latter eighteen feet in length and ten in width, supported on piles, twenty feet long, raised six feet above water. The natural drainage of the swamp has also been aided by dredging it clear of vegetable matter which hindered the current. The stream crossed, another siding carries the road up the opposite slope, and eighty-seven more chains of similar sidling bring it to a height overlooking the Ohope side of Kohi Point. From this, on account of the steepness of the descent, the road has to wind about it zigzag, with several deep cuttings and sidliugs for sixty-seven more chains, passing through two small belts of bush, and emerges on the beach at Ohope. The road is of a breadth of seven feet, with drains on each side, and, where any turns exist, its breadth is increased to ten, and in some places twelve, feet. The estimated cubic contents were 4,846 cubic yards, but I am satisfied that this estimate is far under the mark. The first portion of it through the rocky portion cannot be expected to remain in good order until metalled, as the rock decomposes under the influence of the atmosphere. The remaining part is through soft stuff, and, being well exposed to the wind and properly drained, will, I believe, continue sound. Occasional supervision and repair of any defects caused by the weather, which could be done by the detachment of Armed Constabulary at Whakatane, would keep it in good working order. The total cost •was as under :— Eoad work . . . . . . . . . . £350 0 0 Bridge and Embankment at Wairaka . . . . 12 0 0 .£362 0 0 I have, &c, The Hon. the Defence Minister, Auckland. J. 11. St. John.
No. 124. Copy of a Memorandum from the Hon. D. M'Lean to Ml-. Civil Commissianer Clarke. Tauranga, 12th February, 1870. It being important that a main line of road from here to Taupo should be at once commenced,. I have to request that you will employ the Ngaiterangi on this service. Having satisfied yourself as to the best permanent line of road, it should be at once marked off, and advantage taken of the remaining summer months to get as much of the work completed as possible. The course 3'ou should adopt in carrying on road works with the natives is to pay such a sum for the •work performed as may be deemed reasonable, and in no instance should day labour be employed, but so much be given for the completion of the road from a certain given point along the line as far as the contract with a certain tribe extends. The Militia, Volunteers, and Constabulary must be employed near their several posts on road work also, and their pay charged to the road vote of £30,000. More detailed instructions will be sent from Auckland. Donald M'Lean.