a—c

4

Buildings. Two four-roomed cottages were erected for the masters of dredges Nos. 15 and 19, also a small four-roomed cottage remodelled for the blacksmith from a single and a double hut. Two single and six double huts were removed to Kerepeehi, and other huts shifted as the work necessitated. A detached room, 12 ft. by 8 ft, with fitted desk and washing-tray, was built, for making sun-prints. Painting and repairs were effected to buildings as required. To the existing fitting-shop was added an engine-room, blacksmith-shop, and wheelwright-shop, thus comprising—Fitting-shop, 20 ft. by 40 ft, with office, 6 ft. by 8 ft, fitted with benches, lockers, large lathe, radial drill, and emery wheel; engine-room, 20 ft. by 10 ft, bench and lockers, fitted with a 20 h.p. motor for operating machines in fitting and blackrmith shop ; blacksmith-shop, 20 ft. by 40 ft, benches and lockers, two forges, power shearing and punching machine, and grindstone ; wheel-wright-shop, 25 ft. by 15 ft, with bench and locker. The number of buildings, excluding wharf-sheds, is as follows : Houses and small cottages, 19 ; double huts, 15 ; single huts, 24 ; sheds, &c, 20 ; quarters staff and workmen, 3 ; workshop, 1 : total, 82. Wharves and Bridges. Repairs have been effected to Bond's, Pipiroa, Horahia, Hopai, Kopuarahi, Shelly Beach, Miller's, and Rawerawe wharves, and the Kaihere Wharf shed raised to the new road-level. On the depot site a wharf, 60 ft. by 10 ft, with a 10-ton crane and a store-shed, 29 ft. by 36 ft, is nearing completion. The number of wharves at present is sixteen. Two sill bridges of 18 ft. span were placed on the Mangawhero Road. Plant and Machinery. A pontoon, 60 ft. 6 in. by 24 ft, has been built for the No. 11 dredge (Kingston), and a coal-punt, 20 ft. by 4 ft. 6 in, for No. 6 dredge. The pontoon for the No. 23 dredge (American steel dipper) is nearly completed. The shops have worked at a very high pressure doing extensive running repairs to dredges and plant, and keeping the same in a very efficient state, besides supplying the necessary iron and wood work for the other jobs in progress. The plant now comprises one steamer, seven oil-launches, four metal punts, four general-service punts, three grab dredgers, two drag-line excavators, and two walking land-dipjiers. Concrete Structures. The conduit on the Mangawhero Road has now been completed by placing culverts across the road at the intake and outlet. A retaining and dwarf wall with apron has been built into the Patetonga skew bridge. At the main outfall of the Kerepeehi Block has been placed a culvert containing three barrels, fitted at the intake with haMwood sluice-gates and at the outlet with 5-ft.-diameter Calco iron flood-gates. A girder and slab bridge of 18 ft. waterway and 16 ft. roadway is now under construction on the main road of the Kerepeehi Block. Repairs were effected to floodgates as required, and five culverts with flood-gates and two road-culverts installed, as follows: — Culverts with flood-gates: Three 4 ft. by 4 ft, length 110 ft. : one 3 ft. (Monier pipes), length 24 ft. ; one 2 ft. (Monier pipes), length 32 ft. Road-culverts : Two 2 ft. (Monier pipes), length 44 ft. The Monier Pipe-works have been kept at full pressure making pipes for future requirements. Numbers and sizes as follows: 3 ft. diameter, 245; 2 ft. 6 in. diameter, 102; 2 ft. diameter, 121 ; Ift. 6 in. diameter, 57 : total, 525. Artesian Bores. Three bores were sunk during the year, making a total to date of 216. The cost of the year's operations was £285 16s. lid, making a total to date of £7,120 12s. 4d, practically the whole of which is recoverable. The sum of £610 was received during the year. A schedule of the bores sunk is attached hereto. Surveys. Considerable progress has been made with the hydrographic survey of the Piako and Waitoa Rivers and Awaiti Stream. The plans which have been prepared from these surveys will be kept up to date, and will be the means of securing an adequate knowledge of the physical condition of the watercourses, by the improvement of which the unwatering of a large area is to be effected. Engineering surveys comprising 127 miles of levels, 12 miles of cross-sections, and 16 miles of river traverse were completed. Future Proposals. (1) Dredging Piako River; (2) dredging Waitoa River and continuation Waitakaruru-Maukoro Canal; (3) continuation of Awaiti Canal; (4) widening Puhanga Canal; (5) drainage and roading of area between Piako River and Awaiti Stream ; (6) completion of depot at Kerepeehi; (7) construction of pontoons and erection of dredges ; (8) general development works. Flax Leases. One area of 70 acres, containing approximately 2,000 tons, was opened, and was sold at the upset price of £400. It is expected that an area containing approximately 2,000 tons will be offered in the near future. Valuations. These remain the same as last year, the total area opened being 42,166 acres. Owing to Various causes it was found impossible to open any new land during the year. An area of 2,600 acres is now being valued, and it is expected will be opened in the year.