273

Expenditure.

Contract 1 ............... £85 0 0
" 2 ............... 336 0 0
" 3 ............... 217 14 6
Wages to laborers, carters, &c. ............... 779 2 9
Tools, repairs, &c. ............... 37 3 1

Total expenditure ............... 1454 19 9
Unexpended balance ............... 1045 0 3

Amount of vote ............... £2500 0 0

DUNEDIN TO WEST TAIERI.

(Inspector Abbott.)

On this Section two contracts have been completed during the six months.

1st. M’Millan and M’Intosh—Metalling seventy chains at Halfway Bush.

2nd. Wm. Mitchell (private contract) metalling ten chains near Halfway Bush.

Day Labor.

Three surfacemen have been constantly employed on this line of road for the last six months at a daily wage of 7s. each. A road party of six men were employed near Silver Stream for about six weeks.

Remarks.

Of this Section about fifteen miles in length, about one and a half miles are metalled; little or nothing has been done to the remainder; the portion of road through the Taieri plain is good in summer, but very bad in winter.

Expenditure.

Contract 1 ............... £599 8 0
" 2 ............... 78 0 0
Wages to laborers, &c. ............... 394 17 0
Tools repaired ............... 3 16 4

Total expenditure ............... 1076 1 4
Unexpended balance ............... 23 18 8

Amount of vote ............... £1100 0 0

PORT CHALMERS TO NORTHERN TRUNK.

(Inspectors Oliver, Chalmers, & Cahill.)

A contract for horse track on this section by Telfer and Pitman was completed just before the commencement of the half-year. During July and August two men were employed in keeping this road in repair.

Mr. M’Kenzie has entered into a contract to widen this track. He commenced operations towards the end of September, but received no payment during the six months. The supervision of this road still remains with the Provincial Engineer.

Expenditure.

Telford & Pitman ............... 536 7 7
Wages ............... 97 1 0

Total Expenditure ............... 633 8 7
Unexpended balance ............... 3366 11 5

Amount of vote ............... £4000 0 0

INCH CLUTHA TO SOUTHERN TRUNK.

(Sub-Inspector Small.)

No expenditure has been incurred under this heading. Plans and specifications for the formation of the road have been prepared.

TOKOMAIRIRO TO TUAPEKA.

(Inspector Pitcairn.)

Contracts.

A contract has been entered into with Mr. Ross for gravelling one mile and a half of the road near Major Croker’s house.

Three private contracts have also been entered into.

1st. J. D. Ross—Gravelling one and a half miles of road near Major Croker’s house.

2nd. T. Reid—Building and repairing culverts.

3rd. Thos. Murray—Forming three miles of road from the Woolshed Diggings to the Round Hill.

NORTH EAST VALLEY TO TIMBER DISTRICT.

(Inspectors Oliver, Chalmers, & Cahill.)

A contract for metalling thirty chains of this road was completed in April by A. & G. Ford. In July a road party of ten men was employed in quarrying metal and spreading it on the surface of the road. During the Dunstan rush the men all left this road. In September a party of six men, with two horses and drays, were employed in metalling. Towards the end of September the party was increased to twenty-five men. It is anticipated that this force of men will finish the road in one month.

Expenditure.

Contract A. & G. Ford ............... £200 16 0
Wages to laborers, carters, &c. ............... 570 0 0
Tools, repairs, &c. ............... 14 11 6

Total expenditure ............... 785 8 2
Expenditure in excess ............... 285 8 2

Amount of vote ............... £500 0 0