a—B.

4

By day labour — M. eh. Cleaning drains .. .. .. .. .. .. 90 79 Widening and deepening (23,279 cubic yards spoil) .. .. .. 16 30 New drains .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..419 111 48 Repairs to stop-banks .. .. .. .. .. .. 3 73 Dredges. Cub. yd. Spoil excavated by No. 1 dredge .. .. .. .. .. 45,684 No. 2 „ .. .. .. .. .. 82,725 No. 6 „ .. .. .. .. .. 61,757 No. 1.5 ~ .." .. .. .. .. 16,411 No. 16 „ .. .. .. .. .. 9,376 No. 19 „ .. .. .. .. .. 30,069 246,022 Artesian Boring Plant. The number of bores sunk during the year was thirty, making a total of 213 to date. The cost of the year's operations was £1,625 lis., making a total expenditure to date of £6,834 15s. 5d., practically the whole of which is recoverable. The sum of £125 18s. Id. was received during the year. A schedule of bores sunk is attached hereto. Buildings. A three-roomed cottage has been erected at Kerepeehi for the drcdgeinaster of No. 6 dredge, and a five-roomed cottage erected at Waitakaruru for the district foreman. Six portable huts have been built to accommodate dredge crews, and a portable shed built in sections to house the White truck. A fitting-shop, 20 ft. by 40 ft., was erected at Kerepeehi, and huts and other buildings kept in repair, and minor alterations and additions made. Other undertakings include housing for machinery of dredges No. 19 and No. 20, pads for dredges No. 15 and No. 16, erecting signposts at all important cross-roads, and the construction of six l|-yard side tip trucks, construction of two 20 ft. open roadbridges, and redecking and repairs to bridges. The numbers of buildings, excluding wharf-sheds, are as follows : Houses and small cottages, 16 ; double huts, 11 ; single huts, 25 ; sheds, &c, 21 ; quarters, staff and workmen, 3 : total, 76. Wharves. A new wharf and shed have been placed at the junction of the Waitakaruru Stream and the Maukoro Canal, and the Waitakaruru town wharf and shed repaired. The Kopuarahi Wharf has been redecked and strengthened, and repairs effected to the Hopai Wharf. Life-belts with suitable housing have been placed on all the wharves. The number of wharves at the present time is fifteen. Plant and Machinery. One general-service punt, size 28 ft. by 10 ft. by 1 ft. 10 in., has been built on the works, and the whole fleet overhauled and repaired. The plant now comprises—One steamer, seven oil-launches, four metal-punts, four general-service punts, three grab dredgers, two drag-line excavators, and two walking land-dippers. Concrete Culverts and Flood-gates. A number of the old wooden flood-gates have been replaced by reinforced-concrete structures, and several new flood-gates and culverts constructed. A reinforced-concrete conduit, 5 ft. 6 in. by 4 ft. 6 in., and 1,100 ft. in length, with overfalls to break grade, has been constructed to take the stream at the Mangawhero Road. The construction of the intake and outlet culverts will complete this undertaking. Twenty culverts and flood-gates were constructed during the year, as follows : — Flood-gates : — Number. Length. 3 ft. (Monier pipes).. .. .. .. .. .. 7 152 ft. 2 ft. 6 in. (Monier pipes) .. .. .. .. .. 4 112 ft. 2 ft. (Monier pipes).. .. .. .. .. .. 1 32 ft. 4 ft. by 4 ft. .. .. .. .. .. .. 2 60 ft. Road-culverts : — 3 ft. (Monier pipes).. .. .. .. .. .. 1 24 ft. 2 ft. 6 in. (Monier pipes) .. .. .. .. .. 2 56 ft. 2ft. (Monier pipes).. .. .. .. .. ..3 92ft. Surveys and Office Work. Permanent bench-marks have been established along the Piako River from the estuary to Patetonga, and along main roads. The work will be continued as opportunity offers. Engineering surveys comprising 109 miles of levels and 23 miles of traverse have been completed, and the office staff has been working at high pressure preparing plans, contracts, and time-sheets. Flax Leases. No new areas were opened during the year and very little cutting was done, operations being practically at a standstill. This is to a large extent accounted for by fires during the previous year destroying large quantities of unliable flax. The revenue received during the year was £87 10s.