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Botorua-Tarawera Road. —This has been kept in good repair; and a small foot-bridge has been erected near the boat landing on the Tarawera Lake, which is a great convenience to tourists. Atiamuei-Taupo.—Taupo-Napieb. Kaiwhaka-Stony Creek (31 miles). —This section has been kept in good order during the year, and has also been very much improved by widening the formation where necessary, and easing the sharpest turns. Stony Creek-Atiamuri (71 miles). —This length has been maintained by the Armed Constabulary. The first section of 14 miles to Eunanga has been well maintained; the second section of 22 miles to Opepe, mostly over the Kaingaroa Plain, needs little attention, and is in fair order; the third section, extending to Taupo, 11 miles, is in good order, and has been much improved ; the fourth section, 24 miles, extending to Atiamuri, is in fair order. Taupo-Hot Springs (3 miles). —This road is in good order. Atiamuri to Tokoroa Plains (9-f miles, part of the road to Cambridge).—This road has been attended to, and is now in fair order for traffic. MANAWATU DISTBICT. Manawatu Gorge Road. —This has been maintained as- usual during the year, and still further improved by cutting off some of the rocky points and sharp turns. TABANAKI DISTBICT. Gravelling Henwoocl Road (2-J- miles). —This work, after much delay by wet weather, was completed on the 4th January, 1884. Stony River Bridge. —This work was completed on the 30th April, 1883. Two spans of 10 feet each were added to the original design, which included one 70-feet span. Werekino Bridge. —The work of re-flooring this bridge was completed in April last year. Umuroa Culvert.- —Eepairs to this were effected during the month of July last year. Ingleioood-Whitecliffs Boad. —A sum of £5,000 was allocated to the gravelling of this road, of which up to date a sum of £3,591 has been certified to ; and work is now awaiting inspection which will nearly complete the expenditure of the whole sum. Opunake Main Road, in Hawera County. —A sum of £2,118 was allotted for gravelling this, and work to the amount of £472 lis 6d has been certified to. The remainder of the work is now well forward. Opunake Main Road, in Taranaki County. —A sum of £882 was allotted to this for metalling road, Taungatara to Umuroa; the whole of the workjaas been completed, and the road is in good order. I have, &c., John. Blaokett, Tne Hon. the Minister for Public Works. Engineer in Charge, North Island.

Enclosure in Appendix I. ANNUAL EEPOET ON PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND OTHEE WOEKS, NOETH ISLAND. The Abchitect to the Engineeb in Chaege, North Island. Sie,— Public Works Office, Architect's Branch, 31st March, 1884. I have the honour to report upon the various buildings designed, added to, or altered; together with contracts let, works in progress, or completed, during the year 1883-84. Designs and drawings have been prepared, or completed, for the following new buildings, viz.: Convict prison, Wellington (the drawings have been, completed and lithographed); new gaol, Wanganui (drawings prepared and lithographed, but no specification written yet); store for Defence Department, Auckland; new brick store - for Defence Department, Mount Cook, Wellington; refectory and hospital cottages, Eotorua; post and telegraph stations at Eotorua, Parihaka, and Whangarei Heads; courthouses at Te Aroha, Carterton, Woodville, and Ormondville; police-stations and lock-ups at Makatoko, Awanui, Bull's, and Carterton; police-officers quarters at Kawhia. Additions, Alterations, Eepairs, &c. : Lunatic asylum, Wellington; post and telegraph station, Cambridge; fittings, &c, for courthouses at Hawera, Masterton, Greytown, and Carterton; police station, Tolago Bay, Court-room added; repairs to roof at the Premier's residence. Plans and specifications have been prepared for painting departmental offices, Supreme Court, Provincial Buildings, Museum, Government Printing Office ; Ministerial residence, Tinakori Eoad ; Ministerial residence, Molesworth Street, Wellington; and the post office at Masterton. The principal works in hand are the convict prison, Mount Cook, Wellington, and the new gaol at Auckland. Great progress has been made with both these buildings since the last annual report was sent in. At Auckland a very large quantity of stone has been quarried, and the greater part of the foundations are laid; but the work there is now at a standstill. At Mount Cook, Wellington, a Hoffman's brick-kiln has been built, and the brick-making machine is at work, which turns out about 50,000 bricks per week. The foundations have beerrjaid for that portion of the prison which is proposed to be erected first, and good progress is being made generally with the works. The work in connection with these two buildings is being carried on almost entirely by prison labour. The defence store at Mount Cook is now in course of erection, the bricks for which are being made by the prisoners.