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presenting no difficulties. A survey has been made, but some alterations are required to meet the action of the Road Board and Provincial Government. The contract for building a bridge over the Mahurangi River has been let. The bridge will be 161 feet long, and a design has been prepared for a bridge over the Hoteo River, 140 feet long, with a centre span of 60 feet; but the work is not yet let. WAIKATO DISTRICT. (W. H. Clarke in charge since 16th January, 1873.) Great South Road. —Mercer to Ngaruawahia. Three contracts have been let on this road, namely,— No. 1. For metalling from Mercer to Whangamarino Bridge, length 5,400 feet. This work has been suspended on account of the wet weather. The road is refascined for about two-thirds of its length, and is quite passable. Fascines are on the ground in sufficient number to complete the work shortly as regards fascining, and the metalling will be proceeded with when the weather becomes drier : one small cutting through a hill is also nearly finished. No. 2. Raising and embanking road from Whangamarino Bridge to Mere Mere Hill, 8,000 feet in length. This is now formed to the full width and height specified, forming a good solid Toad where no side road exists. A good summer road has been left at the side for more than half a mile, with turn-offs from the bank, which along this portion is still slightly soft, but will carry a horse. No. 3. For providing road metal, and carting it to Taupiri Gorge. The furthest distance to cart is from Mangawara Bridge, about 7,100 feet. The contractor has opened the quarry and put in a tramway, and will shortly begin quarrying. A small contract for faseining, raising, and gravelling the Great South Road through Hopu Hopu School Reserve has been let, aud is now nearly finished. The Whangamarino Bridge, in contract No. 1, and Mangawara Bridge, have been repaired, also two culverts; and one new culvert has been put in, and the road has been fascined and drained in several places where such work was needed. The punt used for crossing the Waikato at Ngaruawahia requires some alterations and repairs to render it safe and serviceable. These are now being proceeded with—as are also some necessary repairs to the bridge at Cambridge, where the soft rock on which one of the piers rested had cracked and rendered the approach unsafe; this work is nearly finished. The bridge at Alexandra is also under repairs, for which the timber is ordered. Moanatuatua Swamp Road. —Constabulary labour and hired drays have been employed on the Rangiaohia Swamp Road. Fascines have been laid along the entire distance and covered with earth or sand to a depth of 12 inches and a width of 16 feet, for 94 chains, leaving 43 chains yet to be sanded. The Pukekura Swamp Road has had no work bestowed upon it for some time, and consequently the fascines are being destroyed, leaving the road in a bad state. Besides the above, a considerable amount of work has been done from time to time by parties of the Armed Constabulary, on works which had been laid out before the appointment of an engineer to this district, a schedule of which, for twelve months ending 31st May, is as follows :— Hamilton West. —Earthwork, 2,527 cubic yards; forming, 53 chains; fascines, 1,320. Hamilton East. —Earthwork, 561 cubic yards; forming, 604 chains. Hamilton and Cambridge Road. —Earthwork, 906 cubic yards; forming, 313 chains; 2 culverts made and others laid. Moanatuatua Swamp Road. —s9"Bo chains of 7-feet ditch deepened from 2 feet to 5 feet; 4J chains of ditch 7' x 4£' ; 18£ chains of ditch, 3' x 2'; 7£ chains of ditch 2' x 2'; 1,700 fascines cut and carried 100 yards ; 22 chains fascining; 12^ chains fascines laid ; 90 chains turf spread; 94 chains of sand spread: 15 chains outfall ditch, 2^' x 3' ; one culvert, 15' x 7\'. Alexandra and Whata Whata Road. —Earthwork, 3,153 cubic yards; forming, 71 chains; fascines, 400. Nffaruaivahia and Whata Whata Road. —Earthwork, 1,543 cubic yards; forming, 36 chains ; Ohote Creek Bridge repaired. Ngaruawahia Ferry. —Earthwork, 1369 cubic yards; fascines, 250. Ngaruawahia and Hamilton Road. —Earthwork, 320 cubic yards; forming, 39 chains. Taupiri Gorge, Great South Road. —Earthwork, 563 cubic yards. Tamahere and Cambridge Road. —Levelling, 324 chains. Hamilton and Ohavpo Road. —Earthwork, 2,548 cubic yards; forming, 8 chains. Cambridge Bridge. —Sundry repairs. The number of Armed Constabulary of all ranks employed on roads in Waikato during twelve months varied from 22 to 83, or an average throughout of 59. In connection with this district it is necessary to make a few general remarks on the roads and the manner in which they have been laid out. As a rule, those in use are on the highest ground within reach, running along the backs of the spurs, rising and falling continually, and in many places steeply, and any improvements attempted on such roads may be described as a waste of money. The country being generally flat between the rivers, roada almost leyel