Foxton Manawatu 20 June 1870 Dear Sir, In accordance with your request that I should inform you how the road works here are progressing, I now write to you. The part in the bush near Oroua Bridge called ''branch Ngawhakarau and Oroua Bush,'' is well forward and nearly all finished in regard to clearing, draining, and formation. The natives chiefly have undertaken the work, on a system of small contracts, and have done their work well. The culverts and other small works have been done by European labour. The culverts and outlet drains are completed, also drains along both sides of road formation. The half length of this branch of road, next the sand ridge on edge of the open country, is being covered with a layer of sand for 12 feet wide to give a firm dray track and this is found to act well. The covering with sand of the other half I propose to do as soon as the weather is drier, as it would cost much more to do it at once at this season. Te Kooro te One (?) and party have done a good extent of work well, and have another contract in progress in the open country. The total amount required for this part of road will be £1250, and I have applied officially for the balance remaining of this sum, which is about the amount which was proposed by you for this portion of road work. The nature of this work has been - clearing off all timber, roots etc. level with surface for 40 ft. wide. Cutting a large 7 ft. drain on both sides and forming up the soil and clay thrown out in the centre to a proper road formation, together with culverts and outlet drains to the natural water courses where required, and subsequently covering with sand the new formation in lieu of metal, which latter is not available within a reasonable distance for economical working, the other piece of road line ''Branch Oroua Bush to Foxton'' from the bush near Oroua bridge through the open country sandy flats, ridges and and swamps to the ''port at Foxton'' near the mouth of the Manawatu upon which you authorised an expenditure of £500 is well advanced and in two months I expect will be open for light traffic. Over the 12 or 14 miles of this line I have economised the sum allowed as much as possible and have succeeded in doing or getting undertaken nearly all the pieces necessary to open it, leaving the dry flats and parts of the low ridges untouched. I find however that a small portion remains and that sundry portions on the line would be much better of slight additional work on them, and I have therefore applied officially for £100 additional for this line, subject to your approval. The general work on this line has been a road formation of 12 to 15 feet wide across the swampy flats with layer of scrub underneath, one side drain alongside and culvert across where wanted. The scrub being cleared off ½ a chain wide, where thick. one of the wetter swamps have been crossed by layers of scrub overlaid with coating of sand with cross culvert. also the cutting down ridges to slope passable, and the side cutting and levelling, as far as to render passable for drays, the ridges along which parts of the line goes, taking advantage of the parts requiring the smallest, amount of work to be done on them. On the whole, both branches of road when completed to the expenditure indicated will afford Goodsummer dray traffic of a light nature. I have every reason to be well satisfied with the overseer of roads appointed by you (Mr. A. Burr.) I remain, yours respectfully, John T. Stewart The Hon. W. Fox WELLINGTON