state that these kinds of roads could be lined out and made good to far greater advantage by the flockowners interested in the same: they proceed through country only properly known to themselves. The roads are more extensive than could be overtaken by the Road Inspector, who could not spare that time and attention necessary for them without neglecting the more important roads in the settled districts. The stockowners and their men being on the spot, possess the advantages that no central directing power could pretend to have.

15th, Branch Road—Anderson’s Bay to Portobello.—This road has been lined out but not yet surveyed. As it goes through private property for a considerable distance, no expenditure has taken place, as the right of way is not purchased. On the completion of the survey the same will be put into the hands of the Road Claims Commissioner.

16th, Branch Road—Dunedin to Halfway Bush.—Parties have been engaged in opening up this road since orders were received for the same.

17th, Main Town Streets—Dunedin.—Already noticed.

18th, Main Town Streets—Port Chalmers.—Plans and estimates have been formed preparatory to calling for tenders.

19th, Main Town Streets—Invercargill.—Already noticed.

Having, I trust, sufficiently explained what has been done towards carrying out the orders of the Government for last season, I will now proceed to solicit your Honor’s notice to the works of the coming one. It will be quite evident to your Honor that much latitude is given to the term main road,* on which alone, I presume, will the Government spend the resources of the Province. At this period it would seem desirable to seek out a principle which might be consistently adhered to, in order to apply the Provincial funds in such a manner as will be most conducive to the general benefit of the Province. To arrive at a perception of the general wants for improved communication, it will be necessary to examine the map of the Province, find out the important districts, and mark their towns, villages, harbours, and landing-places, and for these design a system of main lines irrespective of local interests. Thus, proceeding south from the capital, we have the Taieri, Tokomairiro, Clutha, Mataura, Waipai, Bluff, and Jacob’s River districts, all of them important. A main road through these districts would connect Dunedin, Taieri, Clutha ferry, Popotunoa, Tuturau, Invercargill, Riverton, and Campbelltown, the foci of communication in these districts. Proceeding north from the capital we have Port Chalmers, Shag River, Moeraki, and Waitaki districts, in which are the harbour of Port Chalmers, and the landing-places Waikouaiti, Moeraki, and Oamaru. A main road to and through these districts would connect Dunedin, Port Chalmers, Waikouaiti, Moeraki, and Oamaru, foci of communication to the above districts. Again, proceeding into the heart of the Province from the capital, we have Maniatoto, Manuherikia, and Upper Clutha Plains, all important interior districts. A main road through these districts would connect Dunedin with the principal wool-growing districts in the meantime, and pave the way to settling towns and villages on their most commanding points. Lastly, proceeding into the heart of the Province from Invercargill, we have the Makerewa, Oreti, and Upper Mataura Plains, all important interior districts, and which would be connected with the last main line by the waters of the Wakatip Lake, on whose shores an interior town ere long will be founded, owing to its commanding central position.

As population progresses, these main lines, I have no doubt, may be further extended and modified; but in the meantime I trust it will appear that they have been drawn so as to intersect the greatest quantity of available land, and to connect the most important foci of traffic, thus fulfilling conditions necessary to general development of the resources of the Province, whether agricultural or pastoral.

Under the above impressions I would respectfully propose the following Road works for this coming season, in con-

• I would suggest the term to be altered to provincial road, as being more appropriate. The sense in which the settlers take main road would call for a vote of a main road to every man’s back door. Thus, the settlers of the Taieri plain have had three main roads declared in their district, running parallel at distances of 1½ miles apart. Were this approved of by Government, the more distant districts, from whence the land revenue is principally derived, must remain neglected. A general project for provincial roads may be inspected at the Survey Office.