C.—B.

Structural Work. A road bridge, 40 ft. span, rolled-steel joists and hardwood abutments and decking, was erected on the Kairito Canal, and another of 44 ft. span, all hardwood, on the same canal. A 25 ft. span all hardwood bridge with pile abutments was constructed at the Orchard West Eoad crossing of the Pouarua Canal, and five small sill bridges of 18 ft. span were built on road drains. A large two-barrel 5 ft. by 4 ft. concrete culvert with sluice-gates for controlling flow to the proposed drainage pumping-station on the Kerepeehi Block was completed, and another similar structure is under construction. Two 4 ft. by 4 ft. single-barrel concrete-box culverts with floodgates were installed in connection with the Miranda drainage scheme, also one 4-ft.- and one 3-ft.-diameter concrete-pipe culvert with flood-gates, and one 4-ft.-diameter concrete-pipe road culvert. Two 3-ft.-diameter low-level concrete-pipe culverts were installed on the Orongo Block, and several existing culverts lowered. Surveys. Engineering and land surveys carried out during the year comprised 2,000 chains of levels, 290 river cross-sections, rural land survey of 832 acres subdivided into eleven sections, compass survey of 625 acres, and topographical survey of 3,600 acres. Current-meter measurements were continued at control points on the Waitoa and Piako Rivers, and daily gauge-readings showing the winter flow of these streams were recorded. Summary. The total length of subsidiary drains constructed to date in connection with the Hauraki Plains drainage works is 749 m. 67 ch. The principal works carried out during the year under review are summarized as follows :— Length, Excavation, Miles ch. Cub. yd. Drains cleaned by manual labour . . .. • ■ • • 164 63 Drains widened and deepened by manual labour . . • • 22 63 27, 831 Drains, new construction by manual labour .. .. •• 772 74,746 Stopbanks constructed by manual labour .. •• 3 5 17,455 Total excavation by manual labour .. . • • • 120,032 Streams and canals cleaned by manual labour . . ■ ■ 151 River and canal improvement, machine construction . . ■ • 11 51 200,954 Roads metalled and improved .. • • • • • • 150 1,450 Roads formed .. .. • • • • • • • • 45 Clay carted for ballasting peat roads .. • • • • • • 5 > 862 Number. Fascines used for road-construction .. .. •• •• •• 4,572 3-ft.-gauge tramway laid .. .. ■ • • • • • 053 Fencing .. .. • • • • • • • • • • ® Acres. Area cleared of scrub .. . ■ • ■ • • • • • • • • 312 Area sown in grass .. . • ■ • • • • • • • • • • • 4 °" Number. Road bridge, 40 ft. span .. ■ ■ • • • • • • • • • • j Road bridge, 28 ft. span . . .. • • • • • • • • • • 1 Farm access bridge, 44 ft. span .. • • • • • • • • • • 1 Access bridges, small .. • • ■ • • • • ■ • • • • • • Concrete-box culverts, 4 ft. by 4 ft., with flood-gates .. .. ■ • • • 2 Concrete-pipe culvert, 4 ft. diameter, with flood-gate Concrete-pipe culvert, 3 ft. diameter, with flood-gate Concrete-pipe culvert, 4 ft. diameter .. .. . • • • • • • • 1 Concrete-pipe culverts, 3 ft. diameter .. .. .. • • • • • • 3 Flax Leases. Some 6 areas, totalling 2,853 acres, are leased for flax-growing purposes at an annual rental of £400. During the year £74 was collected. Grazing-areas. The area leased under temporary tenancies for grazing purposes totals 8,377 acres in seventy holdings at an annual rental of £553 17s. Bd. Rental collected amounted to £486 lis. sd. Works Expenditure. The total expenditure recorded totalled £17,121 7s. 2d. Drainage rates struck amounted to £2,114 12s. Bd., and £1,894 7s. Bd. was collected. I have, &c., R. G. Macmorban, Chief Drainage Engineer. The Under-Secretary for Lands, Wellington.

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