G.—i s

35

the excavated stuff being wheeled on to fascines laid on the ground to form the roadway. No more work has been done on the north side of the river, but as soon as the Catlin's Bridge is finished the formation?, on the north side will be made up with stuff from a clay terrace on the south side. Between the Catlin's Eiver and the Mackenzie Creek the bush had been felled and cleared, and some of. the formation done when I took charge. Up to the 30th June, 1890, the AvJiole of the formation betAveen the two streams had been finished, the length being about one mile. From where the road-line crosses the Mackenzie Creek the bush has been felled 1 chain wide, and a roadAA-ay 40ft. wide cleared for a distance of about 4 miles 63! chains up the Mackenzie Valley, over the saddle, and a little past the crossing of the North Parakanui Stream. Also the bushfelling 100ft. Avide and clearing 50ft. Avide a distance of 4 miles up the Catlin's River from the bridge-site, Avhich w;as begun before I took charge of these Avorks, are practically finished. Catlin's Biver Bridge Contract. —A contract has been let for the construction of a timber bridge of five spans of 30ft. each over the Catlin's Eiver. The work at the bridge-site is not yet begun, but the contractor is in the bush getting the logs. Tourist Tracks, Mount Cook Glaciers. —About 330 chains of tracks have been formed in the neighbourhood of the " Hermitage " at the foot of Mount Cook, so that tourists can easily walk about and see all the most interesting sights. Frederick Wither, Assistant Engineer.

Payments made to Local Bodies out of Thirds and Fourths between the 1st July, 1889, and the 30th June, 1890, and Statement showing how the several Road Boards are spending the Moneys received by them in the Canterbury Land District.

John H. Baker, Chief Surveyor.

OTAGO. Truck, Milford Sound to Te Anau Lake. —The Avhole of this track has been cut and formed afresh, or Avidened and improved, including 1 mile and 10 chains from the beech huts to the waterfall. There are now four huts between Milford Sound and "the Sutherland Waterfall, and two huts in the Clinton Valley, besides one at the foot of Lake Ada, east side, Avhich is not now used. The total length of bush track—viz., 26 miles and 50 chains—is made up as follows :■■

Road Boards, &c. Amount paid by Treasury. Amount paid by Receiver. Total Amount paid to Board. Particulars of AVork approved by the AVaste Lauds Board. Vrowhenun. Town X s. a. 21 17 11 £ s. a. 32 15 8 1 £ B. d. 54 13 2 Form and shingle streets in the Arowhenua Village Settlement; fill hollows and place foot-planks over the creek. Improve the Main South Road north of Chertsey, Alford Forest Road near 35820, &c, and roads bounding lots in Reserve 350. Improve the Main Lowecliff Road and Main South Road, west from the Hinds Township. Formation and metalling roads through the Orari Village Settlements and Railway Reserves 349, 389, &C, near Orari. Formation of roads as moneys accrue, round Reserve 1261 near Ashburton ; and build culverts across waterchannels. Improve the road-formation fronting Rural Section 35754, near the mouth of the Ashburton River. Form and shingle streets in the Fairlie Creek Village Settlement, and surface-formation of road through Ashwick Flat. Form road fronting Lots 5 to 17, subdivision of Reserve 1824, situo,ted near Springfield. Repair roads fronting on lots of Reserve 1935 near Springfield, and roads forming the frontage of Annat Village Settlement lots. Improve the roads near the Coalgate Railway-station, and fronting upon the lots of Reserve 1288 adjacent. Form and improve the road on the east side of the north branch of the River Ashburton, abutting on Section 35795, &c. Repair, shingle, and improve fords, &c, on Depot, South Eyre, Esperanza, and other roads through Reserves 2331 and 2332. Metal Hardy, Johnston, and Ulundi Roads, in the Rakaia Village Settlement. Improve roads in the South Mayfield Settlement, and road north of the Hinds Township, fronting on lots of Reserve 1381. Improve the roads abutting on lots in Reserves 283, 1371, 1381, situated near Winchester and South Rangitata Railway-stations. Improve the roads fronting lots in Reserves 264 and 1497, situate between Chertsey and Dromore, and road in Village Settlement of Dromore. Ashburton Upper : 26 18 4 34 6 6 61 4 10 Coldstream 15 0 12 4 1 13 9 1 jeraldine j 92 4 5 182 12 4 274 16 9 3ampstead Town 2 5 10 2 5 10 "jongbeach 1 2 8 1 2 8 2 5 4 tlackenzie County Council j 9 8 0 12 15 6 22 3 6 Halvern 1 18 8 7 8 0 9 6 8 East 11 10 2 12 8 10 23 19 0 South .. 1 19 7 5 18 9 7 18 4 ilount Hutt 10 7 0 9 4 9 19 11 9 )xford .. 357 18 11 137 18 8 495 17 7 ftakaia South 31 18 1 39 15 2 71 13 3 Rangitata 19 17 9 10 11 5 30 9 2 20 18 10 5 14 10 26 13 8 Vakanui 4 3 2 4 9 4 8 12 6 Vaipara 55 3 10 55 3 10 Totals .. |613 8 6 566 15 9 1,180 4 3