D.—l.

Hamilton - Te Kuiti : — Waipa County : The reconstruction, metalling, and sealing of this section was practically completed during the year, and a final coat of plant-mix laid over the greater part of the one-coat sealing. Sealing was completed over a length of 6m. 7 ch., and plant-mix laid over Bm. 33 ch. The Mangapiko Bridge, 90 ft. long, was erected. Otorohanga County : The reconstruction of 6m. 70 ch. has been completed, and 4m. 5 ch. of base-course metal laid. A 7 ft. by 7 ft. concrete culvert was built, and a 5 ft. arched culvert lengthened. Tenders have been invited for the top-course metalling and sealing of the 6m. 70 ch. Pokeno-Paeroa via Ngatea : — Franklin County : Formation and cushion-course metalling have been completed for 6J m., and further work is in hand. A contract has been let for the metalling and sealing of 6m. 30 ch. in Mangatawhiri Village. The Mangatawhiri Bridge, 144 ft.; Mangatangi Bridge, 100 ft.; and an 8 ft. by 8 ft. culvert were completed. Five miles of fencing has been erected. Hauraki Plains County : 72J- ch. at Netherton has been reconstructed, widened, and sealed. A further length of 3 m. 28 ch., between Waitakaruru and Haley's Corner, was reconstructed and sealed, and 63 ch. between Haley's and Mangatarata Junction was formed and metalled in readiness for sealing. The width of the original sealing has proved quite inadequate for modern traffic. Thames-Paeroa Thames County : Second-coat sealing was applied over 4J m. between Kopu and Puriri, and a contract let for the remaining length of this section. The total length under reconstruction is 4m. 36 ch. The replacement of the timber bridge at Waikoropuru Stream by a twin 6 ft. by 6 ft. concrete culvert is in hand. The completion of this work will give a continuous sealed highway between Thames and Hamilton via Paeroa, Te Aroha, and Morrinsville. Ohinemuri County : At Hikutaia Bridge two piled groynes have been constructed to check serious erosion, and the bridge at Puriri Stream has been replaced by a 21 ft. concrete span. Paeroa-Whakatane (No. 2 District) : — Waihi Borough : One mile, south of the Ohinemuri River Bridge, has been widened by 6 ft. Ohinemuri County : The reconstruction over the first 3m. from Turner's Hill to the Rahu Road was practically completed. The new alignment involved heavy earthworks, and masonry walls on lengths exposed to scour by the river. Excavation was handicapped by the necessity of keeping the highway open for traffic, but at no stage was it closed. Excavation totalled 24,500 cubic yards of clay and rock, 2,850 square yards of stone pitching was completed, and 1,200 cubic yards of stone placed in masonry walls. Further reconstruction is in hand. A heavy coat of metal was placed from Waihi Borough to the Tauranga County boundary, to prepare for sealing. Contracts have been let for 5|- m. of the latter work. Hamilton-Paeroa: — Waikato County: Reconstruction, metalling, and sealing were carried out over 3m. 54 ch., between Eureka and the county boundary, thus completing the sealing between Hamilton and Paeroa. In addition, 70 ch. of plant-mix was laid over the sealed surface of Hinton's Gully Deviation. Plant-mix smoothing coat was also laid over a further 2 m. 35 ch. of existing sealing. Morrinsville Borough : 30 ch. from the Saleyards Culvert to the western boundary has been widened. A contract has been let for an overbridge at Piako Station, and the casting of piles is in hand. Ohinemuri County : The erection of a 32-ft.-span concrete bridge at the Waitoke Stream has been completed, together with approaches. Hamilton-Rotorua (No. 2 District) :— Waikato County : 60 ch. at the Hamilton end was surfaced with plant-mix. Cambridge Borough —Karapiro Bridge : One pier has been completed to water-level, and at the other, half the piles are driven. Piles for the eastern abutment are driven, and some staging piles are also in position. Matamata County : Drag-coat sealing has been carried out near Cambridge, 50 ch. being completed, and further work in hand. Karapiro-Tirau : Reconstruction, metalling, and sealing have been carried out during the year. Formation is nearing completion. 7m. 66 ch. of base-course metalling, 3m. 50 ch. of top-course, and 1 m. 74 ch. of priming-coat have been completed. Tirau Subway : Excavation of the approaches was carried out to a stage enabling the Railways Department to construct the bridge, and the whole work is nearing completion. Tapapa-Mamaku: Reconstruction, metalling, and sealing were carried well towards completion. 11m. 63 ch. of metalling, 11m. 14 ch. of priming, and Bm. 62 ch. of sealing have now been accounted for. Helensville-Waiwera.—A length of 23 ch. near Waiwera was sealed. Pipiroa-Coromandel: — Thames County : Masonry walls totalling 1,039 square yards were built, and widening carried out to 24 ft. over a length of 42 ch. Tapu Stream Bridge : A contract was let for a concrete structure 138 ft. long, and the work is in hand. 33 ch. of sealing was completed.

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