3

0.-8

216 chains, and good progress made with the permanent stop-bank road on the western bank of the canal. The Mahuta drain and several important outlets have been deepened, and 4,328 fascines and 4,291 cubic yards of spoil carted for road-formation at Torehape. Pipiroa-Kopuarahi District. In addition to the usual drain-maintenance, the following road construction and repairs have been carried out in this district: The Ngataipua Road was formed for a distance of 155 chains, repairs effected to the Kopuarahi and Turua Roads required 286 cubic yards of metal; 155 cubic yards of metal was used for repairs to Pipiroa Road. Awaiti-Patetonga-Tahuna District. The Awaiti West Road has been metalled for a distance of 60 chains, 1,024 cubic yards of metal have been carted from the Paeroa Railway-station, and 278 cubic yards from Netherton Landing. The following quantities of spoil were carted for the formation of peat roads : Paeroa-Tahuna Road, 3,694 cubic yards ; Whakahoro Road, 951 cubic yards ; Mangawhcro Road, 9,455 cubic yards ; Patetonga Tramway Road, 5,395 cubic yards ; Ngarua Road, 1,506 cubic yards spoil and 2,038 cubic yards gravel. Other undertakings include the deepening and cleaning of drains and road-main-tenance. Freight for the cartage of goods on the Patetonga Tramway amounted to £741. Roads. Under the provisions of the Hauraki Plains Amendment Act, 1922, the Crown lands previously exempt from general county rates now become rateable by the local bodies after being occupied for a period of five years. By a consequential arrangement with the Hauraki Plains and the Piako County Councils, control of 50 miles 48 chains of formed roads and 38 miles 43| chains of metalled roads, originally constructed and hitherto maintained by the Department, is being handed over to these bodies. A feature of the year's work has been the extra attention given to these roads, and all the worn metal roads have been repaired or remetalled. In a district where perishable dairyingproducts must be transported summer and winter alike, the good metalled roads laid by the Department are an invaluable asset. The roads metalled during the year comprise 4 miles 30 chains, and 10,974 cubic yards of metal were used for remetalling and repairs. For the construction and maintenance of roads through peat areas 44,510 cubic yards of spoil were carted and 18,069 fascines used. The total quantity of metal received during the year was 16,289 cubic yards. The following is a schedule of roads metalled or remetalled during the year : — New metalling — M. eh. New roads formed — M. eh. Ngatea to Paul's Wharf .. .. 1 9 Ngataipua Road .. .. 1 75 Orchard East Road . . 1 38 Shelly Beach Road .. 0 66 Awaiti West Roads .. .. 0 63 Ngarua Canal Road .. .. 1 10 Ngarua Road .. .. ..10 Maukoko Canal Road . . .. 2 54 Kaikahu Road .. .. 0 50 4 30 Wairaußoad .. .. ..1 4 Remetalling roads— 8 19 Orchard East Road . . 1 61 Kerepeehi-Kopuarahi Road .. 1 73 New peat roads clayed .. 2 62 Kerepeehi-Wharepoa Road .. 1 18 Reclaying roads .. .. .. 5 33 4 72 Drainage. Where practicable, excavating-machines are being used for the construction of drains, and the mechanical excavator shows to advantage where spoil from a largo drain can be used for the construction of a road or stop-bank. The total length of drains constructed during the year was 25 miles 3 chains, making a total of 533 miles 37 chains constructed on the Hauraki Plains to date. The following work was carried out during the year : — By piecework contract — M. eh. Cleaning drains .. .. . . . . . . .. 53 57 Widening and deepening (78,583 cubic yards spoil) . . .. 50 63 New drains .. .. .. .. .. .. ..118 115 48 By day labour — Cleaning drains .. .. .. .. .. 87 0 Widening and deepening (41,151 cubic yards) spoil .. .. 31 53 New drains .. .. .. .. .. .. ..30 121 53 By excavating-machines — . New drains (115,230 cubic yards.) .. .. .._ . ~ 10 75 . Stop-banks (88,681 cubic yards) .. .. .... .. 5 65 16 60

2—C. 8.