C.—l

78

If chains of drains cut, and 6 chains of embankments formed. All culverts and the four temporary bridges erected last year are reported to be in good condition. Waiowaka Road Extension. —£2oo has been recently authorised, and plans are being prepared for further construction. Burling's-Mecalickstone. —The following work has been done : 63f chains of formation, 14 ft., 16ft., and 18ft. wide, 1 mile 4 chains widened to those widths; 1,139 cubic yards of slips cleared, 1,795 cubic yards of rock excavated, 52 ft. of tunnelling driven, 2 chains of drains cut, 21 chains of embankments formed, and five culverts (of various dimensions, and an aggregate length of 136 ft.) have been laid A large 60 ft. span truss bridge is in course of construction, for which 21,077 ft. of timber has been supplied. The tunnel mentioned above was driven to obviate the necessity of erecting a bridge near Mr. Murray's homestead, and has answered the purpose exceedingly well. Owing to the action of the weather on the papa it has been found necessary to close-timber the upper end ; but the lower end, being of a more solid nature, will not require such expenditure. Aohanga-Waiowaka. —Engineering survey will have to be undertaken before the sum of £300 lately authorised can be expended on construction. Kuivare Road. —This is a new road in the Christchurch 3Association Block, on which no work so far has been undertaken, but a contract will shortly be let for felling and clearing a section of the bush. Puketoi Road (Christchurch Association). —The operations for the year comprise engineering survey, 64 chains; bushfelling and clearing, 41f chains ; formation 6 ft. wide, 53 chains ; slips cleared, 80 cubic yards ; and 5 chains of embankments formed. Ten culverts, of various dimensions, and a total length of 140 ft., have been laid. This horse-road, passing through both flat and broken country, is felled and cleared for about 2 miles 37 chains, and is open for horse traffic over the formation of 53 chains. Uteivai.Road (Christchurch Association). —The only work done during the year has been the removal of 262 cubic yards of slips to keep the road open. This road passes through flat country, swampy in places, for a distance of four miles and a quarter, two miles of which is formed 16 ft. wide and open for wheel traffic, the remaining two miles and a quarter being a 6 ft. horse-road. The culverts, being chiefly pipes, are in good order, as also are the four bridges. The road itself, however, is in a very bad state of repair. The completion of this road right through for dray traffic would be of great benefit to the surrounding settlers, materially shortening the distance to Makuri. Christchurch Farm-homestead Association. —Instructions have been given to devote the sum of £446 14s. 7d. recently authorised to constructive works on this block. Smith's Foot-bridge (Totara Reserve). —The work reported last year as being in progress, and for which the Wairarapa North County Council received a grant of £100, is now completed. It consists of a foot suspension bridge, 2 ft. 6 in. wide, of a clear span of 140 ft., across the Tiraumea Eiver. The whole of the timber used is totara. It will be of great benefit, by giving access to the Totara Eeserve. Alfredton-Tenui Road (Contribution). —The sum of £180 was authorised for expenditure on this road, but was subsequently transferred as a contribution to the Wairarapa North County Council, who have not yet commenced operations. Makairo Road. —This road runs through flat, hilly, and undulating country, and consists of four miles and a half of dray-road, eight miles of 6 ft. horse-road, and about 40 chains at present unformed, of which 12 chains remain to be cleared. The road is in good repair, and the culverts and two bridges are in a satisfactory condition. The following is the work recorded for the year: Eoad graded and pegged, 1 mile 19 chains ; widening to 16 ft., 7 chains ; metalling (19 cubic yards to the chain), 23 chains ; slips cleared, 2,038 cubic yards; and rock excavated, 395 cubic yards. Makairo-Kumeroa Road. —This road, on which work was commenced last year and an engineering survey was completed, passes through both level and hilly country, and is constructed as a drayroad from 14 ft. to 18 ft. wide for a distance of a mile and a half, three miles as a horse-road, and for another mile the bush is felled but not yet cleared. The culverts are in very good repair. The following is the annual record of work: Scrubfelling and clearing, 40 chains; formation, 14ft., 16ft., and 18ft. wide, upwards of one mile; stumping, 67 chains; rock excavated, 404 cubic yards; drains cut, 1 mile 15} chains; slips cleared, 72 cubic yards; embankments formed, 10 chains ; and six culverts, 152 ft. long, have been laid. Waewaepa Road. —The condition on which the sum of £100 was authorised to be spent on this road—viz., that the adjacent settlers should give an equivalent in labour—not having been complied with, no work has been undertaken. Thompson's Road. —Last year I reported an engineering survey of 52 chains. Of this, 51 chains has now been formed to 14 ft., 16 ft., and 18 ft. wide, after being stumped. The other work has been the erection of a 29ft. single-span truss bridge; the insertion of eight culverts, 235 ft. in length; rock excavated, 210 cubic yards; drains cut, 45f chains; and embankments formed, 10 chains. The road passes through low-lying swampy country, and consists of two miles of drayroad, the culverts and bridges being in good condition. Malton Block. —Last year I reported upwards of three miles of road-lines cleared, on which the following further work has been done on the Woodville-Ashhurst line through the block : 1 mile 35 chains formed to a width of 6ft. ; 30 cubic yards of slips cleared; 91 cubic yards of rock excavated; 2 chains of drains cut ; and eighteen culverts (214 ft. in length) inserted. As further funds have been authorised for expenditure on construction-works in this block, the formation of two by-roads cleared last year will immediately be undertaken. Central Road, Hall Special Settlement. —The funds authorised for expenditure in this block having been exhausted, no work beyond the laying-down of 2 chains of corduroy has been done. This road runs for a mile and a half through hilly country, covered with bush and dense undergrowth. A new authority having, however, been issued, two formation contracts have recently been let.