Q j

In Marlborough, the most important work in hand has been the construction of the road south from Kaikoura, towards the Conway Eiver, about thirteen miles and a half of dray-road having been completed. It is anticipated that this road, besides giving access to the lands recently selected south of Kaikoura, will eventually form a main line connecting Kaikoura with Cheviot, and will probably take a good deal of the traffic that at present passes by the Kaikoura-Waiau Eoad, the grades being much better. In Nelson and Westland the main road, Belgrove to Eeefton and Westport, has been maintained, and numerous bridges repaired and renewed. A large bridge over the Buller, from designs by Mr. Hay, of the Public Works Department, is contracted for, and two other bridges over dangerous streams are in course of erection. This road suffered very much in the floods of March, 1897, and the necessary repairs have cost a considerable sum. The main south road in Westland has also been extended southward, so as to open up some country for settlement. On the Hokitika-Christehurch Eoad the floods before referred to did great damage, which has been put right during the year; but a succession of floods caused considerable additional damage, necessitating constant attention to keep the road open, a work which is very necessary, as this is the only overland means of communication between Canterbury and Westland. Expensive deviations will still have to be made in consequence of the destruction caused by these floods. In Canterbury the road from Pukaki to Mount Cook has been much improved, and travelling rendered easier for the numerous tourists that now visit the " Hermitage." In the neighbourhood of Mount Cook several tracks have been made, and a hut built on the Malte Brun Eange, at about 5,500 ft. above sea-level, all of which works aid materially in allowing visitors to see the magnificent mountain and glacier scenery in the neighbourhood. In Otago, besides numerous extensions of district roads, the main line from Catlin's to Waipawa has been improved and repaired. This is an important road, as it leads through districts lately settled; and, although metalling will be expensive, it must be done in order to carry the produce of the district to the railway and a market. The Waiau Eiver to Preservation Sound Track has been in hand during the past year, in Southland, and over forty miles of 10 ft. track is now available for foot traffic; it leads through much broken country, but will be a boon to the miners at Preservation Sound when finished. Works have also been going on at Milford Sound in continuing the widening of the road to give access to the Sutherland Falls, but much remains to be done before this road is available for wheeled traffic.

The following return shows the number of co-operative labourers employed by the department, and it gives the average for each district for the month and the year : —

HEAD OFFICE. Maps, etc. Mr. F. W. Flanagan, Chief Draughtsman, reports: — During the year ending the 31st March, 1898, the current duties of the office have been carried out satisfactorily, while the out-turu of departmental and extra-departmental work has been greater than in any previous year. The requisitions of other departments are increasing, and from their nature will probably become permanent work for the lithographic branch, and in a lesser degree for the draughtsmen, whose services are frequently required revising and drawing. All extra-departmental requests have, however, been complied with without delaying the departmental work proper. Of the mile-to-the-inch series of maps of survey districts the following have been finally completed and published, viz.: Mount Cerberus, Kopuaranga, Tararua, Aohanga, Waimea, Motueka, Ngakawau, Totaranui, and Aorere (all drawn in the district survey offices), and Waikouaiti, Eock and Pillar, Strath Taieri, Toetoes, and Totara (drawn in the Head Office). The last-mentioned map was reproduced on the 40-ehain scale. Of new editions of mile-to-the-inch maps containing corrections and additions, the following have been published, viz.: Survey Districts of Egmont, Ngaire, Mabel, Invercargill, Oteramika, and Centre Hill. Maps of the Survey Districts of Waipori, Southbridge, Ellesmere, Cobden, French Pass, Benger, Mokihinui, Pakawau, Maungatapu, Ngakawau, and Kaiteriteri have been put to stone, and will be published shortly. Mile-to-the-inch maps of the survey districts extending north from Palmerston in the Wellington Land District, and between the Eangitata and Waitaki Eivers in Canterbury, are frequently inquired for. Data for the compilation of these maps should be supplied as soon as possible.

XVI

District. April. May. June. July. August. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Aver. Auckland .. Hawke's Bay Taranaki .. Wellington Marlborough Nelson Westland .. Canterbury Otago Southland .. 521 57 260 537 437 62 273 554 31 376 60 281 530 57 367 91 287 506 73 333 143 285 522 110 352 144 268 512 123 '38 353 107 226 499 110 21 39 407 104 238 579 91 34 34 399 110 238 487 66 25 30 16 114 18 283 110 189 445 38 18 22 30 74 37 301 110 161 451 63 16 19 25 85 54 305 126 192 480 67 26 26 10 117 67 370 102 241 508 69 12 41 7 112 57 '44 99 47 '82 90 57 69 105 61 58 1 159 80 36 3 167 88 140 93 *89 60 101 23 1,565 1,586 1,539 1,622 1,687 1,670 1,504 1,611 1,503 1,246 1,285 1,416 1,519 Average for the year, 1,519.