appear to have been kept in the department before that date. For the same reason, the information given respecting the public works executed before the 20th April, 1864, is defective.

The returns of expenditure incurred in the roads department before the 30th September, 1863, and in the public works department before the 20th April, 1864, are compiled from the books of the Provincial Treasury; the returns of expenditure incurred since those dates, have been taken from books kept in the department of roads and bridges.

The description which is given of the condition of the roads at the commencement of the financial year can only be taken as an approximation, as the department was not placed under my supervision, until the 23rd November, 1863.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your obedient servant,

JAMES DUNDAS,

Engineer of Roads and Bridges.

His Honor the Superintendent.

GREAT NORTH ROAD.

The actual expenditure on this road, from the separation of the Province, until the 30th September, 1863, was £25,393 15s. 5d.; contracts were, however, in operation at that date, which involved a liability of £7,396 11s. 3d. On the 30th September, 1863, the road was, so far as I can gather, in the following state.

From Invercargill to the Waihopai Bridge, a distance of one mile eight chains, the road was partially formed and ditched, and a small portion of the centre gravelled, so that it was a fair summer road, but had a poor chance of remaining good during the winter. The Waihopai River was crossed by a good timber bridge.

The road between the Waihopai and Waikewa Bridges, one mile seventy chains in length, was partially formed and drained, fascines had also been laid on the centre of the road. These fascines were, however, worse than useless, having already undergone one winter’s traffic. A strong rough timber bridge crossed the Waikewa stream.

From the Waikewa to the Makerewa Bridge, a distance of four miles thirty-three chains, little had been done to the road. In a few places it had been formed and drained, and had fascines laid down on some of the most swampy places. The Makerewa River, was crossed by a substantial timber bridge.

From the Makerewa River to Winton Bush, a distance of about thirteen miles, the road was almost entirely on the natural surface of the ground. Where swamps and streams occurred, culverts had been built and embankments formed; the number of culverts was ten, and the total length of embankments, seventy chains. Two small bridges had also been constructed near Winton Bush.

A contract was in operation for the formation and gravelling of the road through Winton Bush, in length one hundred and eight chains.

On the next section, between Winton Bush and Benmore, about twelve miles in length, considerable works had been executed, eight miles or thereabouts having been formed and gravelled. Contracts were also in operation for the pitching and gravelling of the road, in Centre and Last Bushes.

The road between Benmore and the second crossing of the Oreti River, was almost entirely in a state of nature, the only improvements being three short cuttings, one small bridge, and the pitching of three crossings of creeks. This section, which is about twenty three miles long, was in pretty fair condition, with the exception of about a quarter of a mile near Benmore.

From the second crossing of the Oreti, to the point where the road leaves the Province, a distance of about nineteen miles, the improvements were slight in character, consisting chiefly of pitchings of creek crossings. This portion of the road, where on the natural surface of the ground, was in fair condition.

The total length of this road, may be estimated at seventy-five miles, and on the 30th September, 1863, the works executed were nearly as follows.

3 large bridges.*

3 small bridges.

20 culverts and pitchings of creeks.

17 miles of road, formed and drained.

8 miles of road, gravelled.

2½ miles of road, fascined.

The works executed during the year ending 30th September, 1864, are as follows.

The contracts which were in operation at the commencement of the year for gravelling the road in Winton, Centre and Last Bushes have been completed, as have also one or two small contracts for the construction of culverts and approaches. The Makerewa and Waihopai Bridges were provided for by separate votes.

• The Makerewa and Waihopai Bridges were provided for by separate votes.