c.—i.

Mackenzie County. —Mr. F. W. Marchant, Engineer to the county, reports as follows: "The only work on which Government moneys have been expended in opening up Crown lands is the Mount Cook track, extending from Glentanner Homestead, at the head of Lake Pukaki, towards Mount Cook on the west side of the Tasman Eiver. The total amount expended thereon has been £774 18s. 4d., of which £649 18s. lOd. was provided by the Government, the balance being contributed by the Mackenzie County. The total length of road which has been constructed and repaired for this expenditure is about seven and a half miles. The road passes through very broken ground occasionally, consisting of ancient glacial deposits, and crossed by numerous watercourses; no more work has been executed than would suffice to make the road safe and convenient for traffic. The total distance from the head of Lake Pukaki to the Governor's Camp by the Mueller Glacier is about twenty-five miles, a considerable distance of which consists of stony fiats. Swampy ground, and a short piece of old moraine near Birch Hill Station, cause great inconvenience to the traffic on this road : they do not, however, stop traffic, unless the Tasman Eiver happen to be in high flood, as the swamps are not deep, and the moraine can be avoided by travelling along the shingle-bed of the Tasman Eiver. However, to make a permanent road through these obstructions will become a necessity in time, if the Government desire to make this part of the alpine scenery of New Zealand attractive and easily accessible to tourists. The cost of carrying a road through them will amount to about £1,200, in addition to the money already expended. As stated in my report to the Hon. the Minister of Lands on the 15th May last, the work that has been executed has enabled vehicles to be driven from the head of the Piifeaki Lake to the Governor's camp, which was previously utterly impossible on account of the broken ground existing, which has now been opened by means of the seven and a half miles of road constructed." Walteb Kitson, Acting Chief Surveyor.

OTAGO. Waikouaiti County. Road across Waikouaiti River. —The most of the contracts on this road were finished during the year, absorbing vote, £1,516 15s. 3d. The work done covers all the most difficult and rugged portions, and forms a very fair road 14 feet wide between Orbell's Station and Scratchback Hill, a distance of 5J miles, costing an average of £289 per mile. There is still a long piece of wet road to get to the perpetual leases, the ditching of which will cost £250. Mount Watkins lioad. —This line is to give access to the north end of the same block that is benefited by above road. It has a vote of £600, of which only £157 has been spent. Taibbi County. Road, Billie's Ridge to Nenthom Flat. —This road has been finished, at a total cost of £689 14s. Id., the amount spent during the year being £189 14s. Id. Strath-Taieri Suspension Bridge. —This handsome bridge, 150ft. span, was finished during the year, at a total cost of £1,983 12s. 3d. Vincent County. Road, Cromwell to Perriam's, East Bank of Glutha River. —This work has been finished, including a bridge over Firewood Creek. The bridge is a substantial timber trussed structure, resting on solid masonry abutments, the span being 80ft., with extensions at either end, bringing up the total length to 115ft., costing £808 10s. The vote was £2,600, and during the year the amount expended was £477. Maniototo County. Deepdell Road, Run 210.—The amount expended during the past twelve months has been £1,156 17s. 6d.; vote, £1,500. The County Engineer reports that £300 additional will be necessary to make the road practicable for wheeled traffic throughout. Block XI., Naseby, Whitesoio Valley. —Two contracts are now proceeding on this block, and will probably be completed in a few weeks. The amount authorized is £300, of which the contracts absorb £288. Block XV., Maniototo. —A sum of £200 is to be expended early in the spring to form roads in this block. Tuapeea County. Road, Beaumont to Miller's Flat. —During the year the sum of £645 has been spent on the formation of 140 chains of this road, to the width of 15ft., between the Horseshoe Bend and Minzion Creek, making a total of £3,500 for its formation. A very fair road has been made all the way, excepting about two miles from the Talla Burn to the Horseshoe Bend on the Clutha Eiver. Road to Run 140a. —A connecting road 63 chains in length, through Mr. Dickison's paddock, has been formed during the year, subsidized to the extent of £500 by Government. This money has been well spent, as the work has been well done and must have cost the county considerably more than the above sum. Dunkeld to Remarkable Bush. —32 chains of this road have been widened, at a cost of £300, of which the county contributed £100. Southland County. Tokanuir-Gorge Road. —The eontract on this road has been finished, at a total cost of £1,148 16s. Bd., whereof £815 6s. 6d. was spent this year. A very necessary extension of this road, just surveyed by Mr. Strauchon, to open up lands surveyed but not yet sold (about five thousand acres), will cost £600, including a small bridge, or if metalled about £1,300. Wakaia Roads. —These roads, which are all within an education endowment, have been finished, at a cost of £3,297 195., of which, however, only £2,832 7s. 6d. has passed this office as yet.

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