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length is 90 feet—namely, two spans of 25 feet each and two of 20. The approaches are embankments containing 3,000 cubic yards of earth, with retaining walls of stone, which had to be blasted by the men through a rock cutting five chains long, and carted by Armed Constabulary dray to the spot. On completion of the bridge and approaches this party moved to the Pieriri Creek and repaired and widened the approaches to a bridge which was built by Armed Constabulary last year. One and a half miles of road were widened and repaired, and numerous box and pipe culverts put in, their operations meeting the smaller party on the Cambridge side of the creek. This detachment has also done good work, completing an embankment over Fergusson Gully containing more than 3,000 cubic yards of earth, also repairing and widening six miles of road and laying down box and pipe culverts where necessary. This section of the road was very much cut up during the previous winter by traffic of heavy 4-horse wagons to and from the estates of Messrs. Maclean and Company, and other proprietors using the road. One temporary bridge was repaired and strengthened, and another replaced by a large wooden culvert. The road is now in a serviceable state as far as the Waipa Bridge, a distance of twenty miles from Cambridge. At Kihikihi the barracks have been painted, officers' quarters lived and painted, the 10-acre paddock cleared of ferns, and fences kept in repair. At Alexandra the small detachment has been fully employed keeping the redoubt in repair ; ti-tree has been cut and carted for the purpose of repairing the banquette, the reveteinent of which required renewing ; the officers' quarters at this station have also been thoroughly repaired. At Cambridge the District Office has been re-shingled and the verandah renewed ; the five-acre paddock ploughed, harrowed, and re-sown ; the two paddocks of 5 and 6 acres re-fenced with puriri posts and seven wires. The cemetery at Whatawhata, which was in a dilapidated state, has been put in good order and neatly fenced with a substantial picket fence. OPOTIKI DISTEICT. Military Duties. Average Strength of Officers and Men in District. —Three officers and 60 non-commissioned officers and men. Nature of Parades and Drills. —Divine-service parades at each station every Sunday, and heavy-marching-order and inspection parades once a week. Light infantry and company drill when necessary, and when sufficient men are available. Operations in the Field. —Nil. Patrolling and Scouting. —-Nil. Conveyiny Mails and Despatches.—-A. mail is carried weekly by orderly from Onepoto and Ohuka to Te Kapu, and a mail from Te Kapu to Te Wairoa daily. Despatches have been forwarded from station to station when necessary. Escorts, Guards, Sfc. —A night-watchman is told off" at each station every night, and remains till daylight, the stations not being strong enough to furnish a regular guard. Making and Improving Target Ranges. —-The target ranges at Tauranga and Te Kapu Stations have been cleaned and repaired. Telegraph Linesmen. —Nil. Issuers and Storekeepers. —The whole of the Armed Constabulary clothing, reserve arms, ammunition, &o, is placed under the charge ofa non-commissioned officer at Tauranga, Opotiki, and Te Kapu Stations, and who also act as magazine-keepers, and render their returns of the reserve ammunition direct to the head storekeeper. The clothing is inspected monthly by each officer in charge of a station. Redoubts and Stockades. —The redoubts at Tauranga, Opotiki, Te Kapu, and Onepoto Stations have been kept in good order and repair. Ciyil Duties. Steps taken for the Prevention of Crime. —This duty is performed by the police under command of Inspector Emerson, Tauranga. Attending Civil Courts. —Nil. Attending Lands Courts. —One constable attended the Native Lands Court at Matata from sth July to 25th September, 1878, and two constables have daily attended the Lands Court, Tauranga, under Judge Wilson, since the 10th September last. Collecting Agricultural Statistics. —Six constables were employed collecting the statistics on the East Coast. Public and Useful Works : Nature and Extent of Road Works. —On the Motu and Ormond Eoad the following has been performed: —Formation, 653 chains; 7 chains of block cutting, containing 254 cubic yards; 212 chains of side cutting, containing 5,479 cubic yards; and 1,033 chains of bush have been felled and cleared. The whole extent of road repaired and cleared on this line during the year has been 40 miles; 50 chains of corduroying has also been done on this road during the year. Building Bridges and Culverts. —At Opotiki station 6 constables have been employed, under the supervision of Mr. S. Crapp, Publio Works officer, re-erecting a large bridge over the Waioeka Eiver and a smaller one over the Hikutaia Creek, and building a new bridge over a cutting made in the embankment between the two bridges. The bridges and culverts between Te Kapu and Onepoto have been kept in repair, and in some instances rebuilt. Two constables have been employed in keeping the cuttings and culverts in repair for a distance of five miles on each side of the Ohuka Ferry. Four bridges have been repaired, and two entirely rebuilt. Ten culverts have been repaired, and in some places new ones have been formed on this road. Eighty culverts have also been built on the Ormond and Motu Eoad.

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