609

Again the quality of the gravel which is procured along this road is so very bad that to use it for the purpose of road-making would simply be a waste of money. Corduroy might in some few places be used with advantage, but for the greater part, bush is too distant to render that system advisable.

I am of opinion that the requirements of the case could best be met by the construction of a tramway between Invercargill and Dacre. This tramway might be placed at the side of the road reserve so as not to interfere with the construction of the permanent line. The cost of this work would be about £7500, or at the rate of £500 per mile. If it were proposed at a future time to construct this road permanently the saving effected in the carriage of the necessary materials by the tramway would more than cover its original expense.

Beyond Dacre the road is over an open country, and only requires repairs at places where the traffic is concentrated.

The cost of those necessary repairs may be estimated at £500.

Construction of a tramway from Invercargill to Dacre, fifteen miles, at £500 per mile, .................. £7500

Twenty chains of reforming, re-gravelling, and earthwork at £10 per chain, .................. 200

Between Half-Way Bush and Mataura Ferry, twenty-two chains re-gravelling at £2 per chain, .................. 44

Nine chains gravelling at £8 per chain, .................. 72

Twenty chains formation and gravelling at £12 per chain, .................. 240

Minor repairs, .................. 120

Repairs north of Mataura Ferry, .................. 64

.................. £8240

Repairs between Invercargill and Dacre, .................. 800

.................. £9,040

INVERCARGILL TO CAMPBELLTOWN.

The expenditure on this line of road from the separation of the Province until the 30th September 1863, amounted to £14,283 16s. 11d.

Contracts were however, in operation on the latter date, for which payments to the extent of £3636 19s 0d have since been made.

The condition of the road on the 30th Sept. 1863, was as follows.

From Invercargill to a point about half a mile beyond West’s hotel, a distance of about seven miles, six miles of the road had been formed and drained, and five miles gravelled. At this point the main line of road, which was not completed, was deviated from, and a track led to the Mokomoko sands, which were used as the road until the Mokomoko was reached. A narrow neck of land was then crossed and the Mokomoko Inlet followed to its head. This line of road along the beach was extremely inconvenient when the tide was in, indeed it was sometimes on the occasion of very high tides almost impassable. From the head of the Mokomoko Inlet to the Green Hills, a hard stony ridge was followed. At the Green Hills the main road was again reached. A good metalled road now extended to M’Hardy’s Cove, and after that the sea beach was generally followed to Campbelltown. Contracts were, however, in operation for the formation and metalling of four and a-half miles of the road between M’Hardy’s Cove and Campbelltown.

The road which was used on the 30th Sept. 1863, was about twenty miles in length. Twelve miles of this were formed, three and a-half miles unformed; four and a-half miles on the beach, and five miles gravelled.

During the past year very considerable works have been executed on this line of road.

The direct line from near West’s hotel to the Green Hills has been formed, metalled, and gravelled. This section was however, constructed under the supervision of the Railway Department, and has not yet been handed over to the Roads Department.

The other works completed were the two contracts for the formation and metalling between M’Hardy’s Cove and Campbelltown. These contracts were so badly executed that it was found necessary to enter into a fresh contract for the re-breaking and blinding of the metal. This last contract has been completed in a satisfactory manner, and this section of the road is now in good condition. This latter work cost £988 11s. 10d.

In the early part of the year a contract for the deviation of fifty-five chains of the road near Invercargill was completed. This deviation was rendered necessary by the railway. The contract provided for formation, draining, and gravelling; the cost of this work was £721 8s. 2d.

Another contract was let some short time afterwards for the formation and gravelling of forty-eight chains of the road about five miles from Invercargill; this cost £816 0s 0d.