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.A-IFIPIEINTDIIX: I. ANNUAL EEPOET ON EOADS IN THE NOETH ISLAND, INCLUDING OTHEE MISCELLANEOUS WOEKS, BY THE ENCINEEE IN CHAEGE. The Engineeb in Chaege, North Island, to the Hon. the Ministeb for Public Woeks. Sie,— Public Works Office, 31st March, 1884. I have the honour to forward my annual report on roads and other miscellaneous works for the year ending the 31st March, 1884. AUCKLAND. Ptikekohe-Waiuku Road. —The contracts entered into last year, eight in number, for forming, reforming, and metalling of 11 miles 8 chains of this road were greatly delayed by the longcontinued wet weather ; but they are all, with the exception of one, now complete. Repairs, Coromandel Wharf. —This contract was completed on the 14th June, 1883. Repairs, Panmure Swing-bridge. —This work was completed, under contract, on the 3rd July, 1883. Wharf and Approach-road, Turanga Greek. —This contract included the erection of a wharf and the formation and levelling of approach-road, 14 chains long, at the head of the creek, and was completed on the 6th September, 1883. Tuakau Ferry Punt, Waikato River. —A contract for this work, including construction of punt and providing and. fitting up wire-rope, straining and mooring, raising and lowering purchase and other gear, was completed on the 6th January, 1884. The punt and gear are now in good working order, but there does not appear to be much traffic over the river at this place. Maungatawhiri Bridge Repairs. —The contract for this work was completed on the 24th March, 1884. It is situated on the Great South Eoad. Cambridge-Rotorua Road. —The two contracts mentioned in last year's report (10 miles 52 chains in all) for bush-felling and forming have been completed satisfactorily, and the road has been for some time open for traffic between Cambridge and Ohinemutu, a distance of about fifty-five miles. Parties of the Armed Constabulary were engaged on the road in the open ground east and west of the bush, and, besides the ordinary flat formation, some very heavy work in the shape of "sideling" and "through" cuttings were executed by them, with the necessary drainage works, in a very satisfactory maimer. In the bush the road has been felled 3 chains wide, 1 chain in the centre being cleared and 22 feet formed, and well graded throughout. About forty miles of this road is only "formed" in earth or clay, and this would require to be gravelled to make it a practicable road for winter traffic : as it is, a small expenditure in maintenance would keep it open for summer traffic; but there are many parts of the older portions of the road on which a considerable sum could be spent in improvements. Cambridge-Taupo Road. —A contract has just been completed on this road (near its junction with the Carnbridge-Eotorua Eoad) for the erection of a bridge over the Paeriri Stream. Waipa-Raglan Road. —A contract for repairs on this road, clearing slips and drains, putting in culverts, and re-forming certain portions, has just been completed in a satisfactory manner. Karamu Road-diversion. —This contract includes the erection of a bridge over the Kaniwhaniwha Eiver at its junction with the Waipa, and the formation of 40 chains of cart road, to avoid a very steep hill on the old main line of road; the work has been so lately let that no progress can be reported. Te Aroha Drainage. —ln consequence of the subsidence of the swamp some of the main drains cut about three years ago through the Te Aroha Block had become partially stopped, and too small to carry off the water during floods, and a contract was entered into for widening and deepening about 4 miles of drain and raising the formation alongside of them; the work has just been completed. Te Aroha Block Drainage Contract (No. 5) —Includes 4 miles 29 chains of main drains and 40 chains of cross drains through the above deferred-payment block. The work was long delayed by the wet season, but it is now progressing satisfactorily. Ohinewai Drainage Contract. —This contract is for the construction of a drain from the railwayline, near Ohinewai Lake, to Waikato Eiver, to carry off the overflow from the lake; the work is expected to be finished early in May. Marsden Point Wharf, —This is situated near Whangarei Heads. Plans and specifications were prepared by this department and handed to the Whangarei County Council, which body has called for tenders and let a contract for the work, which is now progressing under the supervision of the Public Works Department. Works under Roads and Bridges Construction Act. —The inspection of, and in some cases making surveys and preparing plans and specifications, &c, for, works done by County Councils and Eoad Boards has entailed a considerable amount of work on the Public Works Department during the year. These remarks will also apply to other districts. ___+ EOADS NOETH OP AUCKLAND. The Assistant "Surveyor-General, Auckland, reports on these as follows, viz.:— Waitemata County. —Completed: Eoads repaired, 4 miles; roads formed, 2|- miles; roads formed and ballasted with pipeclay, 2 miles.