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season, operations were not recommenced till January last. Since then, 1,009 cubic yards have been spread, mostly between McGinn's (31 miles), and Torere Junction (25 miles), but some patching has been done near Mangaweka, and also near Ohingaiti. All the metalling has been done at prices per cubic yard per mile of lead. Between Taihape and Te Horo the road is much in need of metal, but it is very expensive in that quarter, on account of the long cartage, and the metal itself is not of durable quality. The Turangarere Bridge, 60 ft. span, across the Hautapu, has been erected by co-operative contract, and approaches made thereto. All the timber except the maire blocks had to be brought from Taihape. This long cartage added materially to the cost. The bridge at Mitchell's, 30 ft. span, has been understrutted. The traffic from Mangaonoho to Taihape is now so heavy that maintenance is a difficult matter. During next summer, a large amount of remetalling will again require to be done. Nine contracts metal haulage are still in progress. Waitotara River Suspension-bridge.— During February, a section of the site was taken, and general drawings for the proposed bridge made. Mangawhero (Aberfeldie). —A section of the site was taken last April, but owing to local representations, a high-level suspension-bridge is now proposed, instead of the low-level originally intended. Upper Wangaehu. —A low-level is also proposed at Mangameha, but no steps have yet been taken to have it erected. Moawhango (Horouta). —This bridge, 121 ft. span, could not be started till the opening of the Horouta Eoad in February. Since then, the abutment excavations have been taken out. A strong scaffolding, entailing some difficult and dangerous work, is being erected. The timber and ironwork are being carted on to the ground, most of the timber and all the ironwork being taken from the stock prepared for the original design of the Mangaweka Bridge. The ironwork, and about 12,000 superficial feet of totara timber, are now delivered on the site. This bridge will be a great boon to the large numbers of settlers now on the blocks east of the Moawhango Eiver. Rangitikei (Mangaweka Bridge). —The low-level bridge erected in January, 1898, after successfully standing four large freshes in the river, in which the water rose 3 ft. to 4 ft. over the decking, was finally rendered impassable by the flood of the 11th November, which rose 5 ft. over the decking. A large green tree came down, stuck on the bridge, and eventually caused three spans to be carried away. A second flood came in December, and carried away three more of the spans. The re-erection of the bridge was started in February, and will be completed, weather permitting, in about two weeks. The new design is at a level of 18 in. lower than the first one, the lengths of spans being as before. Besides the upstream strut, there is also a down-stream strut, and great care is being taken in getting these struts and the strut underneath well down into the bed of the river. I forward herewith a photo, showing the structure. The chief dimensions of the bridge are : Length, 260 ft., in nine spans of 24 ft. each, with two end-spans of 28 ft. and 16 ft. respectively ; width, 12 ft.; decking-level, 4 ft. 6 in. above summer-level; cant, 6 in. The deckinglevel is 1 ft. 6 in. lower than last year's bridge. There are five steel rails (52 lb. per yard) driven in every span, penetrating sft. lin. into the papa on an average. The extreme length of each pier is 50 ft. The timber is practically all sawn white-pine. The work was commenced on the Ist February and completed as above on the 29th April. The total cost has been: Materials, £143 os. 5d.; wages, £226 19s. 7d. = £370. Traffic across the river was carried on by means of the cage and a ford above the bridge-site until the bridge was re-erected. Rangitikei (Otara Bridge). —The design adopted for this bridge was one suspension span of 250 ft. over the main current, and a span of 100 ft. reaching on to the-western bank. Tenders were accepted by the Kiwitea County Council on the 22nd November, the amount of tender being £6,913. Some alterations were caused in the section of site by floods. Wanganui River Trust. —Mr. J. T. Stewart, secretary to the trust, is submitting a special report on the year's operations. Tongariro National Park. —During January-, February, and March the track to Ketetahi Hot Springs was repaired, and then extended for 213 chains to the Blue Lake, on the summit of Tongariro. The track has already been used by tourists. The grade from the springs upwards is 1 in 8, but with flatter grades at the zigzags, of which there are three. Mangaweka Township (drainage).—No expenditure, but it is proposed to expend this in the improvement of the suburban roads. Momahaki Village Settlement Block. —All these roads have been handed over to the local bodies except that portion (about 57 chains) through Mr. Howie's property, which is now being well repaired, and will then also be handed over. Clifton No. 2 Block. —All of this appropriation has been expended in the Eangataua portion. The Makaranui Bridge, 24 ft. span, has been completed, with 10 chains dray-road approaches thereto. The Makaranui Eoad is now being formed as a dray-road throughout, three contracts being in hand. As an alternative to that part of the Pipiriki-Waiouru Eoad, it will prove to be of great service. The Makotuku portion of this block requires a considerable amount of work being done on the Mangarewa Eoad. Gladstone Block. —On that portion of the Taumaranui Eoad going through this block, 127 chains of bushwork and 136 chains of bridle-track formation, with 100 lineal feet culverts and 7 chains outfalls, have been done. On the Pukaka Eoad, 11 chains of bushwork, and 131 chains bridle-track formation, with 48 linear feet culverts, have been done. The formation on flats is all formed 8 ft. wide, chiefly by material excavated from large ditch on upper side. In this block 8,350 ft. of timber have been squared ready for bridges and culverts. Kaitieke Block. —On the Taumaranui Eoad, passing through this block, also on the Kaitieke, Eetaruke, and Oio Eoads, maintenance has been carried on ; also four miles engineering survey of the Taumaranui Eoad,