c.—i.

which had to be silled in concrete. This is a substantial structure, built of totara and matai. The approaches were made and gravelled by day labour. The erection of this bridge has proved a boon to settlers, who now run no risk in fording the river when in flood. Woodlands (Purakauiti No. 1) Improved-farm Settlement. Very little roadwork has been done in this settlement —just an extension of 3 chains over a deep gully to give access to Section 22. The area felled only amounted to 27-J acres, which has been burnt and grassed. liimu Improved-farm Settlement.—Eoad-formation works have been continued in this block. Two contracts have been completed, and three are now in progress ; 134 acres of bush have been felled, burnt, and sown down in grass. Heathfield Improved-farm Settlement. —Little work has been done on this settlement during the year. . Only 25 acres were felled, burnt, and sown down in grass. An unexpended balance still remains in hand, which I purpose using, if approved, in further bushfelling during the ensuing winter. Waipati Improved-farm Settlement.—During the year 18 chains of road were widened from 10 ft. to 14 ft., and 162-J- acres of bush felled, burned, and grassed. Karitane Recreation Reserve Protective Works.—The work consists of a sea-wall about 10 chains in length, which was built under the supervision of the Karitane Domain Board, and for which a progress-payment of £lB 15s. has been passed. Water of Leith Protective Works.—The sum of £145 was expended by the Maori Hill Borough Council in several small contracts. The work consisted of pointing and keying the old wall for a distance of 274 ft., removing stones from the bed of stream and building a rough retaining-wall with them, and diverting stream to cut off a bend in one place. Matau River Protective Works.—This work was carried out under a grant issued to the Inch-Clutha Eiver Board. The work consisted of the erection of 16 chains of flood-bank at Mr. James Bell's farm, Inch-Clutha. The quantity of earth contained in the bank is 4,800 cubic yards. Works are now in progress for the balance of the vote. Ptirchase of Land for Roads.—£Bs ss. Id. was expended on the purchase and fencing of a deviation-road through Sections 12 and 13, Block IV., Catlin's District, to give access to settlers, who have been for the last fifteen years compelled to carry in their provisions on their backs and trespass on their neighbours' properties. Beaumont 810ck.—64 chains of this road were gravelled with this grant by the Tuapeka County Council, commencing near Beaumont Eiver and going towards Miller's Plat. Catlin's (Blocks IV., V, VII., VIII.). —This vote was spent on two roads known as Ford's Eoad and Scadden's Eoad. Ford's Eoadis a deviation of the original, which proved to be impracticable. Its length is 44 chains, half of which has been felled and formed, the remainder being in course of construction. Scadden's Eoad has now been completed to Catlin's Eiver, where a good ford will serve the purposes of all traffic for some time to come. Manukau Island Wharf. —A grant of £25 was issued to the Manukau Island Domain Board, and with this money they extended the jetty 10 ft., and filled in the back with stonework. Lawrence-Waitahuna.—This vote was expended in gravelling the worst portions of the road between Lawrence and Waitahuna. The length of gravelling was 75 chains. Peninsula Beach Road.—This work is a continuation of that carried out few years ago by prison labour. The length formed is a little over 2 chains by 14 ft. wide, the material for which consists almost entirely of stone, which had to be quarried out of the cliff near by. Facing the harbour a sea-wall had to be built to a height of 6ft., which had to be faced with stone of suitable size to prevent the action of the water carrying away the road. This work was carried out under the supervision of Foreman P. Fitzpatrick. John Hay, Chief Surveyor.

SOUTHLAND. Mr. Falkiner reports as follows : Lake Te Anaii-Sutherland Falls. —Messrs. Soss Brothers have taken a contract to keep this track in repair for four years. The portion of the track from Te Anau to McKinnon's Pass has not been formed, but is now in course of construction. Tracks to Western Sounds.—From this vote the construction of the new through track from Te Anau to Milford is being carried out. The work is proceeding in a very satisfactory manner, 3 miles 60 chains of the roughest portion of the track having been completed during the year. The track is now formed from Milford to McKinnon's Pass, and the men are now working on the south side of the pass, where I have laid off a good grade of lin6 to Mintaro. Work is also proceeding on two other portions of the track nearer Lake Te Anau. The track should be completed by the end of 1901. With regard to bridges on the torrent and river-beds, I think that, with the exception of the Arthur Eiver, no large or expensive bridges will be required. Waikawa-Catlin's (Main Road). —This road has been surfaced and repaired during the year, and 42£ chains metalled. I spent some days looking for gravel along the road, but was not successful in finding any quantity. A contract was let for the supply of 400 cubic yards of metal, which is proceeding slowly. The work is being carried out by the Heathfield settlers. Winton, Block VIII. —65f chains have been formed and 51 chains gravelled, also 18 chains of bushfelling. There was one co-operative contract let on this work, but the men threw it up, as outside work at better pay was available. West Plains Road.— chains of road-formation from side drains was done by one co-operative contract. Waikiwi.—One co-operative contract for ditching was carried out on this road. Otatara. —One co-operative contract for drainage is in hand. Invercargill Hundred, Blocks IV., IX., X , XIV., XV, XVII., XX., XXII., XXIII.—Two co-operative and one open contract have been let on these works. The co-operative contracts are completed.

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