5

a—B

Metalling Roads. The quantity of metal received during the year shows an increase of about. 1,000 cubic yards over last year's figures. The several lengths of road metalled amount to 4 miles 18 chains', and with 21 chains gravelled makes a total of 40 miles 25 chains of metalled, gravelled, or shelled roads to date. About one mile of old work has been regravelled. The following is a schedule of roads metalled during the year : — Al. eh. Pipiroa-Waitakaruru Road ... ... ... ... 2 57 Ilorahia Road ... ... ... ... ... ... 0 48 Xetherton-Awaiti Road ... ... ... ... ... ... 0 49 Kerepeehi-Wharepoa Road .... ... ... ... ... 0 24 Total ... ... ... ... ... ... 4 18 The coming year's operations will be as follows: Horahia Road (continuation), NethertonAwaiti Road (continuation), Waitakaruru-Pipiroa Road (continuation), Kercpeehi Road, Stopbank Road, Ngatea. Artesian Boring Plant. The number of bores sunk during the was twenty-three, making a total of 165 put down to date. The value of the year's operations was £718 lis., giving a total expenditure to date of £4,366 ss. (id., practically the whole of which amount is recoverable, some £573 2s. 6d. beingreceived by the Receiver of Land Revenue during the year. A schedule of bores sunk during the year is attached hereto. Floating Plant. This plant remains practically the same as formerly with the exception of one large pontoon which was dismantled as being beyond repair. One coal-pontoon for dredge was built at the carpenter's shop. The list of plant now stands at three large, one medium size, and three small pontoons, in addition to one steamer and six oil-launches. Buildings. During the year the following wharves and buildings have been erected : Launch and steamer wharf, J 7 ft, by 70 ft., with 30 ft. by 40 ft. shed, and concrete water-tank of 4,500 gallons capacity, at Kerepeehi; wharf, 50 ft, by 10ft., and shed, 30 ft. by 20 ft., at Ngarua; and wharf, 20 ft. by 10 ft., with shed, 10 ft. by Bft., at Puhanga Canal. In addition cottages of five rooms and four rooms respectively were erected at Kerepeehi, one cottage of four rooms at Ngatea, one hut of two rooms each at Hopai and Patetonga, and one hut, 12 ft. by 10 ft., at Patetonga Wharf ; also one conerete-and-irou feed-shed at Ngatea, one blacksmith's shop at Waitakaruru, and one tool-shed at Kauaeranga. A considerable amount of general repair work and painting has been done in connection with buildings. The number of buildings, excluding wharf-sheds, is now —Houses and small cottages, 1.'!; double huts, 16; single huts, 19; sheds, (fee., 17; total, 65. Wharves. The number of wharves now in existence is fifteen, while a. new wharf, 12 ft, by 50 ft., with shed, 24 ft. by 18 ft., is in course of construction at Ngatea (western side). Drains in Operation. The length of new drains constructed for the year is 79 miles 25 chains, which shows a very large increase and brings the total of drains constructed on the Hauraki Plains to 443 miles 64 chains. Formed Roads. New road formation during the year comprised 9 miles 18 chains, but a large amount of work was done in grading and re-forming existing roads, some 11 miles 60 chains being so treated. In addition, 7 miles 20 chains of road was disked and 2 miles 1 chain of road-line fenced. Flax Leases. The total revenue received during the year was £447 4s. 7d. Areas have now been surveyed in order to allow millers specified areas on which to work. Works Expenditure for the Year. The total amount expended during the year, including wages, supplies, repairs, &c, amounted to £68,859 12s. Bd. The sum of £81,257 19s. lOd. was paid out of local imprest in payment of Hauraki Plains expenditure and the special votes for maintenance and metalling. Day labour absorbed £26,246 9s. lid., piecework contracts £22,599 16s. Bd., ami team hire £523 Bs. 2d.