0.-1

70

Manganui and Ruapehu. —All the work done out of this item is on the Makotuku Valley Boad, and comprises 6 chains bushwork, 121 chains formation 8 ft. wide from side ditches, and 109 lineal feet culverts. This is quite passable for dray traffic, and the lower half of it is largely used by milk-carts. Marlon No. 3. —Authority for £800 received, but no expenditure as yet. Hautapu Blocks (1., V., VI, IX., X.) and Tiriraukaiva (IV., VIII.). —On the Kaweka Eoad 287 chains bushwork and bridle-track formation have been done. On the Mataroa Boad the work done comprises 791 chains engineering survey, 97 chains traverses of deviations, 420 chains bushwork and bridle-track formation. On the Makohine Valley Eoad, in these blocks, 119 chains engineering survey and 81 chains bushwork and bridle-track formation have been done. Only seventeen unemployed are now left. On the Mataroa Eoad there was some very heavy cliff-work for about 20 chains; the bushwork is mostly heavy, but the formation generally is light. Ohinewairua Block. —The work done comprises the following : On the Horouta Eoad, 31 chains bushwork and 136 chains dray-road formation, with 240 lineal feet culverts, thus completing the dray-road to the Moawhango Bridge; on the Pukeokahu Boad, 189 chains engineering survey, 284 chains bushwork, and 45 chains bridle-track formation, with 24 lineal feet of culverts; on the Moawhango Valley Eoad, 130 chains of bushfelling. The felling has been burnt, and is now being prepared for formation. Pukeokahu, Blocks X., XIII.; Ohineivairua, Block XVI; and Ruahine, Block I. —The work done comprises 190 chains engineering survey, 282 chains bushwork, 16 chains dray-road formation, and 396 chains bridle-track, with 30 lineal feet culverts. Tiriraukawa Block. —No expenditure under this item. Authority applied for on 9th December last. Makohine Village Settlement. —On the road from Mangaonoho Station to the settlement 61 chains dray-road have been formed, with 80 lineal feet culverts. Temporary Bridges over the Rangitikei River (Vote 91, item 448, of 1897-98). —A punt 38 ft. by 12 ft., with the necessary gear, has been put on the river at Scott's Ferry, the Government subsidy to which was £128 Bs. lOd. Lands and Survey Office, Wanganui. —A site for this proposed building will probably be obtained at the Customhouse. Drawings are now being prepared. The office-work in connection with the year's operations has consisted of the following : 62 miles 55 chains engineering surveys plotted, with quantities ; 4 miles 55 chains traverses plotted, and plans drawn. G. T. Mueeay, Eoad* Surveyor.

WELLINGTON. Waihi-Tokaanu. —The total length of this road from the Tokaanu Biver to the church is 1 mile 18 chains, of which 31 chains is swamp, 20 chains side-cutting, the remainder being simple formation. On the 31 chains of swamp, fascines 12 ft. long have been laid, and partially covered with the material excavated from the side drains; but owing to the exhaustion of funds it has been impossible to have them sufficiently covered for anything but foot traffic. Of the whole length of road, 46 chains was covered with light manuka scrub, while the remaining 52 chains pass through open country. A cutting of 3 chains in length, 10 ft. wide, and 3 ft. deep, has been made to divert a' stream which previously discharged its waters into the swamp through which the road passes, by which diversion the stream is now taken in a direct course to the lake. An outlet drain has been cut for a chain, from the road passing through the swamp to the lake, and this, with the stream diversion just mentioned, has lowered the swamp 18 in. A contract for supplying timber for four small bridges, and delivering it to the several sites, has just been completed. The following is the tabulated record of work done: Eoad engineered, 1 mile 18 chains ; fascines laid, 31 chains : partial formation, 24 ft. wide, 31 chains ; four bridges, of a total length of 40 ft., erected; and 62 chains of drains cut. Tokaanu Township (Tawera Street). —This township is situate on the southern shore of Lake Taupo, and the street is laid off 1-J chains in width for 1 mile 12 chains, the formation being 24 ft. wide. For a distance of 54 chains the road-line is dry, and the formation has been made by excavating material from each side and throwing the same uniformly over the centre. In the swampy parts of the road fascines 12 ft. long have been placed, sixty-six to the chain, and the excavated material from the side drains cast upon them. This street passes through flat country, 38 chains of which is swamp, and 40 chains covered with light manuka scrub. The following work has been done: 1 mile 12 chains of road-line graded and pegged, 1 mile 12 chains formed 24 ft. wide, 40 chains of scrub felled and cleared, 5 culverts 96 ft. in length laid, 4,055 cubic yards of earth excavated, 1 mile 34 chains of drains cut, and 8 chains of corduroy and 47£ chains of fascines laid. The culverts, which are built of sound heart of totara, and are in first-class condition, serve to drain two of the swamps of a considerable quantity of water, but as the large swamp adjoining the lake is at present on the same level the outflow has not been very extensive. Potaka Road (Awarua Block). —This road has been felled and cleared 2 miles 47 chains, graded and pegged 2 miles 48 chains, and formed 6 ft. wide for 2 miles 14 chains. One 18 ft. bridge, 6ft. wide, has been erected, 1,565 cubic yards of slips cleared, 1,835 cubic yards of rock excavated, and three miles and. three-quarters maintained, all of which is in good order. It passes through steep bush country, and is consequently very expensive to construct. The total length open for horse traffic is 3 miles 60 chains, and further clearing and formation will be proceeded with during the coming year. This is one of the roads giving access to the Awarua Block, on the east side of the Bangitikel Eiver.