21

C—s

APPENDIX No. 2.

DETAILED REPOETS ON THE ROAD-WORKS UNDERTAKEN BY THE SURVEY DEPARTMENT.

AUCKLAND. Eoads to Open up Croavn Lands. Okaihau to Victoria Valley. —Opens up about 7,000 acres. Works done on this road during the season are : 14 chains of formation 6ft. wide, 20ft. of bridging, and some general repairs on already-formed portion of road (chiefly of damages caused by fire) ; and, in addition, about 4 miles of grading and pegging has been executed by Mr. Grut at the northern end of the road, from which end it has been decided to begin opening the road, as being a Avork more immediately useful to settlers than that of continuing nortliAvards from Avhere it at present ends at the Native settlement of Mangamuka. Mr. Menzies has charge of the southern end, and Mr. Grut of the northern portion. Ahipara to Herekino. —Opens up about 6,000 acres of Crown land. The work done consists of 22£ chains reformed and metalled, 14ft. of bridging, and about 160 cubic yards of slips removed. Mr. Grut has charge. Herekino to Whangape. —Opens up about 7,000 acres of Crown land. A distance of 4-|- miles of road has been graded, commencing at the Puhata Bridge and ending at the mouth of a creek known as Murray's, on the Awaroa. In the channel opposite to the end of the road there is about 10ft. depth of water at loav tide. The formation done consists of 145 chains formation, averaging Bft. wide. Mr. Grut, who also graded the road, has charge. Herd's Point to Takahue and Kaitaia. —Opens up about 20,000 acres of Crown land. At the southern end the following works have been executed: 25J miles of overgrowth cleared half a chain wide, 40 chains widened and repaired, 296j chains widened from 6ft. to 14ft., 12ft. of bridging, and 73 chains of Avater-tabling. At the northern end the following Avorks have been carried out: 86 chains formed 28ft. Avide betAveen ditches (of which 57-J- chains haA 7e been metalled 10ft. AVide), Bft. of bridging and one 20ft. bridge redecked, together with 4 miles of overgroAvth cleared half a chain wide. Mr. Menzies has charge of the southern end, and Mr. Grut of the northern. Waimamaku to Pakanae. —Opens up about 5,000 acres of Ci-oavd land. Works completed during the season are: 3£ miles graded and pegged, 269! chains formation 6ft. to 9ft. Avide, 63ft. of bridging, 9 chains of embankments, and 1| chains corduroy. Mr. Menzies, avlio also graded the road, is in charge. Kaihu to Punakitere.—o])e_\_ up about 100,000 acres of CroAvn land. x\t the northern end the folloAA7ing works have been completed: 275 chains formation 14ft. Avide (in forest), 100ft. of bridging, 12 chains of embankments, and about 8 miles of grading. At the southern end one contract about 2 miles long (formation) lias been let, of which 40 chains 7ft. wide have been completed, and about II miles have been graded. Mr. Menzies is in charge of the northern end, and Mr. A. B. Wright of the southern end. Wairua to Helena Bay. —Opens up about 2,000 acres of Crown land. The Avorks completed during the season are : 4 miles widened from 6ft. to 9ft., and 54ft. of bridging. Mr. A. M. Sheppard is in charge. Opuawhanga to Whananaki. —Opens up about 2,000 acres of Crown laud. Nothing has been done to this road during the season, owing to the difficulty of getting the title therefor arranged with the'Native owners of the land through Avhich a great portion of it passes, and the principal one of whom lives at the Great Barrier. This man lately, when finally interviewed, demanded such exorbitant compensation that matters with respect to the road are at present in a state of deadlock. Whangarei to Kawakawa (main road). —During the season 37-| chains of deviation 12ft. wide (to avoid a dangerous hollow scoured out by the floods near the Waiotu Bridge) have been formed, and about 7 chains have been metalled lift. Avide between Whakapara and Waiotu Bridges. Mr. Sheppard is in charge. Wairua Bridge and Boad. —Opens up about 10,000 acres of Crown land. During the season a bridge of 127ft. span has been constructed over the Wairua Eiver, together with about 2 chains of embankments; also, about 2 miles of levelling and pegging-off for road-Avorks has been done by Mr. A. M. Sheppard, Avho is in charge. Whangarei through Taheke. —Opens up about 1,500 acres of Crown land. Works completed are: '_§_- chains formation 6ft. to 9ft. Avide, I.Bft. of bridging, and 2 miles of forest cleared 1 chain Avide. Mr. A. M. Sheppard is in charge. Paparoa to Waikiekie. —Opens up about 1,200 acres of Crown land. The works done are: 103 chains formation 6ft. to 9ft. Avide, 30ft. of bridging, and about 70 chains of remainder of road benched continuously ready for letting by contract. Difficulties Avith respect to obtaining a title for part of it prevented this road from being completed this season as far as surveyed. Mr. P. Russell, under Mr. E. Fairbuxn's super vision, was in charge. Matakana to Te Arai. —Opens up about 5,000 acres of Crown land. Works completed this season arfe : 255 chains formation 6ft. to 12ft. Avide, 93ft. of bridging, 33 chains of embankments with ditching, and 120 chains of forest cleared one chain wide. Mr. A. V. Harington has been in charge, and the AA'hole of the deviation surveyed is completed.