[From the Government Gazette, June 20.] REPORTS ON THE ROADS.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume V, Issue 406, 23 June 1849, Page 4

[From the Government Gazette, June 20.] REPORTS ON THE ROADS.

Pauatahanui, 18th April, 1849. Sir, — I have the honor to forward herewith the usual Quarterly Returns of work and expenditure to 3 1st ultimo. Fmm the late fine weather, and the work being generally of an easier character than heretofore, the progress has been unusually great. Mr. Bazelgette's party has nearly opened a dray road round the southern shore of Porirua harbour, so as to complete it from Wellington to Pauatahanui. Mr. Garstin's party has thrown a stone causeway across Duck Creek (or Wai o Ata), which is described in the accompanying abstract, and has opened the road to the point of junction with Mr. Compton's work. Mr. Compton's party ha"? nearly connected the r present work with that of last year, near the scene of the skirmish ; and Mr. Yule's party has worked down the valley to within thirty chains of the rock cutting where the dray road is at present interrupted. These thirty chains, and about ten more near Duck Creek, are the only obstacles nowj^existing to the passage of a dray from Wellington toßangitiki; and unless further reduction should become necessary, both parts will be opened this Quarter; but much of the road will still be without metal. In consequence of the late reduction of funds at my disposal, I have been obliged to make corresponding reduction in all the partes, bat chiefly in the superintendence, so as to keep on as many natives as possible ; but the whole number upon the line is now under eighty, which I the more regret, as their docility and anxious wish for employment were never greater than at present, nor could better labourers be met with in the colony. I have the honor to be, Sir, Your n ost obedient servant, A. Hamilton Russell, Captain 58th Regt., Superintendent of Military Ttoads. The Honorable the Colonial Secretary, &c, &c, &c, Wellington.

Wellington, Ist May, 1849. Sir, — In rep- rting the progress made on theWairarapa road during the quarter ending 31st March, I have the honor to forward, along with the usual returns and reports of the Superintendents, a plan of the whole road from Wellington to the plains of Wairarapa. shewing the state of the works up to 31st March. The amount of work done between Ist January and 3 1st March has been very considerablej especially in the Pakuratahi district, as is detailed in Mr. j Swainson's report, a large hody of the Nga« tiraukaua natives having worked under him during this period, who were not all paid until the second week in April. The proposition of working in this way originated, as hi 3 Excellency is aware, with the natives themselves; a number of them wishing to* obtain funds to build a flour mill, made it up amongst themselves to work for three months without receiving pay till the end of theteim, and devote all the money they should earn over and above their expenses of living to this purpose. This proposition being agreed to by the Government, they actually saved £277 :25. 2d. with which they are now going on with their' mill, whilst their example was followed by many others, especially the late followers of Rangihaeata, who eagerly sought emp'byment during the fine season on the same terms. By taking advantage of the dry weather, and employing a large party in this manner, much work i has deen executed, and but little now remains to be done to render the road passable for j carts a distance of a mile and a quarter be- • yrind the Pakuratahi river. This, after the whiter te over, might easily be done by the*

end of October next, and the five ensuing months devoted to pushing on the road over the Rimntaka range, between the Pakuratahi valley and the plains. The total amount expended on this line of road during the quarter is £2320 : 9s. 10£ d. which includes all the payments made in April for w ages and contingencies due on 31st March. The character of the natives, as good and steady workmen under proper management, is now so generally knowo, that T consider it unnecessary to say anything on this subject"; which is alluded to in the reports of the Superintendents, who are more immediately in contact with them than 1 am. The repairs of the Porirua Road have been carried on steadily during the past quarter, all but the lastly mile having now been completed. This I had calculated on finishins: with the balance of the sum authorised (£600), which on 21st April, the day on which the works were stopped, amounted to £123 :65. the total amount expended up to that time being £476 : 145. There is still a very bad piece of this road to be done, and the present suspension of the works will have the effect of stopping every description of traffic between Wellington and Porirua during the winter season. The amount expended for the qua:ter ending 31st March,' was £256: 25. 6 d , for which sum very nearly 2 miles of road have been repaired ; threequarters of a mile of which has been entirely remade. I have the honor to be. Sir, Your most obedient servant, T. H. FIIZGKRALD. The Honorable Colonial Secretary, &c, &c, &c, Wellington.