44

E.—3.

work done, three and three-quarter miles formed 18 feet wide, with a large 5-feet culvert, 30 feet long. The road is in good order. Opotiki and Waiocka Soad. —rive miles. Fifty-five chains of this have been formed during the year, including 17,390 cubic yards of earth excavation, three small bridges erected, one of 16 feet and two of 8 feet span, and five culverts built by the Armed Constabulary. Total work done, viz., —Two miles thirty-seven chains of road formed ; one truss-bridge over branch of Waioeka, 38 feet long ; three plain bridges, 32 feet in all. The work has been at a standstill since November, 1873. The road is in good order as far as completed. Whakatane and Ohape Horse Road. —Three and three-quarter miles of road including one 20-feet bridge. This was completed in 1871, and has since been maintained by the Armed Constabulary. OMneroa Horse Soad. —Fifteen miles, branching from the Tauranga and Kati Kati Road at Rereatukahea, and running principally through forest over the range to the Thames Valley. It was expected that this work might have been proceeded with during the past year, but the Natives have maintained their opposition and no work has been done. Te Teko and Galatea Soad. —Thirty-one and a half miles. Five culverts have been erected, and 3,730 cubic yards of earth excavated in improving the grades by the Native Contingent under Captain Preece. The total of work done amounts to twenty-one and a half miles of road, roughly formed ; four totara bridges erected, in all 89^- feet; and five culverts built. This road will eventually form part of a road to Taupo across the Kaingaroa plains. It is in very fair order. Wliakatane and Te Teko Soad. —Thirteen miles. In last year's report this was described as a horse road ; it has since been decided to make it a dray road. The work was begun in January last by the Natives, and continued till April when it ceased, the Natives having to secure their crops. Nine miles thirty-nine chains have been completed, including 52,925 cubic yards of earth removed and nine culverts built. The line runs principally through swamp, and the work has consequently been of a very wet and disagreeable nature. Sotorua and Taraioera Soad.- —Seven and three-quarter miles. Five and a half miles of this have been formed for dray traffic by Native labour and Native Contingent under Captain Mair, the latter having excavated 3,246 cubic yards of earth, out of a total of 16,344 cubic yards. Timber is being procured for building two bridges of 18 feet each over the Wairoa. The country on this line is mostly open but broken, and in one place half a mile of forest occurs. Opotiki Table-land Road. —Two and three-quarter miles. The whole of this has been formed, including seven small bridges, six box culverts, and 8,000 cubic yards of earth excavation, and is now in good order. Cambridge and Taupo Soad. —About fifty-five miles, branching from the main road at Atiamuri. It was expected that a survey of this road would have been completed by this time, but the Natives are still opposed to any work being done. The line lies chiefly in open country, very broken in places. Estimate as given last year, £5,280. Kaiteriria and Tarawera Horse Road. —Three miles formed, 8 feet wide. This was executed by Captain Mair's Native Contingent before June, 1873, but was not reported on last year. The line follows the side of the mountain near its base, on the south side of Rotokakahi Lake. It is in good order. Opotiki and Torere Soad, and on to East Cape. —Five and a half miles have been formed during the year by Native labour. The work included 21,773 cubic yards of earth excavation, 2,566 cubic yards of rock, forty culverts, and seven small bridges, and lay through dense forest and broken country. Altogether, twelve and a half miles of road have been formed 8 feet wide, ei<;ht miles of which are in bush, and the road being now in good order, can easily be travelled as far as Te Kaha, a distance of forty miles from Opotiki. Wliakatane Valley Soad. —Thirteen and a half miles from "Whakatane to the confiscated boundary. Two and a half miles of this are now being formed IS feet wide, as far the schoolhouse, by the Armed Constabulary under Major Roberts; the remainder will be 8 feet wide. On the first portion 2,399 cubic yards of earth have been removed, and it is expected that a stronger force of men will be employed on it soon. On the further portions Native labour will be employed. Kati Kati and Orahamst-oion : Telegraph Line.—This being reported as in a very bad state, repairs were ordered. Three small bridges were built, and the whole line repaired in the worst places. The work is .still going on, one-half of the expense being borne by the Telegraph Department and one-half by the Public Works Department. Graliainstmcn and Hi/aitaia. —About eighteen miles. It is probable that the survey of this line for a road may be proceeded with shortly, it being expected that no further opposition from the Natives is to be apprehended. Tauranga and Cambridge Soad. —About fifty miles. There has been no opportunity for making a survey of this road yet, but as the Native difficulties have been removed, the survey will now be proceeded with, and it is expected a good line of road will be formed. Approaches from the Beach, at Tauranga to the main inland roads to Taupo, Cambridge, and the Thames.—One hundred and seventy-two chains. A portion of this is now being formed 33 feet wide, and includes 2,850 cubic yards of earthwork, 54 chains of formations, two large pipe culverts, one being 18 inches by 70 feet long, and one 12 inches by 135 feet long; also six small box culverts. The Highway Board'contributes one-sixth of the cost of this work.