o.—i.

consisted of bushfelling and clearing 75 chains, formation (6 ft. wide) 45f chains, ten culverts of a total length of 113 ft., stumping 19 chains, cutting 30 chains of drains, making 2 chains of embankments, grassing 4 miles 20 chains, clearing slips 534 cubic yards, excavating rocks 656 cubic yards, and the maintenance of four miles of horse-road. A suspension-bridge over the Waihi River, and also one over the Omangaru River, are asked for by the settlers, as a school is to be erected in the locality, and many children will not be able to attend unless the bridges are built. Kaivakawa Road (Akitio Improved-farm Settlement). —Two miles and a half of engineering surveys have been completed on this road. The other constructive works undertaken were the formation, 6 ft. wide, of 2 miles 26 chains ; the construction of forty culverts, of a total length of 445 ft.; cutting 11J chains of drains; making 2 chains of embankments; stumping 150 chains ; and widening the track to a width of 6 ft. for a distance of 3 miles 40 chains. This road is now completed as a horse-road, and connects with the Kaituna and Akitio Roads. Waihi Falls Road (Akitio Im-proved-farm Settlement). —The works undertaken during year the on this road were the formation, 6ft. wide, of chains; the construction of four culverts, of a total length of 53 ft.; and the maintenance of 1 mile 25 chains of horse-road. The road is now completed as far as formation is concerned. A suspension-bridge is needed over the Waihi River, which would enable settlers to get to their holdings at any time, whereas now they are prevented from doing so when the river is in a state of flood. Castle Point Landing-shed.—During the year a new shed has been built. Kawatau North Road (Hautapu-Ruahine No. 2 Block). —A distance of 1 mile 64 chains of bushfelling and clearing has been done, but it is not available for horse traffic until formed. General. —During the year ninety-six miles of engineering surveys has been made ; thirty-one miles of dray-road and thirty-six miles of bridle-road constructed ; twenty bridges of all sizes, of a total length of 909 ft., built; thirty-two miles of dray-road and seven miles of bridle-road improved ; and 202 miles of dray-road and 170 miles of bridle-road maintained. Three hundred and seventy co-operative contracts have been let and completed, thirty-eight being still in hand. In the office, engineering plans and quantities of forty-five miles of road have been prepared ; 3,536 letters have been received, and 3,464 have been despatched; and 2,320 vouchers, representing an expenditure of £40,969, have deen dealt with. Robebt H. Reaney, Road Surveyor.

NELSON. Pakawau-Tamatea.— The works executed by the Collingwood County Council out of this vote are as follows : 56 chains formation, 16ft. wide; scrub and gorse cleared 32ft. wide; two small bridges, 12 ft. and 8 ft. respectively ; three culverts, and 56 chains of metalling. Olifton-Pohara Beach.—This work was also carried out by the Collingwood County Council. Pohara-Awaroa Track.—The expenditure of this grant was intrusted to the same local body, but has not yet been started. The Council reports that tenders are to be called for almost immediately. Takaka Roads and Bridges. —No expenditure has been incurred out of this item during the year, the County Council desiring to have the amount transferred to the Motupipi Bridge. Waitapu Survey District, Block I.—The Collingwood County Council has been furnished by the department with plans of the road, and tenders will be invited at an early date. Biwaka-Takaka Hill.—-The Waimea County Council has expended the vote on general improvements to this eight miles of road. Richmond-Gollingwood (Main Road). —This item is equally divided in grants to the Waimea and Collingwood County Councils, but neither body has as yet commenced work; the latter reports having contracts drawn up, and proposes to call for tenders at once. Riwaka-Sandy Bay-Marahau.—The Riwaka Road Board has expended a portion of the vote, and purposes letting contracts immediately for the formation of 44 chains of 10 ft. dray-road. Riwaka Valley.—The Siwaka Road Board has constructed 35 chains of 14 ft. road with this grant. Brooklyn Valley.—The Riwaka Road Board has made 60 chains of 6 ft. bridle-track, in continuation of work carried out last season. Rawson's Creek Road. —50 chains of 6 ft. bridle-track, in continuation of last year's work, has been formed by the same local body. Okiwi-Ronga Track.—This work will be undertaken by the department, and arrangements are being made for carrying it out at an early date. Ronga Saddle to Whangarae and Onetea.—- This has also been taken in hand by the department, and contracts for the work are now being let. Croixelles-Elaine Bay.—l mile 28 chains of the main horse-track from the French Pass to Okiwi Bay in the Croixelles was formed 5 ft. in width, and 50 chains of this length was through bush, which was felled half a chain wide. This work was carried out by the department under the co-operative system. Works are now about to be continued. Wangamoa. —The Suburban North Road Board has constructed 15 chains of road, 10 ft. wide, and has recently let a contract for gravelling 60 chains. Motueka Valley (£1 for £1). —The Waimea County Council has this authority, but has not let any contracts so far. Tenders have been invited for 9 chains of 16 ft. formation, with catchwater drain, culverts, &c. Upper Moutere Roads. —The Upper Moutere Road Board has constructed 22 chains of 15 ft. road, and improved the grades, on branch roads known as Best's, Gardner's, and Harvey's respectively.

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