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it is placed. The erection alone, without cost of the bridge itself and freight, involved an expenditure of £1729 1s. 2d. The original contractors for the erection failed to complete their contract, and the work was undertaken by Messrs Hare and Bull, who have certainly carried it out in a most satisfactory manner.

During the last few weeks day labourers have been engaged in constructing approaches to the bridge.

OTAUTAU, WAICOLA, AND WAIMATUKU BRIDGES.

According to the books of the Provincial Treasury, a sum of £60 appears to have been expended under this heading since the commencement of the year. This work was not, however, under the supervision of the department of roads.

ROADS UNENUMERATED.

The expenditure on roads under this heading, before the 30th September, 1863, amounted to £1500 15s 3d.

The principal road under this title, on which works have been executed during the past year, is a sheep-track from the Bluff Harbour to One Tree Point. The works performed on this road consist of seven bridges, five culverts, and approaches thereto. This road is now in fit condition for sheep traffic throughout its entire length.

STONE FOR METAL.

Two contracts were in operation for the supply of road metal at the commencement of the year, one for the supply of rubble at Invercargill, at the rate of 8s. 6d. per cubic yard, and of broken metal at the rate of 14s. 6d. per cubic yard.

The quantity supplied under this contract, was 1329 cubic yards of rubble, and 3675 cubic yards of broken metal. The whole of this stone has been used in the construction of the streets in Invercargill, and of the lately metalled portion of the Mataura road.

The other contract was for the supply at the Green Hills, Mokomoko, of road metal prepared by a stone-breaking machine. This contract, which was for the supply of not less than twenty thousand cubic yards of metal, was not fully carried out, as it was found that it was necessary to re-break the metal prepared by the machine, in order to render it applicable for road making purposes.

ORETI FERRY, PUNT AND IMPROVEMENTS.

On the 30th September, 1863, a sum of £333 had been expended on the punt and approaches, but the punt was found to work very badly. During the last year, two contracts have been entered into, one for the construction of flaps to the punt, and the other for the construction of new approaches; this last work especially, has proved very useful. The punt is now in good working order. The cost of the two contracts completed during the past year, was £190.

PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.

No works of any importance have been executed in this department since it was placed under my supervision; some trivial repairs to the internal fittings of the Gaol and Hospital, a small addition to the Telegraph Office Campbelltown, and some repairs to the Invercargill Jetty comprise the whole.

When the Public Works Department was placed under my supervision I found that a certificate had been passed to the effect that the contract for the diversion of the Puni Creek was completed. On examining the work, I found that the terms of the specification had been departed from in some most important points.

The contractors refused to complete the works according to the contract, on the grounds that they had received exemption from the Engineer.

JAMES DUNDAS,
Engineer of Roads and Bridges.