G.—l

72

cleared; 9 chains of road formed 12 ft. in width; and one culvert laid, 24 in. by 18 in., 20 ft; in length. Black Greek Road (Te Mara Block). —This road was started in August last, and good work has been done on it during the past year, 108 chains of bush having been felled and cleared ; 11 chains of road formed 10 ft. wide; one log bridge, 22 ft. in length, constructed; two culverts laid, one 12 in. by 12 in. and one 3 ft. by 3 ft., a total length of 26 ft. ; 3 chains of drains made ; 4J chains of embankments formed ; and 51 chains of stumping done. This road gives access to Mr. A. Johnston's sections, also to other lands of the Crown in the Te Mara Block as yet unsold. Mangatariri Road (Kaitangata Block). —167 chains of road has been graded and pegged; 63i chains of bushfelling and clearing has been done; 1 mile 58 chains of road formed 6 ft. wide; one bridge 20 ft. in length and one log bridge 8 ft. in length constructed ; three culverts, 12 in. by 12 in., 31 ft. in length, laid; 1 chain of embankments formed; and 61 cubic yards of rock excavated. Affords access to twenty-two settlers in the valley in this block. It is now being continued, but more funds will be required shortly. Mangatarere-Valley Road. —Out of a grant of £125 to the Taratahi-Carterton Boad Board 53 chains of bush has been felled 66 ft. and cleared 14 ft. wide, and 75 chains of road formed 10 ft. wide, during the past twelve months. The money available was not nearly sufficient to complete the works in accordance with the plans submitted. This will not be passable for horse-traffic during the winter. Waingawa Road (Te Mara Block). —93 chains of bush has been felled and cleared; 4 chains of scrub felled and cleared ; 30J chains of road formed 6 ft. wide; 30 chains of road graded and pegged; two bridges constructed, one plain 20 ft. long and one log 8 ft. in length; five culverts laid, one 12 in. by 18 in., three 18in. by 24in., and one Bft. by 4ft., a total length of 60ft.; and 2 chains of drains were made. This road will give access to Messrs. Gunderson and Christensen's sections, in the Te Mara Block, and to other unsold Crown lands. Waingawa Road (Kaitangata Block). —During the year 4 chains of road was graded and pegged; 4 chains bush felled and cleared; 2 chains formed 12ft. in width; one 12ft. bridge constructed; one 2ft. by 3ft. 6in. culvert placed, 12ft. in length; 2 chains of drains made; and 25 chains of fencing done. North Wairarapa (flood-damages). —£2oo was granted last year to the Wairarapa North County Council to repair flood-damages. This work has been completed. Gladstone-East Coast Road. —The Taratahi-Carterton Eoad Board received a grant of £200 for work on this road, and during the period fifteen miles of water-tables has been opened and a quantity of slips cleared. The whole work of restoring will shortly be completed. Kaiwhata Valley Road. —On this road during the past year 45 chains has been graded and pegged; 48 chains formation; 4 culverts built, three 12 in. by 12 in. and one 12 in. by 18 in., a total length of 60ft.; and 3 chains of embankments formed; one plain bridge, 23ft. in length, erected ; and 50 cubic yards of rock excavated. This road gives access to the settlers in the Bewa Survey District, and passes through Chalmer's Eun. The Wairarapa North County Council received from the Government a subsidy of £62 19s. 2d., and the work is in progress. Rocky Hill-Wainui-oru. —The Taratahi-Carterton Eoad Board, for the purpose of constructing this road, had two grants made to it, one of £200 and the other of £50. Work is being proceeded with, Turner's Road (Wainui-oru). —Two grants, of £200 and £50 respectively, were made to the Taratahi-Carterton Boad Board during the year. Work is being proceeded with. Waiohine Bridge (Matarawa). —This bridge, which is a truss and plain bridge of nine spans, two land spans of 34 ft. each, two truss spans of 58 ft. each, and five spans of 60 ft. each, total length 484 ft., was recently opened by the Hon. the Minister of Lands. The Government gave a subsidy of £1,000 to the Greytown Borough Council to assist in its erection. This bridge is now in use, but has not been finally passed. Waiohine Road (Kaitangata Block). —On this road during the year 96 chains of bush has been felled and cleared; 11 chains road graded and pegged; 10} chains formation done ; one 12 ft.-span bridge, 23 ft. in length, erected; also, one 16 in. by 12 in. culvert, 16 ft. in length, laid. Dalefield Road (Kaitangata Block). —During the past year 30 chains of road has been formed and 30 chains graded and pegged ; 3 chains embankments formed ; and 25 chains 8-wire fencing erected. This road is intended to give access to Messrs. W. G. Waterson and others' holdings and to unsold Crown lands, but more funds will be required than are at present available. There is only sufficient to form the road half-way. Tokomaru Bridge. —Government having granted the sum of £450 to the Horowhenua County Council, the plans and specifications have been inspected and approved, and the bridge, which is 175 ft. in length, consists of two land spans of 12 ft. 6 in. each, two truss spans of 45 ft. each, and one truss span of 60 ft., and is now well under way. Waikanae-Hutt Road. —£100 was granted to the Horowhenua County Council for repairing and metalling the road between Waikanae Bailway-station and the Fruit-growers' Block, and work is nearing completion. A sum of £70 6s. 4d. was granted to the Hutt County Council for expenditure on this road. The money was devoted to clearing and opening up the track from Eikiorangi to the saddle for horse-traffic, and the erection of a plain bridge, 20 ft. span. A sum of £150 was also granted to the Hutt County Council, and is being appropriated in the removal of land-slips snd in opening out the old bridle-track for horse-traffic from the end of the present dray-road, Akatarawa, to the saddle. This road will be a great convenience for horsemen and drivers of stock between the Hutt and Wairarapa wishing to cross to the coast, shortening the distance by many miles, and will be the means of affording employment to many settlers in the district. Whiteman s Valley Road. —In my last report it was stated that 62 chains of this road had yet to be completed 12 ft. in width. 62 chains of 6 ft. horse-track are being widened into al2 ft. dray-road, and metalled 9 ft. wide for a distance of 10 chains on the worst portions of the road.