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Gisborne-Opotiki via Coast (No. 4 District) : — Cook County : A contract was let for the bituminous surfacing of 2m. Im. 65 ch. of reshaping and metalling was carried out, andjja seal-coat applied over 1 m. 40 ch. Uawa County : The contract for 6m. of reconstruction and bituminous penetration surfacing has been completed ; this year's work comprising 1 m. 72 ch. of base-course metalling, and 2m. 28 ch. of the penetration course. Farther north, 58 ch. of two-coat sealing has been carried out. Waiapu County : Two steel and concrete bridges, of 80 ft. and 40 ft. span, have been erected. Gisborne-Wairoa via Hangaroa (No. 4 District) : — Cook County : Im. of two-coat sealing has been completed. 70 ch. of reconstruction to improved gradients and curvature has been completed, and a further length of 2 m. is in hand. A concrete culvert of 10 ft. span has been constructed, to replace a timber bridge at 19-2 m. Harris Hill: The whole length of 3m. 24 ch. was regraded and realigned. Im. 23 ch. of base-course and 60 ch. of top-course metalling were carried out. Top-course metal was completed from Tiniroto to the Wairoa County Boundary, a distance of 3 m. 4 ch. Tokomaru Bay Wharf Highway. —A small bridge has been replaced by a 5 ft. by 4 ft. concrete culvert. Patutahi-Rere: — Cook County : At 5-7 m. a timber bridge has been replaced by a double 6 ft. by 6 ft. concrete culvert, and at 7-6 m. a similar bridge by a 3 ft. pipe culvert. The regrading and realignment of Ngatapa Hill has been commenced ; earthwork is in progress, and 37 ch. of base-course metal has been laid. Taurangakautuku Highway. —At 2-8 m. a timber bridge has been replaced by a 30 in. concrete pipe culvert. Napier-Gisborne via Wairoa (No. 5 District) : — Hawke's Bay County — Napier Borough-Te Ngaru Crossing: The Napier-Petane section has been improved, to a higher standard than pre-earthquake conditions, by the application of bituminous surfacing on a length of 6m. 15 ch.; 3m. 62 ch. consisting of road-mix, and the balance, including the deck of the Westshore Bridge, being sealed. Between Petane and Whirinaki 2 m. 76 ch. was metalled, and sealed in two coats. The highway is now bitumen-surfaced from the Napier Post-office to the Whirinaki Hill, a distance of 11 m. 35 ch.; 10 ch. of widening and 3 ch. of grade-elevation have been carried out at Tangoio. Te Ngaru Crossing - Tutira : Between the Elbow Ford and the top of the Waikoau Hill, 1| m. has been widened, and work is in progress round Lake Tutira. A 9 ft. by 9 ft. reinforced concrete culvert, 60 ft. long, was put in at the Elbow Ford. Tutira - Waikare River : 2m. of widening and curve-improvement have been carried out from the end of the Tutira Straight, and similar work is in hand as far as the Matahoura Gorge. Wairoa County — Mohaka Bridge - Morere : A small bridge at Waihua was replaced by a 5 ft. concrete pipe culvert on improved alignment. Ohinepaka Bridge : A reinforced concrete bridge, 99 ft. long, was completed, together with a small deviation. Wairoa Borough : 58 ch. of two-coat sealing was carried out. Napier-Wellington via Wairarapa (No. 5 District) :— Hawke's Bay County : A contract was let for the construction of the Waitangi Washout Bridge, 800 ft. long, and work has been commenced. A contract has been let recently for the Waitangi Stream Bridge, 600 ft. in length. Both these bridges consist of reinforced-concrete beam-spans. A contract was let for a bridge and culvert at Pakipaki to replace two narrow wooden bridges, and the work is in hand. A reinforced-concrete culvert, 11 ft. by 5 ft., was put in at Opapa. A 6 ft. by 4 ft. water-drive, 84 ft. long, was constructed to replace Sutton's Bridge. Waipukurau Borough : A contract was let for a new reinforced-concrete bridge of twenty 45 ft. spans, with a 22 ft. roadway and 4 ft. footway, over the Tuki Tuki River ; the bridge has now been completed, and was opened for traffic in June of this year. Waipukurau County : A contract was let for sealing this 4t\ m. section in one coat. A length of 1 m. 54 ch. has been completed. Dannevirke County —Mangatera Hill Deviation : This deviation, 22 ch. in length, which eliminates a hairpin bend, was constructed during the year. Woodville County : 12 ch. at the approach of the Ngawapurua Bridge was sealed in two coats. Lengths totalling 1 m. 30 ch. of the eleven-year-old existing sealing were reconstructed and sealed in two coats. Curvature was materially improved at the Papatawa Railway-crossing. Petane-Taupo : —• Hawke's Bay County (No. 5 District) : The Maori Gully Deviation, 39 ch. long, which eliminates two wooden bridges, several sharp bends, and a very steep grade, has been completed and metalled. A 6 ft. by 4 ft. water-drive 257 ft. long replaces the bridges. Taupo County (No. 3 District) — Mohaka Bridge - Taupo : A timber platform bridge was replaced by a 4 ft. culvert, and a sharp corner improved. • A contract was let for the erection of a new bridge over the Waipunga River, and work is in hand.

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