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instance of trouble with the men, who have worked cheerfully and well. This is in a measure due to Mr. Young's tact in managing them, and the very good class of men we have had; and I think is also in a great measure due to the fact that they have learnt by experience that we have neither the power nor desire to defraud them of their earnings. The average daily wage earned is 7 - 925. This is due greatly to the small loss through bad weather, and the superior class of men we have had. Most of the work has been rock-work in dangerous positions ; in some cases the men have to work on a rope on the face of a steep cliff, under which conditions only experts were able to work. The proposals for the next year are : To proceed with the Kahautara Bluff section of the Cheviot-Kai-koura Eoad; the construction of a road from the Waiau-Kaikoura Eoad at the Shearing Eeserve to the Greenburn; a small deviation of the Waiau-Kaikoura Eoad, also at Shearing Eeserve ; roads in the Kaitao Block ; and roads to open up the Puhipuhi Block. 0. W. Adams, Chief Surveyor.

WESTLAND. Block 112, Kokatahi (Cropp's Road). —This road and bridge over Harris Creek has now been completed as far as is considered necessary. It is now in good order for traffic, and is found of great convenience to the settlers in that locality. Cook's Valley, Karangarua. —Authority for £300 has been received, and contracts will be let shortly. Cook's River (Upper). —The sum of £139 has been expended upon this- work, in clearing, re-forming, and gravelling track. When this track on to Havelock Creek is completed a connection will be made for horse traffic between Cook Valley, Karangarua Valley, and on to Hunt's Beach. Franz Josef Glacier. —During the year the maintenance of this track has been kept up at a small cost. The balance of authority in hand will be expended.during the current year upon works in connection with huts at glacier and hot springs, with branch tracks leading thereto. Great South Road. —This is a continuation southwards of widening to alO ft. metal road. The work is now progressing favourably, under charge of Mr. Purcell. Hokitika Flat. —No work has been done during the year on this road, the authority for expenditure having only been recently received. Contracts will be let forthwith. Hunt's Beach-Makawhio. —This track, having been very imperfectly formed at first, has got into a most dilapidated state, and a party, under charge of Mr. Eitchie, is now making the necessary repairs, after which it will be handed over to the care of the Westland County Council for its future maintenance. This track is very much used, as all goods landed at Bruce Bay have to be packed over it. Haast-Blue River. —This expenditure was incurred in connection with an authority issued to the Westland County Council for repairs to this section of Main South Eoad, to which I have certified. Haast Pass Track. —This track extends from the mouth of Haast Eiver, at Ocean Beach, to top of pass, being a distance of forty miles. During the past twelve months the floods in the river have done a deal of damage to this track, parts of it in the lower flats having been completely washed away, which necessitated the formation of a new track altogether. At some of the bluffs on the route, especially that of the Clarke Bluff, the river undermined the old track, and to form a new one necessitated a deal of rock-blasting, which in that locality becomes expensive. The bridges and culverts were also attended to, so the track was never in better repair than it is at the present time, the amount spent being £345. I have to thank Mr. Stewart, of the Makarora, for his free services in looking after the upper portion of track from Bourke Junction to pass, which has been the means of saving long journeys to us on the Westland side. I may here state that for the safe guidance of strangers Mr. Adair has erected guide-signals wherever a man might have any difficulty in picking up the track, and no traveller need now have any fear of losing his way. Okuru Cemetery Road. —Authority has been granted to the Westland County Council for the sum of £100, of which nothing has been spent during the year. Paringa River Road. —The Westland County Council have this work in hand, but up to date a report on the expenditure has not been received. Staff or d-Waimea Road. —The completion of clearing and formation of this road has just been let to three co-operative parties, who are now at the work. There still remains the entire distance to be gravelled, and this, together with making good part of the original formation (which has sunk down and been otherwise destroyed by cattle), will take a sum of, say, £600 to properly finish the work. The gravel has all to be taken from the creek-bed above the upper end of the road, necessitating the laying-down of a tramway the whole distance of the road. This road when completed will be of very great service to the inhabitants of Stafford and Waimea. Turnbull River Road. —The expenditure has been for widening and gravelling. The road is subject to flood-water from Turnbull Eiver, and after floods gets very much scoured. It passes through a good farming country, and is of great benefit to the settlers. Track to Fox Glacier. —This track is now completed, at a cost of £267, and travellers can ride up on horseback to within a short distance of the glacier, whereas before the construction of the track it was almost impossible to take a horse nearer than about two miles. At the termination of track an iron shelter-hut with three compartments has been erected, and, on a push, about twelve travellers could find accommodation. Wahapo Lake-Waitangi River (Widening). —There has been expended about £300 in widening and gravelling part of the above road through the flat between north end of Lake Wahapo and the Waitangi Eiver, but there still remains about three-quarters of a mile to be Completed to river. The work was done under the control of Mr. Bell, engineer for the Westland County Council. I have inspected this work, and it is exceedingly well done.