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exceedingly heavy, the greater part having to be formed out of solid papa rock. When the bridge over the Rangitikei River is built the road will be the means of enabling the settlers on a large portion of the Marton Nos. 1 and 2 Blocks, Pemberton Improved-farm Settlement, and the Rangiwahia Township to readily reach the railway-station at Mangaweka. In my last annual report it was mentioned that the bridge was urgently required as a connecting-link between the Mangaweka on the one side and the Mangawharariki and Kawhatau Valley Roads on the other. In consequence of the formation of the Mangawharariki Road having reached the bridge-site, the cage which was erected last year at Clayton's Crossing has been removed to this spot, as, owing to the construction of the roads in the vicinity, access to the cage was much more easily obtained ; and, to judge by the patronage which is accorded it, a boon has been conferred upon the settlers in the surrounding districts. The Mangawharariki Road has been constructed its whole length through dense forest country. Mangarere Road. —Commencing on the eastern side of the Ra.ngitikei River, it is the means by which the settlers in the Hautapu and Hautapu No. 2 Blocks obtain communication with the Mangaweka Township, on the western side of the river, where it intersects the main road leading to the township. It is 6ft. wide, and has been engineered for a distance of three miles, which is now passable for horse-traffic. The bush has been felled and cleared for a length of 5 miles 18 chains. 750 cubic yards of solid papa rock had to be excavated, and a large proportion of the road is carried along steep sidelings. Two temporary bridges, each with a length of 56ft., have been erected. At the Rangitikei River crossing the settlers erected a cage ; but, upon it becoming unworkable, the Government took it in hand and put it into working-order. It is now used for passenger-traffic, and practically connects the Mangarere Road with the Mangaweka Township. Peka Road. —This road, which has only recently been commenced, is a horse-road 6ft. wide. 60 chains of bush has been felled and cleared, and for this distance it is available for horse-traffic. An additional 60 chains of forest felling and clearing is now under contract. The above road will give access to settlers living on the southern end of the Hautapu No. 2 Block. With the exception of a few chains, the whole length of the road passes through thickly-timbered country. Cross Road. —This road branches off from the Mangawharariki Road, and is formed 6ft. wide for a distance of 2 miles 66 chains. It passes along the southern boundary of the Pemberton Improved-farm Settlement, and throughout its whole length it passes through forest country. The road is carried along steep sidelings for 1 mile 70 chains, and is now open for horse-traffic. Some heavy excavating-work had to be done, which may be judged from the fact that 6,477 cubic yards of papa rock had to be shifted; and, in addition, culverts have been built, in size varying from 12in. by 12in. to 24in. by 24in., a total length of 160 ft. Conspicuous Road. —This road is being formed from both ends. The northern portion branches off from the Mangahuia East Road in a south-easterly direction through the Marton No. 2 Block, and leads on to the Umutoi and Onslow Farm-homestead Settlements. The southern portion leaves the main road between the Marton No. 1 and the Mangoira-Coal Creek Blocks, running in an easterly direction into the Umutoi Farm-homestead Settlement. On the former portion of the road 35 chains of horse-road 6ft. wide has been formed, 20 chains of bush felled and cleared, 645 cubic yards of rock excavated, 3 culverts built, of various sizes, from 12in. by 12in. to 18in. by 18in., a total length of 63ft. It passes through heavy birch country, and is passable for horse-traffic for a distance of 76 chains. On the latter, 35 chains 6ft. wide has been formed, 17 culverts 257 ft. in length from 6in. by Bin. to 3ft. 6in. by 2ft. constructed, 1 mile 9 chains of stumping and clearing, 8J chains of ditching, and 16ft. of corduroying. 1 mile 45 chains is now open for horse-traffic, the full-total open for traffic being 2 miles 41 chains, through dense forest country. Williams Road. —This road runs in a northerly and westerly direction towards the Mangoira Stream, and divides the Mangoira-Coal Creek Block from the Marton No. 1 Farm-homestead Settlement. During the past year 60 chains of felling and clearing have been done, 10 chains of which are available for horse-traffic. Table Flat Road. —Situated in the Pohangina Block, and is now passable for horse-traffic. When last reported upon, two miles of the road had been formed; since then fair progress has been made. 1 mile 13 chains of road have been formed Bft. and 1 mile 4 chains 6ft. wide, including 28 chains of heavy side-cutting. Six culverts have been erected, their size varying from 6in. by Bin. to 12in. by 12in., of a total length of 60ft., and 350 cubic yards of rock have been excavated. Apiti-Norseivood Road. —According to my last yearly report, 2 miles 70 chains of this road had been felled 66ft. and cleared 33ft. wide. Since then 2 miles 27 chains of horse-road have been completed; twenty-two culverts constructed, having a total length of 274 ft., their sizes ranging from 6in. by Bin. to 2ft. by 2ft. 6in.; 274 ft. of solid rock have been dealt with. In order to effect a junction with the Umutoi Road, a further length of 59 chains of formation is required. The road passes through heavily-timbered country. Main Cross Road East. —This part of the road divides the Feilding Special Settlement from the Oroua-Coal Creek Block, and is the main road leading from Apiti to the Salisbury Block. 1 mile 78 chains of road Bft. in width have been formed, also 57f chains of 6ft. horse-track; 29 culverts, with a length of 381 ft., have been built, their sizes ranging from 6in..by Bin. to 18in. by 12in., and 48-J- chains of ditching has been done. 25 cubic yards of rock have been excavated, and a plain bridge with a 28ft. span has been constructed. The road is now open from Apiti, for dray-traffic, for a distance of four miles and a half, and from this onward to the Salisbury Block it has been completed, and is now passable for horse-traffic. Surveyor's Pack-track —This road, which is situated in the Oroua-Coal Creek Block, strikes off from the Main Ridge Road and runs iti an easterly direction to the Coal Creek Block. 2 miles 36 chains of bush has been felled 66ft. and cleared 33ft. wide, and all overhanging trees removed. Umutoi Road No. 2. —2 miles 4 chains of bush have been felled 1 chain wide and cleared 33ft., and all overhanging trees removed. Work is still progressing. This road is situated in the