D.—l

The Piako County section of the Taupiri-Morrinsville highway is now completely surfaced, the remaining 2f miles having been treated during the year. The second coat was applied on a 4-mile length of the Hamilton-Tauhei highway. On the Te Kauwhata highway improvements over a length of 2f miles, including a 91-chain deviation, have been carried out, and a small bridge is in hand. A second-coat seal was applied on 4 miles of the Te Awamutu - Cambridge highway, and a further 3 J miles was reconstructed and sealed. Three miles was similarly treated on the Cambridge-Eureka highway. Reconstruction prior to surfacing has been carried out over a length of 2 miles on the OrongoNetherton highway. The improvement of the Waihi Beach highway was completed by the sealing of the second section of 2f miles. On the Waihi-Coroglen highway widening and the construction of short bridges have been continued. The Thames-Coromandel highway was improved by widening, beach-protection, and J mile of sealing. A new bridge was erected over the Tararu Stream in the Thames Borough. On the Waitoa-Wairakei highway the sealing of 2J miles has completed a dustless surface from Auckland to Putaruru via Hamilton and Tirau. Farther south the reconstruction work on a 22-mile length was extended, and now comprises 18J miles of formation, 17| miles of metalling, and 7J- miles of first-coat sealing, of which 5| miles has received the second coat. The 90 ft. Ngutuwera Bridge was erected, and a bridge over the Pokaiwhenua Stream is in hand. On subsidiary highways a number of minor works have been undertaken by the local authorities concerned. Tauranga District. On the Paeroa-Whakatane State highway 12 chains, of reconstruction was completed', 4 miles 16 chains metalled, and 5 miles of sealing carried out. An 80 ft. concrete bridge was erected at Waitao. Between Rotorua and Whakatane the Tarawera River Bridge, 150 ft., was completed, together with 2 miles of reconstruction ; 3| miles received a sealing-coat. On the Whakatane-Gi sborne highway 12 chains of reconstruction work was completed at Waiotahi. Sealing has now been completed between Taupo and Wairakei, and a 50 ft. bridge was erected between Rotorua and Wairakei. The erection of the lake-control gates at Taupo has involved the realignment of the highway on both sides of the gates. Between National Park and Taupo considerable improvements have been carried out, including the completion of the 120 ft. Tauranga-Taupo Stream Bridge and 60 chains of sealing at Waitahanui. The Waimarino Stream Bridge is in hand. Reconstruction on the Waitoa-Wairakei highway has been carried out over a length of 1J miles. Between Opotiki and Te Araroa 1 mile of reconstruction work, cutting out dangerous corners and flooded areas, has been completed, and two concrete bridges totalling 200 ft. erected at Torere. On the Matamata-Tauranga highway, Kaimai Hills section, reconstruction has been effected over 1 mile 53 chains, and 1 mile 63 chains was metalled. The construction of the Judea Bridge has been put in hand. Gisbome District. On the Whakatane-Gisborne via Waioeka State highway the sealing of the roadway and footpaths through Matawai Township was carried out. The regrading of the northern side of Otoko Hill was completed. On the Gisborne - Te Araroa State highway the reconstruction and regrading of a low-lying section at 44| m. was completed. This will obviate flooding and damage by silting at this point. A new concrete bridge, consisting of two 50 ft. spans with. 24 ft. roadway, was constructed over the Mangapukatea Stream near Tokomaru Bay. It replaces an old timber truss bridge on bad alignment. To provide filling for the approaches to the new bridge, 1 mile of regrading and reconstruction on Busby's Hill was carried out, and the alignment greatly improved. Sealing was completed through three townships on this highway —namely, Tokomaru Bay, Te Puia Springs, and Tikitiki. The first section of the Mangahauini steel sheet-piling protective works at 60-35 m. was constructed during the year ; 562 lineal feet of wall was completed, and back-filling is in hand. Between 59 m. and 64- m., 77,300 trees were planted out. On the Gisborne-Napier via Hangaroa State highway 1 mile 49 chains of reconstruction, 2 miles 14 chains of one-coat seal, and 2 miles 24 chains of two-coat seal were completed. A new concrete balanced cantilever bridge 96 ft. in length was built, replacing an old suspension bridge at Avondale. Steel sheet-piling for protective works is in hand at Hangaroa. The second-coat sealing of the reconstructed length of the Gisborne-Ormond via Waiohiki highway was completed. The whole of this highway is now dustless. On the Patutahi-Rere highway If miles of second-coat seal was carried out. The roadway and footpaths through Ruatoria Township on the Mangakino-Waiomatatini highway were sealed. On the Opotiki - Te Araroa highway the Nukutahara Stream was bridged with a 60 ft. steel truss reconditioned from the old Uawa River Bridge at Tolaga Bay. Sixty-three chains of sealing was completed from Tokomaru Bay Township towards the wharf. The low-level bridge at Wigan, on the Tolaga-Tauwhareparae highway, was completed. It is 86 ft. in length. The Kowhai Bridge at 7 m. on the same highway, which was damaged in the 1938 flood, was reinstated. New piers and abutments were built and an extra span added.

6*

69