C.—B

Central District. In this district a road-forming outfit, consisting of tractor, grader, disc, and scoop teams, has made good progress with the formation of new roads on the western embankment of the Puhanga Canal, and filling bridge approaches and culvert excavations. A mile and a half of 3-ft.-gauge tramway was laid to complete six-mile line for ballasting the Torehape Road, and 6,330 cubic yards of clay was delivered by means of this tramway along the deep peat section of the Torehape Road. In addition the hill section, of about 26 chains, was formed. Maintenance and improvements to drains and stop banks have been carried out, and, where necessary, new drains dug. 332 cubic yards of gravel and 1,984 cubic yards of metal were delivered for metalling the Kaihere Road from the landing westward : 80 chains of this road was formed, and a section of about 30 chains of road-embankment, which had subsided below permanent grade owing to the compacting and lateral displacement of the marsh on which it is built, necessitated the carting of 9,524 cubic yards of filling. 1,479 white-pine logs were cut, hauled, and used for piling weak places in the canal-banks, earthwork timbering, and other purposes. lii the Kerepeehi Block 100 chains of road and road-embankment was formed, and a large amount of stop-bank and other earthwork carried out, and 1,647 cubic yards of metal was laid on the Kerepeehi - Kaihere Road : 53 chains of street-formation was completed at Kerepeehi Township, which is the headquarters for a large number of men employed on various construction jobs, receiving and distributing stores, fuel, and supplies at the depot, and repair work in the workshops and yards. Waitakaruru-Pipiroa District. A heavy road-construction outfit, comprising two tractors, and graders, plough, disc, and scoop teams, has been employed on road-embankment on the western side of the Maukoro Waitakaruru Canal. A distance of 1 mile 50 chains was completed. The stop-banks on the Piako River and a section of the foreshore have been strengthened, a distance of 7 miles 43 chains being completed. A large drain is under construction for the purpose of diverting the drainage of the area between the Pouarua Road and Waitakaruru-Maukoro Canal into the canal, and is effecting a marked improvement in the drainage-outlets leading to the foreshore and the Piako River. Of this, 1 mile 60 chains has been completed. About 38 chains of timber fluming is being constructed for the maintenance of the Apple-tree outlet through the mud-flats on the foreshore. Patetonga, Awaiti, and Tahuna Districts. The principal works carried out in these districts have been drain improvements and maintenance. A large amount of earthwork is being carried out with dredges, teams, and manual labour in the Awaiti district. About 25 chains of the Mangawhero Road was formed, and 1,267 cubic yards of clay carted for repairs to the Patetonga and Mangawhero Roads. A daily goods service has been maintained on the Patetonga Tramway, and freights collected amounted to £822 2s. 6d. A large two-barrel flood-gate is being constructed by the Department for the Waitoa Drainage Board near Tahuna. Kopuarahi District. This district is now controlled by the Horahia Drainage Board. Prior to the Board taking control the drains were cleaned by the Department and some improvement works carried out. The scheme of drainage-improvement works carried out by the Department in the Horahia-Opou special-rating area was practically completed during the year. Roads. Satisfactory progress was made with new road-formation during January, February, and March of this year. In the peat lands 17,121 cubic yards of clay and 1,322 fascines were carted for road formation and repairs. As funds for the metalling of roads were in some instances limited to subsidies of £2 to £1, metalling had to be curtailed, as the amounts required from the County Council were not provided. The total quantity of metal and gravel received during the year was 3,963 cubic yards, for the following roads : — jV[_ c j K Kercpeehi-Kaiherc Road .. . . .. . . .. .. 0 70 Kaihere Landing Road .. .. .. ..117 Total .. .. .. .. .. 2 07 The following roads were formed Kerepeehi Block .. .. .. ... .. . . 1 20 Kaihere Landing Road .. .. .. .. .. 1 00 Torehape Road .. .. .. .. .. . • .. 0 26 Mangawhero Road .. .. .. .. .. •. .. 0 25 Kerepeehi Township streets .. .. .. .. .. .. 0 53 Waitakaruru-Maukoro Canal Road .. .. .. .. .. 1 50 Total .. .. .. .. .. .. 5 14 The following peat roads were ballasted'with clay : — Cub. yd. Torehape Road .. .. .. .. ■. .. 6,330 2 5 Kaihere Landing Road .. .. .. .. .. 9,524 1 50 Mangawhero Road (filling in holes) .. .. .. • • 20 .... Patetonga South Road .. .. .. • • • • 1,247 1 10 Totals 17,121 4 65

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