C.—l

48

Track, Kauri Forest, Waitakerei. —The grant for the improvement of the road leading to the forest, and for the construction of a bridle-track along the Nihutipu Stream through the forest, has been given to the Waitemata County Council to expend. No work has as yet been done. Waiwera Springs. —Half of this authority has been granted, and with it I am having the worst portions of the road between Orewa and the Hot Springs Hotel metalled and repaired, and intend to spend the balance in improving the road near Takapuna and through the Wade district. Huia-West Coast. —The money authorised for expenditure on the road has been given to the Waitemata County Council to be expended; but as yet nothing has been done, owing to the Bailway Department being unable to supply the scoria required for metalling. Te Aroha Domain Board. —The Te Aroha Domain Board have made a track 5 ft. wide from the Domain to the Bald Spur. Some pipes for hot water were renewed, one new bath-room constructed, and an excavation made to open up two new springs, at a total cost of £75 17s. sd. Tairua- Whenuakite. —The works have been carried out by the Coromandel County Council. During the year half a mile of road has been formed, and several culverts and bridges repaired. Victoria Valley to Main Road. —Considerable difficulty has been experienced in obtaining a line satisfactory to all parties, and in negotiating with the Peria Natives as to the portion of the line going through their land. I think the matter is now satisfactorily arranged, and when the survey is completed, and the title to the road secured, I propose to go on with the construction. This road has good grades, and will. be a great boon to the Victoria Valley Settlement, giving them a direct outlet to Mongonui, the seaport town. The present line is utterly useless for dray-traffic. Ahipara-Herekino. —This road connects Awanui with the Herekino Village Settlement. The line passes mostly through Native land, and is very expensive to keep in repair. The Mongonui County Council will not assist towards its maintenance. Takahue-Herekino. —This road opens up a large area of Crown land of fair quality, and well suited for pastoral and fruit-growing purposes, especially at the Herekino end. It will give a direct route from Herekino Village Settlement, through the Takahue Village Settlement, into Victoria Valley, and thence by Victoria Valley to main road into Mongonui. During the year about eight miles and a quarter of road, 6 ft. to 8 ft. wide, have been constructed. Lamer's—Takahue. —The vote is being expended by the Mongonui County Council in giving better access to the settlers in Block VI., Takahue Survey District. Hauhoura-Awanui. —The Mongonui County Council are repairing and improving the road north of the Awanui Bridge with the money granted this year. Maungataniivha. —The vote was expended in making a road from Victoria Valley-Peria Boad (old road) to the road now made through the Maungataniwha Block. I have laid off a continuation of this road so as to connect with the new road about to be constructed between Victoria Valley and main road, which will secure better access to the block. Hukerenui-South Waiotu Valley. —The construction of this road is for the purpose of opening up the lands in the Waiotu Valley. It will be one of the roads of access to the Buapekapeka Block, now cut up and open for selection. The expenditure of the vote is being carried out under the Bay of Islands County Council. Main Road, Lot 2, Block IV., Hukerenui Survey District. —This is a portion of the road from the Wairua Biver Bridge, near Hikurangi, towards the Bamarama Valley. The authority is being expended in widening the present bridle-track, so as to make it available for wheel-traffic. Hukerenui Block, I. and XI. —Nothing has as yet been done with reference to the expenditure of this vote. Ngapipito. —This road gives access to 4,000 acres of Crown land, and when constructed will become the main road between Kawakawa and Kaikohe. The line is now formed into a bridletrack as far as Ngapipito, though it has been surveyed and graded to junction with the MangakahiaKaikohe Boad. There are still about four miles to construct and several bridges and culverts to make. Tirohanga-Pakaru. —The vote is being expended by the Bay of Islands County Council in giving access to the settlement near Taumarere. Towai-Ruapekapeka. —During the year £50 of the vote for this road was expended by the Bay of Islands County Council in widening and forming about one mile of the road and in constructing two fords. Main North Road-Waiotu. —The expenditure of the vote has been intrusted to the Bay of Islands County Council, and is being expended in repairs to bridges and raising some of the embankments, which, when there is a flood in the Wairua Biver, are several feet under water, and dangerous to cross. Kaikohe-Taheke. —The vote is being expended by the Bay of Islands County in improving and metalling the road. Waimamaku-Punakitere. —This road begins at the Canterbury Special Settlement, Waimamaku, and runs up the Valley of the Waimamaku Biver, through the Auckland Special Settlement, joining the Opanaki-Hokianga Eoad on the top of the dividing-range. A considerable portion of the land abutting on this road is now taken up. During the year the road has been kept open for traffic throughout, and about four miles constructed, and 100 chains of bridle-track is being metalled. There is no doubt but that if all the land were taken up it would become one of the best settlements in the north. Auckland Special Settlement, Mangakahia. —Owing to the position of this settlement on the top of the dividing-range it attracts a good deal of moisture, and in consequence most of the bush clearings have had bad burns. Some of the settlers are, however, making great improvements to their holdings. During the year the road leading from the Opanaki-Hokianga Eoad through the settlement, being a part of the Waimamaku-Punakitere Eoad, was formed into a bridle-track. A track branching off this road in a southerly direction has also been roughly formed some four miles and a half.