D.—l.

Wellington District. North Range Road (Akitio County). —In continuation of the improvement work which has been carried out on this road of recent years an additional length of 75 ch. was formed and another section of 1 in. 30 ch. was metalled. Spur Road (Akitio County). —A length of Im. 70 ch. of this settlement road was metalled during the year. Waiowaka Road (Akitio County).—On this settlement road 14 ch. of formation, 1 m. 40 ch. of metalling, and the erection of two small timber bridges has been completed. Alfredton to Tinui Road (Castlepoint County). —In order to give metalled access to settlers and to improve a road used by a great deal of through traffic, 4 m. 60 ch. of this route was metalled. Otahome Road (Castlepoint County). —With a view to giving all-weather access to one settler, an additional length of 40 ch. on this road was metalled. North Road Culvert (Eketahuna County).—One reinforced-concrete culvert, 4 ft. by 6 ft. and 25 ft. long, was completed during the year. Putara Gorge Road (Eketahuna County). —Widening work on dangerous corners and general improvements over the whole distance of 4 m. was commenced during the year and is still in progress. Saunders Road (Eketahuna County). —A length of Im. 50 ch. was metalled with base-course material and is to be surfaced next season. Tawhero Road (Eketahuna County). —This is a settlement road on which 1 m. 20 ch. of base-course metalling was completed during the year. The top-course metalling is to follow in the next season. Tiraumea Road (Eketahuna County). —A length of 1 m. 20 ch. of new metalling was completed on this road. Waiwera Bridge (Eketahuna County).—One reinforced-concrete bridge of two 35 ft. spans with a roadway 11 ft. wide was completed during the period under review. Webb's Bridge (Eketahuna County). —A reinforced-concrete bridge of one 24 ft. span with a 12 ft. 6 in. wide roadway was erected during the year. Ruakokopatuna Road (Featherston County). —This is a settlement road in the backblocks part of the county and is to be used by timber-transport lorries very shortly. In order that the road should serve this dual purpose more suitably, dangerous corners have been widened and general improvements in the way of reconstruction carried out over the whole length. Heights Road (Horowhenua County). —55 ch. of formation and metalling was completed. Hokio to Waitarere Road (Horowhenua County).—A length of 46 ch. of new metalling was carried out during the year. Muhunoa West Stream Bridge (Horowhenua County).—A rolled-steel-joist bridge with timber deck and hardwood piles and consisting of one 40 ft. span was erected. Waikawa Beach Road (Horowhenua County). —A distance of Im. of this road was reconstructed as a result of largely increased traffic using the route for access to a beach settlement. Hay wards to Pahautanui Road (Hutt County). —The work commenced in previous years was continued and that completed during the period comprises 2 m. 19 ch. of formation 24 ft. wide, 3 m. of metalling, 1,110 lineal feet of culverting varying between 9 in. and 48 in. in diameter, three stream-diversions totalling 17 ch., and 160 ch. of fencing. Work is now in progress on an additional length of 2m. 23 ch. of formation which is to be 24 ft. wide. This road will meet the urgent need for a fast and direct connection from the upper part oi the Hutt Valley to the West Coast at Pahautanui and Paremata, where it will join the Main North Highway. Plateau Bridge (Hutt County).—A reinforced-concrete bridge of one 19 ft. span with al2 ft. roadway was completed, and this replaces a timber structure which had served for many years. Plimmerton to Paekakariki Road (Hutt County).—Work has continued steadily on the construction of this new road between Plimmerton and Paekakariki, which will replace the tortuous and steep highway over the Paekakariki Hill. The swamp section between Plimmerton and Pukerua Bay has been excavated and is now being filled with solid material. The length between Pukerua Bay and Paekakariki is well opened up, and the construction of the sea-wall is going ahead rapidly, 2,750 cubic yards of concrete having been placed. Some 205,340 cubic yards of clay and rock have been excavated, 2 m. 30 ch. has been formed and metalled, and construction is in progress over a length of 6 m. 10 ch. Approximately 994 lineal feet of concrete-pipe culverts varying in diameter from 12 in. to 60 in. have been installed. Two overbridges will carry the road over the railway at different points. Contracts for both of these structures have been let, and pile-driving has been commenced. Western Hutt Road (Hutt County).—The formation of this new outlet along the western side of the Hutt Valley has been completed with the exception of the northern approach to the new reinforced-concrete bridge over the Hutt River at Silverstream. This bridge is now being erected under contract, and up to the present one abutment and six piers have been completed. No difficulty has been experienced with the cylinder-sinking, and the deck and beams of one span have been completed. Thorndon Overbridge (Wellington City).—The construction of this bridge, which will carry traffic from Aotea Quay over the several railway-lines at the northern end of the main city area, has progressed steadily during the year. With the exception of three spans, all beams, decking, and kerbs have been completed. All fence panels and footway slabs have been cast, but as yet hand-rails have not been completed. The approaches have been practically completed and will require trimming only. Milner's Bridge (Kairanga County).—A reinforced-concrete bridge of one 12 ft. span and with an 18 ft. roadway has been completed. Titirangi Road (Kiwitea County).—ln order to give all-weather access to settlement, Im. 20 ch. of this road was metalled during the period.

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