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OTEKAIKE SPECIAL SCHOOL. Plantation, ('let/run;, Eciliny, Sawmilling, Roadmaking, &c. —- This work was originally being carried out by a private contractor, but. was eventually taken over by the Department, An improved sawmilling plant was installed and worked. Some 8 acres of plantation have been cleared, and are already built upon. Up to the end of June 262,030 ft. of timber has been cut. Roadmaking is also in hand to join the main road and the road passing the cottage homes. WAIHOU AND OHINEMURI RIVERS IMPROVEMENT. A survey has been made of i miles 68 chains of slop-bank on the Upper Waihou between Tirohia and Ngararahi. On the Lower Waihou about 12 miles of survey work has been plotted. A part)' of men have been employed between Te Aroha and Netherton destroying willows and working on maintenance generally. The dredge has been completed, and has commenced work deepening the surface canals. A slipway for the dredge has been finished, and a workshop erected on the slip reserve. TRAMWAYS. Auckland. —During the year all cars were altered to comply with the provisions of the Tramways Act, 1913. The Tramway Company lias .submitted plans of the apparatus fftr the magnetic control of points at the junction of Wellesley and Queen Streets. Napier. —Two new cars were inspected and passed for traffic. Wanganui. —The extension, of the tramway from Dublin Street Bridge to Eastown Station, a distance of 1 mile, was completed during the year; also the A.ramoho extension to Quick Avenue, a distance of 1 m. 39 chains. New Plymouth. —The construction of this tramway is in hand. Wellington. —A loop lias been put in at Ohiro Road and portion of the Kilbirnie route duplicated. Work is in hand on the extension of the Constable Street line over the hill into Kilbirnie. Several new cars have been inspected and passed for traffic. Christchurch. —All centre poles have been removed and span-wire construction substituted, except in Moorhouse Avenue. The Burwood to New Brighton route has been electrified. Duplications have been made on the Sumner and New Brighton routes, and a short extension of the Fendalton route has been opened for traffic. MARINE. Kohukohii Reclamation. —Separate oontracts were let for the pile-driving, supply of timber, and supply of ironwork. The whole of the timber retaining-walls are finished, and there now remains only a few weeks' work to complete the filling. The repairs to wharf and the erection of a wharf-shed are complete. Mangamuka and/ Orira /livers.- —These rivers were cleared and snagged, and are now safe for launch navigation. Channel Island Light, —The erection of trestle, wire rope, winch, and pedestal has been, satisfactorily carried out. The apparatus has been placed in position and the light exhibited. Howick Wharf. —Repairs to this wharf have been carried out. Netherton Wharf and Goods-shed. —A tender has been accepted for the erection of a wharf and goods-shed on the Waihou River at Puke, and the work is now in progress. Narrows Rock Beacon. —A lender has been accepted for the manufacture of a beacon light for Hokianga Harbour. Hauraki Gulf .Beaches. —A laud-plan survey of the above has been completed. Rangiriri Wharf. —This wharf has been erected by the Waikato County Council. Waikato River Snagging. —Some useful work consisting of blasting out stumps has been done during the summer months between Rangiriri and Huntly. Miranda Wharf. — A new wharf has been erected by the Department to replace the old wharf, which had become dangerous. Mokau. Ferry. —A new cottage has been erected. Taiatoa Heads. —A landing shed has just been finished. Karori Rock Beacon. —-The construction of this beacon is now Hearing completion. Karamea Harbour. —The T end of'the wharf has been extended 10 ft, up-stream and 10 ft. down-stream, and the dolphins have been repaired. The whole of tin; training-wall has had piles driven along the back and walings attached thereto. Another 160 ft. length has been added to the wall. During the year an attempt was made to cut a. new channel, but was not very successful. A flood immediately afterwards, however, cut a new channel in the desired position, and also seriously damaged three bays of the training-wall then under construction. Miscellaneous. —Proposals submitted by local authorities have been examined, and various surveys made and reports furnished by the district officers of the Department.

DEFENCE WORKS. Various buildings, &c, have been constructed, and repairs and improvements carried out in connection with Defence works throughout the Dominion. T have. oVc, The Hon. the Minister of Public Works. R. W. Holmes, Engineer-in-Ohief.