C.—l.

Orepuki-Waiau and Orepuki-Wairaurahiri.—These votes were spent in forming and gravelling the road up the east side of the Waiau Biver to the Waiau Ferry Punt. State Forest, Seaivard Bush.—Pour co-operative contracts were completed, and acres of bush fallen, and 8 acres were logged up by day labour. The burn was not very good, owing to the wet season. Seaivard Bush.—One co-operative contract has been carried out on this road. Stewart Island Boads.—Two co-operative contracts are in progress on these roads—bushfelling, formation, and ditching. Stewart Island, Boads to Mines.—One co-operative contract is in progress on this road, cutting a bush-track 12 ft. wide. Mason's Bay Track.—Two co-operative contracts have been let on this track. One of them is completed, and the other progressing satisfactorily. The work is principally ditching, formation, and bridges. Preservation Inlet Boads. —One open contract was let for improvement and completion of present track from Kisbee to Te Oneroa. The work is completed. One co-operative contract for repairs to Wilson's Biver Tramway was also let and completed. Orepuki-Preservation Inlet. —Six co-operative and two open contracts were let and completed during the year. A deviation was cut from Wilson's River across the Kiwi Burn, which shortens the distance by eight miles. Huts have been erected at Bluecliff and Big Biver, bridges put across the big creeks, and other improvements effected. Sealers' Greek Track.—The sum of £5O was spent in repairing and improving this track, so as to allow the Sealers' Creek Mining Company to get their plant and stores along to their claim. The work was done by open tender. Mr. Howorth, Southland County engineer, reports as follows: Hokonui, Section 795.—This work is now finished. It consists of chains of side-cutting and formation, and two 9 in. stone culverts. This new road gives access to small grazing-runs. Hokonui, Henderson's Boad. —1 mile 2 chains of new road has been formed, of which 35 chains has been gravelled. Dipton-Balfour Boad.—The work included in the contracts under this head consists of 72-| chains of formation and gravelling. Centre Bush Village Boad. —30 chains of formation, gravelling, and ditching have been completed. Heddon Bush-Centre Bush Boad. —65 chains of trimming and gravelling have been completed. Mataura-Winton and Channel Boad.—Bl-J- chains of re-forming and gravelling have been completed. Forest Hill Boads. —The work carried out under this vote consists of 68 chains of formation and 'gravelling. Gore-Pukerau Boad.—sl chains of formation and gravelling completed. Oreti-Wrey's Bush Boad.—The work on this road consists of the erection of a new bridge on the Bog Burn. The length is 60 ft., in three spans of 20 ft. each. Line of Hundreds Boad.—so chains of trimming and gravelling have been completed. Otapiri Bridge, Forest Hill.—A new bridge has been erected on the Otapiri Stream, the length being 60 ft., in three spans of 20 ft. Wyndham Valley, Carie to Bew's Boad.—l mile 28 chains of new road have been formed and worst portions metalled. A further vote of £2OO will be required to complete the road. Makarewa-Grove Bush Boad.—Three miles of formation with the road-grader have been completed, of which 60 chains were gravelled. ILongbush-Makarewa, dc. {£l for £1). —Works in these villages have been completed to the extent of 59 chains of formation and gravelling. Mud-flat Boad, Waikiwi (Main North). —This vote, with a balance of £lOO not yet authorised, is to meet the cost of constructing the worst portions of the North Boad at Waikiwi. So far £lOO has been expended in metalling. Waikiwi-Gladstone Boad.—This work is a continuation of the last-mentioned work, and so far 20 chains have been re-formed and metalled. Mill and Flora Boad.—The work is now completed. It consists of 12 chains of formation, double-ditching, and two culverts. Lind's Bridge to Bailway-station. —48 chains of formation and gravelling have been completed. Waimatuku Bush Boad.—The work consists of 22 chains of formation and gravelling. Bainfield Boad.—lB chains of formation, ditching, and gravelling have been completed. Invercargill Hundred Boads.—The work carried out to date consists of chains of roadformation, ditching, and gravelling, where necessary, together with one 18 ft. span bridge and several culverts of various sizes. Waikawa-Fortrose Boad. —The most necessary portions of this road are gradually being closed in. This year another 63 chains have been re-formed and metalled. Waikawa Valley and Waikawa Main Boad.—Altogether 61 chains of very necessary portions of this road have been re-formed and metalled. Waikawa, Block VIII.-—4O chains of this road have been grubbed, formed, and culverted. Balfour Bridge.—This bridge is on the Mataura Biver, and connects Wendonside with the Waiinea line at Balfour. The length of the bridge is 280 ft. (cost about £1 16s. per foot). It is of sufficient width for dray traffic, and will carry with safety the heaviest traction-engines. The piles are of 70 lb. steel rails, two to each pile, and three piles in each row, well braced. The caps, corbels, and beams are of jarrah, which makes an exceedingly strong but light-looking structure. The work was carried out in three weeks by the County Council's bridge gang.

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