13

D.—l

The bridge over the Pelorus Eiver, on the road between Nelson and Blenheim, was completed in August last, and this road has thus been made available for coach traffic. A contract has been let for the Motueka Bridge, on the line of road from Nelson to Westport and Greymouth. Surveys of site for bridge over Buller, near Lyell, on same road, have also been made, and the design, which will require to be of somewhat exceptional character, is under consideration. A contract has been let for a bridge over the left-hand branch of the Inangahua Eiver, near Eeefton, also on same road. The Hokitika to Christchurch road has also been maintained as usual; and the bridge over the Taipo, which has long been a great necessity on this road, has just been finished. The bridge over the Clarence Eiver, between Kaikoura and Blenheim, has been steadily progressing, and it is hoped that it will be finished in November next. The road between Kaikoura and Waiau is also tending towards completion, extensive work having been done upon it during last year, partly by aid of "unemployed;" and contracts for metalling some of the sections thus formed have recently been let, and are expected to be completed about November next. The bridge over the Upper Waiau, near the Hanmer Plains, has been commenced, and is expected to be finished about April next. The bridge over the Taieri, and the bridges over the Clutha at Beamont and Eoxburgh, are in progress. The bridge over the Clutha at Cromwell has not as yet been undertaken by the County Council, under the subsidy of £1 for £1 voted last year, but negotiations on the subject are still in progress. On the Haast Pass track a party of men has been set to work to render travelling practicable between the mouth of the river and the Haast Saddle. BOADS TO OPEN UP CEOWN LANDS BEFOEE SALE. On the numerous works under this designation, the laying-out and construction of which are entirely under the control of the Minister of Lands, a sum of £61,794 has been expended within the twelve months ended the 31st March last, and the liabilities on works in progress at that date were £61,372. It is proposed to continue the expenditure at the rate of £61,500 during the current year in further extension of road-formations through the blocks of Crown lands under survey in the several land districts of the colony. Full details of the works executed and in progress will be given in the annual survey reports. EOADS UNDEE THE EOADS AND BEIDGES CONSTEUCTION ACT. Main Roads: One-fourth of Cost of Work to be provided, or repaid in Ten Years, by the Local Body, and the Balance to be found by the Government. Under this heading the total amount of the applications received on the 30th June, 1885, when reduced in accordance with the Act of 1883, came to £255,476. Of these applications, those that were for the completion of bridges already commenced, amounting to £8,336 were granted in full, but all the rest were refused, owing to the repeal of the Act last session. In addition to these ordinary applications, there were also applications for repairs of extraordinary damages by floods, amounting to £7,591, and grants were made on these to the extent of £5,287, namely, £4,753 for bridges and £534 for roads. The total applied for altogether on account of main roads was, therefore, £263,067, and the total granted £13,623, of which £13,089 was for bridges and £534 for roads. The amounts granted within each of the several provincial districts will be found in the following table :—