G.—No. 14.

8

ANNUAL REPORT ON THE

At Taruaebaruru, 148"8 chains road completed, I7i chains of which were approaches to bridge site on western bank of Waikato, remainder block and side cuttings between Opepe and Tapuaeharuru, and approaches to bridge site on eastern bank of Waikato River. At Eunanga, 117 feet road formed 1G feet wide, containing 839 cubic yards earth ; 54 chains 14 feet, widened 8 feet, containing 8,369 cubic yards ; and 9 chains bush road widened 8 feet, 1,261 cubic yards ; 72 feet of embankment to bridges and culverts, 167 cubic yards. At Tarawera, 10136 chains road formed, block and side cuttings ; 13,785 cubic yards earth removed. At Te Haroto, 1598 chains road work, 20 feet wide, side cutting, and timbered ; also rolling away and clearing heavy logs about two chains on each side of bridge on the road to Tarawera to prevent injury to it from bush fires. Building Bridges and Culverts. —At Opepe, four box culverts, 30 feet, 2x3; timber cut by A.C. At Tapuaeharuru, one culvert 15 feet long by 4 feet broad. Stringers 10 in. XlO in.; planks 2 in. X 8 in.; cut by A.C at Opepe, and carted to Waipahihi, ten miles. At Eunanga, two culverts 25 feet long ; timber supplied by Engineer in charge of Public "Works, and at Tarawera, two culverts 30 feetx4x2, one 25 feet X 4 x 2-j, two 25 feet X 12x12, and one 25 feet X 16 x 16 ; timber for these being also supplied by Mr Bold. Building Souses, Stables, Sfc. —At Opepe, a weatherboard house 20 feet by 20, strongly floored and with a loft, has been erected for keeping Government stores in charge of the sub-storekeeper of the district; a room 9 feet x 9 being partitioned off for a guard-room with a separate entrance. A building for blacksmith and farrier's workshop, 20 feet x 20, in course of erection. District office, officers' quarters, and men's reading-room re-floored and lined, and for the latter substantial tables and stools made. At Tapuaeharuru, boat sheds pulled down and re-erected; this being necessary on account of the damage received during the winter floods. At Eunanga, two cook-houses for the station 30 feet X 16, and 20 feet x 10, have been built with slabs, shingle roof and pumice chimneys, and the wooden chimneys in the redoubt pulled down and replaced by pumice. At Tarawera, a weatherboard guard-room 10 feet by 12. Officer's quarters lined; a four-stall stable, slab sides and shingle roof, in course of erection. At Te Horoto, men's mess house 16 feet by 12, and officer's quarters, 10 feet by 8, both slab walls, and shingle roofs. Fencing P&ddocks, and laying down in Grass. —At Opepe, the portion of the paddock which could not be burned during the previous year (about 20 acres) was cleared, and grass seed put in, as well as in the portion ploughed during the previous season. At Tapuaeharuru, 21 chains post and rail fence erected, completing the enclosure of the paddock at that station ; eight acres ploughed and laid down in grass ; remainder of paddock cleared ready for ploughing. At Eunanga, the bush felled last year (about 20 acres) has been burned, and paddock cleared and grass sown on about 10 acres. At Tarawera, old paddock containing about 6 acres almost entirely re-fenced, owing to the decay of the wood in the old fencing ; and grass seed laid down ; about 6 chains of very substantial four-railed fencing erected round the stockade and parade ground to prevent horses getting in. At Te Haroto, fence repaired as deemed necessary; logs removed, and grass sown on the bare patches. Eemaeks. In addition to the duties shown in the foregoing report, two drays in charge of members of the force were constantly employed bringing oats from Eunanga to Opepe and Tapuaeharuru, thirty miles ; and conveying fencing from Opepe to Tapuaeharuru, eleven miles. The whole of the clothing, necessaries, tools, horse shoes and nails, medicine, &c, &c. required in the district are conveyed by pack horses in charge of members of the force from Napier; these pack horses were also employed to supply the detachments at Arawhata and Okoromatakiwi with rations, as well as in the conveyance of baggage of men transferred to and from Tauranga District. A non-commissioned officer is stationed at Napier, who receives and forwards all stores for the use of the district. The two Government whaleboats at Tapuaeharuru are (when required) manned and worked by the Armed Constabulary at that post. They were employed during October, November, and December in supplying the Natives on pay at Tokano with rations, as well as being sent on several other occasions to that end of the Lake. On the 6th instant, acting under instructions from the Hon. the Defence Minister, a boat's crew, in charge of Sub-Inspector Morrison, was sent to examine the western shores of the Lake for indications of the presence of gold, and returned after five days' absence, reporting having met with no success, except at Whangamata, where a few specks were found in every dish washed, and this by only a superficial examination of the surface sand. In December last two sets of new oars and metal rowlocks and fittings, with canvas and rope for sails and rigging, were received. The oars were carried by dray from Napier to Pohui, thence to Eunanga, thirty-four miles, by men of the force; and to Tapuaeharuru by the Armed Constabulary drays. Boats have been painted twice during the past year. Vegetables not being procurable by purchase, gardens have been cultivated at each post, for the supply of those articles. I have, &c, D. Scaotell, Inspector A.C, The Commissioner, A.C. Force, Wellington. , Commanding District,