under his superintendence, to a successful conclusion.

The Council at the same time desire to express their entire concurrence in Captain Russell's views, as stated in his report, with respect to the great advantages accruing to the Colony, and to the soldiers themselves, from the employment of the latter in the execution of such works of public utility. The comparatively small cost at which the present undertaking has been completed, may be taken as an incontestable instance of these advantages.

The benefits conferred upon the Native population by their employment upon similar works, and its good policy in covering the pacification policy of the country, are also, in the opinion of the Council, ably and correctly stated in the Report. They believe that the Province has already reaped some of the fruits of this policy; and that the public are indebted in a considerable degree to Captain Russell's judicious management of the Natives for its satisfactory present instance.

The Lieutenant-Governor desires to express his full concurrence in the sentiments expressed by the Council, and stated that he would with great pleasure communicate the same to Captain Russell.

A true extract.

(Signed) J. D. O'Meara,
Clerk to Executive Council.

Pauatahanui,
31st December, 1849.

Sir,—I have the honor to report for the information of His Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor, the completion of the military road under my superintendence, and to transmit a plan of the whole line, containing such information as may be useful for a future reference.

The Porirua road, commencing near Hāwāi Church, and ending near Jackson's Ferry, was commenced on the 1st May, 1846, by a Military party commanded by Lieutenant Elliott, 99th Regt., stationed near Jackson's Ferry, and a similar party commanded by Lieutenant Herbert, 58th Regt., was a few days afterwards established at the other end of the line, near Hāwāi Church.

They had scarcely begun to work, when the attack upon Beckett's farm, where so many men of the 58th Regt. were killed and wounded, changed the necessity for proceeding the road parties; marching to their work armed and accoutred, working under the protection of sentries, and taking every precaution against similar surprise, to which the dense forest which covered the whole country made them peculiarly liable.

In a short time both these parties were called off to take part in the operations against the insurgent natives, and although other parties were afterwards established under command of Major Middleton, 58th Regt., Lieutenant Leigh, of the 99th Regt., and Lieutenant McCay, 58th Regt., yet the interruption of the work was so constant that it became evident the numbers who could be spared from other military duties were altogether insufficient to execute the work with any degree of celerity.

The above facts have been embodied, into the details of which I have in the next report, serve us only as to render the particulars of its construction here unnecessary. They were at first attached to Military parties, but afterwards had acquired some knowledge of the work; they were placed in distinct parties under charge of Lieutenant Elliott, Dr. Turnbull, and Mr. Manahi, their rate of wages being one shilling for a day.

The distance of Hāwāi Church from Jackson's Ferry is seven miles and four chains, of which there is not ballot calls flat country, but the road, crossing an infinite number of small steep spurs thrown off from a range of hills opposed to run parallel to its direction, has been made more expensive from the necessity of 100 bridges, thereby rendering the cost, in some instances, including bridges and every other item of expense, not less than £700 per mile. Its general width is sixteen feet, and it was opened in December, 1847, having been about eighteen months in course of construction.

With respect to the communication of Hāwāi Church with the Porirua and Eastern shores, it was found that the road already taken in hand by the Military parties, and connected by a good road with Jackson's Ferry, military communications became open with the troops at Porirua, and Pauatahanui by water from Jackson's Ferry, and travellers could reach the Northern settlements by swimming their horses across the mouth of the harbour and proceeding through the Pukerua bush, both roads beyond the Tātā, however, was so difficult and inconvenient that it was found advisable, at the first instance to open a bridge across the stream of the Horokiri valley, and from the Porirua and Eastern shores of the harbour, with alternates to widen and much to the shore, and this no sooner became practicable than it was made use of, often to the great saving of the work.

Wherever it could be done with advantage the beach has been made available as a dray road, by which means time and money have been saved, with which I have been able to complete the other parts, for which I should not otherwise have had funds.