49

C.—l

Bangitaiki-Buatoki-Waiotahi. —This horse-road, which is thirty miles in length, has been maintained by a staff of three men. 1 mile 10 chains of its length has been re-formed. Te Teko-Opptiki. —On the Whakatane-Te Teko section of the road 1 mile 24 chains of drayroad has been formed through the Orini Swamp and 13 chains improved. A large drain has also been cut taking much water off the road, and several bridges have been constructed. Several bridges still want constructing and the road improving. Lichfield-Ateamuri. —The Government portion of this road, being fourteen miles in length, and extending from its junction with the Tauranga-Eunanga Eoad, near Ateamuri, to the boundary of the Piako County, has been maintained in good order by one surfaceman, 1 mile 7 chains of re-formation having been made. Nukuhou Bridge. —This bridge has been constructed by the Whakatane County for £249, being assisted by a grant of £125 on the usual agreement. The bridge consists of two spans of 20 ft. and one of 30 ft., and is 12 ft. wide. Botorua Nursery Boad. —This, which is a portion of the old road from Maketu to Taupo via Whakarewarewa, has been re-formed for a distance of 1 mile 40 chains, and maintained. Genekal. During the year under report 51 miles 43 chains of engineering surveys and road location have been done; 28 miles 34 chains of dray-road and 17 miles 30 chains of horse-road have been constructed ; nine bridges, with a total span of 462 ft., have been built; and six bridges, with a total span of 3,077 ft., have been repaired. Fifty culverts, having a total length of 1,637 ft., have been built, and eighty-six miles of dray-road has been re-formed. 353 miles of main roads and sixty-five miles of horse-roads have been maintained. I have attended to all works at Rotorua formerly under the control of the late Mr. Malfroy, which has occupied a large portion of my time and attention. The office work in connection with the year's work has been considerable. The correspondence has been large; 1,309 vouchers have been dealt with, covering an expenditure of £21,408175. 2d. Robekt H. Beaney, Eoad Surveyor.

AUCKLAND , OBNTEAL DISTRICT. Baglan-Waipa Boad. —Under maintenance by the Eaglan County. Arrangements are now being made, under the usual agreement, to expend the £200 voted for it last appropriations on repairs and improvements, both of which the road much needs. ■ Waitetuna-Waingaro Boad. —The widening of two miles and a half of this road, referred to as in hand in last annual report, was completed in the early part of the year, since when until a few months ago funds were not available for further work; but now other improvements, consisting of further widening, some "additional culverts, and the building of a small bridge over the Parawai Stream, are in hand. In all, eleven men are employed. Waitetuna-Kauri Boad. —This is really a continuation of the Waitetuna-Aotea Eoad, and extends from the upper Waitetuna Valley over the divide to the valley of the Kaniwhaniwha, at the junction of the Kauri Stream, where the road will join the road system of the old settled district. So far, nothing beyond the preparation of contracts has been done towards expending the vote of £200 on this road." Waitetuna-Aotea Boad. —During the year nothing has been done on this road except burning the felled bush and sowing grass-seed on the part burnt. The small vote of £70 taken last appropriations left only an available balance for expenditure of £21, which is now being laid out in removing slips and general repairs to the part formed during the previous year, and will not provide for any extension of the work of road-making. Another two miles and a half requires making to bring this road to the upper Waitetuna Valley, from which point, as before mentioned, it would continue under the present name of " Waitetuna-Kauri " to the settled district. I look upon this as an important cross-country road connecting the Aotea, Te Mata, and Ruapuke districts with the upper part of the Waikato and the Waipa. It will make a much shorter and better road than the present one by way of Whatawhata, and when the road up the Waitetuna Valley is completed it will be a better and shorter road for Raglan people going to Ohaupo, Te Awamutu, &c. Aotea-Baglan Boad. —The works on this road have been carried out by the Raglan County, under agreement, and I think good value has been had for the expenditure. The road has been very much improved. There is, however, plenty of room for further improvements, some of which will require extensive deviations from the present line of road to obtain anything like good grades at a reasonable cost. Hamilton Bridge. —This work was done by the Hamilton Borough under agreement, which had been made before I took charge of that part of the district, and the work was carried out under the supervision of the Auckland office. It has been satisfactorily completed. Puniu Bridge. —Nothing has yet been done towards expending the vote of £100 for painting and repairing this, and I think it is too late in the season now to paint, so propose to only do the small repairs now necessary at present, and the painting next summer when fine weather can be relied upon. Kawhia-Aotea Boad. —-Since receiving the authority for expenditure on this road I have not had time to personally inspect it, which I think I should do before deciding what repairs to do with the money available. I hope soon to put these repairs in hand. Waitomo Caves Boad. —Early in the year this road was gone over, and thoroughly repaired. There are now one or two places on it requiring repairing, which will be attended to at an early date.

7—G. 1.