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Punehu Bridge. —Over Punehu Stream, Bltham Road, near Opunake. At request of Waimate Boad Board, plans and specifications for this bridge were prepared in this office. Tenders were invited, the timber to be a special class of rimu, cut from trees growing high up on slopes of Mount Bgmont. In April, 1900, a tender was accepted, and the work will be proceeded with. Patea River Bridge, Ball Boad.—Maben Boad having been chosen by settlers in Opaku and Bangiwhakaoma Blocks as their outlet, the bridge over Patea Biver was not immediately required, and a portion of this vote has been spent in improving the ford over Patea Biver, in making 30 chains of bridle-road (Ball Boad), and in improving one mile of the old bridle-track from Patea Biver up the ridge. Derwent Improved-farm Settlement. —The clearings felled in 1898 were sown with grass-seed in May, 1899, and the following works have been done on the settlement roads during the year: 1 mile 39 chains of bridle-road formation ; 1 mile 40 chains of bridle-road widened and improved ; 8 chains of drains cut, and three miles of bridle-roads maintained. Okau Improved-farm Settlement.—The formation of a good serviceable bridle-road is being proceeded with through this settlement, not only to benefit the remaining settlers, but also to give access to Mangatawa Block inland of Okau. 1 mile 63 chains of bridle-road has been formed; twenty-three culverts, 293 lineal feet, made and fixed; 18 chains of drains cut, the clearings made last year grassed, a settler's house erected, and two miles and a half of bridle-road maintained. Formation and culvert work is still in progress. Greenlands Improved-farm Settlement. —In anticipation of roadworks, 5 miles 12 chains of engineering surveys have been made; 1 mile of bridle-road formed ; two culverts constructed. Formation work is in progress. At an old survey camp in the settlement a patch of blackberry made its appearance and quickly spread over about half an acre of ground. It has been cut out and burned, and the young plants will be exterminated as they show themselves. Uruti Improved-farm Settlement. —Plans and specifications for a dray-bridge over Mimi Stream on the service road through this settlement were prepared, and the bridge is being constructed. Burfoot Improved-farm Settlement.—A bridle-road has been formed giving access to all sections in this settlement. 1 mile 71 chains has been formed; twenty-one culverts, 210 lineal feet; made and fixed ; 190 cubic yards of slips removed, and two miles of road maintained. Whangamomona Improved-farm Settlement.—During the past year 460 acres felled the previous year was sown with grass-seed, and 223 additional acres on occupied sections was felled and burned, and will be sown with grass-seed next month. On Prospect Boad (one of the service roads) 2 miles 12 chains of engineering surveys and plans was made; 2 miles 2 chains of Bft. bridle-road was formed ; thirteen culverts, 431 lineal feet, made and placed in position; and the whole length of road maintained. For Mangare Boad (another service road), plans and specifications for dray-bridge over Awahou Stream have been prepared, material is being got ready, and the bridge will shortly be erected. Within the settlement, on its service roads, 5 miles 20 chains has been maintained. Mangaere, Huiroa, Maata, Ngaire, and Poti Improved-farm Settlements. —These settlements are now self-supporting, and need no further special assistance from Government funds. The roads in connection with them are under control of local bodies, and maintained out of rates. Taumatatahi Improved-farm Settlement.—On Waitotara Valley Boad. One of our most successful settlements, held by hard-working pushing men, who are all residing on their farms, and practically independent. The short service road leading to back sections from Waitotara Boad has been put in order, and will need but little more attention. Putiki Block.— Includes Tooi, Mangaongaonga, Mangahia, and Te Beinga Boads. The felling, stumping, and clearing of Tooi Bioad (seven miles) has been completed, and a bridle-road is being formed from Putiki to Greenlands Improved-farm Settlement. Okoke Block.—Work done for the year includes 3 miles 41 chains engineering surveys on Okoke and Kaka Boads, 41 chains formation of dray-road, and four miles and a half maintenance of bridle-roads. Work was discontinued in February to release men for harvesting operations, but will shortly be resumed. Kaipikari Block. —There has been 2 miles 56 chains of Kaipikari Boad felled, stumped, and cleared, 1 mile 47 chains of bridle-road formed, and further formation is in progress. Piko Block.—lncludes part of Kaipikari Boad, also Piko, Mangapito, and Hogan Boads. Of these latter three roads 4 miles 48 chains has been felled, stumped, and cleared, and on Piko Boad 25 chains of bridle-road has been formed. Work was suspended early in February, but is now resumed. Egmont, Block VI. —Within the block 28 chains of dray-road has been formed, five culverts made, and two miles of roads maintained, in addition to works already mentioned on Kent and Maude Boads leading to this block. Patua Block. —Our funds being limited, we could attend only to the most pressing works on the roads within this block. 12 chains of dray-road and 35 chains of bridle-roads has been formed, ten culverts (220 lineal feet) made and fixed, 85 chains of felling, stumping, and clearing done. Work is in progress on Carrington Boad—formation and culverts; and on Plymouth Boad—felling, stumping, clearing, and formation. Putikituna Block. —One mile of Vera Boad in the block has been felled, stumped, and cleared, and a pack-track made along it. Plans and specifications for a dray-bridge over Whangamomona Stream, Vera Boad, have been prepared, the material is ordered, and the bridge will shortly be erected, Hurimoana Block.—ln continuation of last year's work, 3 miles 32 chains of Whitianga and Pukeko Boads has been felled, stumped, and cleared; 3 miles 60 chains of bridle-road formed; two bridges, in length 69ft., erected; forty-seven culverts—7oBft.—made and fixed; and the whole

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