267

Roads in this Province, during the six months ending 30th September, 1862.

I have the honor to be, Sir,
Your obedient servant,
JAMES DUNDAS,
Assistant Engineer.

Pro. Road Engineer.

SOUTHERN TRUNK.

DUNEDIN TO TAIERI FERRY.

(Inspector Abbott.)

Contracts

At the commencement of the half-year there were five contracts in operation on this Section, viz.:—

1st. Small and Brinings—Metalling road for two miles south of Abbott’s Creek.

2nd. John Wishart—Metalling road for two miles south of Mr. Dickson’s, East Taieri.

3rd. John Wishart—Metalling one and a quarter miles south of Mr. Callender’s Hotel.

4th. James M’Kenzie—Metalling and forming six miles of road south of Mr. Dowie’s house. On this portion the contractor has built culverts.

5th. John Wishart—Metalling three quarters of a mile of road, north of Taieri Ferry, one mile south of contract 4th.

Those five contracts have all been completed during the half-year, and another contract has been entered into with Mr. M’Kenzie, for metalling three miles and eight chains south of the Reliance Hotel, No. (6).

It is impossible to tell the exact amount of work that has been performed during the six months, as contracts 1 to 5 had been in operation for periods varying from one to four months previous to the commencement of the term, approximately 12 miles have been metalled, and six miles formed.

Contract No. 6 should have been completed on the 6th October, 1862, but extension of time was granted on account of bad weather. More than half of this contract is now finished.

Day Labor.

The road has been formed for four and three quarter miles north of the Taieri Ferry, involving some heavy side cuttings. The entire maintenance of the road has been kept up by daily labor; an average number of 22 surfacemen has been employed at a wage of 7s. per diem.

Average number of laborers, 40 at 6s. per diem.

Remark.

When contract No. 6 is completed, the road will be metalled throughout from Dunedin to Taieri Ferry, the cost of maintaining which, for the ensuing six months, should not exceed £4400 or £300 per mile.

The items of expenditure should be nearly as follows:—

Two surfacemen per mile, at 7s. per diem each ... £100 4 0
One hundred and fifty yards metal per mile, at 10s. per yard ... 75 0 0

Total for one mile ... £184 4 0

The system of road-making which has been adopted in this Section, viz.: laying a thin coat of metal on top of broken schist will prove much more expensive in the end than if the road had been properly pitched and drains cut across at short intervals. The cost of this latter system would be nearly double of that which has been adopted, but where such heavy traffic exists as on the road from Dunedin to Tokomairiro, it would prove much more economical. A contract was entered into with Mr. Macilwain to erect mile posts on the road between Dunedin and Molyneux. He has failed to perform his contract.

Expenditure.*

Contracts 1 ... £293 0 0
,, 2, 3, 5 ... 4980 0 0
,, 3 ... 7838 14 0
,, 4 ... 600 0 0
,, 5 ...
,, 6 ... 600 0 0
Wages to laborers and surfacemen ... 3277 4 7
Tools, &c ... 98 8 4

Total expenditure ... £18,562 6 11
Balance unexpended ... 1,437 13 1

Amount of vote ... £20,000 0 0

TAIERI FERRY TO TOKOMAIRIRO RIVER.

(Inspector Pitcairn.)

Contract.

On this section three contracts were in operation at the commencement of the half-year.

1st. Jas. M’Kenzie—Metalling and forming about three and a quarter miles from the Taieri Ferry southwards. This contract should have been completed on the 7th June. The works were stopped by the Provincial Engineer on account of bad weather. One mile of this contract is now completed.

2nd. Jas. M’Kenzie—Metalling one mile of road, about seven miles south of the

• There will exist a difference between the sums entered in these tables and those in the Treasury; the one appearing in the Road Department Bill book, and the other as paid by the Treasury Department.