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D.-l

The piers of the road-bridge are complete at 51 in. 32 eh. A 44-ft.-span bridge at 51 m. 23 eh. was completed except for end planking. A good deal of formation, road-deviation, and grading, &c, was done, and final lift of ballast in Cromwell station-yard was put down. A platelayer's cottage was erected and the station painted. The construction-works on this section were greatly delayed as the result of a thunderstorm in January last, but all slips have been removed, and a regular passengertrain service has been maintained to connect with the Railway Department's train at Clyde. ROADS, BRIDGES, ETC. Owing to the increased rates of wages now being paid and the high price of materials, roadworks carried out by the Department have absorbed a greater proportionate amount then previously, but the quality of work is of the usual high standard. Some of the principal works put in hand are :— Whangarei. Kaingaroa-Mangonui. —76 chains were cleared or repaired. The County Council are tar-sealing portions of this road. Awanui-Marujonui.-i.OS ft. of culverts were put into position and covered. 16 chains were widened to dray width. This through road from Awanui to Mangonui is considerably shorter than that via Peria. Awanui-Mangatili via Oturu Block.-—Si chains were widened to dray width, 70 chains cleared, and 254 lineal feet of culverts placed in position and covered. Oruru - Fern Flat - Mangamuka. —58 chains of bush were felled and cleared, 269 chains widened to dray width, and 69 chains new formation completed. This road affords access to a soldier's section. Paranui-Otukai. —120 chains of engineering survey was carried out, 111 chains bush felled and cleared, and 112 chains of new formation completed. Waitarare Stream Bridge. -—This bridge;, consisting of three 25 ft. spans, was completed during the year. Mangamuka - Victoria Valley. —270 chains were widened and J 5 chains of new formation completed. Filling, removal of slips, metalling, and culverting were also carried out. Awakino Valley - Dargaville. —6 miles 15 chains of engineering survey was completed, 70 chains of stumping and clearing carried out, and 470 ft. of culverts placed in position. This road provides access to a soldier's settlement. Auckland. Warkworth - Mahurangi Heads. —l 67 chains have been formed to dray width, widened and culverted. Mangatangi-Miranda. —6 miles 46 chains of dray-road formation was carried out by the Franklin County Council. Mangatangi-Kaiaua. —6 miles 63 chains of dray-road formation was carried out by the Franklin County Council. Pokeno-Waitakaruru Road, via Maramarua. —A commencement has been made with the re-formation and metalling of 4 miles 42 chains, the work being undertaken by the Whangamarino Road Board. Whangamarino River Bridge (Kopitku-Whangamarino Road).—Five 25ft. spans on driven piles have been erected, but approaches are not yet completed. Huntly-Pukemiro. —The Raglan County Council has completed the formation and culverting of I mile 31 chains and metalling of 1 mile 2 chains. fluntly - Rangiriri West. —4 miles of dray-road formation has been carried out. Port Waikato - Tuakau Bridge. - 7 miles of dray-road formation has been completed by the Raglan County Council. Waipa River Bridge, Ngaruawahia. —The materials for this bridge have been ordered, and 60,000 ft. of timber is on the site. Ohaupo -Te Awamutu. —2 miles 4-0 chains of this road has been metalled. Waikato River Bridge, Ngaruawahia. —This bridge, consisting of one 20 ft. and three 122 ft. spans on rein forced-concrete cylinder piers, was completed, and the formation of approaches is well in hand. Lichfield - Southern County Boundary. —6 miles 10 chains have been formed. Ngatira-Okohiriki. —The Matamata County Council has constructed three miles of 14 ft. dray-road. Turitea. —This road (4 miles 60 chains) has been widened and re-formed and handed over to the Waitomo County Council. Tauranga. Rotorua - Rotorua County Boundary, via Ngawaro. —39 chains of metal was laid and a length of I mile 20 chains was metalled in bad places. Widening and pumicing was also put in hand. Near Te I'u School a deviation was formed and metalled. Rotorua-Lake Rotoma. -If miles were re-formed and a small length was widened, the bad points being cut off. Rotorua-Paengaroa. -—4 miles were re-formed and widened. Rotorua - Taupo, via Waiotapu. —Five bridges on this road were repaired and one redecked ; I i miles were regraded and 70 chains of deviation formed. Minden Block— -5 miles 56 chains of dray-roads were formed. A number of smaller bridges were repaired and painted during the year 1919-20.