ROADS IN THE NORTH ISLAND.

59

D.—No. 1,

No. 81. Mr. 0. Carrington to the Hon. the Minister for Public Works. Sic, — Public Works Office, Taranaki, 24th January, 1871. By direction of the Hon. Mr. Fox, I examined the line of road between Patea and Hawera, and have now the honor to report my opinion thereon. At Manutahi (about eight miles from Patea) the line, as laid out, crosses the Manutahi Gorge at a place which would involve a very serious amount of work, expense, and loss of time. I therefore most strongly recommend that a deviation be made inland through allotments numbered 406, 405, 367, 366, and 350, Government reserve, and 348, shown on the enclosed tracing. I believe there will be no serious obstacle to the alteration, as the areas to which the holders are entitled are in excess of the quantity, with the exception of No. 348, which I suggest may be compensated by giving the part coloured pink, and the Government taking the remainder of the section separated by the road, coloured green. Any compensation (if necessary) on account of extra fencing could be given out of the Eailway Eeserve. The only work that has been commenced, and now in hand, between Patea and Tangahoe, is at the Manutahi Gorge, before mentioned. The party employed there consists of a few militiamen, under the superintendence of Ensign Winchcomb, who receives his instructions from Mr. Hogg. lam unable to state exactly where Mr. Hogg has laid out the line, after crossing the Manutahi Gorge, but from the information pointed out to me by Lieutenant Middlemas (the officer in charge at Hawera), it appears that the line of road has been laid out with care. The crossing at the Hingahape is only about 30 feet wide, and there is timber within half a mile of the bridge site, the cutting of which ought to be proceeded with at once. From Tangahoe to Hawera the line of road is partly on the old surveyed road line and Eailway Eeserve; the river at the bridge site is about 40 feet wide. Timber for the bridge can be had at Waihi, and ought to be prepared at once. The distance is about eight miles, but there is no difficulty about carting, as the track is available. If these bridges were proceeded with without delay, and the road work pushed forward, the line would be ready for traffic by the time the bridges were erected. There is a working party of ten militiamen now employed near the Tangahoe Bridge site (on the Hawera side) who will have the work completed almost immediately, and I understand that they have taken the contract'to do the work on the opposite bank. There is a track from Tangahoe to Hawera, rflnning almost parallel with the road, which can be used while the permanent road is in progress. I have, Ac, The Hon. the Minister for Public Works, Wellington. Oct. Caeeington.

No. 82. Mr. Hales to Mr. Cooper. Sir, — Wanganui, 30th January, 1871. I have the honor to transmit herewith a statement of contracts entered into by me on the Wanganui and Patea line of road up to this date ; also voucher for £130 17s. 10d., final payment to O'Hara and Emery on account of gravelling 56 chains of road (from the top of the side cutting at Kaipo to the Ferry) ; also voucher for £3 12s. for payment of balance due to fl. J. Eeid on account of contract for forming 68 chains of road on the Waitotara Block at Hunter's. These works have been completed in a satisfactory manner. Specifications have been prepared for gravelling the whole of the side cuttings and other formed portions of the road between the Kai Iwi and Waingongoro Eivers, which will be likely to be damaged by the winter rains, if not metalled. There are 8 miles 30 chains of road between the Kai Iwi Eiver and the top of the side cutting at Kaipo, which will require to be gravelled ; this portion has been divided into six separate contracts, and specifications prepared for each. I estimate the value of the work approximately at £3 per chain ; in all £2,010. A piece of the road that has been fenced, at Williamson's, on the Waitotara Block, will require to be formed ; the extent is 32 chains bush to be cleared, and road formed. I estimate the probable cost of the work at £50. The formed portion of the road on the north-west side of the Waitotara Eiver, from the river bank to the top of the side cutting, a distance of 70 chains, should be gravelled as soon as possible. The probable cost of this work is estimated at £210. Fifty-nine chains of side cutting on the north-west side of the Tangahoe Eiver, should be gravelled, and culverts put in ; estimated value of work, £180. Fifty-four chains of side cutting and flat formations at Oika, on the north-west side of the Whenuakura Eiver, to be gravelled, and culverts put in; I estimate the probable cost of the work at £216. Specifications have been prepared for the whole of these works, and I would beg to recommend that tenders be invited with as little delay as possible, so that the work may be executed, and the gravel have time to set before winter. As directed by the Hon. Mr. Gisborne, I have instructed Mr. Hogg to place himself under Mr. Carrington's orders while employed upon the road works. I have employed Mr. Livingstone for the present to copy the plans and specifications of the various works, as it is necessary to have copies at Wanganui and Patea. The erection of the two largo culverts at Puketotara and Ototoko, will be commenced immediately. It will be necessary to have some person always on the ground to see that the piles are driven in to the proper depth. Mr. Livingstone will be employed upon this work; from what I see of him, I think he will be found very useful. I have, Ac, William H. Hales, G. S. Cooper, Esq., Under Secretary. Engineer.