Fifteen chains culvert embankments,

. . . 60
Repairs to 108 chains of gravelling in Winton Bush,
. . . 108
Five hundred and twenty-one chains of regravelling between
Winton Bush and Benmore at £3 per chain,
. . . 1568
Sixty-nine chains regravelling on
the same section at £8 per chain,
. . . 552
Twenty-five chains regravelling at £4 per chain,
. . . 100
Twenty-five chains regravelling at £2 per chain,
. . . 50
Twenty-nine chains regravelling at £3 per chain,
. . . 87
Thirty chains regravelling at £5 per chain,
. . . 150
Three culverts at £10 each,
. . . 30
Fifteen chains embankments at £4,
. . . 60
Thirty-one chains gravelling at £8,
. . . 248
North of Benmore improvements are required that will cost £250
. . . 250
Maintenance of other parts of the road, say
. . . 130

. . . £9000

MATAURA ROAD.

At the commencement of the financial year, a sum of £11,055 18s. 3d. had been expended on this road, and a contract existed on which payments amounting to £780 11s. 3d. have since been made. At that date the condition of the road was much as follows.

The first section from Invercargill to Dacre is fifteen miles in length. About eight miles were formed and drained, and about four miles gravelled. A contract was in operation for the re-formation of nearly all the gravelled portion.

The next section of the road from the Half Way Bush to the Mataura Falls, about eighteen miles in length, is for the greater part on the natural surface of the ground. In a few places where the traffic was concentrated, some slight improvements had been effected; these amounted in all to fourteen culverts and one mile of embankments, thirty chains of which were very badly gravelled.

The road from the Falls to Otamita stream, is nearly in a state of nature, the works performed on this section, which is about twenty miles in length, were fifty-five chains of road formation; twenty small culverts, and twelve creek crossings.

Between the Otamita and M'Kellar's ridge, the road was in fair condition, although but few improvements had been made. They amounted, in all, to one bridge over the Waimea Stream, three chains of approaches to the same, and three crossings of creeks.

Between M'Kellar's ridge and the Elbow (the junction with the Great North Road) a distance of about sixteen miles, the road was in good condition, being on hard ground. No improvements had been effected on this section.

The entire length of this road may be estimated at eighty-eight miles, and the works which had been performed at the commencement of the financial year may be taken as follows.

Nine miles fifty-eight chains of road formation; nearly five miles gravelled, for the greater part very badly; forty-two culverts; two bridges* and fifteen pitched creek crossings.

During the past year the contract for the formation of the road near Invercargill, which was in operation on the 30th September, 1863, was completed. This work was of little use, the road being quite as bad in winter as if it had not been touched.

A contract for the pitching and metalling of twenty-eight chains of the road adjoining Invercargill was undertaken by Messrs M'Neil and Wilson, and is now nearly completed. This is probably the best piece of road in the Province, and was carried on by the contractors in a most creditable manner, under great difficulties, owing to the lateness of the season.

Parties of labourers were employed during the early part of the year, in maintaining this road and in attempting to prepare it for the winter's traffic. Notwithstanding this, the road was, during winter, more especially in the portions near town, in a most wretched state. From Invercargill to Dacre it was, with the exception of the metalled portion almost impassable. Between Dacre and Gore the road was very bad, although unenclosed on account of the crab hole nature ground. Beyond Gore it was in fair condition, the ground being of a harder nature.

The question of determining the nature of the works to be executed in future on this road is one which requires the most serious consideration.

It is very evident that the cost of metalling renders that method of road-making impossible at present. I may safely say that in order to macadamise the road from Invercargill to Dacre, a sum of not less than £48,000 would be required.

• One of those bridges, that over the Waimoa, was provided for by a separate vote.