A.—4

26

The following statement shows the principal work carried out: — Apia io M.ulifanua Road. —The road from Vaiusu was repaired as far as Malic, 100 chains being rolled, blinded, and tarred, while the balance was re-formed and surfaced with rotten rock. Sixty chains of road at Faleasiu were re-formed by the Samoans under supervision, and. a deviation of the road was also completed. Apia to Falefa.- Repairs to part of this road were carried out by the Samoans at Letogo, under contract and supervision, and very satisfactory work was done, including re-forming and metalling. Slips on the road, at Letogo and Lotoanu were also cleared by the Samoans. New Faipule Road. — The clearing, formation, and metalling of .this road was undertaken by the Natives, arid completed under the leadership of Fonoti and the supervision of the Public Work's Department. The new road is 50 chains long and 25 ft. in width. No difficulty was experienced in getting the; Natives to do roadwork, and inquiries for work similar to tho Faipule Road continue to come from all districts. Malololelei Road. —Repairs to the Vailima-Malololelei Road have been carried out. Flood-damage. —A considerable amount of extra work on roads has been necessitated by the damage done by the heavy floods in March, 1923, and this has caused the new work done to be limited. Bridges. Five new bridges were erected in Australian hardwoods at tho following places : Apia (Mulivai), Afega, Vaivase, Fagali'i (two). Tuaefu. —This steel bridge was chipped and painted. Lufi Luft. —A small footbridge for the use of the Natives was erected, the Natives building the stone approaches. Solo Solo. —This steel bridge was chipped and painted. General. —All bridges in Upolu have received minor repairs, but several built in Oregon pine will require to be renewed. Roads and Beidges, Savai'i. Minor repairs to roads and bridges have been carried out intermittently, and all urgent repairs attended to. Apia Waterworks. A 2| in, and a 2 in. main was extended from Papascoa Road to Vaiusu for a distance of about 60 chains. The intake to the water-supply was improved, and fifty-two connections were made to the mains during the year, making a total of 306 connections to date. Native Water-supplies. Several minor repairs to native water-supplies were dealt with, and a number of schemes investigated, and the Natives informed of the amounts of money they would be asked to collect if the schemes were proceeded with. Improvement of Passages. Savai'i. —Tho blasting of passages has now been taken over by the Harbour Department. A number of beacons and pins were made, the passage at Palauli was blasted out, and pins were erected at Safune and Salailua. Workshops. The joinery, blacksmiths', plumbers' and painters' shops have been carried on continuously during the year. Cleaning Government Grounds, Street-cleaning, and Rubbish Collection. The above services in the Town of Apia have all been carried on continuously during the year by tho Department, Arrangements weire made locally for an electric supply for street-lighting from tho Vaisigano Bridge to the; lower leading-light near the Mulivai Stream. This supply has proved to be eminently satisfactory. The lower leading-light has also boon electrified. The rubbish-dump has been considerably improved, loop tram-lines have been installed over the swamp), and the rubbish is now being utilized for reclamation purposes; Surveys. A road over the cliffs at Saleapaga, in Lepa, was surveyed for tho Natives, in order to give them a better entrance to their plantations. SUPPLIES PURCHASE DEPARTMENT. The accompanying return tabulates the work carried out by this Department during the year. On account of generally falling markets, purchases have been made more favourably than heretofore. The policy of concentrating under the control of the Supplies Purchase Officer the whole of the purchasing required by all departments of the Administration has continued to give satisfactory results, especially from, an economy point of view. Every effort is made to forecast the Administration's requirements in stores and supplies sufficiently early to enable competitive quotations to be obtained in every possible market, and so avoid the loss that must necessarily occur if rush orders have to be placed without competition,