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.A-iFiPiEnsriDiix 13. ANNUAL EEPORT ON ROADS, BY ASSISTANT ENGINEER-IN-CHIEE. The Assistant Engineeb-in-Chief to the Hon. the Ministee for Bublic Wobks. Sic,— Public Works Office, Wellington, 30th June, 1877. I have the honor to forward my annual report on road work executed during the past year under " The Public Works Act, 1876," up to the 31st May. The expenditure on new works has been very limited, and many roads formerly maintained by the General Government have at intervals during the year been handed over to the counties in which they are situated. Those roads which have not been so handed over have been maintained at as lowr a rate of expenditure as was compatible with keeping them open for traffic, and those in purely Native districts have been mostly kept in repair by parties of the Armed Constabulary. I shall only describe those roads in each district on which new work has been executed, the information being supplied by the Engineers in charge of the respective districts. EOADS NOETH OF AUCKLAND. (T. Heale in charge till 17th January; James Stewaet after that date.) Bay of Islands. —The cart bridge described in last year's report as being in progress has been completed, as well as the approaches to it. Its total length is 121 feet, with a central span of 41 feet. Mahurangi. —Section No. 5 of the Mahuraugi and Port Albert Eoad has been completed, the work consisting of 164 chains clearing and forming. Section No. 1a of the same road has also been completed in the same manner, 142 chains; also 15 chains of formation in extension of No. la, and five bridge culverts. State of the above for traffic good. Provision has been made for road works in the seven Counties North of Auckland, by apportioning the sum of £15,200 in the following manner, and for the purposes described, viz.:— £ s. d. Waitemata County, Main North Eoad ... ... ... 500 0 0 Eodney „ Waiwera „ ... £500 0 0 „ " „ Main „ ... 4,000 0 0 4,500 0 0 Hokianga „ Taheke Bridge ... ... ... ... 1,000 0 0 Hobson „ Main Eoad ... ... £500 0 0 „ Wairoa „ ... ... 500 0 0 1,000 0 0 Whangarei „ Wairua Bridge ... ... £1,200 0 0 „ „ WaipuEoad ... ... 1,000 0 0 „ Wairoa „ ... ... 1,000 0 0 Main „ ... ... 2,000 0 0 5,200 0 0 Bay of Islands „ Main „ ... ... ... ... 1,500 0 0 Mongonui „ Main „ ... ... ... ... 1,500 0 0 A Surveyor, Mr. Fairburn, is now, and has been for some time, employed in laying off the main line of road, and in preparing plans and specifications for the works required. Copies of these are being furnished to each County for the works within its boundaries, and the Counties arc proceeding with the works. Subveys Completed. These are as follow, namely,— Mahurangi. —Eoad line from section 5, Mahurangi and Bort Albert Eoad, to Albertland Settlement, 64 chains; Bort Albert and Waiptt, 18J miles (ready for tender), a break of 7 miles unsurveyed and 8 miles completed ; Warkworth to Buhoi, 16J miles (ready for tender) ; Puhoi to Waiwera, 4 miles 10 chains (ready for tender). Whangnrei to Kawakawa. —Section of Wairua Eoad for Whakapara Bridge, and section of Nga-ruwahine-Waipunga Creek, —the latter awaiting design for bridge. Bay of Islands. —Bridge crossing, Paheke, and 3 miles of road as approach, awaiting design for bridge. Ec-staking the road line from Black Bridge (Waiaruhe) to Kawakawa (ready for tender). Helensville. —Eoad line from Waimaukau Station to Kaukapakapa Eoad, 74 miles (ready for tender).