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I also enclose copy of a letter of the Provincial Engineer (dated 12th February last), on the subject of the Provincial expenditure in removal of slips, and clearing out water tables; together with schedule of expenditure, amounting to £38 2s. 8d. You will probably recollect that I pointed your attention to the subject on the occasion of our last visit of inspection.

I have, &c.,

WILLIAM FITZHERBERT,
Superintendent.

The Hon. E. Richardson,
Minister for Public Works.

Enclosure 1 in No. 1.

Provincial Engineer’s Office,
Wellington, April 25th, 1874.

SIR,—

I have the honor to forward, for your Honor’s information, plans of the Hutt Road from Korokoro to Ngahauranga, showing work which, in my estimation, should be at once done, to ensure the safety of the travelling public. I have also to report upon the condition of the Hutt Road, consequent upon the construction of the Hutt railway. The portions of the road that should be widened by cutting are tinted red on plan, and numbered consecutively from 1 to 8. With reference to the road as affected by the railway:

1st. The railway fence has been erected close to the edge of the road, and, except at a few places, any slips or road scrapings will have to be carted away. Sliprails have not been left in anything like sufficient number.

2nd. No level crossings have been made to enable us to get road metal from the beach. I had understood from Mr. Lowe, the late Resident Engineer, that there would be eight crossings made between Kaiwarra and Korokoro. I went with him and fixed the most convenient places; but, as I said before, nothing has been done, and the contractors for the supply of road metal are put to great inconvenience in consequence.

3rd. At the big slip the wall constructed by the Province, at a cost of nearly £500, has been made use of for railway purposes, the road going on the inside, a portion of the slip being cut away to give the width required, and no metal has been put on where the excavation has been made.

4th. The face of the hills has been disturbed in many places to obtain material for embankments, and the slopes have not been properly dressed down, so that during this next winter we shall have the expense of moving several slips.

5th. All our culverts and water tables have been choked up with debris from the excavations, and the road not cleaned up in a proper manner.

Taking one thing with another, I estimate it will cost the Province at least £1000 to put the Hutt Road in anything like proper form.

I have, &c.,

J. D. BAIRD,
Provincial Engineer

His Honor the Superintendent,
Wellington.

Enclosure 2 in No. 1.

Provincial Engineer’s Office,
Wellington, 12th February, 1874.

SIR,—

I have the honor to report that, owing to my neglecting to give notice in an official manner to the Public Works Department, with reference to the removal by our men of slips and other debris from the Hutt Road (the cost of which is approximately £39), there may be some difficulty in recovering the amount. At the same time, I take the opportunity of stating that I repeatedly remonstrated with the sub-contractors as to the way the road was being left, and that the safety and convenience of the travelling public required the immediate removal of the obstructions. I hope, therefore, that there will be no ultimate objection to refunding this amount. I enclose particulars.

Under these circumstances, I beg to request your Honor would instruct me how to proceed for the future in the matter, as there is still much work to be done before the road will be clear, and free from earth slips, &c., caused by the mode adopted for obtaining material for the construction of the railway. Some of our men are at present engaged upon this work. I estimate that it will occupy four men about six