C.-l.

7. The opening of roads by felling, eulverting, &c, through Native lands recently leased by the Public Trustee, and lying between Opunake and Moutoti, and between the Waiweranui and Han.gatah.ua (Stony Eiver) Streams. The estimated cost of these works is £1,650. I also beg to draw your attention to the hardships experienced by settlers who have purchased land on or near the Bast Eoad, in Block 111., Ngaere district, by no bridge being as yet erected over the Kahouri Stream. Some years since a sum of £800 was placed upon the estimates for this work, but the vote was allowed to lapse. In consequence of the present low cost of timber and other materials, and also of skilled labour, I am of opinion that a bridge and approaches could now be constructed for about £500, and it is probable that a portion of this cost would be borne by the Eoad Board, the School Commissioners, and by the owners of blocks of land east of the confiscation boundary-line purchased from the Natives. Were this bridge erected I believe the settlers would be able to do the minor works themselves. I have been well supported in the road-work by the overseer, Mr. E. Stanners. I cannot speak too highly of his conduct, or of the manner in which he has worked—in many cases during the summer months over seventy hours a week, and in the winter attending to his duties regardless of weather. G. F. Eobinson, Crown Lands Eanger.

Annual Return of Cost of opening up Roads through Crown Lands in the Taranaki and West Coast Land Districts for the Year ending 30th June, 1884.

Remarks.— 1 Felling road from Block-line 11. and VI., Huiroa, to Waitara Eiver. 2 Felling road from Punehu Village Settlement to Rowan Road, and eulverting from Manaia Road towards Rowan Road. s Felling road from Oeo Stream to Patiki Road, also eulverting the same. * Felling road from Opunake Road to Forest Reserve, also eulverting. 6 Felling and eulverting road in Block VIII., Kaupokonui. 6Felling road in Block IX., Kaupokonui, and eulverting in Block XIII. 'Felling and eulverting road in Block VII., Kaupokonui. "Ditto, Block VIII. 9Felling road in Blocks VII. and XI., Kaupokonui. 10Ditto, Block X., Kaupokonui. xl Ditto, Block V.,Ngaireand VIII., Kaupokonui. 12 Ditto, Block IX., Kaupokonui. '3 Culverting between Auroa Road and Opunako, also draining and forming near Opunake. lj Felling road in Block XI., Opunake, and draining and forming between Skeet Road and Railway Reserve. 15Balance of road-felling, Main Road to Skeet Road. 16 Culverting Main South Road to Oeo Road. "Felling road from Main South Road to Skeet Road. :s Balance of felling and eulverting road from Hastings Road to Palmer Road. 19 Formation from Normanby Road towards Skeet Road. 20 Felling and eulverting road from Normanby Road to Skeet Road. 21 Felling and part eulverting road from Main South Road to Skeet Road. w Felling road in Blocks 11., Hawera, and XIV., Ngaere. w Felling road, Main South Road to Skeet Roa3. u Felling road through Block IX., Opunake. a5 Felling road from Main South Road to Eltham Road. M Ditto in Block X., Opunake. 2' Ditto, and XII., Opunake. 28 Formation in Block 111., Wairoa, and Block IV., Omahini. w Grassing roads, £158 7s. 5d.; sundries, £7 lfis. 6a,; supeiTMion, £271 9a. 9d.

61

Name of Boad. District. Cost of Felling. Cost of Culverting. Totals. Tariki 1 ... Opunake 2 Skeet 3 ... • ... Manaia 4 Duthie 5 ... Hastings 5 Oeo 6 Palmer' Finnerty 8 Rowan 9 Manga whero 10 Eonald 11 Wiremu 12 Eltham 13 Patiki 14 ... Eama 16 ... Omuturangi 16 Taikatu" Temp sky 18 Katetauru 19 Kokiri 20 ... Glenn 21 Fraser 22... Nopera 23 Kiri 24 ... Watino 26 Ihaia 26 ... Kaweora 26 Waiteika 27 Motoroa 28 Miscellaneous 29 ... Huiroa Kaupokonui ... It • •' • • • rr • • • it • • * It • • • lf ... ... it ' • ' It if • • • Kaupokonui and Opunake Oeo and Opunake Waimate s s. a. 202 16 3 325 0 0 93 17 0 84 13 11 121 3 0 344 9 3 200 18 11 213 10 4 45 5 3 347 8 1 185 6 ' 5 183 9 11 117 9 0 34 16 5 55 13 3 28 19 11 £ s. 190 16 44 0 23 9 50 5 27 2 58 12 112 16 13 1 858 "2 247 19 a. 7 6 7 4 8 4 0 2 2 0 £ s. d. 202 16 3 515 16 7 137 17 6 108 3 6 171 8 4 371 11 11 259 11 3 326 6 4 58 6 5 347 8 1 185 6 5 183 9 11 117 9 0 892 18 7 303 12 3 28 19 11 112 8 5 201 17 2 165 10 7 68 18 0 370 1 5 243 4 5 75 14 1 59 13 7 155 7 8 284 17 0 237 15 7 277 9 4 465 14 4 198 0 0 437 12 8 112 8 5 tt • •' 201 17 2 67 19 7 it , * ■ * ft • • • 168 "h 2 193 6 0 97 11 68 18 201 16 49 18 75 14 0 0 3 5 1 tt * • • • - • Hawera Oeo Opunake 59 13 7 155 7 8 284 17 0 237 15 7 277 9 4 465 14 4 a i f ... ... ir • • • ■ • • "Wairoa 198 6 0 Totals 4,697 2 4 2,430 11 6 7,565 6 6