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Riverton-Orepuki Line. —The first section of this line beyond Colac Bay, which was let to the contractor who had the Mokoreta Section, came to a standstill when he left the country. It was relet a few weeks ago to another contractor, who is expected to finish it next month. After making satisfactory progress for some months, the contractors for the Pahia Section got into difficulties, and the works were temporarily suspended. A transfer was ultimately made to another contractor, who is pushing on vigorously. At the present rate of progress he will probably finish in July or August. ROADS AND BRIDGES. Nelson District. Pelorus Valley Road. —On the main road from Blenheim to Nelson, via Rai Valley, 14^ miles have been finished, and lOJr are in progress; only leaving six or seven miles on which no work has vet been done. This, and the erection of a cart bridge over the Pelorus River, are the only works wanting to make tlio whole of the road available for wheel traffic. A contract is in preparation for the Pelorus Bridge. The branch road from Canvas Town up the Wakamarina Valley ■to Deep Creek is finished, ?,nd a mail coach now runs from Blenheim to Deep Creek. Tracks in Pelorus Sound. —The works in progress at the end of last year have been finished, and one or two others of a similar kind have been done, but they are not of sufficient importance to describe. Loiver-Moutere Roads. —A contract has been prepared for a diversion along the Company's ditch three-quarters of a mile, together with the repairs of damages to other portions of the road in the same locality; and a second contract for works at Moutere Bridge has been ordered. Wairau Bridge. —A tender has just been accepted for the erection of a cart-bridge over the Wairau at Gouland's Ferry, od the Picton-Blenheim Road. It is an ordinary timber structure, consisting of five spans of 80 and four spans of 20 feet. Clarence Bridge. —Advices having been received of the shipment of the ironwork for this bridge, a contract for the erection is. in preparation. Kaikoura-Clarence Road. —A survey is in progress for a properly-graded bridle-track, to be afterwards used as a dray-road round and southwards of the Ohau Hill. It is proposed to leave the carrying-out of the works in the hands of the County Council. Tophouse and Tarndale Road. —Small deviations have been made to improve the gradient at Ray's Saddle and in the Big Bush, which were two of the worst places between Belgrove and Tophouse. A very heavy piece of rock-cutting, If miles, has been finished through the Wairau Gorge, and a smaller one of much the same character is in progress. Nelson—Butter Valley Road. —The road has been improved at Spooner's Range, Clark Valley, and the Owen River. Although only extending over about four miles, these works are of great benefit, for they do away with very steep gradients and sharp bends. The gradient at Spooner's Range is altered from 1 in 7 to 1 in 12J, and that at the Owen River from 1 in 7 to 1 in 10. The Owen Bridge, in progress at the date of my last report, was finished in August; and the Matiri Bridge, a contract for which was entered into early in the year, is now approaching completion : it has two spans of 80, and four of 20 feet. A tender has just been accepted for a bridge over Granity Creek : it has one span of 40 feet, one of 20 feet, and one of 10 feet. Westlanu District. Westport-Reefton Road. —The strengthening of the Blackwater Bridge, in progress at the end of last year, is completed. A contract was entered into in August for a bridge over the Inangahua River near its junction with the Buller. A considerable quantity of pile-driving has been done, and the work generally is progressing favourably. Reef ton-Grey mouth Road. —-The erection of a bridge over the Little Grey at Devery's Terrace, a contract for which was entered into at the end of last financial year, has been satisfactorily completed. This was the last unbridged river between Reefton and Greymouth. Bridge over the Grey at Cobden. —A contract for this bridge is in preparation. It is proposed to have iron cylinder piers and timber superstructure, the spans, of which there will be six, being 110 feet. In consequence of the size of the river and the nature of the bottom, it would not be advisable to adopt any cheaper form of construction. Greymouth-Okarito Road. —A. contract has just been entered into for the erection of a bridge over Donnelly's Creek, near Ross. It is of the usual type of timber bridges, and consists of five spans of 30 and two of &0 feet. Christchurch-Hokitika Road. The repairs and maintenance of the section on the western side of the range during the past year have been of the usual character, no extraordinary slip nor other damage having occurred. The maintenance on the eastern side was, however, above the average; the ordinary flood damage was considerable, and there were several serious river encroachments and slips. The