α-i

68

Waipara-Cheviot Road. —£200 was authorised for expenditure by the Waipara Boad Board. Specifications for the improvement of this road were submitted and approved by me on the 3rd April, 1895. The works consist chiefly of shingling, in addition to ploughing the sides of five miles length of the road, deepening a cutting, and ploughing out the side-ditches, and are being carried out partly by contract and partly by day labour. Lα Bon's Bay Jetty Road. —£37s was authorised to be expended, the Board subsidising to the extent of £125 out of their own funds. I finally inspected this work, as carried out by the Le Bon's Eoad Board, and found it completed in the satisfactory manner certified to by the Board's engineer. I therefore passed the balance of the subsidy due—viz., £75. The total expenditure on the work, which will be of permanent benefit to the district, has been £617. Akaroa Heads Lighthouse Road. — £100 was authorised for expenditure. This work consists chiefly of about 148 chains of formation and side-cuttings 10ft. wide in the solid, in addition to three stone crossings, and is being carried out by the Akaroa and Wainui Eoad Board for the purpose of providing the settlers and tourists with a track between Akaroa and the lighthouse. A progress payment of £69 10s. has been made on account of portion completed to date. Roads to the Co-operative Dairy Factories, Akaroa. —£300 was authorised for the improvement of the various roads leading to the dairy factories. The Akaroa County Council has agreed to spend the amount proportionately on the roads leading to five factories and a creamery. No report has yet been furnished of any commencement with the works. Westerfield and Clearwell Village Settlements Water-supply. —£6o was authorised for expenditure. The Ashburton County Council was notified last February that a Government grant of the above amount was available for this much-needed work, which is to give a water-supply to each section in the above settlements. I hope soon to be notified of the completion of the same. Water-supply to the Hinds Village Settlement. —£4o was authorised for expenditure. The Ashburton County Council has been notified that the contribution sanctioned by the Government for this work in June, 1893, is still available, and has replied that the work (which is estimated to cost £77) will be undertaken after the enlargement of the mains, &c, in the Upper Hinds district is completed. . Constniction of Roads in Reserve 1496, Ashburton. —£loo was authorised for expenditure—the Government vote for the completion of this work, urgently called for by the villagers of this settlement. I have recommended, on economical grounds, that the amount be handed over to the local body, the Wakanui Eoad Board, for expenditure, with the proviso that the work be given to the villagers. Lake Ellesmere Drainage-works. — £750 was authorised for expenditure. These works, as specified in last year's report, are now completed, with the exception of the cutting at the elbow, which the contractor is unable to carry out until the lake is let out. The works have benefited a small area of Crown lands on the south side of the Ahuriri lagoon; many expressions of satisfaction as to the result of the works have been received by the Chairman of the County Council from the settlers along the canal and adjacent lands. Cliff Road. —£200 was authorised for expenditure. This road, which is reported as being in first-class order, was carried out by the Waimate County Council, at a cost of £1,000, the Government vote in aid being the above authorised amount. The work will be found by the settlers and stock-owners in the Gibson country to be a great boon, they being now connected with the Hakateramea terminus of the railway, and within a very few miles of it and the Waitaki Bridge, whereas previously their only outlet was by boat across the river. The road also opens up Buns 61a and 66, comprising about 78,000 acres of Crown lands. Bridge over the Pukaki. —£850 was authorised for expenditure. This important work, the contract for which is now completed, was carried out by Messrs. Sutherland and Nelson, at a contract price of £1,698 13s. 6d., under the supervision of the Mackenzie County engineer (Mr. E. L. Banks), from designs previously approved of by the Public Works Department. The Government contribution towards the work was £850, as a pound-for-pound subsidy. A progress-payment has been made to date of £500 : the balance of the subsidy—namely, £350—1 have deferred passing pending receipt of Mr. District Surveyor Broderick's report on the structure as completed. Road adjoining Mayfield Homestead Village Settlement. —£10 was authorised for expenditure. The improvement of this road was carried out by the Eangitata Eoad Board, at a cost of £15, the Government contributing the above authorised amount. lam awaiting the Banger's report on the work before passing the voucher. Water-race through Lots 1 and 3, Reserve 2165. —£3 was authorised for expenditure. The authorised amount has been expended in clearing out the race through the above lots (at present open for selection), the water-race having now become so obstructed and overgrown with weeds as to prevent the supply of water reaching the settlers lower down. I have deferred passing the amount voted pending receipt of the usual report notifying completion of work. J. W. A. Mabohant, Chief Surveyor.

CHEVIOT ESTATE. Port Bobinson. —The expenditure was incurred in levelling and making up the ground to increase the storage room, and in building a retaining-wall and groin to protect the foreshore from the action of the waves. The work was expensive, owing to the nature of the soil, it being a stiff clay, and also the skilled labour required in building the wall and groin. About half the work was effected by co-operative contract, the other half by day labour. Jed Biver. —The charges are for surveys, management, and diverting the stream near the Telegraph Ford Bridge and Laundry. Cathedral Boad. —The expenditure on this road was for improving, forming, and maintaining ; the maintenance being rather heavy, as the bulk of the traffic between the Port and the township