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John Wade for Country Land Association
John Wade for Landorders 32 and (Tod’s Section)
David M’Ewen
Robert Jenkins
John D. Greenwood) pr. pro.
Francis Otterson J. Boddington
Peter Wilson
C. J. Pharazyn
Geo. Rees
Saml. King
John Garner
Moses Campbell) pr. pro.
Wm. John Holder I.E. Featherston
Saml. Parkes
Thomas Taylor
William Watt
John M’Gregor
George Ross
J. Duncanson
John Colville
John Cameron
Thomas Kebbell
John Kebbell, pr. pro. Thomas Kebbell

Colonial Secretary’s Office,
Wellington, November 17, 1848.

HIS EXCELLENCY THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR has been pleased to direct the publication of the following Report on the progress of the North Road.

By his Excellency’s Command,
Alfred Domett,
Colonial Secretary.

Military Road Office,
Pauatahanui,
1st November, 1848.

Sir,—I have the honor to transmit herewith for the information of His Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor the Quarterly Returns of work and expenditure to 30th September, 1848.

Notwithstanding great reductions in the Native parties during that period, the progress has been considerable, from the circumstance of all the most difficult portions of the line having been first taken in hand. The carriage communication from Wellington to all the valuable sections of the Horo...

rokiwi valley will be opened this summer, and as they are said to be next in value to those of the Hutt district, it may be useful to intending purchasers to be aware of this circumstance.

I transmit plans of two bridges completed during the quarter, the largest on the line—the first, across the Pauatahanui river, by Mr. Garstin’s Military party, affords strong proof of the advantage gained by the colony from the employment of Military in such works—its length being 96 feet, its width between hand rails 12 feet, extreme width 15 feet 4 inches, and its cost £59:13:3; less than one-fourth of what it would have been by contract. The advantage to the service from their employment upon duties so important in their profession I consider still greater. This party has also built during the quarter a boat capable of carrying fifty men, and of a description constantly required on service. It is used for the conveyance of Mr. Turner’s Military party from Parramatta Point to their working ground on the other side of the harbour, its actual cost was £6:16:1, its value is £18:0:0.

The second bridge is the exclusive work of Mr. Yule’s Native party; its length being 100 feet 2 inches, width between hand rails 11 feet 7 inches, extreme width 14 feet 9 inches, and cost £119:13:10, about one-half of what it would have cost by contract. As it has been visited by His Excellency as well as the Governor-in-Chief, I need not dilate upon the extraordinary success which it shows to have attended our efforts to divert the capabilities of this people to the useful arts of civil life. From some acquaintance with aboriginal races, acquired in various colonies, I was sanguine as to the ultimate result of this great experiment; but I believe no person could have anticipated the execution of such a task so shortly after entering on it.

I have the honor to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
A. Hamilton Russell,
Capt. 58th Regt,
Sup. Milty. Roads.

The Honorable the Colonial Secretary,
Wellington.