NELSON GOVERNMENT GAZETTE. 61

were effected; attention in all cases being directed to have the work done in a permanent and lasting manner.

Botanical Garden Reserve, draining and improving.—The unfinished work, suggested in last year's report, has been completed, and a good drain has been laid along Bridge-street East to the Maitai, which will effectually drain the reserve. The making of this drain was entrusted (by arrangement) to the Board of Works, one-half the cost being paid by the Government. The reserve, as intended, has been laid down in grass, and the corners and borders planted with trees and shrubs; a good drain has also been cut along the foot of the hills to drain the above spoken of.

Road, Riwaka to Takaka.—The necessary annual repairs on this road are now in hand, such as cutting down the low scrub which encroaches on and overhanging the track in many places, cleaning out and re-forming the side-cuttings, repairing culverts and water-courses, &c.

Courthouse and Lockup, Takaka.—This building has been examined and is in the main stout, the balance of the vote has been paid to the Road Board with instructions to have the ground substantially fenced, and some small necessary outbuildings erected.

Road—Takaka to Collingwood.—The amount voted for this line has been divided between the Road Boards, to be spent in ordinary repairs. I believe the coastline between these two points could, at a moderate outlay be made available for dray traffic, and would be considered of great service by the inhabitants of the respective districts.

Court-house repairs, Collingwood.—This work has been let by contract, and is now in hand; it was very much needed, as the building was very much dilapidated.

Foot Bridges, Brook-street Valley.—These have been erected as intended, in a substantial manner, and are a great convenience to the people who now use this road in considerable numbers.

Water Works.—Since my last report the principal work has been the laying of the house services, 537 of which are now completed, besides all the public buildings, and the extension of the main pipes in one or two localities. I am sorry to have to report that considerable expense has been incurred, in October, to inspect the Reservoir, and found that the effect of the shock had been to increase the small amount of leakage which previously existed. To remedy this, I took a favorable opportunity, and had the whole of the inner surface of the walls well pointed and faced with cement. This was attended with good results, and the new works appear to stand well. I have also found it necessary to provide a new sluice for the bed of Brook-street stream, where their destruction by floods would affect any road or other work connected with the above works.

Improving Road between Nelson and Waimea.—A complete set of levels was taken in connection with this proposed work, and plans and sections were prepared, and specifications made for it. No portion of the work, however, has been executed.

Roads and Public Works, Collingwood Goldfields.—Under this head sundry minor repairs to roads have been executed and a Ferry-house built in connection with the Aorere ferry at Collingwood.

A specification for substantially repairing and improving the road to Aorere from ship port at, and took the opportunity, on my last visit to Collingwood, of inspecting it. I found that it was scarcely in a safe state for pedestrians, and procured the necessary dimensions for repairing it as a foot-bridge, which is under an idea is of present requirement. As soon as I can finish the plan and specification for the work, tenders will be called for its execution.

Altering and Improving Road over Moutere Hills.—In answer to a memorandum signed above said on this subject I was directed to examine a new line proposed by the memorialists, and accordingly did so. I found it to correspond very nearly with a line I examined some years ago. The memorialists have, I think, over-stated the advantages of the line proposed, which are, however, obvious enough to warrant a further careful examination of the district before proceeding to the outlay of the money voted, in the manner intended by the Provincial Council, viz, the alteration of the present road near the summit of the Moutere Hills, by which the steepest and highest portion of them will be avoided, by cutting through some of the spurs, on a cross line, and embarking across some deep gullies.

Horse-bridge, Takaka, above the Waingaro.—The necessary measurements and levels have been taken for this work, and the plans of the bridge have been partly completed. Since it was first proposed to erect this bridge, I have heard many opinions expressed as to its utility, and on my last visit to Takaka, I took occasion to enquire further into the matter. A new road has just been completed, crossing the Takaka within a few chains of the site proposed, by a ford, which is permanent, and so good as to obviate, in many minds, the necessity for a bridge, which if erected, would it is urged, only be used on rare occasions, a view of the matter from which it is impossible to differ on an examination of the adjoining road and ford.

Suburban North—Road Widening.—This road was examined and measured, and specifications were prepared for the proposed work, which, however, has not been executed. It seems desirable that it should be done at an early opportunity.

Bridge, River Lyell, Happy Valley.—This bridge has been built for some time, though at a cost beyond the sum voted. This arose from the fact, that by adopting the site at first pointed out as available, one end of the bridge and road would have been on private ground, and the necessary alterations enforced a lengthening of the bridge, at an increased cost. The stream also was blocked up with heavy drift, which endangered the safety of the new bridge, and the cost of removing which was not included in the sum voted.

Extension of Trunk Road vp Motueka River, towards the Dove.—The amount voted under this head was applied, under a pressure of circumstances, to the preservation of the present road rather than to its extension. Two stout mooring piles, purpose, though of a kind ordinarily successful in protecting the banks of a river against the action of floods, were, I regret to say, in this instance unsuccessful; and the works were destroyed by the successive action of more than usually heavy floods.

As this district is rising in importance, I should be glad to see some provision made for carrying out the work as intended.

Motueka Jetty.—Amongst these I may report the repair and improvement of Motueka jetty. Two stout mooring piles have been driven, one at each end of the head, at such a distance as to be serviceable for a larger class of vessels than have heretofore visited Motueka. The deck area has also been enlarged by filling in one of the angles behind the T head, and the head itself has been strengthened by additional piles and braces.*

Drying Tank and Sheep Yards, Fox Hill.—This work has been completed and in use for some weeks. It has been erected on a reserve purchased for the purpose, and consists of large receiving yards, dipping tank, and drying yard, with two boilers, well, and pump, as also a second pump for emptying the tank. It will, I hope, be found complete and serviceable in every particular.*

WEST COAST ROADS, and OTHER PUBLIC WORKS.

Buller.—During past year, the funds of the Province were not in such a state as to warrant a larger expenditure than has taken place during the past financial year in this district. Some work, however, has been done, and that generally of a permanent and useful character: from the turn off in the Big Bush, the dray road as far as the Howard has been materially improved and repaired in a substantial manner. Many soft parts have been well metalled and drained, and good stone fords made in place of bridges wherever practicable, and several new bridges and culverts have been built.

The cart-bridge over the Buller, near the Slips, has also been re erected.

A few repairs, absolutely necessary, have been made on the South Buller road, and some others are at present in hand; but the amounts hitherto available, are totally inadequate to meet all the really pressing demands. This is the more to be regretted as there are evident signs of a revival of industry in these districts, which I should be glad to see encouraged by some timely expenditure where most needed. These remarks will also apply to the North Buller road, along which a considerable traffic is carried on as far as the Lyell, and which in many places and for long distances is in a very bad state of repair.

Of the Lower Buller Valley the improvement and completion of the track as a horse-road, has been for some time in contemplation; that is, from the port upwards as far as the Lyell. Specifications have been prepared of the required work, which is now advertised for public tender. The specifications do not include the alteration of the old track at the Ohika hill, but I should consider all the improvements much enhanced in value if that work could also be carried out. I have given instructions to have the line carefully examined and laid off, from which an estimate of the probable cost can be formed; I do not apprehend that it will be so great as to prevent the work being proceeded with almost immediately.

Plans and specifications have also been prepared for certain additions &c. to Westport Gaol, which were really necessary, viz, mess-room or kitchen, two additional cells, and small room, and passage adjoining; also, quarters for the Gaoler, consisting of three rooms and store. This work is also advertised for tender.

Tenders have also been called for and received for the enlargement of the Court-house at Charleston, according to plan and specifications prepared, and the work will be proceeded with without delay.