A.—No. 2A.

terms of your letter, whether you desired a return of the amount previously expended; but this, if required, can, I think, be obtained at the Colonial Secretary's Office, it having been furnished on severat occasions. From Ahu to Stony River, a distance of o\ miles, a section of the road has not yet been made, but I have asked Mr. Camngton to supply me with a rough estmate of the cost of opening a passable cart road to that point, including a bridge over a small river, which, from the nature of the banks, cannot be forded exeept-at the mouth. Mr. Carrington's estimate for this part of the road is .£3OO per mile. Beyond the Stony River, if my proposal should be carried into effect, little expenditure would be required except that derived from th# sale of land, which also might bo made to reimburse the Government for some or all of the monies already expended. I have, &c, H. R. Richmond, 'Mie Hon. the Minister for Colonial Defence, Wellington. Superintendent.

Enclosure 1 in No. 7. STATEMENT of Contracts entered into for work on the South Road.

Enclosure 2 in No. 7. STATEMENT of further expenditure required to complete the South Road from New Plymouth to Ahu Ahu.

6

FURTHEE PAPEES RELATIVE TO THE SETTLEMENT

Date ©f Contract. § . o Name of Contractors ft Nature of Contract. Amount necessary to complete contract. Remarks. April 7,18G5 38 J. Antony Kingcome and Langman. 9d. la Earth cuttings and embankments £560 J. Antony gave up this contract; it was then let to Kingcome <fc Langman. This contract cannot be finished until the bridge over the Oakuru is built, the earth being required to complete the embankment on the other side. This will cost £'260, and that amount is included in this statement. May 7, 1865 40 [ Chislett and Clemenson, Lethbrige and Autridge, H. Thomson 9d. Do. 85 Let to Chislett ife Clemenson, who abandoned the work; then let to Lethbridge and Autridge, who did not completeit in proper tinw, and it was then let to H. Thomson to finish. Is. lOd. Deo.2, 1865 65 and CO Wright and Bulshaw 9d. Do. 135 The fiamed culvert at Wenuanki stream was necessary to complete this contract. The cost is included (£35.) Jan. 7, 1866 J. Baily 9fd. Completing and cutting embankments at the Tapuae bridge 300 The bridge cannot be used until the embankments and approaches are completed. The timber required for the approaches is estimated to cost £100, which amount is included hi this statement. £1080 O. Carein«ton, iurvey Office, New 1y mouth, 7th Fe' iruary, I860. Chief Surveyor.

Nature of Woek. Estimated Cost. Eemauks. h-idges at Oakura £500 To cross the valley of this river in th< winter time, by the present road, is a matter of great difficulty, and i' lias been found a serious obstrucfioi to military operations.