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by about four miles; it will be a quicker route to travel, and cost less for maintenance than the present road, and will be a much more interesting one. Arrangements should, however, be made for bridging the Waikato Biver during the coming year. A comfortable hotel has been erected at Waiotapu, and I understand comfortable accommodation for travellers will be made near the Waikato Biver when the road is open, from which places the springs at Waiotapu, Ohaki, and Orakikorako can be visited, making this one of the most interesting routes in the colony. On that portion of the road from the Waiotapu Springs to the Waikato Eiver, which was partially constructed last year, seven miles of formation has been re-formed and constructed, and 65 chains has been metalled ; five bridges, having a total length of 223 ft., and thirty-two culverts, totalling 900 ft. in length, have been constructed, and thirteen miles has been maintained. The construction of the road beyond the Waikato Eiver towards Wairakei is now in hand, forty-five European and Native workmen being employed, and, as the work all through is of a light nature, connection with Wairakei should be made before the spring. All works in this part of the district are in charge of Mr. D. Innes Barron, Assistant Surveyor. Orokikorako. —Arrangements have been made with Watene to act as guide, ferryman, and caretaker for the hot springs and alum cave. I would suggest that during the winter a considerable quantity of trees should be planted about this place—which is one of the most wonderful and attractive sights of the district, and can be easily visited on horseback either from the new road to Wairakei, from Wairakei, or Atiamuri—and that the horse-tracks from these places be kept in good order and repair, which can be done at little cost. County Grants. —Plans and specifications have been approved for works on the TaurangaCambridge Boad for a grant of £100; for work on the Paengaroa Boad for £25 ; and for repairs to bridges necessitated by floods to the extent of £200, all in the County of Tauranga. The work on the Tauranga-Cambridge Boad has been passed, and a certificate forwarded to you. Te Ngae Landing Road. —A distance of 20 chains of formation has been constructed from the lake up to the main road, enabling passengers from the launches to get into the coach for Tikitere or elsewhere on the shores of the lake. Te Ngae Native School. —This has been removed from a point on the Botoiti Lake and re-erected at the Ngae. The work was done by contract for the sum of £316 by Mr. Allerby, of Tauranga, in a satisfactory manner. Rotorua Wharf. —Plans of this work have been completed and approved by you, and it is proposed to complete the work during the winter. Opouraio Estate. —24 chains of dray-road has been constructed, and 2 miles 4 chains maintained. Whakarewarewa. —34 chains of horse-road 8 ft. wide, and 56 chains of dray-road 16 ft. wide, were constructed, and 198 ft. of water-pipes were laid to properties. A considerable number of trees were planted under the supervision of the late Mr. Malfroy. The bridge across the Puarenga Stream was also completed. Bobebt H. Beaney, Boad Surveyor.

HAWKE'S BAY. The total length of roads constructed in the district during the year is 41f miles ; 65 chains of dray-road and one mile and a half of bridle-road have been improved, and sixty-six miles of road maintained. Of the 41f miles of roads constructed, 11-J miles have been made by local bodies out of grants, the plans, specifications, &c, having to be approved by the department; the balance, 30} miles, has been constructed by co-operative working under the supervision of officers of the department. Wairoa-Gisborne. —Out of a grant of £200 to the Cook and Wairoa County Councils 1 mile 67 chains has been metalled and one bridge constructed. Muriwai-Mahia. —A grant of £50 was made to the Cook County Council, with which they constructed one mile of bridle-road, which was very much required, the portion formed being very bad during the winter months. Tokomaru-Huiarua.— A grant of £200 was made to the Waiapu County Council, with which they constructed one mile of dray-road, with necessary culverts, it being a continuation of a drayroad from Tokomaru giving access to a number of small grazing-runs. Nuhaka-Gisborne. —On this road two bridges, 7 chains dray-road, and 1 mile 47 chains of bridle-road were constructed and repaired. The bridges were respectively 30 ft. and 40 ft. long. Gisborne-Opotiki. —Sixty-six miles of this road, running through rough forest-country, have been maintained, five men being engaged throughout the year improving the road, clearing slips, putting in new culverts, &c. The Whakatane Council have expended a grant of £85 on improving half a mile of the road within their county. Tologa-Marunga-Tauwhareparae. —5 miles 34 chains of an 8 ft. bridle-road, with all necessary culverts, has been constructed by co-operative labour. This road, which is cleared a chain wide, is in heavy forest-country, some of the work being in heavy side-cutting. The work throughout has been well executed. This end, when completed, will open direct through communication between the Tauwhareparae-Tologa Eoad and Giborne, vid Waimatu, saving the long round by the coast, which at present has to be taken by travellers from Tauwhareparae to Gisborne. Waimate-Tauwhareparae. —This is a continuation of the Tauwhareparae-Waimate Eoad last mentioned (under the vote "Tologa-Marunga-Tauwhareparae"), 1 mile 47 chains of which has been widened into a dray-road, with all necessary culverts, by the Cook County Council out of a grant of £200. Tologa-Arakihi. —The Cook County, out of a grant of £199 15s. 2d., have built twenty culverts, with necessary inlet and outlet drains, on the Tologa-Arakihi dray-road. This road will give good communication through to Tologa Bay to a number of Arakihi and other settlers. Napier-Wairoa. —3 miles 15 chains of dray-road has been constructed by co-operative labour, and I hope this year to be able to complete dray-communication between Mohaka and Wairoa. It B—c. i.