C.—l.

Matakana Ranges.—Three miles of bridle-track have been constructed. This road gives access to Crown tenants, as well as opening up about 1,000 acres of Crown lands besides other freehold land, and should be steadily improved. "Matakana Banges-Te Aral.—About a mile and a quarter of bridle-track has been constructed. As this road will be a leading district road in the future, and will be the means of opening up a large area of both Crown and freehold lands, further grants should be set aside for its continuation. Matakana, Sections 47 to 108, &c— This road will give access to settlers and sections of Crown lands. About a quarter of a mile of dray-road has been completed. Warkworth-Matakana.—ll chains of bridle-track has been formed and 16 chains improved. Puhoi-Warkworth.—A quarter of mile of this road, which is a part of the Great North Eoad, was re-formed and metalled with stone from adjacent quarry. The metal, a hard sandstone, is the best that can be obtained in the neighbourhood, but does not wear well. Waiwera-Kaiwaka.-—This is also a portion of the Great North Eoad. Works are now being undertaken widening and metalling some of the worst places, and 4 chains has been completed. A considerable expenditure is still required on this line, as not half of it has been metalled, and without metal it cuts up very badly with the wheel traffic. Port Albert-Wellsford Junction:— This vote has been expended in metalling about 25 chains of road. Owing to the cheap steamer-fares now ruling between Warkworth and Auckland, there is considerable traffic on this road. Tazihoa, Blocks X. and Xl.—This road is for the purpose of giving access to settlers. During the year five miles was widened into a dray-road. Ahuroa-Komokoriki.—Under my supervision, the Rodney County Council have expended the grant in constructing and metalling about 10 chains of road, and building one culvert. Waiwera-Topini Bridge (Main Eoad). —Most of this grant is being expended in metalling the road near the Hoteo Bridge, and in widening narrow portions, and in general improvements. Five miles yet remain unmetalled, and as there is considerable wheel traffic between Wellsford and Warkworth the road ought both to be widened and metalled throughout, for at present it is impossible for two traps to pass. Makarau Bailway-station.—The Kaukapakapa Eoad Board have constructed about a quarter of a mile of road into a cart-road. Makarau Bridge, West Coast.—This bridge, which was damaged by floating timber, has been practically rebuilt, and two spans of 30 ft. each made into two spans of 60 ft., so as to give plenty of opening for floating of timber and rafts. Kaukapakapa-Port Albert.—-This grant has been expended in re-forming about two miles of road. Opanake-Hokianga Road.—This road is now formed throughout, and is fit for wheel traffic during the summer months, several vehicles and coaches having been through this year. To keep the road open during the winter some of the worst places must be metalled and the culverts renewed. This is the only dray-road connecting Eawene and the Hokianga Harbour with Dargaville, and opens up a large area of Crown lands. Avoca Settlement.—Half a mile of dray-road and two miles of bridle-track were made during the year to give access to this settlement and improve the roads through the settlement. Opanake-Mongonui Bluff. —The Hobson County Council constructed a mile and a half of the present bridle-track into a dray-road, rebuilt one bridge, and maintained the line throughout. Mangatu.—The money expended during the year out of this grant was spent in improvements to the Opanake-Hokianga Eoad, which runs through the centre of the settlement, works on which have already been reported upon. Mangatu Special Settlement.—This road, having good grades, will, when finished, be the main road from the railway-line to the Mongonui Bluff and West Coast. The road has been constructed, but several bridges and culverts have got to be made. Mangawhare-Opanake.—One mile of this road adjacent to the railway-line was constructed and one mile improved. This line is much used for driving stock, and is, in fact, the only road between Dargaville and the terminus of the railway. Work was carried out by the Hobson County Council. Dargaville-Kaihohe.—Under my supervision the Hobson County Council are laying out and constructing this line, which opens up a considerable area of land. The route lies midway between the Opanake-Hokianga Eoad and the Wairoa Eiver. The line has been cleared a chain wide, and during the year about half a mile was formed into a dray-road. Dargaville-Aratapu.—Ten chains of road has been metalled by the Hobson County Council out of this grant under my supervision. . Dargaville-Tangiteroria.—During the year about half a mile of cart-road was formed. Aratapu Main Read.—About a mile of this road has been improved and metalled, the work having been carried out through the Hobson County Council. Te Kopuru-Tikinui.—Three-quarters of a mile of this road has been constructed, through the Hobson County Council. The line connects the two settlements on the Wairoa Eiver. Te Kopuru-Kaipara Heads.—This is a continuation of the Te Kopuru-Tikinui Eoad towards the Kaipara Heads. Out of this grant half a mile of dray-road has been made, through the Hobson County Council. Mititair-Tokatoka.—Hali a mile of this road has been constructed, through the Hobson County Council. Further works will be carried out as soon as the necessary deviations are secured to obtain the best grades. Arapohue. —The grant has been expended, through the Hobson County Council, in metalling about half a mile of road from the Mititai Wharf towards the Arapohue Settlement. Ukahu. —About a mile and a half of bridle-track has been constructed, through the Hobson County Council, improving the main road through the Okahu Parish and in erecting two bridges.

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