IX—l.

Mitchell's to Haupiri Junction Road (Grey County). —Formation work was carried out on this road in previous years, but it was found necessary during the period under review to install four additional culverts, aggregating 104 ft. in length. Moore Creek Bridge, Big River to Rough River Road (Grey County).—A new bridge of one 30 ft. span was erected over this creek during the year. Waipuna Road (Grey County). —Eleven concrete-pipe culverts totalling 300 ft. in length, were installed on this road during the year. Alexander Mine Road via Snowy River (Inangahua County).—The construction of this road over a total length of 7 m. 40 ch., commenced during the previous period, was carried on during the year to give access to the Alexander Mine. The work is now nearing completion, about 7m. of formation and metalling having been carried out, together with culverting and bridging of small streams. Burke's Creek Bridge, Cannon Road (lnangah.ua County).—A bridge, consisting of one 30 ft. span in reinforced concrete, was erected over Burke's Creek. Lewis Pass Road (Inangahua County).—The work commenced on this important connection to the Canterbury Province was completed during the year. Of the total distance of sm. 40 ch., on one section 2 m. 58 ch. was carried out during the period under review. Maruia River Bridge at Williserofts, Matakitaki to Springlands Junction Road (Inangahua County). —The erection of a substantial new bridge in reinforced concrete and consisting of eight 44 ft. spans is nearing completion. The road on which this new structure is situated now gives an important connection with the new road over the Lewis Pass. Maruia River Road, West Bank (Inangahua County). —A number of Crown settlers on the west bank of the Maruia River will be provided in varying degrees with improved access as the result of the formation of 1 m. of road, together with the erection of a reinforced-concrete bridge over Woolley Creek. Palmer's Road (Inangahua County).—This road, giving access to backblocks settlers, was previously of a narrow and dangerous nature. Widening work was commenced, and about 40 ch. was completed during the period under review. Springlands Junction to Hot Springs Road (Inangahua County). —This length of road actually forms part of the main route over the Lewis Pass to Canterbury, and is being brought up to the same standard as the work already completed on the new road over the pass. Work is in progress at various points over the full length of 9 m. Arahura to Milltown Road (Westland County).—Under arrangement with the County Council a length of 2 m. 20 ch. of this road is being widened and metalled. Gillespie's Beach Road (Westland County).—The formation and metalling of this road, 7 m. 40 ch. in length, is now practically completed, only some small amount of culverting and two minor bridges yet remaining to be done. The new route will give access to Gillespie's Beach, where extensive golddredging operations are in progress, and will also form a tourist access to views on the beach. Gunn Road, Wataroa (Westland County).—The County Council has practically completed the construction of 60 ch. of this settlement road, which gives access to new country in course of development. Main South Road (Westland County).—Work has progressed vigorously during the year with the construction of a substantial new road into south Westland. On the section between Weheka and Bruce Bay, about 32 m., a length of 22 m. of formation and metalling has already been completed. Two new suspension bridges, both in steel with reinforced-concrete decking, one over the Fox River of 360 ft. span and the other over the Cook River of 264 ft. span, have been completed. On the entirely new section of the road between Bruce Bay and the Haast River no great amount of work has yet been done, but the survey is well in hand and construction work should be opened up within the coming year. Surveys are already in hand between the Haast River and Jackson's Bay, and construction work is proceeding northwards from the Jackson's Bay end, where camps, store, canteen, post-office, and workshops have been established. Rotokino Road (Westland County).—The Westland County Council has the construction of 77 ch. of this settlement road well in hand, and also the erection of one small timber bridge. La Fontaine Road (Westland County).—An additional length of 2 m. 30 ch. of this road is being formed and metalled to give access to heavily timbered white-pine country. CHRISTCHUKCH DISTRICT. Little Akaroa to Decanter Bay Road (Akaroa County).—Extensive improvements to 65 ch. of this road are in hand to provide better access to the wharf at Decanter Bay. Lewis Pass Road (Amuri County). —This road, linking Canterbury with the West Coast and Nelson, was officially opened to traffic on the 30th October, 1937. It has been suitably maintained since that date, and work has proceeded with the remainder of the formation work in the way of trimming, &c. The work carried out during the year comprised 2m. of formation with widening and general improvement's ; base-course metalling on the final section of sm. eastward from the Summit, and the completion of an adjacent length of 5 m.; four reinforced-concrete bridges have been erected over small streams on the road, while one structure is yet in hand. There are five smaller bridges to.be built, but the temporary structures over the Hope and the Boyle Rivers, both -of .considerable proportions, are considered sufficiently serviceable for a number of years. Hurunui Valley to Blythe Valley Road (Cheviot County).-—An additional length of .2 m. of new formation was completed during the year, together with culverting, to give road access to five settlers. Rapley's Road (Ellesmere County).—This road' is being metalled over a distance of 1 m. 35"ch. and was not completed by the close of the period. Mount Peel Station to Forest Creek Road (Geraldine County).—Originally constructed to provide access to six small grazing-runs in the upper reaches of the Rangitata Valley, this road now bears a

56