0.—5

22

Avondale South. —Opens up part of the suburban Crown lots in the neighbourhood. The works constructed have been : Nine stone pipe-culverts, and H> chains formation 18ft. wide. In addition te and in connection with this work, about three-quarters of a mile of road has been constructed by the Avondale Road Board. Mr. T. Grange, together with Mr. E. Fairburn, has had chaise. Awaroa Swamp Drains. —Open up about 3,000 acres. The works carried out during the season consist of 45 chains widening drains, 125 chains cleaning out drains, and 25 chains clearing channel of Otaua Creek. The Waipipi Eoad Board, through their Inspector, Mr. J. T. Mellsop, has charge. Akaaka Stvamp Drains. —Opens up about 3,000 acres. During the season Mr. A. B. Wright has had about 9! miles of lines cleared in swamp, and soundings taken, besides 5! miles levelled and pegged. Two contracts (one let by this department and one let by the Waiuku Eoad Board) are in operation in the Akaaka Swamp, in which during the season the following works have been completed : For that let by this department, 92 chains of clearing out and straightening bed of Akaaka Stream 10ft. Avide at bottom, and 63 chains of old ditching widened to 4ft. extra width by 7ft. in depth; for that let by the Waiuku Eoad Board, 80 chains of ditch sft. to 6ft. wide and 4ft. deep, and 29 chains of similar ditching partly done. Mr. J. T. Mellsop, under supervision of this department and Waiuku Eoad Board, has charge. Waerenga to Whangamarino. — Opens up about 3,000 acres. Works completed during the season are : 128! chains formation Bft. wide, 52 chains 15ft. wide, 186 chains of track cleared 20ft. Avide, and 71ft. of bridging. Mr. T. Grange was in charge. Te Aroha Drains. —Open up 600 acres. Works done during the season are: 94 chains of drains made 4ft. in depth, 126 chains deepened from 3ft. to Sift. Mr. T. Grange, under Mr. A. B. Wright's occasional supervision, Avas in charge. Waingaro to Akatea, or Firewood Creek Boad. —Opens up 6,000 acres. Works done during the season have consisted in improving the present bridle-track by widening, ditching, and forming flat portions Avhich were only cleared and stumped previously, and substituting permanent bridges and culverts for original temporary ones. This road is likely to be an important one in the near future, and has excellent gradients, but will require a good deal more expenditure on it before it will be available as a cart-track. The works completed during the season are : The construction of 148! chains formation 9ft. to 12ft. wide, 20 chains of ditching, 25ft. of bridging, and 16 glazedstone pipe-culverts (12in. to 24in. diameter). Mr. T. Grange Avas in charge to about middle of April, and at present Mr. W. P. Cogswell is in charge; both under Mr. E. Fairburn's occasional supervision. Akatea to Papakauri. —Opens up 5,000 acres. The works carried out Avere : 56ft. of bridging, and about 755 cubic yards of embankments. This work was finished early in the season, under the superintendence of Mr. F. H. Edgecumbe. Whaingaroa to Mangapiko. — Opens out 10,000 acres, and has good gradients. The Avorks completed during the season are : 120 chains formation 6ft. to 12ft. wide, and 20ft. of bridging. Mr. W. P. Cogswell is in charge, under Mr. E. Fairburn's occasional supervision. Whaingaroa to Waitetuna. —This is a continuation of the Waingaro-Akatea Road, and, like it, has excellent gradients throughout. Opens out 3,000 acres. The w 7ork done during the season, consisting of a feAV improvements and repairs, are : 15ft. of bridging and 400 cubic yards of Avidening and removing slips. It is a pity that this road, together with that of the Waingaro-Akatea, could not be Avidened into a narrow cart-road, as it is worth such improvement. Mr. W. P. Cogswell Avas in charge. Eaivhia to Waipa and to Raglan. —The Avork on these two roads has consisted of improvements and repairs. Works clone during season are : The removal of 300 cubic yards of landslips and fallen trees ; 29! miles of road repaired, Avith parts widened and sharp points rounded off. Mr. J. CoAvell, under Mi"- E. Fairburn's occasional supervision, has been in charge. Waitomo Caves Boad.— -The survey of this road was made in October last, and the tender of John Mercer, of Auckland, for £577 10s. 4c1., for the construction of three bridges was accepted on 3rd January. The formation of the rest of the road (5 miles 36 chains) was let in small contracts to the Natives resident in. the neighbourhood. Good progress has been made, and the works are almost completed. This road has been constructed under the supervision of Mr. Hursthouse, of the Public Works Department. Boads in Bay of Plenty District. —These roads were formerly under the charge of Mr. S. Crapp, but as his services were dispensed with on compensation in November last fresh arrangements had to be made, and the folloAving roads are now maintained at a slight cost to the Government by the Whakatane County Council, viz.: Road, Matata to Te Puke, Whakatane to Opotiki, Whakatane to Ohope, Opape to Torere, road at HaAvaikinarae-nui. Village-settlement Roads. Herekino. —Open out 10,000 acres. Work done during the season consists of 90 chains of formation widened from 6ft. to 16ft., and 28ft. of bridging. Takahue. —There has been no Avork on the branch-roads in this settlement during the season. That on the main road passing through it is included in the return given for the Herd's Point-Takahue-Kaitaia Road. Fern Flat. —Open out 3,000 acres. Not much has been done on these roads this season. The works completed are : 51 chains of 6ft.-wide road wudened to 10ft., 4ft. of culverting, and 2,200 cubic yards of landslips removed. Mr. D. A. Grut, under Mr. E. Fairburn's occasional supervision, has had charge of this and the two next-preceding mentioned roads. MotUikaraka. —Open out 3,000 acres. Works -completed during the season consist of the construction of a horse-and-footbridge 6ft. Avide and 240ft. span, together AA 7ith 9 chains of embankments w 7ith double ditches. This bridge is a most useful work, as, besides being of substantial