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RoADWORK. The Omeheu Road formation was carried forward from the railway-line southwards to the Tarawera cross-road during the period, and a good through road is now available here. The Awaiti Road was formed from the railway northwards at the Awaiti-Paku Stream, and this will provide access for subdivisions in Section 109. Formation work from spoil removed by dredges was carried for a distance of 90 chains on the Orini cut and 60 chains on the Kopeopeo outfall. Bridges. One bridge gang has been employed constantly throughout the period, and another gang has been erecting flood-gates and bridges. Nine new pile bridges were erected during the period, seven were dismantled and re-erected to allow of passage of dredges, and eighteen sill bridges of varying widths were placed in position. Stop-banks. Repair work has been carried out from time, to time on the temporary banks on the Tarawera River, but this work is decreasing as the dredge-work progresses. The Te Rahu bank was repaired and raised in places throughout and continued round the Whakatane River to the Kopeopeo Canal. Flood-gates. One two-door culvert flood-gate was erected at the Whakatane River end of the Kopeopeo Canal, and is working very well. Four smaller gates were placed on the Te Rahu Canal in connection with stop-banking. Drains in Operation. The total length of drains in operation to date is as follows : Dredge cuts, 56 miles 29 chains ; main outlet drains, 101 miles 56 chains ; road-drains, 29 miles 20 chains. Roads opened. The total length of roads opened is 1 13_ miles, of which 85 miles have been constructed by the Department. Buildings. These consist of Engineer's house and fourteen cottages and huts for workmen, office buildings, machine-shop, blacksmith's shop, store-sheds, &c. These are kept in good order and condition. All men occupying quarters are required to pay rent for same. Workshops. Nearly all the repair work for the seven dredges and general machinery has been done in the workshop and smithy at Thornton, and the very small proportion of idle time of plants this period is a testimony to the efficiency of these shops. Rolling-stock. The Thornycroft lorry has got through a very creditable amount of work during the period, having done the bulk of cartage of timber, coal, and general supplies. It has also done all the carting of boulders necessary for the Tarawera groyne. The lorry has saved the Department a considerable amount in freight charges. Plant and Machinery. No additions have been made under this heading, and plant still consists of four Priestman grab dredges, one Bay City walking dipper, two Monighan walking drag-line excavators, four coal-punts, three oil-launches, one towing-barge, and seven small boats and punts. Summary op Work Done. M. ch. Cub. yd. New drains .. .. .. .. .. 1 50 5,600 Widening and deepening .. .. .. .. 34 25 136,000 Cleaning drains .. .. .. .. .. 72 0 Road-formation .'. .. .. . . 5 40 Fencing .. .. .. .. .. 8 20 Spoil dredged .. .. .. .. 27 2J 788,059 Levels taken .. .. .. .. .. 42 0 Survey traverses .. .. . . .. . . 27 25 Pile bridges, 9 ; sill bridges, 18 ; flood-gates, 5. Proposed Works. Completion of Seccombe's drain, Rangitaiki River, and Section 110 drain, by No. 4 dredge ; completion of Kopeopeo outfall by No. 18 dredge ; Waioho Stream and White-pine Bush Road and stop-banks by No. 17 dredge,; completion by Bay City and No. 8 Priestman dredges of Awakaponga drain ; cleaning Awakaponga outlet by No. 8 dredge ; completion of Tarawera River stop-banking where necessary, together with minor construction and maintenance work. Works Expenditure. The total amount expended during the year as shown in the books in the Auckland Office was £41,649. Dav labour, including wages of dredge crews, amounted to £22,159, piecework contracts £4,479, and hire of teams £1,508. General. The local office is situated at Thornton, and books containing details of costs, &c, are kept there. As much as possible of the work in connection with payments is done in this office. After receipt or verification all vouchers are forwarded to the controlling office in Auckland, where the books recording total expenditure are kept.