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siderable expense, especially that between the Waitangi Bridge and the Ngaruroro,
and about (50) fifty chains at the Big Bush, owing to the low ground traversed. The
men employed upon this line have been principally those discharged from the 70th
Regiment, to whose good conduct and application to work I feel it my duty to give
testimony. During the first (3) three or (4) four months they were paid at the rate
of (5) five shillings per day, but since then they have been at piece work, at which
they earn fair wages.

About (2½) two and a-half miles between Waitangi Bridge and the Big Bush
should be metalled during the coming season, the rest will be able to carry the traffic
without further outlay; but the (2) two bridges at Whahaparata, which are out of
the proper line, and the largest of which is unsafe, will require re-building.

Te Aute Road (Havelock by Waipawa to Waipukurau.)

In addition to the widening of the road in many places and the general maintenance,
which has been rather costly from the causes above stated, several pieces of
this road, measuring on an aggregate (1¼) one and a-quarter miles, through the native
village at Te Aute, north of Kaikora, and near Waipawa, have been metalled, and
about (1) one mile through the flat south of Waipawa has been formed; this last
piece should be metalled during the coming year, and about (1) one mile between
Waipawa and Waipukurau formed and metalled. Liberal provision should also be
made for maintenance in proportion to the increasing traffic, especially as the many
timber-culverts, floors of bridges (some of which are now (7) seven years old) require
incessant attention. It must be borne in mind that by far the greater portion of this
road is metalled with limestone, which requires a crust of considerable thickness to
be able to carry loads of nearly (4) four tons frequently placed upon two narrow
wheels.

Porongahau Road (Waipukurau to Eperaima.)

About (120) one hundred and twenty chains have been formed north of Eperaima
and at Motuotaraia; a new bridge has been built in the Bush, and several smaller
ones between Waipukurau and Pukikura. About (30) thirty chains north of Pukikura
should be metalled, and the road through the Bush at Motuotaraia drained.

Eperaima to Tautane.

The bridges south of Eperaima are now being covered with new planking, (2)
two small ones have been built by the natives in the Mangamairi flat, and a swampy
portion of the Wainui flat has been formed and drained.

Two small bridges are required in the Mangamairi flat, and some side cuttings to
the leading range south of Mangamairi. This stream, which on account of its steep
and rotten banks, offers a formidable obstacle to the winter traffic, is now crossed by
a temporary bridge built by the natives of Porongahau north of the proposed site for
the permanent one, which should, if possible, be built this year, as I doubt whether
the present bridge will withstand a fresh, to which the Mangamairi is very much
subject.

Middle Road (Havelock and Patangata to Tamumu.)

The fencing in of the suburban sections of Havelock, over which the track used
to run, made it necessary to make the proper line passable, which entailed considerable
outlay in forming the road along the edge of the swamp, and building (4) four culverts.
The bridge at Patangata has been re-floored and fitted with handrails; (2)
two small bridges, which had been destroyed by bush fires, have been re-built and
(2) two larger ones have been erected between Waitukai and Tamumu. A road-party
is now employed at the spur of Rangitoto, which forms the last obstacle to dray traffic
on this line to Waipukerau.

The formation of the road to the end of the Havelock suburban sections should
be completed, about (30) thirty chains through the low ground should be metalled,
and side cuttings made at the base of the hills north of Mr. Foster’s.

Pa Whakairo to Hampden.

The cuttings made by the natives about three years ago between Pawhakairo
and the mill have been improved and widened; a bridge has been built over the
Tutaekuri Waimata, and another is in course of erection over the deep mill-stream.
The gradients have been greatly improved between Maraekakakaho and Gwavas,
and dray cuttings have been made at the Mangamata and the Mangamauka, between
Gwavas and Tikokino. This line may be now considered as completed, but the (4)
four principal bridges yet require handrails, for which the timber is on the ground,
and the cuttings leading to them should be still more eased to make the road quite
safe. In calling this road completed, I merely mean that it is passable for vehicles
of any description, that the principal creeks and gullies have been bridged, and that
the most necessary side cuttings are made.

A line like this, running over (16) sixteen miles of hilly country, intersected by
deep ravines, made at an original cost of (£1100) Eleven hundred pounds, will