INANGAHUA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Inangahua Times, Volume II, 28 January 1880, Page 2

INANGAHUA COUNTY COUNCIL.

■+ ENGrNEEB'B EePOET i I have the honor to report since the last Council mseting I have been engaged at the following works :— Black's Point. A survey has been made of Trennery* street, and plans drawn up for a contract which was let to Mr F. Smith for the sum of £74 on December 27, 1879, but, Mr Smith has since informed me that he cannot proceed with the work, as lie is unable to procure assistance— it being currently reported that he has not-suffi-cient money, for the work. The deposit money, therefore, becomes forfeited, and it is necessary that fresh tenders be invited for the work. Owing to the very heavy rains of December, a considerable amount of damage was done on the Black's Point, Murray Creek, and Ajax trtcks, which necessitated the employment of day labor, and one man is still employed at the necessary repairs. Cbushington. I had an opportunity of inspecting the wing'dam at Criishington during a freshet in thp river, and I refrained from spending the amount of £3 suggested by me at the last meeting of the Council, and woull recommend that a sum of £10 be granted in order that a horse and dray may be employed to cart away some large stones that at present form a bar at the end of the dam, and prevents the water from taking to a channel on the opposite side from Crushington. Devil's Cbeek Distbict. The contract let to Dash and Co. for forming a horse track from Daly and party's tailings on the Devil's Creek to* wards Denny's Creek, is completed ; and it became necessary to employ labor on the road towards Soldier's, as several culverts and corduroy work was destroyed by the late bad weather, leaving the road impassable. The work done by Mr Breen, about which the Council received a letter at its last Bitting, I estimate at 503., and a voucher has been made out for that amount as per resolution of Council. Tjuck to Big Kiveb. The route to the big river from the foot of Denny's Creek has been completed, and is reckoned " approximately " at 12 miles from Eeefton. The route traverses very good country for road or track purposes, and the prevailing opinion

supported by the knowledge of those who have prospected the country, and also of those who have worked in the vicinity of the proposed road, is that if a,n opportunity was offered them of c packing provisions, there is not the slightest doubt but a large extent of country would be worked for gold. GSBY JRoAD CoNTBACTS. Thd late rains have somewhat delayed work on the contracts for maintenance along the Grey mad, and the river at the crossing against George Bitera's on the Little Grey, has made a deep channel on the left bank where the road emerges from the river. Traffic was delayed for a short time on account of the encroachment, but the necessary work has been performed by the contractors, and the traffic has gone on uninterruptedly since. At the Little Grey (Squaretown) there are two 12 feet clear span culverts being constructed in the road below the bridge, which will act as an outlet to the water during flood times, and which are provided for in the specifications belonging to the maintenance contract. On the road crossing the Old Man Plains where the storm water usually damages the road there are culverts being constructed, which are also provided for in the present maintenance contracts. From Reefton to the top of saddle a large quantity of metal has been placed upon the road, but in places it is far above the size allowed by specifications. The contractors hare been informed of it and are now engaged reducing it to the proper gauge. The whole road, however, is in good worjring order, and a bottom has at last been obtained along that portion traversed by the wheels, but as long as the tires on the waggons are allowed at their present dimeßsions, a perfectly uniform surface need not be expected. Wbstport Road. The contracts from Eeefton to Larry's Creek are considerably behind hand with tie metaliing, as the distance above stated is to receive a coat of metal by April next, and along some of the places already gravelled there has not been a sufficient quantity put on. There 19 a voucher presented for a progress payment, but I am compelled to refuse a certificate until the work has been brought; up to specifications. From Larry's Creek to Brandt's punt. During the last quarter, little, if anything, has been done along this portion of the Westport road. I have, therefore, refused a certificate for progress payment ; but this contractor is engaged on the section from Brandt's to Minder* niann's, and has performed a large quantity of work during the time be has been in possession of the contract, and I be< lieve it was the intention of the Public Works Committee lo grant a little time to the contractor to enable him to bring the Work up to specifications. It, therefore, rests with the Council whether they will grant a moiety of the progress payment, which according to time is due. The road from Mindermann's to the boundary is in fair working order, and a bottom is at last appearing, but not before a large quantity of rock and gravel has been placed upon it. Daring the late bad weather the slips have been troublesome, and a large one occurred close to the bridge at the white cliffs. There are a large quantity of sfones that require to be reduced to specification siz a , and which the contractor has been notified to do. On the Dee hill road for a few chains from the river, the stones on the surface of the road require breaking into the ruts, bat the remainder of the road is in good working order. Boatman's Road* From the Westport roadio Boatman's, the road is in good order; but on the Boatman's Creek tracks the work is not being performed satisfactorily, especially from the crushing battery towards the Hopeful and Welcome mines, and also towards the Paetolus, I have refused a certificate for a progress payment, and unless better work is done on this contract, it will be necessary to take some aotion in the matter. TTPPEB ButtEß IfOAD3. Since my last visit to the contracts in this district, I find that very little progress has been made, especially between the Eight-mile Creek and Ribet's ferry. Due notice has been given of the defects, and instructions have been left with the Road Overseer how to act in the event o? the works not be : .ng performed, that are ' required l«y specifications. I have carefully examined the whole of the bridges between the Longford and the Hope river, and between the Longforl and Owen river I found that the stringers were tolerably sound and will stand for another 18 months or two years ; but there is about 1100 feet of planking required for repairs, which the contractor is bound to supply according to the terms of contract. Between the Owen and Hope riyers, the whole of the culverts are rot* ten, excepting one situated at the grassy patcL, or about half.way between the two above-named rivers. There are twenty* ' one in all that will require to be entirely renewed, and the aggregate length is 126 feet. The schedule attached to tender of < prices for timber allows 25s per 100 feet for sawn timber, and 18s per 100 feet for hewn, which is not in accordance with what is required by specifications. The schedule, should have provided for the ' erection of bridges by the foot — however, ! taking the cost of material and the quan* - titjr required, I estimate the cost of the j

twenty-one culverts at £174 11s 3d, or 27s B|d per foot. WOEK BEQUIBED AT FEBN FIATi In order that the road crossing Fern Flat may be handed over to the main' tenanoe contractors for No. 2 section of Westporfc road, I would recommend that the road be treated similarly to the work lately performed on the end towards 'he Left-hand Branch. There remains about 50 chains to be dealt with. At Brandt's punt I was obliged to employ a man .to cut down the rock at the approach to the punt on the north bank, as it had become dangerous to traffic. The work had to be continued for about one and a-half chains, and has cost £5.