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In the Auckland district, also, weather conditions have been very detrimental to the highway surfaces, particularly on weak sub-soils. The limited supply of chips and shortage of man-power have been serious difficulties in the way of restoration, but the worst sections were made good as speedily as possible, and the work is being continued. Forty-five miles of bituminous surfaces have been renewed and 7 miles of new sealing applied. Five bridges have been completed, two are in hand, including the Coronation Bridge at Henderson, and, preparations for the erection oi several others are under way; the limits of steel, cement, and man-power are affecting this class of work: here- as in. other districts. Extensive resealing has been carried out in the Hamilton district, • and reconstruction work is in progress on the Hamilton-Rotorua and Te Awamutu - Pirongia highways. In the Tauranga district widening and improvement work has been continued on the State highway at Lake Rotoiti, and has been commenced in the Waimana and Waioeka Gorges. A deviation at Taneatua to avoid a flood area is in hand. The metalling of the 5-mile clay gap on the Rotorua-Tauranga highway has been completed, making this an all-weather direct route. Widening is in progress on several sections of the Opotiki -Te Araroa Highway. In the Gisborne area no works of importance have been undertaken, except the reconstruction of 5 miles on Trafford's Hill, Whakatane-Gisborne Highway, which is in progresis, Damage has been caused by floods and by tidal waves, the principal item being the destruction of the Pouawa Bridge on the coast highway north of Gisborne, which was replaced temporarily by a 120 ft. Bailey bridge. The State highway north of Napier is being improved by the reconstruction and metalling of several lengths. The sealing-work on the Devil's Elbow section has been strengthened by a coat of plant-mix surfacing. Tree-planting has been continued at the Tangoio Afforestation Reserve, and a nursery established at Waikoau. On the Napier - Palmerston North Highway 1-J miles was reconstructed near Woodville, and a deviation at Poukawa has been commenced. Of this highway, 6J miles has been resurfaced, principally with plant-mix. The renewal of the 1,360 ft. Ngaruroro Bridge at Fernhill is in progress, all piles having been cast and over half of these driven. Work is proceeding on the piers/ It is hoped to call tenders for the 1,080 ft. Yan Asch's Bridge over the Tuki Tuki at an early date. The Black Bridge at Haumoana has been strengthened to serve until a new structure can be erected later on. In the Taumarunui district the reconstruction north of Te Kuiti has been completed over 3 miles, and 2 miles was sealed south of the borough. Heavy rains in September caused a certain amount of damage throughout the district, but, on the whole, winter conditions were better than usual. In the Taranaki district preparations for the new Mohakatino and Tongapom tu Bridges south of the Mokau have been in progress, by way of testpiles and approach surveys. Regrading and improvements were undertaken between Mount Messenger and Urenui. A resealing programme of some 31 miles was carried out in this district, and several lengths of reconstruction were completed on subsidized highways in the Taranaki, Stratford, and Hawera Counties. In the Wanganui district the principal work of reconstruction is the 1,628 ft. Bulls Bridge, the contract for the substructure of which is now complete, and the fabrication and erection of girders are in progress. North

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