D.—l

X

34 miles above Upokongaro ; 41 miles above Wanganui ; 95 miles below Taumaranui : Bapid No. 196 : Moderate run and clear. Opariki on left bank. There is a water-mill here, and stream with point of large stones at its junction. Putiki, Native kainga, on right, with stream; good reach. 32J miles above Upokongaro ; 39^- miles above Wanganui; 96-| miles below Taumaranui : Koriniti (Corinth) on left bank; a stony point at stream on right narrows the channel. There is a mark put in here by the Natives on bank above river of the height of large flood of 23rd February, 1883. (Levels will be got to this afterwards.) Bapid No. 197 : Swift run, with bend to left; a number of snags to move ; a stream to left, with point of large stones. Eapid No. 198 (a short way below No. 197): Swift run ; curve to right; some snags and stones to move. Eapid No. 199: A short way below No. 198; a number of snags to move at upper end on right; moderate run; some snags in channel to move; curve to left; good reach; a stream on right with stony point; and a stream on the left with a similar stony point; small waterfall to left; point of large stones jutting out for about \ chain from left bank at junction of a stream ; a snag to move. 30J miles above Upokongaro ; 37J miles above Wanganui; 98J miles below Taumaranui : Karakerake, Native kainga, on left; good reach continues; papa face on right; shingle bank on right. Opapaku Stream to left, with stony point and Native kainga. 29 miles above Upokongaro; 36 miles above Wanganui; 100 miles below Taumaranui: Eapid No. 200 : Otumairi—very swift run ; a good many snags to move near top on left; channel to left; shallow bank on right. Speed of current by patent log, \.\ miles per hour; curve to right; channel runs against left bank ; good roach. Ahuahu, Native kainga, on right; large creek to right. Eapid No. 201: Just below Ahuahu channel on right; some snags to move at upper end on right; a good deal of work here ; also some snags a little below in channel to move ; river curves to left; good reach. Mungapapapa Stream on right bank. Eapid No. 202 : Moderate run; some snags to move; stony point on left at foot of rapid, and a similar point on right. Otuhi, Native kainga, on right; a stream on right, with stones at junction with river. Te Arakaiwhiria ; good reach. Eapid No. 203 : Moderate run; channel on left; a number of snags to move at upper end, and also snags to clear out of bottom of channel; a good deal of work here. 25 miles above Upokongaro ; 32 miles above Wanganui; 104 miles beloiu Taumaranui: Atene (Athens); from here down to Parekino (18 miles below Upokongaro; 25 miles above Wanganui; 111 miles below Taumaranui) there are twelve rapids; these, with the exception of the one next Athens (still incomplete beginning of November), have been cleared by the snagging parties. Below Parakino down to Eaurikia (8 miles above Upokongaro ; 15 miles above Wanganui; 121 miles below Taumaranui) a former snagging party were at work last year; the channel is fairly good as far as Kennedy's. 7 miles above Wanganui; 129 miles below Taumaranui : Upokongaro, and also from there on to Wanganui (136 miles below Taumaranui). When the present snagging operations were started the river was reported clear for traffic up to Parekino, so that the work was commenced at' Parekino and continued on upwards; but although there is a passable channel up as far as Parekino, yet in the distance between Parekino and Wanganui, some snags about eighteen miles above Wanganui, and some in the reach opposite the quarries ; and a few sundry snags here and there in different places, would be better of being removed, as in this part of the river it is desirable that the channel should be more opeii and clear, and wider than can be attempted in the upper course of the river, above Parekino, and it would be advisable to have this part gone over, as the cost would not be great; but it is not desirable to detach either of the two parties now up river for this purpose, as it is important to proceed with the upper work. John T. Stewart, District Engineer.