INANGAHUA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Inangahua Times, Volume II, Issue II, 7 April 1880, Page 2

INANGAHUA COUNTY COUNCIL.

_ #— — Engineer's Eeport : The instructions that I had the honor 0 receive at the last meeting of the 2auncil have been carried out, and plans »aye been prepared and specifications Irawn up for the construction of a foot« jridge over Boatman's Creek on the PVestport road. Tenders were invited "or the work, and one was accepted by he Tender Committee for the sum of 629, Messrs Smith and Molloy being the successful tenderers. On March 18tb, I proceeded to the Grrey Junction to pefrorm the necessary survey of the proposed road towards the Otututu or Rough river, commencing on the main Grey road at Coutanche's Farm. The plans and specifications have been prepared, and tenders invited, which were closed at 12 o'clock this day, and await your approval. On the Westporfc road maintenance contracts there is a slight improvement, but the works are still below the requirements of specifications. I have served each contractor with notice that the penal clauses of contract will be enforced, and 1 will take action against those who fail or refuse to comply with the conditions of contract. I would have taken action before this, but have been prevented through a pressure of other work. Gbey Boad. Tber9 is very good work being done on this road, but the who'e of the works that were to have been done within a certain time have not been carried out. I have, therefore, notified those who are in default, and also have withheld the progress payments in two cases, until the ■, proper quantity of work has been per- | formed. v j Boatman's Hobsevtbacks. ! ,The contract for maintaining these tracks expired according to time on 21st March, but before a certificate can be granted, there must be more work pers formed. Eainy Ceeek Thick . The time expired on March 20th for the maintenance of this track, but the contractor having failed to perform cer« tain works that were pointed out to him, I have refused a certificate. Febn Fiat Eoad. This contract is nearing completion, and since a notice was served that the work was not being peformed satis* factorily, there has been a decided im provement. I expect the road to be out of hand within a week. Black's Point and Cbtjshington Eoad. There has been a few slips on these roads of late, which has necessitated the employment of day labour to remove them, and at Crushington a bridge over the Dauntless Company's race broke down through age, and a new and sub« stantial structure has been placed in lieu of the old one at a cost of £8. Eeefton Cemetebt. I visited the cemetery in company with the Chairman on March 16th, when it was decided to clear the ferns and large stones off the ground, and level the surface preparatory to sowing grass seed. Slips of approved trees or shrubs can be planted round the enclosure, and up each side of the main drive, or foot-path, at the proper season. The work of clearing and levelling the ground is now being done. WOBES BEQUIBED TO BE DONE; On the Boatman's horse*track above the crushing battery there is a very sharp curve in the track, which makes it yery difficult to pass with long lengths of iron tramway rails which are now beinst used at most of the mines, by an expenditure of £3 the difficulty of unloading every time this point is reached can be avoided. I, therefore, recommend the expenditure .of that amount. On the Boatman's short-track between the Leftshand Branch and the township there are some repairs needed, also some fallen trees require removing from the track. UPPEB BuLLEB DISTBICT. In the Hampden district, the road overseer has been engaged repairing the track up the Mangles river, also the dangerous places on the track to the Maruia river at its junction with the Buller. The maintenance contracts from the boundary creek to the Hope Eiver are progressing satisfactorily, and the Chinamen have completed the new piece of road situated below Fern Flat on the Buller Eirer — permission being granted them by the Council to remove the road line to allow them to mine under the sito of the old road. Beefton, 31st March, 1880.