o—l

70

Waihoki Valley Road (Mecaliekstone Block). —Good work has been done on this road during the twelve months just passed. 60 chains of road has been graded and pegged ; 6 miles 60J chains of bush felled and cleared; 82 chains of scrub felled and cleared; 1 mile 50 chains of road formed 6 ft. wide; ten culverts placed, seven 12 in. by 12 in., two 18 in. by 24 in., and one 24 in. by 24 in., totalling in length 187 feet; 200 cubic yards of slips cleared; and 690 cubic yards of rock excavated. 2 miles 37 chains of horse-road has been formed up to date. Owing to the want of funds this road cannot at present be further extended. Waiowaka Road (Mecaliekstone Block). —On this road work has only just started, and since the Ist April last 1 mile 31 chains of bushfelling and clearing has been done and 2 miles 35 chains engineered. Waikereru Road (Mecaliekstone Block). —3 miles 14 chains of bush was felled and cleared on this road last year; but during the past period nothing beyond engineering-work has been done. 2 miles 24} chains were graded and pegged. Burling's-Mecalickstone Road. —Very little has been done on this road during the year just gone. 46 chains has been maintained, 280 cubic yards of slips cleared, 36 chains of water-tables opened, and a ford over Main Creek 1 chain in length metalled. One large culvert is now under construction, and the road is being proceeded with. Pttketoi Road (Christchurch Block). —A new road just commenced, and one mile of bush has been felled and cleared. Utewai Road (Christchurch Block). —During the year 21 chains of scrub-felling and clearing has been done, also 21 chains of formation, and 22 chains graded and pegged ; 4 miles 16 chains of road was maintained; two culverts laid, one 9 in. by 9 in. and one 12 in. by 12 in., a total length of 38 ft.; 412 cubic yards of slips cleared ; 3 miles 10 chains of water-tables opened ; 20 cubic yards of rock excavated ; and 5 chains of drains made. Otawhao Road. —This road, for which a sum was granted to the Kumeroa Boad Board, has been finally completed during the year. The road is a horse-road, 6 ft. wide, 1 mile 59 chains in length. Makairo Road. —A quantity of work of a varied description has been done on this road during the year. One mile has been graded and pegged; one mile and three-quarters of scrub has been felled and cleared ; 71 chains of dray-road formed 16 ft. wide ; 5 chains widened by 5 ft.; 12 chains metalled 4 ft. wide; 12 miles of road was maintained; two culverts placed, one 10 in. by 12 in. and one 12 in. by 12 in., 40 ft. in length ; 3,235 cubic yards of slips disposed of; 2 miles 9J chains of water-tables opened, and 3,085 cubic yards of rock excavated; and, in addition, 979 cubic yards of other excavating done. Pahiatua West Village Settlement. —The sum of £75 has been granted to the Pahiatua County Council, but so far has not been used. Tiraumea Bridge (Hull's Crossing). —This bridge, which is a truss bridge of one span of 108 ft. and two land spans of 29 ft. each, was completed last year, but not finally passed until April last. It affords access to Thompson's Boad, Ngaturi, Woodville-Aohanga, Makairo, and Tiraumea Valley Boads. Malton Block. —The only work done on this block during the year has been bushfelling and clearing, and of this, 3 miles 13 chains has been felled 66 ft. and cleared 33 ft. Want of funds has prevented any formation being done. Ballance to Manawatu Gorge Road. —When my last annual report was furnished work on this road had only just commenced. During the year 4 chains of bush has been felled and cleared, 8-J- chains formed 14 ft. and 16 ft. wide, 82 cubic yards of slips cleared, and 5,169 cubic yards of rock excavated. Timber has been provided for the erection of a large bridge. The first 40 chains of this road was very expensive, owing to the presence of rocky cliffs, and the fact that two large-sized bridges had to be erected within this distance. Pahiatua-Paimerston Road. —Nothing has been done on this road for some months past, but since the commencement of the year the following has been undertaken : 6 chains of bush was felled and cleared, 1 mile 24 chains widened, 4 chains of metalling, nine miles maintained, one 4 ft. 12 in. by 12 in. culvert placed, 265 cubic yards of slips removed, 22f chains of corduroying work, 3 chains of drains made, and 6 chains of embankments formed. Mangaramarama Road. —Two miles and a half of road were maintained, 7 chains of metalling done, and a large amount of work, such as replacing, blinding, raking in, and breaking metal, has been put through. North Tiraumea Road. —During the period 70 chains of road was maintained, chains of drains was made, and the metalling kept in order. Nothing is being done at present. Woodville-Aohanga Road. —The year's work comprises 12 chains of bush felled and cleared, 106 chains of formation ; 1 chain of metalling; five miles and a half of maintenance; two culverts placed, 12 in. by 12 in., 20 ft. in length; 995 cubic yards of slips cleared; 4 miles 6 chains of water-tables opened; 2 chains of corduroying work ; and 1 chain of drains made. Makuri Township Roads. —One mile and a half of maintenance has been done; one 3 ft. wire suspension-bridge, 74 ft. in length, erected; one culvert, 10 in. by 8 in., 20 ft. in length, has been placed ;10 chains of water-tables opened; and 2 chains of embankments formed. Toritea-Makuri Road. —The whole length of the road, seventeen miles, was maintained during the year. About 4 chains of metalling was done, and the road generally kept in repair by the extensive use of a great quantity of metal; 8 chains was widened; 2,212 cubic yards of slips cleared; 15 miles 26 chains of water-tables opened; 250 cubic yards of rock excavated ; and 55 chains of drains made. The above road is now in first-class order for wheeled traffic. Mangaone Valley Road. —During the past year seven miles of road was maintained, 122 cubic yards of slips was cleared, 89 chains of water-tables was opened, and 20 chains of drains made. There is nothing doing on this road at present.