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APPENDIX No. 3.—EOADS.

EXTRACTS FBOM BEPOETS OF CHIEF SUBVEYOBS AND OTHEBS ON BOAD CONSTBUCTION AND MAINTENANCE FOB THE TWELVE MONTHS ENDED 31st MABCH, 1898.

AUCKLAND. Main Eoads, Noeth Shoeb-Awanui. About forty miles of the Great North Road passes through Mongonui County. From Awanui to Mongonui two bridges have been renewed, and all the culverts have been repaired or renewed. The old metalling has been rounded up in worst places, and the road throughout put in fair order. There are still, however, several miles of metalling required, and several of the bridges are getting too rotten to repair. The road between Mongonui and the Whangaroa boundary is not available for wheel traffic. With this year's grant portions of the road are being improved, and as further sums become available the formation will be continued, so as to make it fit for cart traffic. In Whangaroa County, from Mongonui County boundary to Kaeo, the road is not yet available for wheel traffic, but I trust with next year's grant the formation will be completed. This year the embankments across Mangrove Swamp were widened to 14 ft. Prom Kaeo to Bay of Islands County boundary is passable for wheel traffic, but there are several places that require widening to make it safe. The total length of road through this county is twenty-five miles. In Bay of Islands County the length of this main road is about fifty miles. From Whangaroa County boundary to Ohaewai is available for wheel traffic, though not formed throughout. This year about two miles have been formed, and the Waipapa Bridge has been erected. From Ohaewai to Kawakawa the road is in fair order, having been metalled throughout. From Kawakawa to Towai the road is being metalled in places, and the bridges have been repaired and the road kept in good order. From Towai to Whangarei County boundary is not metalled, but it has been put in fair order. I propose to make some deviations on this portion of the road, as several places on the present line are under water in winter. "Whangarei County contains about sixty miles of this road. From the northern boundary to Whakapara terminus of the present railway-line the road is formed, and in places metalled. This year some of the worst stretches have been metalled and repaired, but the road throughout requires considerable work to complete it, as in winter several parts are under water. From Whakapara to Whangarei is in fair order, most of the road being metalled. From Whangarei to Mangapai is nearly all metalled and in good order. From Mangapai to Waipu is only metalled in places. The greater portion of this year's vote was expended in metalling and constructing the road through the Buakaka Gorge. From Waipu to the Otamatea County boundary the bridges and road have been repaired. In Otamatea County there are about thirty miles of this road. From the Whangarei boundary to Maungaturoto is in fair order, the worst places having been metalled. Between Maungaturoto and Kaiwaka most of the grant has been expended in re-forming portions of the road, rebuilding bridges, putting in culverts, and metalling some of the worst places. The men are still at work between these points. From Kaiwaka to Topinui Bridge, two bridges which were destroyed by fire have been replaced by large culverts and fillings, and the road is being repaired throughout. In Bodney -County the length of this road is sixty miles. From the northern boundary to Wellsfcxrd the worst places have been repaired, but there still remains a portion of the road to form, which I shall put in hand shortly, and metalling is also much needed in many parts. From Wellsford to Warkworth is now in fair order, about half being metalled, and metalling of the rest is urgently required. From Warkworth to Waiwera the road is about half metalled. It is at present in fair order with the exception of what is known as Turntable Hill. I have not done much to this portion, as there is a considerable amount of timber being at present carted over it which would speedily cut up any new work. In Waitemata County there are about twenty-four miles of this main road. Most of the work has been carried out between Waiwera and Wade in general repairs and metalling. At present it is in fair order for wheel traffic, but, I fear, will be considerably cut up during the winter months, as very little of it is metalled. General repairs have been made between Wade and Lake Takapuna; portions have been re-formed, and are now being pipeclayed, and about a quarter of a mile metalled. The Great North Eoad throughout has, with this year's expenditure, been much improved. Gebat South Eoad. The vote granted for this road is being chiefly expended in repairs. From Papatoetoe Creamery to Manurewa Station the road was laid with scoria several years ago, which is now worn through. The funds available will not allow of metalling it, considering the repairs required elsewhere. Three miles will have to be done, at a cost of about £200. From Manurewa to Mercer men have been employed in general repairs, rounding up the road and filling in the centre with the loose metal from the sides; some of the culverts have been taken up and cleaned out and relaid. I trust