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On the Waihi Beach highway 2 miles 70 chains of maintenance sealing was carried out, while at the township a bridge eroded by floods was replaced by twin 5-ft.-diameter pipes. On the Taupiri-Morrinsville highway reconstruction is in hand over a length of 1 mile 20 chains. In the Leamington Township, on the Cambridge-Roto-o-rangi highway, 2 miles 8 chains have been reconstructed. On the Pipiroa-Kopu highway 1 mile 65 chains, of reconstruction is nearing ■completion. Major works are proceeding to improve sections of the Hamilton-Raglan highway and 2 miles of construction have been completed. The Okete Stream Bridge, 100 ft., is in hand. Reconstruction over a length of 4 miles 20 chains of the Matamata-Kaimai highway has been completed and sealing is well advanced. On the Waitoa-Tirau highway sealing was carried out over 1 mile 40 chains of reconstruction and 2 miles 40 chains of shoulder widening, while 6 miles of maintenance sealing was applied. A length of 7 miles 62 chains of the Te Awamutu - Pirongia - Ngutunui highway has been under construction, and with the sealing of the final 2 miles the work has been completed. Tauranga District The highway-improvement programme in this district is being steadily advanced by the carrying-out of several extensive works. The establishment of the Galatea ■Quarry is nearly completed and the supply of this good-quality stone will facilitate sealing-work in the Rotorua area. On the Paeroa-Whakatane highway, 4 miles between the Pongakawa Bridge and the Railway Overbridge were strengthened and reshaped and sealing commenced. Similar work was started over a 3-mile section at Katikati. Maintenance sealing was •completed over 4 miles 20 chains near Tauranga and at Whakatane, and materials are on site for a further 5 miles east of Tauranga. Resealing of the 12 miles 40 chains Rotorua County length of the Hamilton-Rotorua highway has been in hand and has now been completed. Extensive works are being carried out as resources permit on the Rotorua County .section of the Rotorua-Whakatane State Highway over the length 9 miles to 25 miles. Heavy reconstruction is at present proceeding, chiefly between 14 miles and 16 miles. Adjacent to Te Teko a length of 5 miles has been prepared for early sealing, while 65 chains between Awakeri and Whakatane has been resealed. On the Whakatane-Gisborne via Waioeka State Highway reconstruction work which has been proceeding in the Waimana Gorge is now taking shape and a length of 2 miles has been completed. Reconstruction over 5 miles between the Waiotahi and Waioeka Bridges is well advanced in preparation for early sealing next season. Between Whakatane and Taneatua 1 mile 52 chains was sealed, and the early sealing of the remaining 2 miles is projected. A length of 2 miles past Taneatua, and the Waioeka Straight of 4 miles, were also sealed. Dustless surfacing now extends from Whakatane to near the Waimana Gorge and from the Waioeka River Bridge to the Waioeka Gorge. Heavy maintenance is in hand between the Waimana Gorge and Kutarere. Preparations for sealing of the pumice sections, totalling 29 miles, of the RotoruaTaupo State Highway are being pushed ahead. In Rotorua County 2 miles were reconstructed, while in Taupo County 5| miles of preparation was completed, initial sealing placed, and bituminous mix laid over 1-| miles. At Waiotapu a further 2 miles of reconstruction and widening were completed.

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