21

C—lA

North Maknretii (Makaroro Boatl). —This road was laid out for the purpose of giving access to about 8,000 acres, which was opened for selection, and all taken up during last spring. It was cleared, burned, and sown with grass seed for four miles, a dray-track 1 (sft. wide stumped in the centre for the first two miles and a half, and a bridle-track opened for the remainder of the distance. This road with its branches will also give access to about 7,000 acres of forest reserve, which.it is proposed to resume for settlement purposes. Wainui to Tahoraiti. —Very little bat maintenance has been done upon this road by the department during the past year, but two formation contracts are in progress, with liabilities of £559 lls. 6d.; and the local Eoad Board has been spending a certain amount of accrued land revenue upon formation where most required. A very large quantity of land has been selected in the neighbourhood of this road within the last twelve months, and about 20,000 acres still remains available. Three bridges are much required between Mangatoro Station and the Tautane Village Settlement, and these should be undertaken early in the summer. The Danevirke settlers have recognised the growing importance of this district by having arranged to bridge the Manawatu Eiver, and tq, open a more direct road leading to Danevirke, thus avoiding the circuit by Tahoraiti. Expenditure for Year. —The total expenditure upon all roads within the district out of road votes for the year ended the 30th June last was £2,314 9s. Id. Since the first votes to open up Crown lands were taken in 1880 to the present time £35,420 Bs. 4d. has been expended upon roads giving access to lands which have been or are being prepared for settlement. Land Bevenue handed to Local Bodies for Expenditure on Boad-works. —The amount of land revenue handed over to local bodies for road-works for the year ended the 31st March last was £3,070 Is. 9d., which, carried to last year's total, gives £27,183 2s. 2d. Grand, Total of Expenditure upon Boads from all Sources. —If this £27,183 2s. 2d. already mentioned be added to the road votes, we arrive at a grand total of £62,603 10s. 6d. Having lately reported separately upon the Napier to Taupo Eoad, a proposed alternative road via Eissiugton, Patoka, and Waipuna, and the Napier to Patea Eoad, it will probably be unnecessary to say more about these here. G. W. Williams, Chief Surveyor.

Summary of Road-works executed in Hawke's Bay Land District for the Year ending 30th June, 1889.

TAEANAKI. Pukearuhc to Mohan Boad. —This work is not specially for the purpose of opening-up Crown lands, but to keep open and improve the road connecting New Plymouth and. Mokau. The expenditure includes the wages of the surface-man for three months, also that of an assistant in renewing a number of small bridges which had broken down. It also includes the piercing and timbering of the Parininihi Tunnel, in length about 5 chains. This tunnel was commenced in 1859, and a portion was pierced from each end, but the work was badly clone and had, in large measure, to be done over again. As the roof began to shale off when the air passed through, the tunnel had to be secured by timbering with heavy puriri beams. It is now quite secure, and takes all the horse and cattle traffic along that part of the coast. The tunnel is of an average height of 12ft. by a width of Bft., and was bored through papa rock. Boads through tin: Bimulauteka Block, near Inr/lewood. —Opens up about three thousand acres of Crown lands in Block 1., Pluiroa, and Block XIII., Waitara. The work included the felling of about five miles of the Lincoln, York, and Everett Eoads, the roads being felled 1 chain wide, and a cartway cleared and stumped in the centre of a width of 12ft. Boads East of Waitara to Ngatimaru. — To give access to about 13,000 acres of Crown lands east of Tarata. The work consisted of culverting, grading, and forming about 4 miles 50 chains of the Junction Road, between the Village of Tarata and the Mataro Boad, giving access to Crown lands and settled lands in Blocks 111. and IV., Huiroa District, and Block XVI., Waitara District. A portion of the was done by the "unemployed," in small contracts at current rates. The above expenditure also includes the felling 1 chain wide, and the clearing and stumping a cartway 15ft. wide in centre of road, of seven miles of Junction Eoad, from Mataro Eoad to Purangi. This wrork opens up the Junction Eoad to a point about twenty-three miles east from

Name of Work or Eoad. Cartroad. Bridleroad . Graded in Addition. | Bridges jnot included in Roads. Contracts in force. Area opened. rologa-Mangatokerau ... Uologa-Arikihi jisborne-Opotiki Waipaoa River—Oil Springs VVairoa-Rotokakarangu Morth Makaretu (Makaroro Road) Waimii-Tahoraiti Miles. Miles. 2-08 2-12 Acres. 5, OOi 20,301 100,001 2'57 4-0 1-12 2-5 16,701 7,001 1-5 2 Totals 10-19 5-70 149,00i