C.—l

96

Mokoreta, Block XlV. —One co-operative contract. The work is finished, and gives the Scrubby Hill settlers an outlet to the Waikawa-W T yndham Valley Eoad. Oteramika. —One co-operative contract. Corduroying and culverts were put in so as to give the settlers along the Mataura Eiver a way to get their cattle to and from the sections. It will be necessary to do some further work on this road, as the Mataura Eiver floods badly, and sometimes occasions a considerable loss of stock. Seaward Bush.- —Eight co-operative contracts have been carried out in bushfelling, formation, culverts, gravel, ditches, &c. Seaward Bush, McQuarrie Street. —Progress-payments have been expended on this road. The contract is forming and gravelling, and the work will be completed by the end of April. Waikawa District. —Four co-operative contracts have been carried out in surfacing, gravelling, and logging-up. Waikawa, Block Vll. —Five co-operative contracts have been completed. The work done was fascining, drains, culverts, and formation to connect the Waikawa Improved-farm Settlement with the Niagara Bridge. Waikawa-Otara Road. —All the work done was in surfacing, culverting, and repairing the present road between Otara and Six-mile, and was carried out by men on day-wages. Waikawa-Wyndham Valley Road. —Six co-operative and one open contract have been carried out, comprising two miles and three-quarters. Four miles are now open for traffic, and the bulk of the work is done. There is yet about three miles of tussock and scrub country, with gullies and creeks to cross, before a junction is made with the county road at Mokoreta. -About £750 would open the road throughout. Glifden-Redcliffe Greek. —Progress-payment has been spent on this road. One co-operative contract has been completed, but it will be necessary to put in some culverts, fascines, and formation before ordinary summer traffic can be properly maintained. Longwood (Blocks XVI. and I.). —A sum of money has been spent on this work in one open contract, which is now completed. The County Council is carrying the road further along. Longwood (Blocks XV., XVI., XVII.). —One co-operative contract for formation, culverts, bushfelling, &c, has been completed, and one open contract for the erection of a 30 ft. span bridge across the Holly Burn Creek is in course of erection. It will be necessary to carry this road about two miles further, so as to give an outlet to some of the back settlers, who have improved their sections, and are in a position to supply milk to the factory, but have not any means of access. It will take about £500 to form and culvert this road so as to be of use to these men. Longwood (Block XVIII.). —Progress-payment has been spent on this work. One open contract for bushfelling, logging-up, stumping, fascines, and ditches is now in progress. Some of the settlers in the Longwood district have requested that in future " tenders be called for in all cases," as they prefer this to the co-operative system. Manapouri-Te Anau. —One co-operative contract has been let and completed. Orawia-Glifden. —Open contract for forming and three co-operative contracts for bushfelling and logging-up. There has been a great deal of dissatisfaction about the schedule price on these co-operative contracts; but we have calculated the rate of wages from our own time, giving the contractors the benefit of all doubts. The work was principally done by the Papatotara settlers. Orepuki-Waiau. —Two open contracts for formation and gravel have been completed, but there is still a final payment due on one of them. Orepuki-Wairaurahiri Road.—Three open contracts have been let during the year. One let at the end of last year, to erect a 20 ft. span bridge and approaches across Boundary Creek, is completed, and the others, to form and gravel portions of the road, are in hand. Another contract, to form and gravel the remainder of the road up to the lower bridge site, is in hand, and is progressing well. Te Anau-George Sound Track. —The work on this track wag reported on last year, but the payments appear in this year's report. I have no further remarks to make on this work. Outfall Drains, Otatara. —One co-operative contract was carried out in ditching, felling, and logging-up. It would be advisable, if Government money is to be spent on drainage, either in Otatara or any other district, that a general drainage scheme be decided on and powers taken to force drainage through private property, but care should be taken that no water is diverted from its natural course. Roads, Preservation Inlet. —£Bo of the amount voted was handed over to the Alpha Goldmining Company as payment for work done in cutting a track along the top of the ridge from the tramway to the Alpha battery ; the remainder of the money was spent in improving and widening this track. The work was done by open contract. Orepuki-Preservation. —This track is now cut through 10 ft. wide, and is available for foot traffic. Bridges, chairs, or boats have been supplied at all the principal rivers. Portions of the track are very rough, but can be improved as the country is explored and opened up. Tracks, Cromarty. —A track has been cleared and partly formed from the Wilson's Eiver tramway to the boundary of the Te Oneroa Township. The work was let in three open contracts, and is now completed. State Forest, Seaward Bush. —Of this work 69 acres of bush have been felled, and three co-operative contracts were let and satisfactorily carried out. Mr. D. Macpherson, Wallace County engineer, reports as follows: — Avondale Saddle (Vote, £100). —There has been 31 chains of cuttings and embankments and about 125 chains of grading done. This was subsidised by the County Council to complete grading. Black Creek Bridge (Vote, £200). —-A slight deviation has been made from the original surveyed road, and a bridge 55 ft. in length has been constructed of ironbark and blue-gum, with necessary approaches. The balance of this vote will be spent next season in grading road leading to bridge.