11

C.—6

Road, Cedar Greek, Westland. —This road commences at what is known as the Woolhouse Eoad, leading from Boss to the Totara Eiver, at a point about half a mile west of the river, and follows the sidling along the Totara Eiver to the Cedar Creek quartz reefs. The first four sections, of one mile each, were completed in October last at a cost of £2,790. A contract has been let for the fifth mile for £703. There still remains about four miles to construct in order to complete this road. The road is formed 12ft. wide, with Bft. of metalling, the clearing being 33ft. in width. It is well laid out, and formed with easy grades. The expenditure on this road up to the 31st March has been £2,790 Is. Track, Jackson's Bay to Junction of Track, Martin's Bay to Lake Wakatipu. —This track commences at the end of the track leading from Arawata Township to the Cascade Eiver, about sixteen miles south of Jackson's Bay, and follows through the country, crossing near the heads of the Cascade, Gorge, Jerry, and Pyke Eivers. The survey has been completed for twenty-one miles and a quarter. The highest point of the road is that on the ridge directly above the Jerry Eiver, where it is 1,580 ft. above sea-level. It crosses over the saddle of the Pyke Eiver at 1,050 ft., the hills on each side being 3,500 ft. and 4,000 ft. above sea-level. The top of this saddle is a wide flat, running almost to the Jerry Eiver, and ending abruptly in terraces. Very good dray-road grades have been got for the whole distance. A contract has been let for the construction of the first four miles for the sum of £729 10s., and tenders have been invited for another four miles, but not yet accepted. But before the track is of any practical service it will require to be constructed for thirteen miles, which will open up communication with the valley of the Gorge Eiver. The expenditure on this track up to the end of March last was £560 14s. 3d. Waitahuna Bridge, Tuapeka, Otago. —This is the reconstruction of the bridge over Waitahuna Eiver on the main road. The old structure is decayed and unsafe for traffic. The new bridge is estimated to cost £1,500. Of this amount a subsidy was authorized to the extent of £750 from the votes under the control of the Hon. the Minister of Mines. This amount has been paid, but the work is not yet completed. Waiicaia Bush, Switzer's, Otago. —This is a road up the side of the Waikaia Eiver, commencing at Piano Flat, about twenty-five miles above Switzer's, and terminating at Whitcombe Creek. The length of road partially constructed is about eight miles. From Piano Flat to Post Office Creek, a distance of three miles, the road can at any future time be widened for dray-traffic ; but from Post Office Creek to Whitcombe the road is not laid out with such grades as are suitable for dray-traffic. This work was carried out under the supervision of the Southland County, and £1,000 expended on its construction; but a large amount of the money has not been judiciously expended. No survey was made of the road, and the work was carried out by day-labour under a foreman in charge. This is a case which points out the necessity of having plans and specifications approved before any money is expended on any road proposed to be constructed out of either grants or subsidies from Government. Tracks, Merivale District, Wallace, Otago. —Tracks have been made in several directions in this district for the purpose of opening up the country in the Longwood Eanges. Gold ha 3 been got in several places, but, the country being densely timbered, and covered with thick underscrub, prospecting operations have been greatly retarded. These tracks will afford the miners an opportunity of getting into this part of the district and getting their supplies. The cost of these tracks has been £400, which has been paid. Skipper's Road, Lake County, Otago. —This road was constructed from the Arthur's Point Eoad to the top of the saddle two years ago, and also the portion from the end of the contract which has just been completed up to the crossing of the Shotover Eiver at Skipper's Point. The portion that was constructed last year was to avoid the zigzag horse-track over the bluffs near Stapleton's Beach, which was the most dangerous portion of the road. The length of the contract recently completed is 2 miles 6 chains, which involved very heavy rock-cutting round steep bluffs, as well as a very heavy retaining-wall in one place. About 50 chains of the distance constructed is only a horse-track, 6ft. in width. This is merely to get upon the original track again until the remaining portion of the road, which is 4 miles 57 chains in length, is constructed. There is now over ten miles of a dray-road constructed, with good grades, but it cannot be utilized for dray-traffic until the portion in the centre is completed. The expenditure on this road up to the end of March last has been £7,570 4s. Id. watee-eaces. Waimea Watee-eace, Westland. This branch of the Waimea-Kumara Water-race is in a fair state of repair. The long fluming near Kawhaka, which has now been erected for nearly thirteen years, appears to be defective, as portions of it show a state of decay which necessitates careful supervision. The legs of the fluming have to be replaced from time to time, as well as some of the cap-pieces and stringers. During the Christmas holidays all portions that were greatly decayed were replaced; and new legs are now being brought on the ground to replace any that appear unsafe from time to time as they are required. The superstructure is also beginning to show considerable signs of decay ; but, so long as the understructure is kept good, the boxing can always be repaired without interfering with the supply of water to the mining-claims. The ilurnes, however, are the only portion of the water-race that any extra expenditure will be required to maintain ; and even these will be kept in repair without incurring any heavy outlay beyond the cost of the ordinary maintenance staff. The ditching and tunnels are in good repair. The only troublesome portion of the tunnels on the line of race is the one near Fox's, where a good deal of extra timber has had to be put in to keep the ground secure during last year; but it is not anticipated that this portion will give any further trouble beyond strict supervision to keep it in good repair." A survey was made during last year of an extension of the water-race from the end of Branch