29

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Kaihu Valley Eailway. Possession was taken of this railway, 17 miles in length, on the 27th May, under the powers conferred by the mortgage to the Queen. On the 10th instant notification was given to the trustees of the company of the Government's intention to sell the line by auction on the 25th June. Traffic has been regularly continued under the same staff as the company employed. The receipts per train-mile have increased this year to 4s. Bd. from 2s. 9-J-d. last year, while the proportion of expenditure to receipts was only 76- 12 per cent., against 99-76 per cent, last year, and this notwithstanding the fact that the railway has been kept in much better order than previously. EOADS AND BEIDGES, ETC. Auckland District. Boad to Puhvpuhi Beefs (7 miles 65 chains). —To accommodate the traffic to the newlydiscovered silver reefs in the Puhipuhi Block the "Air-line" route was surveyed, and the formation of the road undertaken. It passes through heavy bush. The grade is generally linls on the steep portions, the only exception being a short piece of linlB on the back of a ridge. For 6 miles the road is formed 12ft. wide, the remainder being 10ft. in width, and, as there is no metalling done, it is almost certain to be a good deal cut up by the daily traffic which is now going on. This month the Prospectors' Company has been enabled to cart in the whole of its machinery. Waitomo Caves Boad. —The Mangaokewa and Mangapu Bridges, and the Native piecework contracts for the formation of the road, were completed before the winter, and some considerable damage to the road, caused by the wet season, has since been repaired. Otorohanga-Kihikihi Boad. —The improvements to the Tokanui track are nearly finished, the work having been delayed until lately by difficulties raised by the Maoris. Mokau-Karioi Boad. —From Mokau railway-station to Poro-o-tarao, 12-J- miles, the survey isin progress, about lOf miles being completed. A length of 5 miles 24 chains south of the Poro-o-tarao tunnel has been resurveyed, and the formation of the first 2 miles 68 chains of it was let on the 11th ultimo ; the contractors have made a commencement with the works. 11 miles 30 chains has also been surveyed from Te Koura northwards towards Poro-o-tarao. At Te Koura and Taumaranui, sections of 3 miles and 3 miles 30 chains respectively have been set out ready for the Natives to undertake in petty contracts, and the 5 miles between comprise Contract No. 2, which can now be advertised at any time. Woodville-Palmebston Disteict. Manawatu Gorge Bridge. —This bridge is being thoroughly repaired. The whole of the rata-floor-beams and transoms were found to be unsound, from age, and have been replaced by totara. The flooring is very much worn, so the bridge is being replanked. But for the difficulty in obtaining, timber, and the necessity for allowing the traffic to be continued without interruption, the work would have been completed before now. Kairanga Drainage. —The drain along the western boundary of the Kairanga Block, 1 mile 60 chains, was constructed, and has proved effective in draining the properties in the neighbourhood. A survey was made in April for the drainage of the Taonui Swamp and low parts of the Kairanga district. Maelboeough-Nelson Disteict. Bai Valley Boad. —ln the Eai and Whangamoa Valleys 6 miles 9 chains of the road has been metalled. Kenepuni-Mahakipaiva Track. —This track, to connect the Kenepuru Sound with Mahakipawa,. has been located. It is 20| miles long. General. —The Hope Bridge was painted and approaches formed, and various small mainten-ance-works throughout the district attended to. Westland Disteict. Butter Boad.— Several small bridges between 9 and 13 miles have been erected, and some of the old crib-loggings renewed. The bridge at 12 miles 43 chains was restored. Lyell Bridge. —The large bridge over the Buller Eiver at Lyell was finished in December. Mokihinui Bridge. —The piers, abutments, and the short iron-span are erected. The contractor has experienced some difficulty in getting the material to the site, and this, together with an alteration in the piers, has caused the work to get behind time. All the material for the large span is now on the ground ready for erection. Bimu to Back Creek Track. —A survey was made for a horse-track to the scene of the goldrush at Back Creek, and six contracts prepared for the work. Four sections have been let, and handed over to the Westand County Council, under whose control the road is being formed. Eakaia Gorge Bridge. The damage to the Eakaia Gorge Bridge caused by the gale of September, 1889, was repaired. The bridge was at the same time thoroughly overhauled, and the flood-channel bridge screwed up. Otago Disteict. Hindon Boad. —A few slight repairs have been done to the road between Hindon Township and the Otago Central Eailway. PUBLIC BUILDINGS. Auckland District. Government House, Auckland. —ln addition to the usual minor repairs, the servants' quarters, were cleaned, painted, and papered, and a new roasting-range fixed. 6—D. 1.