C.—l.

Kaeo-Waimate Road.—This is a portion of the Great North Eoad. Since the department have taken charge of the expenditure of this vote a considerable amount of work has been done, but further deviations are still required to improve the grades, and I trust to do this during the coming year. During this year the road throughout has been maintained. Whangaroa County Roads.—With this grant the County Council have made repairs to the road through the Kaeo Valley in remetalhng and clearing out water-tables under my supervision. Whangaroa Coast Road.—This road connects Whangaroa Township with the settlements to the east. The County have been and are expending the vote in improving the present track by widening; the grades are, however, steep, but the line will be used for light wheel traffic and cattle-droving, the works being under my supervision. Kaeo Parish-Mongonui Parish.—This is a portion of the Great North Road. During the year about four miles of road has been constructed between Puketotara and the Oruaiti Eiver, and some of the narrow cuttings have been widened. This now permits a buggy being driven along, but it is still a very risky undertaking, and further moneys are required to carry out the widening. Between Pupuke and Kaeo I would recommend a deviation to avoid a bad part of the line and obtain an almost level road into Kaeo, along the mud-flats. Hayter's-Morrow's.-—About 40 chains of road was constructed to give settlers access to the present road leading into Kawakawa; it will also form a portion of a line to open up further Crown lands. Hukerenui-Kaeo Parish.—About a mile and a half of road has been constructed near the Waipapa Eiver, and the road throughout has been kept in fair order. There are several deviations still required to ease the grades and improve the line, and if funds are available I propose carrying them out next year. Ruapekapeka-W aiotu Bridge.—The Bay of Islands County Council have been expending this vote in the construction of about a mile and a quarter of road, and a bridge over the Waipukakahau Stream. This line was a part of the old Great North Eoad, and is now used a good deal during winter by the travelling public. The works have been under my supervision. Motatau. —About three-quarters of a mile of bridle-track has been formed to give access to settlers in Block XII., Motatau, being a branch of the Ramarama Valley Eoad, near Towai. Ramarama Valley.—This road has been formed an average of 10 ft. wide from the Towai School to its junction with the Jordan Eoad leading into Hikurangi. To make it safe for wheel traffic several improvements are still required. All the land adjacent to this road has been taken up. Hukerenui South-Waiotu Valley. Three-quarters of a mile of this road has been constructed, which now gives a fair road for the settlers in the Waiotu Valley to the Hukerenui Eailway-station. Waipu-Hukerenui is a portion of the Great North Eoad. The grant has been mostly expended between Hukerenui and Whakapara, and the works are described under that name. Ngapipito. —When this road is formed throughout, connecting the Great North Eoad at Scoria Plat, near Kakakawa, with Kaikohe, it will take a great deal of the traffic now passing over the Great North Eoad, as it will be both a shorter road to Hokianga and a more level line. During the year one bridge and several culverts were put in, and the portion formed before widened and improved. Any further grant I propose expending in connecting the road-construc-tion towards Kaikohe. Opua-Waimate. —A considerable number of slips, owing to the formation of the ground, continued to come down at the Opua end of this road, necessitating the whole top of the hill being cut down to prevent further damage. This has made a good wide road near the railway-station, which acts as a lead for cattle whilst being shipped at the wharf. During the year the road has been maintained throughout, and a branch line made to connect the line with a road leading into Kawakawa. Waitangi-Kaikohe.—The Bay of Islands County have expended the vote in improving about 30 chains of road by re-forming and metalling under my supervision. Kaikohe-Taheke.—General repairs and metalling near the Kaikohe Township have been carried out by the Bay of Islands County Council under my supervision. Ohaeivai-Kaikohe. —With this grant about a quarter of a mile of road at the Ohaewai end of the line has been metalled. Ohaewai-Okaihau. —During the year about 58f chains were improved, the work being carried out through the Bay of Islands County Council. This road will ultimately be considered the Great North Eoad, as it runs through the centre of the Island, whilst the present Great North Eoad keeps along the coast. Utakura Road Deviation. —There was a considerable dispute among the settlers as to the best route for this line, and the matter was ultimately left for me to decide. This I have done by taking the route nearest to the present line. Works have been begun at the foot of the hill, and carried on to where the new line joins the old one, so that when the bridges and culverts required are made it can be utilised for wheel traffic during the present winter, and thus avoid some of the most dangerous parts on the present road. Herekino.—Some improvements have been made to the roads in this settlement, and the whole have been kept open for traffic. Herekino-Whangape. —Two miles and three-quarters of this road has been widened into a cart-road, and the rest of the bridle-track has been maintained. The Herekino settlers are anxious for this road to be made, as they state that the steamer will then come into Whangape Harbour for their produce. Whangape, Section 55, Block Vll.—This road was constructed so as to give access to settlers, and connect the Herekino-Takahue Eoad with the Herekino-Ahipara Eoad. Te Aivaroa North. —An engineering survey of about seventeen miles of road through this block was made. The line will open up a considerable area of Crown lands, and will connect the

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