D.—l

48

n.

ANNUAL REPORT ON ROADS IN THE NORTH ISLAND, INCLUDING OTHER MISCELLANEOUS WORKS, BY THE ENGINEER IN CHARGE. The Engineer in Chaege, North Island, to the Hon. the Ministee for Public Wosks, . Sib,— ' Public Works Office, Wellington, 31st March, 1882. I have the honor to forward annual report on roads, and other miscellaneous works, for the year ending 31st March, 1882. AUCKLAND. Helensville Railway-station Road. —A contract for the formation and metalling of a cart-road between the Helensville South and North Railway-stations was satisfactorily completed December 30, 1881. Cox's Creel: Bridge. —Surveys were made for a road and bridge over Cox's Creek to connect the Districts of Ponsonby and Newton. A contract for the erection of a cart-bridge of five, spans of 20 feet each was entered into, and satisfactorily completed; but the approaches have } ret to be made. There will be required 12 chains of heavy embankment on the flat, and 15 chains of rather heavy formation at the Ponsonby end. The embankment on the flat, on account of the depth of water at high tide and occasional heavy sea, will require to be of considerable height, and protected on the outer slopes with stone pitching and other means. Great South Road Repairs. —The work done has been of the usual character; a large quantity of new metal has been put on, and in several places between Newmarket and Onehunga the road has been widened and improved. Craig's Creeh Bridge. —The old decayed bridge has been removed, and a new one erected under contract, and thrown open for public traffic. Drury Bridge. —This was also much decayed, and plans and specifications were prepared and tenders called for a new bridge, but the funds available were not sufficient to allow of tenders being accepted. Maungatawhiri Bridge. —This is much damaged and in a very shaky condition; it will require renewal. Panmure Bridge. —This is a swing-bridge,.the turntable of which is very much out of order, and will require to be thoroughly overhauled and substantially repaired. Cambridge—Rotorua Road. —On this line of road the principal contracts were the " Waitoa Bridges Contract," for the erection of four bridges and seven timber culverts, and " No. 2 Formation Contract," for 37G chains of road between the Oraka and Waimakariri Rivers: both these contracts were satisfactorily completed about the end of April, 1881. A small force of Armed Constabulary has been employed in clearing and fencing the Te Papa section of the road. The total length formed by this party was 5 miles 14 chains, about half of which was tolerably heavy side-cuttings, the other half of formation over fern flats. A party of 200 men of the Armed Constabulary Force were sent from the West Coast, and arrived at Te Papa on the 16th March, 1882. They commenced work on the 20th, and are now employed in bush-felling, clearing, grubbing, and forming the road—following a properly surveyed and graded line which has been laid out for about half the distance through the bush, which is about 12 miles long. About 19i miles of formation are now finished —that is, up to the entrance of the bush above described. Te Rore Cart-bridge. —A contract for the erection of this bridge over the Waipa River has been completed satisfactorily, and the bridge was thrown open for public traffic 13th August, 1881. Te Arolia Drainage Contracts. —Fair progress has been made with the work on No. 3 ; about onehalf of the drains are completed, and the remaining half nearly so. On No. 4 the progress has been steady but slow; about one-half of the work is completed, and the contract term has expired some time since. Roads North of Auckland. —The Chief Surveyor, Auckland, has charge of these, and reports as follows, viz.: —■ Great North Road.- —This, at date of last year's report, had been opened as a carriage-road from the North Shore to Wellsford, 55£ miles. Since that date, metalling to the extent of 4& miles, fascining 2 miles, and bridging to the extent of 389 lineal feet have been executed; and the works in progress are 41 miles of road-formation, 2J miles metalling, and 521 feet of bridging. West Coast Road. —2| miles formation finished, one bridge 185 feet long being built. Helensville-Kauhapalcapa Road. —3i miles of cart-road in progress and nearly finished. The Chief Surveyor, Auckland, also reports the following, viz. : — Bridge over Waipa River. —This is near Alexandra, Waikato, and on the road leading to Tawhiao's village. It is 264 feet in length, and the work of building is in progress.