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Waikawa- Waitamonga (4 miles 5 chains). —A survey has been made of this track, but no work has been undertaken. Taylor's Biver Survey. —A survey has been made by the Public Works Department for the Blenheim Borough Council, and at their cost, to ascertain the practicability of diverting the river from its present uncertain channel into a permanent one. WESTLAND DISTEICT. Nelson-Westport Road. —A survey (plan and sections) is being made of a portion of this, with a view to its improvement, viz., from what is called the Nine-Mile Ferry, on the Buller, to the Inangahua Junction, about twenty miles. About twelve miles of this survey have been completed. Westport-Reefton Road. —Plans have been prepared for a bridge over the Inangahua left-hand branch, called also the Waitahu, about four miles from Reef ton, and tenders are being called for the work of erection. It will consist of four spans of 80ft. each and six spans of 30ft. each, as well as protective w rorks of considerable extent. Westport-Lyell Road. —Surveys have been made of the site of a proposed bridge over the Buller River a short distance below the Lyell, where the river is comparatively narrow, with rocky banks. The floods here rise to a great height, over 40ft., and the water-way will be about 320 ft. wide. The designs for the bridge are now being prepared, and will demand great consideration, from the nature of the site. Cheistchukch-Hokitika Road. The maintenance of this has been executed as usual during the year : no extraordinary slips or flood-damage has occurred. A further length of 5f miles has recently been added to the length maintained by Government. This was formerly maintained by the Westland County. In this section the Waimea Creek bridge was carried away by a heavy flood, and is being replaced as rapidly as possible. The Taipo bridge is well advanced : all the cylinder piers are fixed, and the timber for the superstructure is being prepared for erection. It is expected to be finished about the beginning of June.. The work consists of four spans of 110 ft. each, with heavy earthwork and rockwork approaches. Roads to open up Lands befoee Sale. Ahaura-Kopara (6 miles 35 chains). —This work was satisfactorily completed in July; it is metalled 4ft. wide, and is a good track for horses. Teremakau-Bell-hill. —Surveys and plans have been made of this road, and handed over to the Grey County Council, who will carry out the work. Roads on Goldpields. Mohikinui to Karamea via Rough-and-Tvmibla. —Thirteen miles of a survey of this road have been completed, leaving about six miles to survey. Of this road 2 miles 50 chains were completed under contract in December last; a further section o£ 1 mile 15 chains has been let, and is progressing satisfactorily. The plans and sections of the rest of the road will, as they are completed, from time to time, be handed over to the Buller County Council, who will carry out the work. Designs are being prepared for a bridge over the Mohikinui River, 210 ft. clear span, with the view of calling for tenders after another vote has been taken for this road. Brighton to Seventeen-Mile Beach via Terraces. —The plans prepared by this department for this work were handed over to the county (Grey), and the work is now being carried out by the Council. The plans of that portion of the road lying within the Buller County will, when completed, be handed to the County Council. Gobden to Seventeen-Mile Beach. —A contract has been let for widening a portion of this road— 1 mile 35 chains—in the Coal Creek Valley into a dray-road, and the work is now progressing ; the completion of this will make the road from Cobden to Seven-Mile Creek (north of Point Elizabeth) available for light dray traffic. Watek-baces. Argyle Race, Charleston. —Reports have been supplied by the department on the works of extension in progress on this race, the works on which are in charge of the Buller County Council. Mikonui Bace. —Contract No. 71, being 50 chains of the long tunnel, was completed in July last; although driven in rock, it had all to be timbered. Contract No. 72, having a length of 35 chains, was completed for about 21J chains, when the works came to a standstill, the contractor stating his inability, from want of funds, to proceed further ; the work at present remains in this incomplete state. Sludge-channel, Borough of Ross. —■ A report on this work was supplied on the 28th July, 1885. CANTERBURY DISTRICT. Christchurch-Uokitika Boad. —This road has been in good order during the year. Kaikoura-Waiau Boad. —In sections, viz :— Greenhills Section Contract. —2 miles 58$ chains, formation, bridge, and culverts, was satisfactorily completed on the 28th January, 1886. Quail Range Contract. —6 miles 64 chains, formation and culverts, was completed on the Ist January. Mason and Whales-back Sections — Relief Works. —The relief works for " unemployed" were commenced on these sections on the Ist April, 1885, and the formation was completed, with the exception of those parts where culverts had to be built. The men were then moved to the Southwards section, and the whole of the formation and culverts were completed in November, 1885. A contract was then let for the repair and metalling of this section, to be completed in July, 1886, as well
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