3

C—B

Awaiti Block. The work in this district has been principally maintenance. The metalling of the Awaiti Road was completed to the Pukahu Road intersection, a total distance of 41 chains. In March a commencement was made with the metalling of the Awaiti West Road, 5 chains being completed. Tahuna District. Maintenance and repair work have been attended to, and 1.0,296 cubic yards of spoil have been carted for refilling and forming the Paeroa-Tahuna, West, and Whakahoro Roads. Patetonga District. Most of the main outlet drains in this district have been deepened and the usual maintenancework attended to. 4,519 cubic yards of spoil were carted to complete the Patetonga Road. Fascines have been laid for a distance of 32 chains on the Mangawhero Road, and 3,980 cubic yards of spoil carted to form the road-bed. Other undertakings included the construction of two road-bridges and the approaches to the concrete bridge at Kaihere, maintenance and running of the Patetonga Tramway, and the extension of the line for a distance of half a mile to new spoil-pit. A concrete apron has been placed to arrest the scour at the Waikaka Road Bridge. The amount of £533 was received during the year for freights on the Patetonga Tram. Roads. The main roads through the district now carry a concentrated and ever-increasing traffic. Daily automobile services have been inaugurated, and heavy fast-moving motor-lorries ply regularly. The problem of road-maintenance for this class of traffic is nowhere more difficult than in swamp country, and during the past year it has been necessary to remetal five miles and a half of road, in addition to using a fairly large quantity of metal for repair work. A regular supply of good broken metal is now being obtained from Thames, and is being delivered by the Department's punts and steam-tug. The total length of the metalled or gravelled roads is now 51 miles 26 chains—3 miles 26 chains having been completed during the past year. 30,91.6 cubic yards of spoil were carted for the construction and maintenance of roads through the rjeat area, fifteen miles of clay roads regraded, and three miles and a half of fencing completed. The following is a schedule of roads metalled or remetalled during the year : — New metalling— M. eh. Netherton-Awaiti Road .. .. .. .. .. ..041 Ngatea-Pipiroa Road . . .. .. .. .. ..10 Kerepeehi-Kopuarahi Road .. .. .. .. ..10 Ngatea-Puhanga Stop-bank Road. . . . . . .. .. 0 60 Awaiti West Road .. .. .. .. .. ..05 3 26 Remetalling roads— M. eh. Waitafcaruru-Pipiroa Road .. .. .. .. .. 1 65 Kerepeehi-Kopuarahi Road .. .. .. .. .. 2 10 Kerepeehi-Wharepoa Road .. .. .. .. .. 0 15 Ngatea-Pipiroa Road .. .. .. .. .. 1 30 5 40 The total amount of metal received was 18,413 cubic yards (Kauaeranga, 5,827 ; other sources, 12,586). Roads — M. eh. New peat roads clayed .. .. .. .. .. .. 3 59 Reclaying roads .. .. .. .. .. 1 47 5 26 Fascines supplied for roadworks, 19,104. The following metalling programme for the year 1922-23 is proposed : Kerepeehi-Ngatea Road (remetalling); Orchard East Road ; Awaiti West Road (continuation). Drainage. New drains of a total length of 25 miles 2 chains were constructed during the year, making a total of 508 miles 34 chains of drains constructed on the Hauraki Plains to date. Work performed during the Year. Drains. By piecework contract — M. eh. Cleaning drains .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 115 10 Widening and deepening (100,941 cubic yards spoil) .. .. .. 58 72 New drains .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 20 63 194 65

2—C. 8.