D.—No. A

REPORT ON PUBLIC WORKS, BY THE ASSISTANT ENGINEER-IN-CHIEF.

Sib,— Public Works Office, Wellington, 30th June, 1872. I have the honor to forward for your information my Annual Eeport on that portion of the Public Works of New Zealand included under the head of " Eoads." In order that this might be as clear and comprehensive as possible, the several District Engineers were instructed by circular to prepare their reports in a particular way, and in all cases to accompany them with a skeleton plan of their district, showing distinctly the road works completed and in progress. Copies of these plans you will find attached in illustrations of the reports, arranged consecutively. I have adopted in a great measure the wording of these reports, but where the descriptions were too long or too much in detail, have condensed and abbreviated them as much as possible consistent with clearness. Owing to the mass of work which has passed through the Public Works Office during the past year, connected not only with roads but with railways and other undertakings, I have been unable to visit all the districts where work is in progress, but trust that the manner in which the information has been prepared will, notwithstanding, be thoroughly satisfactory and trustworthy. The district reports are made to one common date, 31st May, 1872, and include generally all the work done under the " Public Works and Immigration Acts."

ROAT>S. NOETH OF AUCKLAND, AND IN THE WAIKATO. (T. Heale in charge.) Those authorized or in progress are, — 1. Waimate to Okaihu. Mangonui to Victoria Valley. 2. Wairoa, navigation, northwards to Kaikohe and Waimate. Waimate to Puketutu, and thence to Paihia. Mahurangi to Port Albert. 3. Mangapai to Arapawa, Kaipara. 4. Shoal Bay Eoad. 5. Whata Whata to Eaglan. 6. Eangiaohia to Cambridge. 7. Cambridge to the Thames. On No. 1 the following work is in progress: —Clearing scrub and stones, 170 chains; formation, 40 chains ; two small bridges, seven culverts, and one large bridge over the Oruru at Mangonui. On No. 2 the survey is in progress but is not yet complete in the Maungakahia Valley. Of road work, about thirteen and a half miles are under construction by resident Natives; and between Kaikohe and Waimate, arrangements are in progress for making eight miles of road. The plans of the road Wairua and Waimate to Puketutu and Pahia are being altered, but no work is yet in hand. Mahurangi to Port Albert, the engineering survey is yet in progress. No. 3. Mangapai to Arapawa-Kaipara. —The survey for this line of road is not yet complete. No. 4. Shoal Bay Soad. —The contract for this work has been let for £1,190, but no report of work executed has been received. No. 5. Whata Whata to Raglan. —On this line contracts have been let for the construction of bridges over the Mangakowhai and Kaniwhaniwha Creeks, on the western bank of the Waipa Eiver, at a cost of £550, one-half of which will be borne by the Provincial Government. No. 6. Eangiaohia to Cambridge. —About two and a half miles of ditching and road-forming appear to have been executed across the Moana Tua Tua Swamp and near the Mangapiko Eiver, by the Constabulary, assisted by the Pukekuru and Eangiaohia Highway Boards, to each of which has been paid the sum of £100, the cost of this work being estimated at £500. No. 7. Cambridge to the head of the Thames. —The survey of this is in hand, but not yet completed. BAT OF PLENTY. (A. C. Tubnee in charge.) 1. Tauranga to Taupo. —Sixty-six and a half miles. Dray Eoad.—The work completed on this road last year consisted of nineteen and a quarter miles, formation 18 ft. wide, viz., six and threequarter miles in forest and twelve and a half miles in open land ; also one plain bridge over Waioroi Eiver 40 feet long, and one truss bridge over Whakapaukarakia 66 feet long, besides 376 feet of culverts of various sizes. During the last year, twenty-nine and a half miles of formation have been completed, viz., ten and three-quarter miles in bush, and eighteen and three-quarter miles in open land, including 7,580 cubic yards of rock excavations and bridges, as follows, viz.:—