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ADVANCES TO LOCAL AUTHORITIES During the year ended 31st March, 1950, the Board entered into thirteen agreements with local bodies in regard to advancing to them their share of the cost of works carried out on main highways. The principal of these advances amounted to £24,849 Is. 7d. The total of principal advanced to local authorities since the inception of the Board is £417,289 4s. 5d., of which the sum of £67,140 Bs. Bd. was outstanding at the 31st March, 1950. PLANT The facilities provided by the Board to enable local authorities to acquire plant under the hire-purchase system were again taken advantage of to a considerable extent. The purchases in 1949-50 amounted to £110,165 7s. The total value of plant purchased under this system since its inauguration is £639,431 lis. lid., of which sum £147,456 Bs. Id. remained outstanding at 31st March,l9so. OPERATIONS OF MAGNETIC TRUCK AND TRAILERS During the year the magnetic truck and one trailer-type magnet operated in the North Island, and the other trailer-type magnet operated solely in the South Island. Unfortunately the recording of the material picked up has not been dissected sufficiently to show the actual amount collected on highways. It is hoped that this information will be available in the future. DECLARATIONS, REVOCATIONS, AND ADJUSTMENTS OF MAIN HIGHWAYS The following are the lengths of main highways declared and revoked during the year ended 31st March, 1950, including formal adjustments : Main Highways Declared No. 2b Highways District— M. ch. No. 11 Highways District— M. ch. Auckland-Hamilton .. .. 57 19 Spring Creek - Wairau Bridge .. 770 Hamilton -Te Kuiti .. .. 36 73 No. 12 Highways District— Hamilton-Rotorua .. .. 48 76 Ngahere-Roa .. .. .. 504 No. 3 Highways District— No. 13 Highways District— Tauranga-Pairere .. .. .. 10 Hanmer Junction - Jack's Pass .. 1 40 Whakatane-Kutarere via Ohope .. 18 43 No. 14 Highways District— Spa .. .. .. 170 Waitangi Wharf- Owenga .. .. 12 60 No. 5 Highways District— No. 16 Highways District— Porangahau Post-office .. .. 036 Dunedin-Waitati via Leith Valley .. 308 No. 9b Highways District — . Karori - Ohariu Bay .. .. 5 56 200 75 Main Highways Revoked No. 2b Highways District— M. ch. No. 9b Highways District— M. ch. Auckland-Hamilton .. .. 58 01 Karori-Makara .. .. .. 420 Hamilton -Te Kuiti .. .. 37 33 Masterton-WeUington .. .. 4 0 Hamilton-Rotorua .. .. 49 45 No. 11 Highways District — Hamilton-Tauhei via Gordontown .. 37 35 Kaituna-Tuamarina . . .. 970 No. 3 Highways District— No. 12 Highwavs District— Tauranga-Pairere .. .. .. 10 Ngahere-Blackball . . . . .. 331 Wainui .. .. . . . . 15 60 183 57 The Board acknowledges the continued assistance given by the Works Department in the matters relating to highways administration, and records its appreciation of the valuable services rendered by officers of the Department in carrying out the Board's programme. It also greatly appreciates the loyal and efficient work of its engineering and clerical staff in carrying out its policy. Signed on behalf of the Main Highways Board : F. Langbein, M.1.C.E., Chairman.

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