D.—l

Takahue to Herehino Road (Mangonui County). —The length of 6m. 44 oh. formed to a width of 16 ft. during the previous year was metalled 9 ft. wide by 6 in. deep. As a result of the unfavourable weather experienced during the progress of the work a considerable amount of extra metal had to be placed. Waipapakauri to Tangaoake (Far North) Road (Mangonui County).—A commencement was made with the metalling of this road, which gives access to the far North Peninsula. Up till the present time 4m. 57 ch. of metalling has been completed. Suitable metal is scarce in the locality, and its cost is unavoidably increased by long leads. Against this, however, can be offset the fact that it need be only sparingly applied on account of the excellent foundation obtainable in this class of country. Waipapakauri to West Coast Road (Mangonui County). —This road gives access from Waipapakauri Township to the Ninety-mile Beach, and during the period it was metalled throughout its distance of 3 m. 45 ch. Bull's Road (Otamatea County). —In continuation of the work carried out in previous years the remaining length of 2 m. 40 ch. on this road was metalled 9 ft. wide by 6 in. deep, thus providing the settlers with all-weather access to the Waiotira Railway-station. Kaiwaka to Oneriri Road (Otamatea County).—A further distance of 3 m. 27 ch. was metalled 9 ft. wide, and as a result the last settler on the road now has metalled access to Kaiwaka Railwaystation. Mangawai Gorge Road (Otamatea and Whangarei Counties). —A 9 m. length of the Main East Coast Road between Mangawai and Waipu Cove is being widened to a minimum width of 16 ft. Of the length of 6 m. 67 ch. widened up till the present time some 72 ch. has been metalled. Kaiwaka (Brynderwyn) Waipu Road (Otamatea and Whangarei Counties). —This new road is 5 m. 73 ch. long and will join up two blind roads in the Whangarei and Otamatea Counties, thus shortening the main road to Whangarei by 5|- miles. Up till the present time a distance of 2m. 44 ch. has been formed 24 ft. wide and culverted, while a length of 25 ch. has been only partly formed. Operations are proceeding vigorously with the aid of a Diesel excavator. ConnelVs Bridge (Whangarei County).—A light traffic bridge 96 ft. long was complete during the period under review. Whangarei to Kioreroa Road (Whangarei County). —This road is 1 m. 34 ch. in length, and provides access between Whangarei and its deep-water port at Kioreroa and to a small-farms settlement en route. The whole length has been formed, the major proportion of the spoil being pumped into position by the Whangarei Harbour Board's suction dredge. It is proposed to give attention to metalling at a later period. Tangihua and Codlin's Road (Whangarei County).—These two roads give access to nine settlers, and provide a shorter route to the Tauraroa Railway-station. During the period metal was placed over a distance of 4 m. 2 ch. Waipu to Mangawai Road (Whangarei County).—Three small reinforced-concrete bridges were erected at Waipu Cove to replace others destroyed by a cloudburst. Wliareora to Pataua Road (Whangarei County). —In continuation of earlier operations on this road, widening of 3 m. 55 ch. was carried out during the period. Pupuke Bridge (Whangaroa County).—A bridge abutment which had been damaged by flood was replaced with a pier, and one new 30 ft. span in reinforced concrete has been added. Waihapa to Kohe Road (Whangaroa County). —This road which is 3 m. 10 ch. in length gives access to several settlers, and was formed 16 ft. wide with metal 9 ft. by 6 in. Auckland District. Coromandel to Kennedy Bay Road (Coromandel County). —The major deviation on the Coromandel side of the Main Divide, which was formed to a width of 14 ft. last year, has been metalled this year over a distance of 1 m. 79 ch., thus completing the main section of the route connecting with the Kennedy Bay area. Mercury Bay to Hahei Road (Coromandel County).—During the year this road was formed over a distance of 7 m. 50 ch., and 7 m. of this length has been metalled, thus providing all-weather access to a number of settlers who are dairying in the area. Rangihau Road (Coromandel County).—A substantial concrete ford 13 ft. wide was constructed over the Waiwawa River to replace an old crossing. This will enable traffic to negotiate the stream at any time except when it is in heavy flood. Stoney Creek Bridge, Coroglen to Whenuakite Road (Coromandel County). —A new reinforcedconcrete bridge 100 ft. long has been erected over Stoney Creek, a stream which crosses the main route on the eastern side of the Coromandel Peninsula, and in which flood waters accumulate very quickly from the surrounding high country. Batty's Road (Franklin County). —All-weather access was made available for four settlers by the metalling of 80 ch. of this road. Bluff Road, Mercer (Franklin County).—The Department completed a total length of 3 m. of metalling, from which six settlers on this road will benefit. Church Mission Block Road, Awhitu (Franklin County). —A length of 2 m. 40 ch. of road was metalled to give access to this block, which has been developed under the small-farm scheme and on which eight settlers are established. Kaiau to Miranda Coast Road (Franklin County). —This road, which has been deviated away from the sea to avoid erosion, was formed and shelled for a distance of 75 ch., thus restoring direct road communication along the coast between Clevedon and Waitakaruru. Moumoukai Valley Road (Franklin County). —During the period a length of 4 m. of this road was metalled by the Department, and all settlers in the valley are now provided with regular access.

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