✨ Provincial Engineer Report
88
Waitotara, Wanganui to Bull’s, Bull’s to Palmerston; and for the supply of stone for road metal between Wellington and Pukuratahi. Tenders are to be received on the 20th instant for the re-metalling necessary between Ray’s and Featherston. Every precaution has been taken to maintain the whole in perfect order during the ensuing winter.
The main road through the Lethbridge Local Board District has been handed over for repairs, &c., to the Board, at their solicitation. They are improving it considerably. The Government are to pay the average cost per mile during the last three years to the Board for its maintenance.
The whole of the public works for which appropriations were passed have been undertaken, with the exception of the items—Punt, Wairarapa Lake; grant in aid, Waikupa reserve; and bridle track, Blackey’s to Paikakariki.
After considerable delay, the contract for reclamation, Thorndon, is now being pushed forward by the contractor, Mr. O’Malley. Nearly all the jarrah timber required has been delivered; the balance of order is expected to arrive daily.
The sum of £1,062 14s. 11d., out of Bridge Fund account, has been expended in the protection, &c., of the various bridges and river banks. The Hutt and Wairarapa rivers have been giving us much trouble during the past year. I have had a large quantity of willows planted, and with great success, especially in the vicinity of the Hutt Bridge and Silver Stream.
With reference to the encroachments of the Waiohine at Greytown, Mr. Blackett has already fully reported to your Honor. Everything is being done according to his recommendations to keep the road open.
The snag punt has been satisfactorily employed in improving the Wanganui River. Part of the expenditure under this heading has come out of the contingent vote, the restrictions respecting letting works by contract being withdrawn for this particular work.
The officers of this Department have been fully employed, and their work upon the whole has been performed in a highly satisfactory manner.
The various undertakings out of the Provincial Public Works Advances Act have occupied a considerable part of their time. Great difficulty has been experienced in preparing the sections for drainage at Oroua Swamp, in consequence of the opposition by Natives to the work. The Engineer has been twice turned off the block, and considerable time has been lost over the matter. No settlement has yet been arrived at. I beg to call your attention to the fact that I have lost the services of Mr. Graff for a period of some three months, in consequence of his attendance on the special work connected with the Oroua Swamp. As the Provincial Government has, I understand, no authority to settle Native disputes, I wish to be informed whether I am at liberty to detach Mr. Graff to some other works in the Province which now urgently require the attention of the Engineer’s Department.
The drainage works at Moutoa are progressing favorably, and very good results are anticipated.
For details of works, I beg to refer your Honor to Schedules attached, which I have made as full as possible.
I have, &c.,
J. D. Baird,
Provincial Engineer.
His Honor the Superintendent,
Wellington.
Next Page →
Wellington Provincial Gazette 1875, No 11
✨ LLM interpretation of page content
🏗️ Report of the Provincial Engineer on Roads and Public Works
🏗️ Infrastructure & Public WorksRoads, Public Works, Repairs, Contracts, Bridges, Drainage, Wellington, Wanganui, Hutt, Wairarapa, Oroua Swamp, Moutoa
- O'Malley (Mr), Contractor for reclamation at Thorndon
- Blackett (Mr), Reported on Waiohine encroachments at Greytown
- Graff (Mr), Engineer involved in Oroua Swamp drainage
- J. D. Baird, Provincial Engineer