D—l

On the Waiho-Paringa State Highway the main work has comprised repairs to extensive flood damage and in carrying out protective works at numerous points. The reconstruction of some 10 chains of the 35 chains road deviation at Canavan's Knob near Waiho, which was completed in the previous year, became necessary following a break through of the Waiho River. Further progress has been made with the Reefton - Garvey's Creek improvements on the Reefton-Waipara State Highway, but plant has been frequently required to perform urgent works elsewhere. Aggregate lengths of 64 chains of formation have been completed. A 38 chains deviation through the Charleston Township on the Westport-G-reymouth (Coast Road) State Highway was formed and sealed. Further progress has been made with the Runanga-Rapahoe improvements and the approaches and road realignment to the Seven-mile Creek Bridge have been completed, whilst further work is in hand on improving the section from Runanga Borough northwards. Improvements on the Westport-Karamea highway have been in hand, and the section from 12 m. 6 ch. to 16 m. 35 ch. was completed and is ready for priming. Work is in hand on two reinforced-concrete bridges at Tidal Creek, and on a bridge at Glasseye Creek, while major repairs are being carried out to three 120 ft. trusses of the Mokihinui River Bridge. The construction of the 1,015 ft. reinforced-concrete bridge over the Kokatahi River .on the Kanieri-Koiterangi highway has been recommenced, and test piles have been driven. Improvements have been carried out at Denniston on the Waimangaroa - Burnett's Face highway, and also at Waimangaroa, where some 31 chains of road have been improved preparatory to sealing. North Canterbury District Efforts have been made to extend the sealed length of highway north and south from Kaikoura on the Picton-Christchurch State Highwav, and towards Hanmer Junction on the Reefton-Waipara State Highway. The total length of new sealing completed was 17 miles 22 chains, 12 miles 38 chains of this length being reconstructed during this year, while 142 ft. of new bridging was built. On Picton-Christchurch State Highway the Irongate Bridge, 93 ft. long, has been completed, and the highway reconstructed and sealed from this bridge to Hapuku, a distance of 4 miles 67 chains. A contract has been let for the construction in reinforced concrete of the Mororimu Stream Bridge and Mororimu Overbridge on this highway in conjunction with the Kahautara Bridge on the Red Post - Kaikoura highway. Realignment and widening in steep rock country over a length of 37 chains is in hand at Ohau Bluff, while on the Hapuku-Kaikoura section a length of 1 mile of new sealing has been completed. Between Kakautara and Kie Kie a contract is in hand for top-course construction and sealing over a length of 4 miles, and a sea wall 11 chains in length is being constructed to provide widening at the only remaining danger point on this highway. Considerable improvement has been effected in widening, superelevation, &c, in preparation for sealing between Kie Kie and Oaro, and a bridge approach deviation of 17 chains at Oaro is now completed. A contract has recently been let for the construction of a deviation of 43 chains in length at Weka Creek near Waipara. On Reefton-Waipara State Highway all piles are driven and abutments almost completed for the Boyle River Bridge, while at the Gorge and Calf Creek Bridges the abutments are almost completed in readiness for the steel girders on order from England.

54