D.—l

XIII

On the main roads in Nelson and Westland it was found that many of the bridges were in an advanced state of decay, and extensive and costly repairs are required. The roadway also was found to be very much worn, requiring much more than the usual maintenance. The Cheviot Estate road-works have been completed, and it is expected the new county will take them over, and be responsible for their maintenance m the future. In Otago the Catlin's-Waikawa Eoad was completed, and occupation-roads are being pushed forward in the Tautuku Forest, on which a great deal of settlement is taking place, requiring the construction of many roads to give reasonable access. These roads advance much more slowly than the wishes of the settlers require, but on the whole a full share of attention has been given to their wants. In Southland the opening of the Waikawa district has been begun on the coast, south of the river, and the main road from Fortrose to Waikawa is being gradually metalled. Some works have been undertaken in Seaward Bush, and on both banks of the Waiau, especially on the right bank, roads have been made to most of the lands disposed of a few years ago. The chief works now m hand are (1) The road from Opanake to Hokianga, length 22 miles, of which 7 miles have yet to be made. (2.) The road from Stratford to the railway-line at Ongaruhe, 90 miles, of which 40 miles yet remain to be constructed. (3.) The road from Te Kuiti to Awakmo, 30 miles, which has recently been commenced. (4.) The road from Alfredton to Weber, 37 miles, of which 11 miles have yet to be constructed. These roads are mostly m forest country, and some of them will take years to complete. In May last it was decided to proceed with the construction of the main road from Galatea, via Te Whaiti, to Waikaremoana and Wairoa, and it is hoped eventually to carry this on so as to give direct access from Gisborne to the Eotorua Eailway At the same time a road was started from the Eangitaiki Eiver, crossing over to the Euatoki Valley, with the intention of affording the Opotiki settlers access to the Eotorua Eailway by a more direct route, via Waimana. A beginning has also been made with the construction of a road in the Waiotapu Valley, leading from Eotorua to Taupo, via Ohake and Wairakei. This will eventually take the place of the present coach road from Eotorua via Ateamuri to Taupo. The minor roads are too numerous to notice in detail, but they are distributed throughout the colony from the North Cape to Stewart's Island, the number of separate appropriations for different roads being 550. Almost the whole of these works have been executed by co-operative labour contracts, the exceptions being the construction of a few bridges under the contract system, and the votes entrusted to local authorities. For the current year the sum of £35,650 is asked for the maintenance of main and miscellaneous roads, £160,581 for roads to open Crown lands and improve access thereto, £50,000 to construct district roads in blocks on which loans have been obtained, and £52,862 to improve the access to Native lands recently purchased. Eoads on Goldfields (Mines Depaetment). The numerous applications made throughout the colony for mining claims of all descriptions necessitate the further construction and extension of roads and tracks, to afford facilities for prospecting and opening up mining districts. The votes for works of this description on the Public Works Fund last year amounted to £45,455, while the expenditure to 31st March last was £17,577, and the liabilities were £21,829. It is proposed to take a vote of £29,781 on the estimates for the current year for goldfields roads and tracks. In previous Statements it has been pointed out that the construction of roads and tracks is absolutely necessary to give facilities towards opening up fresh localities, thereby affording inducements towards the carrying on of both mining and prospecting operations.