D.—l

28

The following table shows the depth on the Grey bar for each month of the yeai":—•

1880. April ... May ... June ... July ... August September October November December 1890. January February March Means for the year ...

Mean Depths on Bar at High Water, taking Averages of Three Days at each Spring- and Neap-tide. Spring-tides, ft. Neap-tides, ft. 21* 19f 19-| 18 2&| 19 17 16| 18 15 21 18$ 21 19| 18 17i 18| 17 20 18 19± 16^ 18^ 16i 19|- 17|

MOKIHINTJI. Vessels of about 9ft. draught can now go up to the wharf at high-water springs, the contract for deepening the inner bar having been finished. Shortly after the completion of the work the dredge " Hapuka " broke away from her moorings and went ashore. The Mokihinui Coal Company, to whom she had been lent., abandoning the vessel, the department undertook the floating of her at the company's expense. After considerable trouble this was successfully accomplished. BO ADS AND BRIDGES, BUILDINGS, ETC. Although the above works are now generally under the control of other departments, this department has been intrusted with the supervision in the following instances : — Auckland Disteict. Road from Kaiua liailway-station to Waotu. —The approaches to the bridge over the Waikato, built last year, were carried out and the road fenced. Road to Waitovw Caves. —The survey for a road from Hangatiki Railway-station to the caves having been completed, plans were prepared and contracts let for the bridges over the Mangaokewa and Mangapu Rivers. The bridges are now almost finished ; good progress is also being made with the formation of the remainder of the road, 5 miles 36 chains in length, which has been let in small contracts to the Maoris living in the neighbourhood. Buildings at Otorohanga. —The cottage for Wahanui and the Native school buildings were satisfactorily erected under contract. Woodville-Palmeeston Disteict. Tiraumea Bridge. —The contract for the bridge over the Tiraumea River, in the neighbourhood of Pahiatua, has been finished. Kairanga Drainage. —A survey was made for a drain If miles in length along the western boundary of the Kairanga Survey District, and a contract prepared for the w rork. Rakaia Goege Beidge. The Rakaia Gorge bridge having been severely strained by a heavy gale in September last, it is being thoroughly overhauled and repaired. Westland Disteict. Bullet Road. —The bridge over the Ohika-iti has been finished, as well as four small bridges, and a contract for two other small bridges is in progress. Tenders are now advertised for repairs to the old crib-logging. Lycll Bridge. —The piers and approaches are finished, and good progress is being made with the superstructure ;so the bridge should be ready for traffic this winter. In consequence of difficulties with the foundations, the spans were rearranged, and the bridge will consist of two principal spans of 108ft. and 168ft. and two smaller spans of 42ft. and 20ft. Mokihinui Bridge. —The current being very strong, and the freshes carrying heavy trees, the main pier has been designed of massive concrete, the smaller pier being of masonry. The superstructure is of iron, in two spans of 144ft. and 84ft., with a 15ft. timber-span at one end. The approaches, 5 chains in length, are nearly finished, and satisfactory progress is being made with the piers and superstructure. General. —After a survey fead been made, a design was prepared for a foot-bridge at Ngakawau. The maintenance of a bridge over the Inangahua, at the Buller Junction, has been attended to; some small retaining-walls were built on the Greymouth-Reefton Road, near Brunnerton ; and on the Hokitika-Christchurch Road a deviation of 32 chains near the Taipo River was carried out, and the road maintained until the Survey Department took over the maintenance at the end of July.