D.—1.

Gisborne-N apier via Hangaroa (No. 4 District) : — Reconstruction and Sealing : Progress is as follows — 15 m. to 17 m. : 2m. 30 ch. of two-coat sealing was completed. 17 m. to 19 m. : 20 ch. of reconstruction was completed. 21-68 m. to 25-8 m. : 2m. 20 ch. received a one-coat seal. 25-8 m. to 27-8 m. : 2m. received a one-coat seal. 27-8 m. to 30-1 m. : Im. of reconstruction was carried out. Glassford's Bridge at 42-3 m. : A concrete bridge, 75 ft. long, was completed. Gisborne-Wairoa via Morere (No. 4 District) : — Wairekaia Bridge at 15 m. : Tenders were called for the erection of this bridge. Wharerata Hill: 20 ch. of metalling was carried out. Flood Damage : A major flood on 19th February carried away two bridges over the Maraetaha River at 17J m. and 18| m. A temporary low-level bridge was constructed at 17-|- m. and a ford opened up at 18| m. pending the erection of a temporary bridge. Through traffic was resumed on Ist March. Opotiki - Te Araroa (No. 4 District) : — Widening at 141-5 m. : 10 ch. was completed. Karakatuwhero River Bridge: This concrete bridge, 300 ft. long with a 10ft. roadway, was completed. This bridge eliminates a very troublesome ford, greatly improving the communications in this district. Whangaparaoa River Bridge : The casting of piles for this bridge was commenced. Patutahi-Rere : 10 ch. of reconstruction and metalling was completed at 11 m. A bridge at 20-3 m. was replaced by a 4 ft. concrete pipe and filling. Taupo-Napier: — Waikato's Corner - Waipunga Road : Im. 65 ch. was metalled and sealed. Runanga Deviation : Except for one block-cutting and an adjoining fill, and a bridge-site at Im. 30 ch., this deviation is now formed to Im. 40 ch., and work is in hand to 2m. Metalling has been commenced. Baker's Deviation : This 30 ch. deviation was completed, and widening with improved alignment was continued northward for another mile. Glengarry Section : Widening and metalling have been continued, 3m. being completed during the year, which makes a total of 7 m. 30 ch. Gisborne-N apier, via Hangaroa (No. 5 District) : — Wairoa Borough : The reconstruction and sealing of First Street, 19 ch., was completed. Mohaka River - Napier: Widening lias been completed up to McKenzie's Deviation (1 m. north of the Waikare Bridge), and work is in hand up to Kotemaori, 50 m. from Napier. McKenzie's Deviation is three-quarters finished, and Begley's Fill Deviation is well in hand. Widening between these points is completed, except for a proposed deviation and water-drive at McKenzie Creek. King's Creek Bridge, near the foot of the Waikare Gorge, was widened from 12 ft. to 24 ft. The January and February floods necessitated continuous clearing of slips all through February and the greater part of March. (A further record flood has since been experienced.) Napier -Palmer ston North (No. 5 District) : — Whakatu Overbridge : A contract was let for the erection of this bridge, which consists of four 50 ft. spans. The casting of piles has been completed and twelve have been driven. The reconstruction and sealing of 4 m. 33 ch., from the Hawke's Bay County Boundary to Otane Turnoff, was put in hand. Priming has been completed over 4m. and sealing over 1 m. 72 ch. Overbridge North of Waipukurau : A contract was let for the erection of this bridge, of four 50 ft. spans, and the work completed. The approaches are in hand. Manawatu Hill Deviation : A length of 66 ch. was primed and sealed. 24 ch. of safetyfencing was erected. Manawatu River Bridge : This concrete structure, of two 30 ft. spans, was completed, together with its approaches. Butcher Creek Bridge : This 25 ft. span bridge was completed. Otamaraho Stream Bridge : This bridge, of one 40 ft. span, was put in hand and completed during the year. Kumeti Stream Bridge : This bridge, of two 25 ft. spans, was also erected. The above four bridges are all 24 ft. wide, and the approaches to the last two have a total length of 24 ch. Oringi North Overbridge and Deviation : This bridge, consisting of three 45 ft. spans, was completed, and the 48 ch. deviation formed and metalled. Maharahara Deviation and Bridges : The greater part of the work on this Im. 72 ch. deviation, which eliminates two crossings on the State highway and one on Heretaunga Road, was completed in the previous year. During the year formation was completed up to the bridgesites and metalling was continued. Bridges : The deviation eliminating the Heretaunga Road crossing required a bridge over a creek-diversion. This bridge was put in hand and completed, being a 27 ft. concrete span with a width of 12 ft. Raparapawai Stream. Bridge : This bridge, of two 40 ft, concrete spans, is in hand,

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