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was washed away. The bridge consisted of five 80 ft. spans and one 40 ft. span on four pairs of cylinders and two timber piers ; then there was an embankment about 380 ft. long planted with willows. Between this embankment and the Native settlement there was a further length of bridge consisting of seventeen spans of 24 ft. each. The total length of the bridge was therefore 848 ft., or, including the embankment in the centre, 1,228 ft. The flood washed away three 80 ft. spans and two cylinder piers in the main structure —washed away the entire embankment and 216 ft. of the light timber structure. A wire and cage have been put across the gap in the main structure for the convenience of temporary traffic. Across this same gap it is proposed to erect a suspensionbridge fit for light vehicular traffic, probably costing £1,000. This is a most unsuitable site for a bridge, and, except in the way of having easy approaches, has nothing to recommend it. I estimate the damage here at £5,000 —that is about the real value of what was washed away—and I have entered for repairs £1,000 for suspension-bridge. The probable actual cost of structures washed away would be about £12,000, and cost of a new and safe structure at the same site would be about the same. If a new structure was intended the site should be about two miles higher up, but on account of the Kakariki Bridge, now in progress, being made suitable for vehicular traffic it is probable that no permanent bridge will now be necessary here. Kakariki Bridge (Baihvay). —This bridge consisted of seven 60 ft. spans and one 120 ft. span on six timber piers and two cylinder piers. The whole has been washed away except the 120 ft. span on the two cylinder piers, and the western abutment span of 60 ft. For temporary traffic a light scaffolding of white-pine in 20 ft. spans has been constructed. This will also serve as scaffolding for the permanent structure, which will consist of 120 ft. spans on cylinders. The contract for the supply of the cylinders is now under way. This bridge will be decked so as to be available for ordinary road traffic. Bull's Bridge. —This was an old bridge. It consisted of six 75 ft. spans and a 25 ft. end span. All that is now left is the 25 ft. span and three piers. The river has also scoured a channel several chains wide to the west of the old bridge. The site was always a bad one, and is now worse than ever. The last flood struck the piers at an angle of nearly 45°. A contract was in progress at the time of the flood for a thorough overhaul and renewal of the bridge, at a cost of £3,000. The only parts of the bridge which are left are the parts recently renewed, the piers being of ironbark and well driven. The flood reached within about 2 ft. of the decking. Besides the loss of the bridge, an expenditure of £800 had also been incurred for protective works at the western end, which are now either destroyed or useless. Even if the contract for renewals had been completed, and the bridge had stood the test of the flood without injury, it would have been very little use, for it would have required a bridge of almost equal length to connect it with an even fairly safe approach on the western side. There is a much better site about three-quarters of a mile lower down, where a safe bridge could be erected. This bridge would be 1,000 ft. long, consisting of four 120 ft. spans on cylinders, and the remainder of 80 ft. and 20 ft. spans on ironbark piles, all at a probable cost of £12,000. The decking would be 28 ft. above normal water-level. A wire rope and punt have been provided at this site for the temporary convenience of traffic, cost of same (£287) being defrayed by special Government grant. Scott's Ferry. —This was the lowest point on the river where means were provided for crossing. It consisted of a wire rope and punt. The punt has been washed away. There is no doubt that the carrying-away of the upper bridges on this river was in part responsible for the destruction of the lower ones—though probably, in any case, the result would have been the same in the end. The Eangitikei County Council have recovered a large quantity of bridge timber from the river and sea-beaches, and when the river falls to summer level they will recover a great deal more. Some of the Mangaweka Bridge timber is also being saved. Attached to this report I am sending photographs of the Vinegar Hill Bridge before the flood, and of the Onepuhi and Kakariki Bridges after the flood. I estimate that it will take about £40,000 to remove all the slips, repair washouts, and rebuild the bridges in such a manner as to be perfectly safe. The Moawhango-Napier Eoad is not in my district, but in connection with it I should mention that very serious damage has been done on it, the principal items being: Slips on sidelings, Birch's run ; slips on Taruarau and Ngaruroro sidelings ; and, most serious of all, the washing-away of the Ngaruroro Bridge—a photograph of which is attached. With the exception of this bridge, it is anticipated that the road will again be in fair repair by Christmas. G. T. Mueeat, Eoad Surveyor.