immediately west of the above, and embankment made up of a few chains to the approaches of each bridge.

Between the Oreti and Waihopai several culverts have been constructed, embankments with side drains, cobbling, etc., have been completed across the swamp, and one bridge thrown across a small creek. Several miles both approaches to the watercourses.

An embankment has been thrown across a swamp near Wright's Bush on chains long, one culvert constructed, and thirty-eight chains of ditching cut. Two other swamps close by have been improved by adding earth from the top of the original embankment to the road level.

A bad portion of the road between Winton and Browns had been embanked, formed, metalled with shingle and earth but a very bad swamp about a mile beyond Wright's Bush has been embanked and culvert constructed. This swamp was afterwards observed to have had a transverse ditch cut nearly two miles out of the road.

Between the Waimea and Makarewa, a distance of about five miles, the whole of the swamps have been made visible. The works completed between these two points are seven culverts, two bridges, thirty chains of embankment, and about seventy chains of ditching. Days' Ko, now occupies the road, and expecting a little patching caused by the traffic in wet weather, the whole is in tolerable condition.

The Harrier Creek, about five miles from Invercargill, has been bridged. The construction consists of one bay of thirty feet span, and two of six feet span (built for the allowance), approaches, etc. This has been constructed under the old bridge contract for the heavy bottoms.

The remaining five miles between this point and Invercargill have been kept in order during the winter by day labour, under the disbursements of Mr. Overseer Dougherty. Culverts have been laid down, and all the swamps fenced. The five miles of road passes over the quiet track. The surveyed road will be about a quarter of a mile to the north. The latter road requires making; no levels of it have yet been taken, and therefore not provided for in the annexed estimates. I recommended that this work be executed during the ensuing summer. An estimate will be sent in for your Honor's information. In the event of the end of the staff, one to be spared to prepare the different sections.

UPPER FIELD ROAD.

On this road, between the Harrier Bridge and the Invercargill-Queen's Bush Bridge on the New River Flat, one bridge of the size of forty feet to the Harrier Bridge, has been constructed, and approaches thereto completed. Several other works have been executed by day labour. The works to be now in passable condition, require maintenance have been of great advantage to farmers, as the Invercargill road, via Asman's Bridge, being impassable at the early period of the winter. Between the Upper Ford and the junction Herd Groper's Bush required improvement and very much required. An estimate between will be given, included in the works desirable for execution in the ensuing statement.

YELLOW BLUFF ROAD.

Commencing at the junction of the Invercargill and Waimumu roads, near Waimea township, and to a sixteenth mile direction on the left of the junction with the following works have been completed. Approaches to the Waimea township cut down and levelled, one bridge constructed over the Tuanaki, 5 culverts, 5 chains of embankment, and 25 chains of side ditching and outfall. This section is now visible for heavy traffic in dry weather.

MAXTAURA ROAD.

In the month of March last, contracts were set for the waggons of the line between the Town Belt and Abernethy's Bridge. The course of the work was as follows:

The first 100 chains from the Town Belt were let in one contract. The drains, where multiple, had to be remedied. The whole line to be properly formed, in accordance with cross section supplied; several hollows to be filled in, two new culverts, old ones to be lengthened, all channels to be opened, and cleaned out, and proper fall for drainage observed; and the whole line to be gravelled.

The next 200 chains consisted principally of the same description of work as that on the first contract. Shortly after setting these contracts, the weather set in bad, and it was found necessary, therefore, to suspend operations for a more favourable season. The contractor has now resumed operations, but has recently to furnish a detailed report on the progress.

The remainder of the line between the