43

D.—l

to complete the communication between Nelson and all parts of the West Coast are the three bridges in the Buller Valley already referred to ; and bridges over the Inangahua near its junction with the Buller; Larry's Creek, Waituhu, or left branch of Inangahua ; and Little Grey, at Devery's Terrace. The latter is the only river unbridged between Greymouth and Reefton. Some of the residents are advocating the bridging of the Buller itself. Ido not consider this of so much importance as the bridging of what may be termed the secondary rivers. With proper ferries the Buller can always be crossed, except in extreme floods ; but the least rise interrupts the traffic at the smaller rivers. Cheistchubch-Hokitika Road. The weather on the West Coast during the past year was exceptionally fine; consequently the maintenance of the road was comparatively light. A few slips occurred on the eastern side, where the weather was not so favourable, but they were not of a serious character. A deviation of the road in the Otira Valley for a distance of 34 miles has been made to clear the encroachment of the river on its banks. Wire bridges for the convenience of foot-passengers are also in ceurse of construction over the Porter and Broken Rivers. If it is intended to uphold this, the main line of communication between the East and West Coasts in anything like an efficient manner, it will be necessary to consider the question of bridging some of the rivers which so frequently and quickly interrupt the traffic. The Taipo and some of the other rivers on the west side of the range are particularly bad in this respect. Canteebuey Disteict. Rakaia Gorge Bridge. —At the date of my last annual report it was intended to erect the bridge by day-labour, no practical result having followed the calling for tenders on two different occasions. Subsequently it was represented to the department that the depression in business would cause more competition if tenders were again called for. This was done. Ten tenders came in, and the contract was.given to the lowest tenderer. The work is not progressing rapidly. The excavations for the anchorshafts, and foundations for abutments are nearly finished, and a quantity of cement has been brought on the ground, but nothing has yet been done to the actual work of erection. Otago Disteict. Waikari to Waitati Road. —About 34 miles of this road has been cleared and formed ; this brings it about two miles past the Saddle, on the Blueskin side. The work was done by the " unemployed," on the same terms as the railway works. Maori Kaika Road. —The whole of the vote for this work has been expended, and a good road formed round the beach, from the Kaika towards Taiaroa Heads. The resident Natives have, so far as possible, been employed on the work, and they have carried it out in an economical and workmanlike manner. WATER-RACES. In accordance with the usual practice, I enclose the Resident Engineer's report on the Westland water-races in full (Enclosure No. 3). As will be seen from the report, the only new works of importance that were in hand during the year are the Kumara Sludge-channel and the Mikonui Water-race, both of which have proceeded as rapidly as the available funds would permit. The Gold Fields Department will be dealing at length with the question of the working of the Government races and the yield from them ; so I will not, as in former years, enter into it more than to remark that this year shows a falling-off not only in the revenue, the yield, and the number of men employed, but also in the average earnings of the miners. MISCELLANEOUS WORKS. The miscellaneous works executed and in progress during the year are of little importance. The only ones worth mentioning are—the extension of the jetty at Queenstown; the building of the dredge for Greymouth, already referred to ; making coal-boxes for Auckland; and the manufacture of sundry articles of railway plant at the various centres. A contract is also in preparation for the Forest Hill Tramway, in Southland. It is intended to connect the Crown lands and settlement at Forest Hill with the Township of Winton, the distance being about 6 miles. BUILDINGS. The total expenditure on public buildings in the Middle Island during the past financial year is as follows :— £ s. d. Judicial ... ... ... ... ... ... 10,291 9 8 Postal and Telegraph ... ... ... ... ... 3,547 18 2 Offices for Public Departments ... ... ... ... 3,232 17 6 Lunatic Asylums ... ... ... ... ... 24,211 10 3 Miscellaneous ... ... ... ... ... ... 16,816 16 7 Total ... ... ... ... ... £58,100 12 2 I append hereto a table (Enclosure No. 4) giving a summary of what has been done during the year, and showing the state of the work on each building. This table shows that forty .buildings have been in course of erection, or altered or repaired ; they comprise twenty judicial, [tenjpost and telegraph, five buildings for public offices, two lunatic asylums, and three Of this