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During the year's operations no new country has been entered, and nothing particularly interesting from either a topographical or geological point of view has been met with. C. W. Huesthouse, Eoad Surveyor.

HAWKE'S BAY. The total length of roads constructed in the district during the year is 69-J miles. In addition, 2 miles 61 chains of dray-road and 3 miles 54 chains of bridle-road have been improved, and 155 miles of road maintained. Of the 69f miles constructed, 25£ miles have been made by local bodies out of grants, the plans, specifications, &c, having been approved by the department. The balance, 44 miles, has been constructed principally by co-operatives working under the supervision of officers of the department. Bimanga-Pohue. —Thirty-nine miles of this portion of the Napier-Taupo Eoad has been maintained. Owing to the heavy rains at the time of the Easter flood great damage was done to this road, the bridge at Mohaka being carried away, and a number of small bridges and culverts destroyed. Owing to the Mohaka Bridge being destroyed it was necessary to put a canoe on the river, and make approaches so that coaches could cross the river, and several small bridges and a number of culverts had to be rebuilt. I also found that the road required more culverts, miles of it not being culverted. I have put in a number of 9 in. pipe culverts, and the road generally is in good order. It will be necessary to endeavour to ease the grade on some of the hills, as they are very steep and dangerous—in fact, some accidents have occurred to coaches and wagons on the Titi-o-kura cutting. Napier-Wairoa.- —3 miles 50 chains of al4 ft. and 20 ft. dray-road has been constructed, with twenty-nine culverts, and the portion constructed last year maintained, the work being done by co-operative labour, working under an overseer, Mr. Marshall having supervision of the road. On the Wairoa side of Mohaka the road is completed to the pa, and I have handed it over to the Wairoa County Council. Botorua-Galatea-Waikaremoana. —B miles 69 chains of bridle-road, Bft. to 10 ft. wide, has been constructed, with necessary culverts, thirty-four of which have been put in, their total length being 693 ft. This is a continuation of the road from Onepoto round Lake Waikaremoana. It is now completed to Aniwaniwa, so that access is given to the beautiful falls on that stream, from which the road junctions to Gisborne, and the track starts over the hill to Waikare-iti. This road goes through very hard, rough, forest country, and is expensive to construct, but will not cost much to maintain. It has all been constructed by co-operative labour, working under the supervision of Mr. Strauchon. Qisborne-Waikaremoana. —14 miles 44 chains of an Bft. and 10ft. bridle-road, with necessary culverts, have been constructed by co-operative labour, the work being under the supervision of the District Surveyor, Mr. Llewellyn Smith, and Messrs. Mouatt and Martin Smith. This road junctions with the Botorua-Galatea-Waikaremoana Eoad at Aniwaniwa, and is being worked from both ends, 3 miles 72 chains having been constructed at the Aniwaniwa end, and 10 miles 52 chains from Hangaroa side, leaving 31-J miles to complete communication through from Gisborne to Waikaremoana, which I hope will be completed during the year. The road runs generally through forest country, so is rather expensive to construct, but when completed will open up some Crown lands, and be of great advantage to settlers and travellers. Muriwai-Mahia.—l mile 17 chains of a 14 ft. dray-road has been constructed, and three culverts put in, the work being done by the Cook County Council out of a grant of £200. This is a continuation of the Muriwai-Mahia dray-road, the work being carried out under the supervision of the County Engineer. Tauivhareparae-Arakihi. —2 miles 54 chains of a 12 ft. dray-road has been constructed, under a grant to the Cook County Council. The work was carried out under the supervision of the county engineer, on plans, &c, approved by the department. It is a continuation of the Tauwhareparae-Arakihi Eoad, and gives good road-access to Crown tenants in the neighbourhood. Tolago-Arakihi. —l mile 7 chains of a 12 ft. dray-road, with thirty culverts, has been constructed, by the Cook County Council, out of a grant, the work being carried out under the supervision of the county engineer, on approved plans. This is a continuation of the Tolago-Arakihi dray-road, which on completion to its junction with the Waimata-Arakihi (which can be constructed at a cost of about £700) will give through communication from Tolago Bay, via Waimata, to Gisborne, which will be of great advantage to settlers. Oisborne-Waimata. —l mile 6 chains of a bad portion of the road has been metalled by the Cook County Council, out of a grant. Gisborne, via Tolago Bay, to Hicks' Bay. —2 miles 20 chains of a 12 ft. dray-road, and 7 miles 75 chains of an 8 ft. and 10 ft. bridle-road, with necessary culverts, have been constructed by the Waiapu and Cook Coutity Councils out of grants, the work being carried out under the supervision of their engineers, on plans approved by the department. Motu Boad (widening).—4 miles 27 chains of the Ormond-Opotiki horse-road has been widened to a 12 ft, and 14 ft. dray#road. The work has been done by co-operatives working under the supervision of the District Surveyor and Mr. Martin Smith. This is a continuation of the drayroad from Gisborne, from which town it is now constructed for forty-four miles, which brings it to the centre of the Motu Settlement, and should be of great advantage to the settlers. This road should be constructed through to the Motu Village, some nine miles from the termination of the present construction. 32 chains of horse-track has also been constructed, to give a settler access, the work having been done by a settler.