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Whangaroa County Roads.- —These are all bridle-tracks, with the exception of one towards Kaeo, which has been greatly improved by the last votes expended on it. Kaeo-Waimate (Kaeo Valley). —About 1 mile and 10 chains of bridle-track has been constructed on this road by the Whangaroa County, and one bridge has been erected by the Bay of Islands County. This Kaeo Valley Road would open up a large area of Crown land if £1,000 was expended on it; the recent expenditure will be comparatively useless unless further money is available. Roads in Takahue Block, also a vote raised under the Loans to Local Bodies Act, will be expended as soon as the surveys are completed. Victoria Valley to Main Road. —As the land required for this road had to be taken under the Public Works Act, considerable delay was experienced in carrying out the works. During the year a good, cart-road has been formed, connecting Victoria Valley with Mangatoetoe for a distance of about a mile and a half. It is intended shortly to continue the survey, and, if practicable, lay off a road connecting the present terminus with the Great North Road near to Peria. Takahue-llerekino Road. —Connecting the village settlements of Takahue and Herekino, and also to give access to about 7,000 acres of Crown land. Mr. Menzies has selected a route, and Mr. Turner is now upon the engineering survey. Ahipara-Herckino Road, or, more properly speaking, Ahipara-Herekino-Whangape Road. — This road is formed into a cart-road between Ahipara and a bridle-track between Herekino and Whangape. During the year the road has been kept open for traffic, and in several places where slips occurred it has been widened to an average width of 12ft, Seven new culverts have been erected and one 20ft. bridge repaired, and further works are now in progress. Herd's Point-Takahue Road. —This road, which is the only formed road connecting the Mangonui County with the districts south, has been constructed and made available for dray-traffic between Takahue Village Settlement and the Awanui-Mangonui Road. Between Takahue, over the dividing-range, and Mangonui-o-wae it is only a bridle-track, but from Mangonui-o-wao to Herd's Point a dray-road is being constructed. During the year the road has been kept open for traffic, and there have been twenty-six small contracts let to village settlers and others for widening portions of the road between Mangonui-o-wae and Herd's Point. A considerable sum is still required to complete the construction of a dray-road between Mangonui-o-wae and Herd's Point, and an expensive bridge is required over the Mangonui-o-wae River, which is subject to very heavy floods. Okaihau-Victoria Valley Road. —This road is chiefly through Native land, but opens up some 7,000 acres of Crown land, and will be the main road to the north. Eight miles of bridletrack have been constructed at the south end and three miles at the north end. The survey of the intervening distance is now in hand. During the year the track has been put in good order at south end—that is, from the Waihou River to Mangamuka, or what is known as Federlis Settlement. Further works will be undertaken shortly in extending the bridle-track northwards. Mangonui-o-wae. —Provided under the Loans to Local Bodies Act. The work of surveying and grading the lines of road is now being carried out. Opua-Waimate Roal opens up about 4,000 acres of Crown land, and is the only outlet by road for the Opua settlers. About five miles and a half of a bridle-track have been constructed and a connection made with the Waitangi-Kawakawa Road. Two miles more of this road are now being constructed towards Waimate, and two miles more will have to be formed before a junction can be effected with the main road near Blackbridge. Ngapipito Road gives access to 4,000 acres of Crown land, and will become the main road between Kawakawa and Rawene. During the year a bridge over the Wai-o-te-Karaka Stream has been erected, and tenders (in mile sections) are now being called for the construction of a bridletrack as far as the Ngapipito Settlement. Kaivakawa Road. —The vote has been expended in improving the Great North Road near Kawakawa, by raising a portion of the road which was always submerged after heavy rains. Ruapekapcka Roads are being constructed out of money raised under the Loans to Local Bodies Act, The works were let by tender, in small contracts, so as to afford employment to as many persons as possible, and are now almost completed. Opuawhanga-Whangarei. —Provided under the Loans to Local Bodies Act. Since it was decided to " road" this block the whole of the lands have been taken up. The construction of a bridle-track is now in progress, the works being cut up in small sections and given to the Whananaki village settlers and others, at agreed prices, and a time fixed within which the works must be completed. About 45 chains of dray road has been constructed, and the rest of the vote has been spent in permanent metalling, with the necessary earthwork. Waimamaku-Pakanae Road is the principal and most direct outlet for the Waimamaku settlers, and it opens up about 4,000 acres of Crown land. It has been formed throughout as a bridle-track. The money granted this year has been expended in the removal of some large slips, the widening in some places of the road, and in blasting large boulders in the river, which caused the waters during floods to undermine the road. There are still several bridges required on this road, and, as settlement in this district is increasing, I would recommend that the road be completed and, if possible, rendered available for wheeled traffic. Waimamaku Roads, also raised under the Loans to Local Bodies Act, has been expended in continuing the bridle-track between the Ramarama Valley and the Wairua Bridge Road. This road, when completed, will give direct connection between flukerenui Village Settlement and Hikurangi. Waimamaku, also raised under Leans to Local Bodies Act, has been expended in the construction of a portion of the bridle-track up the Waimamaku Valley. This valley contains some of the best land in the North, and is now being rapidly taken up. (See Waoku.)

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