(7— 8.

4

Drains. One of the outstanding features of the year's work has been the large amount of drain widening and deepening carried out. No less than 146,775 cubic yards of spoil were excavated for the improvement of 75 miles 30f chains of drains. New drains, 16 miles 4£ chains in length, were completed, and total length of drains constructed on the Hauraki Plains is now 549 miles 41 \ chains. 270 miles 78 chains of drains were cleaned during the year. The following work was carried out by piecework contract: — M. Ch. Cleaning drains .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 135 17 Widening and deepening (97,128 cubic yards) .. .. 43 27| New drains (31,097 cubic yards) . . . . .. .. . . 7 46 J Total .. .. .. .. .. .. 186 11 The following work was carried out by day labour : — Cleaning drains .. . . .. . . .. .: .. 135 61 Widening and deepening (49,647 cubic yards').. .. .. 32 3 New drains (12,892 cubic yards) .. .. .. .. .. 2 60 Total .. .. - .. .. .. .. 170 44 The following work was done by excavating-machines : — New drains (93,890 cubic yards) .. .. .. .. 5 58 Stop-banks (101,800 cubic yards) ... .. .. .. .. 2 75 Total .. .. .. - .. .. .. 8 53 450 fascines were used in repairing stop-banks and drains. Buildings. The buildings erected during the year comprise—Workman's cottage of four rooms; portable hut of three rooms; carpenter's shop, 24ft. by 16ft. ; shed for wire rope and machinery; Monierpipe shed; and a large store at Kerepeehi was completed. Several buildings were painted and repaired, and most of the houses are now lighted with electricity. The total number of buildings connected with the works is—Houses and small cottages, 21 ; double huts, 15; single huts, 24 ; sheds, 24 ; quarters for stall and workmen, 3 ; workshop, 1. A small rent charge, is made for all houses and huts occupied by workmen, the total received during the year being £437. Wharves and Bridges. The wharf at Kerepeehi depot was completed, and staging and fender piles provided at the launch-moorings. A large hardwood road-bridge was constructed on the Puhanga Canal, and a small road-bridge on Phillips Road. A temporary bridge was erected at southern end of Puhanga Canal to divert traffic to eastern side while dredge is working along western bank of the canal. Plant and Machinery. Quarters for crew were erected on No. 11 dredge. A kauri pontoon, 80 ft. by 20 ft. by 6 ft, was constructed for No. 23 dredge, on which the machinery was erected and housed, and a houseboat of three rooms on pontoon, 37 ft. by 14 ft. by 3 ft, constructed for the crew of this dredge. A similar dredge pontoon and houseboat were constructed for No. 24 dredge, the machinery of which is now being erected. Two kauri punts, each carrying a one-roomed hut, were built for accommodation of crew of No. 2 dredge ; and a coal-punt, 24 ft. by 8 ft. by 2 ft. 6 in., was also built on the works ; and other plant made includes four 14 ft. dinghies, nine wheelbarrows, six 1 J-yard side tip-trucks. Repairs to dredge and metal pontoons, launches, dredge machinery, and plant have been carried out at the Kerepeehi Workshops. The plant now comprises one steamer, seven oil-launches, four metal punts, three general-service punts, four grab-dredges, two drag-line excavators', two walking land-dippers, and two floating steam dipper-dredges. Concrete Structures. Two ferro-coucrete road-bridges were completed during theyear, and the following other works : —

Road-culverts.

Number. Description. Size. Length. I 3 1 2 1 1 Concrete pipe Concrete; box culverts Concrete pipe culverts and flood-gate .. * Box culvert and flood-gate . . .. .. Two-barrel concrete box equipped with concrete sluicegates and flood-gates Two-barrel box culvert equipped with " Calco " floodgates and concrete sluices 2 ft. diameter 3 ft. diameter 4 ft, by 4 ft. 3 ft. diameter 4 ft, by 4 ft. 4 ft. by 4 ft, 40 ft. 150 ft. 40 ft. 77 ft. 22 ft, 22 ft. I 5 ft. diameter 32 ft.