49

D.—l

Wairoa - Waikaremoana Road (Wairoa County). —Formation and metalling has been in hand by the Department. The road has been re-graded and adverted, and 1 mile 50 chains of a 4 in. coating of metal has been laid. Ti-tree Point- Akitio Road, Dummy Hill Deviation (Akitio County). —The formation and adverting of this deviation over a length of 2-J miles was completed during the year. Slips, involving the removal of 4,000 cubic yards of material, were also dealt with. Tinui - PaJcowai Road (Castlepoint County).— 2 miles 24 chains of formation, 14 ft. wide, was completed, and 720 ft. of adverting installed. The maintenance of 3 miles of road was also attended to by the Department. Otamakapua Soldiers' Settlement Road (Kiwitea County).—4o chains of formation was completed, together with 2i chains of metalling, and 27 ft. of culverts placed. Two miles of metalling is at present in hand. Eslt River Bridge, Waipunga Road (Hawke's Bay County).—Erection of one 240 ft. rolled-steel-joist bridge on ironbark piles completed. Branch River Bridge and Approaches, Blenheim, - Hope Junction Road (Marlborough County).— The work of erecting five 40 ft. spans (10 ft. 6 in. roadway) on rolled-steel joists carried on pile piers and abutments is approaching completion; also protective groynes and approach embankments. Wairau River Bridge (Upper) Blenheim - Hope Junction Road (Marlborough County).—A contract was let in January for erection of this bridge, consisting of span of nominally 140 ft. and three spans of nominally 80 ft. with 12 ft. roadway, carried on mass and reinforced-concrete piers and abutments. Rai River Bridge and Approaches, Bull's Ford (Marlborough County).—The work of erecting three spans of nominally 61ft. and two spans of 19 ft. 2 in., together with necessary approaches, was completed. Tutaki River Bridge, Braeburn - Murchison Road (Murchison County).—Bridge completed, consisting of nominally two 61 ft. Howe truss spans and two 25 ft. end spans on pile piers and abutments. Road deviated, and approach banks, with culverts, &c., now in hand and nearing completion. Springlands Junction - Maruia Hot Springs Road (Miirchison County).—A survey has been made for a road round the large bluff at the Manna River, and a contract let for the formation of 15 chains of this work at the eastern end. This will eliminate the crossing of the Maruia River. Brunner Bridge, Greymouth - Reefton Main Road (Brunner Borough). —The concreting for three new anchors is now completed, and concreting of the fourth and profiling for pier is also in hand. Charleston to Grey County Boundary, Westport - Greymouth Coast Road (Butter County). —The survey of the section from the Church to Brighton has been completed, and an agreement has been reached in connection with the taking of the necessary land. Between Fox's River and Bullock Creek 29 chains of formation have been completed. A contract was let for metalling 1 mile of road from Bullock Creek northwards, and 14 chains were completed. Grey Valley - Taramakau Road, Lady Lake to Bell Hill Section (Grey County). —37 chains of formation and metalling have been completed, bringing the road to within 2 mdes of the Junction of the Kotuku - Bell Hill Road. Waiho River Bridge, Ross - Waiho Road (Westland County). —A contract has been let in England for the supply of steel for this bridge. The necessary hardwood and New Zealand timber has been ordered. Waikukupa Bridge, Main- South Road (Westland County). —This bridge, consisting of five 40 ft. truss spans in New Zealand timbers, has been completed. Big Totara Bridge, Westport - Greymouth Coast Road (Butter County). —Bridge, consisting of seven 30 ft. ironbark stringer spans on ironbark pile piers, completed. Double Hill Runs Road (Ashburton County). —A. deviation between 5 m. 23 ch. and -5 m. 36 ch., covering formation, culverting, and metalling, has been completed, together with a deviation round Terrible Gully, involving formation, construction of open fords, and metalling. Pukaki- Mount Cook Road (Levels and McKenzie Counties) - The 40 miles of road, from Pukaki to the Hermitage was maintained and improved. Ashley Gorge Road (Ashley and Oxford Counties). The 12 miles of road from the main RangioraOxford highway to the Lees Valley was maintained and improved by clearing slips and water-tables, filling in ruts, and placing, earthenware-pipe culverts. Coalgate - Lake Coleridge Road (Selwyn County). — 34 miles of road was maintained, and improvements effected, by metalling, grading in loose shingle, and filling in ruts, together with the clearing of slips and water-tables and. repairing of bridges. Houipapa- Kahuika Road (OhdhasCounty).- —Formation and metalling of 80 chains has been in hand. Maerewhenua River Bridge, Dansey's Pass Road (Waitaki County). —The erection of two 25 ft. and one 20 ft. spans in hardwood timber has been in hand. HYDRO-ELECTRIC WORKS. Lake Colekidge. The work in connection with the duplication of this plant, consisting of the new tunnel intake and pipe-line, together with the extensions to the power-house, has been carried on vigorously. The tunnel, which is being carried out under contract by Messrs. J. Beban and party, has been driven for a total distance of 51-25 chains, and has been lined for a distance of 46-50 chains. The

7—D. 1.