D.—l.

Hawera-Wanganui (No. 7 District) : — Between the Hawera Borough and the approaches to the Mokoia Overbridge, a distance of 6 m., reconstruction is in progress over 3m. That portion known as Lillicrap's Hill, and also the northern approach to the new Tangahoe Stream Bridge, are being straightened, regraded, and widened. The highway has now been diverted from the dangerous railway-crossing at Mokoia by an overbridge over a cutting south of Mokoia, and the construction of a deviation. The work is complete, except for the sealing of the approaches, and is in use by traffic. A contract has been let and work commenced on the erection of a concrete bridge, 150 ft. long, on new alignment, over the Manawapou Stream, south of Mokoia. New Plymouth - Hawera via Opunake:— At the intersection of the highway with the Wairau Road, visibility is being improved by the cutting-back of the corners and the regrading of both roads. Over the Okahu Stream, between Rahotu and Opunake, a new concrete bridge, 112 ft. long, with a 20 ft. roadway, is nearing completion. Opunake Borough : Widening and resealing have been carried out through the Borough. Junction Highway:— Inglewood County: 3m. of road-mix emulsion sealing has been undertaken. Preparatory work is in hand in connection with the subway, which is to eliminate the level crossing at Egmont Road. Opunake-Eltham.—Egmont County : A concrete bridge, 219 ft. long, has been erected over the Punehu Stream. This bridge replaces that badly damaged during the flood of February, 1936. Groynes have been built to control the stream. Stratford-Taumarunui (No. 7 District). —79 ch. of metalling has been carried out at the Moki Tunnel, also 3 m. 50 ch. of formation and 2 m. 50 ch. of metalling between the Moki and Mangapapa Roads. Normanby-Manaia. —Normanby Town District: 10 ch. of widening was carried out. Ngatimaru Highway. —Clifton County : The reconstruction and two-coat sealing of 1 m. 18 ch. were completed. Sheet Highway. —Waimate West County : 2| m. has been widened. Pembroke Highway. —The first sealing-coat has been applied to 94 ch. of this highway. Inland -North Highway. —Reconstruction and two-coat sealing have been carried out over a distance of 63 ch. Inglewood-Everett Highway. —Realignment, regrading, and metalling preparatory to sealing have been carried out over a length of 2 m. Rahotu-Kahui. —Reconstruction has been commenced over a distance of 1 m. Ohawe-Skeet. —Widening, preparation, and sealing are being carried out over a distance of 3| m., from Okaiawa northwards. Opunake Beach Highway. —Opunake Borough : The highway has been reconstructed and sealed. Hawera-Wanganui (No. 8 District). —24 ch. was sealed on the Whenuakura Hill, 62 ch. at Westmere, and a contract let for 53 ch. on the Waitotara Hill. Second-coat sealing was applied on 30 ch. on the Manawapou Hill. The construction of the Kai Iwi Overbridge and approach ramps is well advanced. Wanganui-Levin (No. 8 District). —Second-coat sealing was applied on 60 ch. in the Bulls Town District, and 27 ch. between the town district and the Rangitikei River. National Park - Wanganui (No. 8 District). —Wanganui County : Works carried out on the hill section included 4 m. 18 ch. of reconstruction and metalling, with extensive deviations from the old alignment, 1,600 ft. of concrete-pipe culverts, and 473 ft. of water-tunnels. 2m. 5 ch. of two-coat and 2 m. 35 ch. of one-coat sealing were completed between the Wanganui City and Upokongaro ; the construction of the Waimatao Stream culvert was commenced, and tenders were invited for the Mangotai Stream culvert. Horopito-Bulls via Taihape : — Contracts were let for new bridges over the Mangawhero River in the Ohakune Borough, and the Mangaeliuehu and Turangarere Streams ; also a concrete culvert at the Waiakake Stream. The sealing of Clyde Street, in Ohakune Borough, was extended by 10 ch. The Waiouru Deviation, 1 m. 36 ch. in length, was completed, eliminating a level crossing and an obsolete overbridge. The sealing of two lengths, totalling 1 m. 46 ch., in Taihape, was carried out, thus completing the bituminous surfacing of the borough section. The reconstruction of the Mangaweka-Utiku section is proceeding in heavy formation; 1 m. 54 ch. of earthwork and 6| m. of metalling were carried out. The Mangateweka Stream Bridge, of one 30 ft. concrete span, was completed. The reconstruction of the Vinegar Hill length was continued, being retarded by heavy slips. The work completed included 1 m. 15 ch. of formation, 55 ch. of metalling, and 6 ch. of creekdiversion. The elimination of the Cliff Road level crossing by a subway is in hand, and the excavation of the approaches nearing completion. The Greatford Overbridge, of three 30 ft. spans, was completed, and the formation of the approach ramps is in progress. 3| m. of the Greatford-Bulls section was sealed, making the dustless surface continuous from Bulls to near Greatford, and a second coat of bitumen was applied to 29 ch. in the Bulls Town District.

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