83

0.-1

Kaiwhata-Rewa Road (Kaiwhata Reserve Run, near Brancepeth). —Last year work was undertaken on this road for the purpose of providing access to the Crown runs in the Kaiwhata district, but the project has not yet been completed, 3 chains of widening and 6 chains of fencing removed being the only record for the year. The road is in very bad order, traffic being impeded owing to the want of funds. Rocky Hill, Wainuioru. —Last year £250 was expended by the Taratahi-Carterton Eoad Board on this road, and recently a further sum of £50 has been granted to the same local body, but so far none of it has been spent. Turner's, or Driscoll's, Road. —This road passes through part hilly and part swampy country, which was originally bush. During the year the Taratahi-Carterton Boad Board has received £150 on account of grants voted for assisting in construction, and £170 still remains to credit for further works. The expenditure is accounted for by 32 chains of formation 18 ft. wide, 78 chains 10 ft. wide, 45 chains of widening, two culverts of a total length of 46 ft., and 20 chains of drains. Craigie Lea-Douglas Road. —ln October last £150 was granted to the Taratahi-Carterton Boad Board for expenditure on this road, but so far nothing has been undertaken, owing to the negotiations for taking the necessary land not being completed. Instructions have been given to proceed with the engineering survey as soon as possible. Range Road (Featherstem Road District). —This road is situated in the Featherston Boad District, to which Eoad Board a sum of £150 was granted in December last for the purpose of widening the existing track to an 8 ft. roadway. The route lies through low hills of blue-and-white clay, partly covered with birch. No operations have yet been undertaken, but tenders have been invited, and, when accepted, the work will at once proceed. Wirokino Bridge, Manawatu (£1 for £1). —This bridge is intended to span the Manawatu Eiver near Wirokino, and the sum of £1,500 has been granted to the Foxton Borough Council, on the basis of £1 for £1, for expenditure on construction. Operations are delayed pending the arrival of plans and specifications for the approval of the department. Ohau Bridge. —As reported last year, this low-level bridge was completed, and I have since inspected and passed the work done as satisfactory. This is an experiment which, so far, has proved a success, for no flood during the year has done it any permanent injury, and after a little more experience it might be judicious to make another trial with a similar stream. The Horowhenua County Council had control of the construction, subject to the supervision of the department, for which the sum of £350 was advanced by way of grants. Akatarawa-Waikanae Road. — Last year the Hutt County Council spent £150, granted for the purpose of opening a bridle-path between Bikiorangi and the dray-road on the Hutt side of the Akatarawa Eange. A further subsidy of £100, granted in March of last year, has been expended in widening lOf chains of this road to 12 ft. A plain bridge of a single span of 22 ft. has also been erected across a sharp bight in the cliff. The work of widening has been expensive, owing to its being heavy rock-cutting round an abrupt bluff. The whole of the work has been done satisfactorily by day-labour. Paikakariki-Waikanae-Hadfield Road. —On the Ist March, 1898, the sum of £500 was granted to the Hutt County Council, and has been expended in the following works: 1 mile 72 chains of 18 ft. formation ; one bridge 10 ft., one 14 ft., and one 18 ft. long, each with a roadway of 16 ft, in width; thirteen culverts; 42 chains of outlet and 2 miles 50 chains of side-drains have been cut. The above formation commences at Kapiti Street, Paraparaumu, and extends southward for 63 chains to Howell's Crossing ; and again, commencing at the Whauroa Eoad, has been carried northerly for 1 mile 9 chains nearly to the 30-mile peg on the Wellington and Manawatu Eailwayline. This constitutes another instalment in the construction of the main north-western road-line, which will ultimately connect the City of Wellington with Palmerston North, Foxton, and the districts beyond. There still, however, remains a gap of 2 miles 13 chains to be completed within the Hutt County boundaries. Paikakariki-Paraparaumu Road. —A contract has been let to cut 105 chains of drains across the swamp crossed by this road-line, 75 chains of which is now completed. This drain has a large carrying capacity, being 7 ft. wide on top, 3 ft. wide at bottom,.with an average depth of 2 ft. 9 in. A further contract for forming 22 chains of road and cutting 44 chains of side-drains has been let, but the work has not yet started. In December last £500 was granted to the Hutt County Council for this work, but no progress-payment has yet been applied for. Mungaroa Valley. —£2oo having been granted to the Hutt County Council in January last, work was commenced on the Ist March by day-labour, and at present 57 chains of road has been graded and pegged, about 20 chains formed 12 ft. and 14 ft. wide and five pipe culverts (of a total length of 80 ft.) inserted. The formation is all sideling cutting. Whiteman's Valley Road. —ln my last report I stated that a mile of this road was in course of construction. This work has been completed, and a subsidy of £100 (£1 for £1) has been paid over to the Hutt County Council. There still remains a distance of 57 chains to be formed to connect the Upper with the Lower Whiteman's Valley. The details of the work, which has been done by day-labour, are as follow: Formation (14ft. wide), one mile; metalling (9ft. wide), 5 chains ; two bridges, 14 ft. and 12 ft. long respectively; and seven pipe- and three timber-culverts. Sections 48-56, Block V., Rimutaka Survey District. —A sum of £100 has been recently authorised for construction of this road, and operations will immediately be proceeded with upon receipt of definite instructions. Sections 236, 237, Block X., Belmont (Russell's Road).—A grant of £50 was made to the Hutt County Council towards the cost of constructing this road, which passes through Section 61, Block V., Eimutaka Survey District, and Sections 236 and 237, Block X., Belmont Survey District. A branch road has also been laid off to a subdivision of Section 236. The land, required in Section 61 has been purchased, at a cost of £10, the Council having to pay all costs of transfer, and to fence the road. The formation of 40 chains 12 ft. wide has been done by day-labour, besides