c—i.

Hauraki Plains, Metalling Roads in. —The work done under this heading has boon given in detail in the Hauraki Plains report. To date some 166 chains of Turua Road have been metalled, and some 160 chains of the Pipiroa-Waitakaruru Road. We are now obtaining gravel from the Kauaeranga Stream, Thames, and this is being taken to the works by our own plaut, some three largo pontoons being purchased or built during the year. This will ensure a better class of gravel being obtained at a much loss cost than was previously supplied under contract. The expenditure during tho year was £4,095 3s. 4d. Hauraki Plains: Maintenance completed Works, Drains, &c. —This vote is for maintaining drainage-works on the settled portion of the Hauraki Plains until such time as the rating clauses become operative. During the year some seventy miles of drain have been cleaned, and some twenty-eight miles of stop-bank kept in good repair. The expenditure during the year was £2,018 9s. Bd. Piako and Waitoa Rivers Improvement. —This work consisted of dredging the Piako River from Kerepeehi southwards. Spoil removed during the year amounted to 147,740 cubic yards, at a cost of 3'2d. per cubic yard. The expenditure during the year was £2,073 13s. sd. Rangitaiki Drainage District: General Road-construction (on account £1,500). — Some 16 miles 47 chains of road were formed out of the above votes during the year, the expenditure totalling £2,289 ss. 8,1. Waikato River: Expenses of Engineering Surveys. —The engineering survey of the Waikato River was continued under tho local charge of Mr. Allan Morpeth. The field operations, being so extensive, necessitated a, groat deal of moving about, shifting camp, <fee. Levelling was carried out on tho main river, and on the Whangamarino, Waikare, Whangape, and Maungatawhiri Creeks. Gauges wore established at various points, anil tho velocity of the river taken every quarter of a mile from Rangiriri to the Heads. The gauges have boon read right throughout at various times, and the tidal gauges were read for twelve hours at a stretch, so that the Waikato liiver could be compared with Waitemata, Manukau, and Kaipara Harbours regarding the time and height of various tides. Tho following has been carried out during the year : Levelling, seventy-five miles; compass traverse, seventy-five miles; cross-sections taken, eight averaging 110 chains each, forty-two averaging 1.6 chains each; soundings taken, 800; velocities taken about every quarter of a mile for forty-one miles (Rangiriri to Heads); gauges established and read frequently, fifty. An inspection was also made during the year of the Waikato River from Uorahora (Cambridge) to Rangiriri. The cost of tho work during the year was £1.403 ss. Bd. which includes the maintenance and running expenses of two oil-launches employed on tho works. Waitoa Hirer: Snagging above Junction with Piako River. —During the year 1 mile 22 chains of this river was snagged by day labour, and a contract was let in December for a further •'! miles 45 chains, of which one mile had boon completed at the end of the year. The expenditure for the year was £523 2s. 4d. Qpouriao Protective Works to pre cent Encroachment of Whakatane and Wairnana River •. — A small amount was spent in maintenance during the year, but, no new works were undertaken until the last week in March. Future works will consist of construction of groynes, planting of willows for protection purposes, and the further improvement of diversion channel. r l h<- work already done is in good condition, and beneficial results.have ensued, as land that was previously under water during moderate freshes is now free from water during heavy floods. Tho expenditure during the year was £147 4s. lid. Wairnana Protective Works to prevent Encroachment of River. —At Waimana the works completed last A'ear have been maintained, and in November a start was made on new works, groynes being erected on Sections 15, 17, and 18, Waimana Settlement, The line for the proposed diversion of the Waimana River through Section 19 was cleared, but work had then to lie stopped till the land is resumed, as the owner objected to work being proceeded with. Work contemplated for the future consists of cutting this channel and continuing the stop-bank for about a mile at the south end of the settlement. The expenditure during the year was £293 Is. Monavale Swamp, Cambridge. —An engineering survey of the Monavale Swamp was started in December last, To date some twenty-five miles of levels have been taken, together with the necessary compass survey. The field-work of the swamp and its outlets is now about three parts completed. The expenditure during the year was £186 Bs. sd. The following large schemes were carried out by this branch, and, of course, comprise the major portion of tho works: (1) Hauraki Plains drainage-works; (2) Rangitaiki drainage-works. The progress of these two large schemes are treated in separate reports. hand surveys have been carried out by two field parties which subdivided tho drained areas of the Hauraki Plains, and are also engaged upon the survey of the adjoining Crown land roaded and bridged by this branch. The area surveyed during tho year was 2,397 acres, and a further survey covers some 13,900 acres, of which all the sections have been pegged. Engineering Surveys. —Some 110 miles of engineering surveys have been made in connection with the Hauraki Plains works, Rangitaiki drainage-Works. Waitakaruru Loan Block. &c. Office. —The total expenditure certified to for payment was £57,028 15s. Of this amount direct, Treasury payments amounted to £19,268 2s. lid., payments through Thames and Taneatua Imprest Accounts to £37,697 ss. 2ch. and payments through Post Office to £63 6s. lid. Some 155 piecework and four special contracts were in operation. Inward correspondence amounted to 1,620 letters, and outward to 1,715 letters. A. considerable number of engineering, road, survey, and other plans were made, and various tracings both for photo-litho and other purposes were made. The expenditure quoted is what was actually expended on the various works, but will not necessarily agree with the figures shown in the tables for the year submitted to Parliament, as a portion of the expenditure was not brought to charge before the close of the year.

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