71

Arrears of Survey, Wanganui District ... 15,000 acres
Rangitikei District ... 20,000 "
Wellington District ... 15,000 "
Wairarapa District ... 50,000 "
East Coast District ... 60,000 "
New Surveys—
Forty Mile Bush ... 7,000 "
Wairarapa ... 3,000 "

Total ... 170,000 acres.

On arrears of survey, I am able to state with confidence the areas that will become surveyed during the current year, provided that the present parties employed in the several districts are not taken away elsewhere. But on new surveys, I can only state those works which are now or shortly will become undertaken. The acquisition of new territory and the employment in such a case of a larger survey staff, are contingencies upon which I cannot at present form an opinion as to what may be done on new surveys this year.

I have, &c.,

J. G. Holdsworth, Esq.,
Commissioner Crown Lands.

HENRY JACKSON,
Chief Surveyor.

D.

REPORT BY THE PROVINCIAL ENGINEER UPON THE VARIOUS PUBLIC WORKS.

Provincial Engineer’s Office,
Wellington, 14th April, 1873.

Sir,—

I have the honor to forward for your information a report upon the various public works undertaken by the Provincial Government during the last financial year. I will first report upon those works which were in progress, and not completed, when I wrote my last annual report.

The Tauherenikau bridge, contracted for by Messrs. Barry & Co., has been completed, and in use for some time. The contract provided for 999 feet of bridging, but during the progress of the work it was found advisable to increase the length by one span of thirty feet, and to construct four wings at the two ends, approach piers, to keep up the embankment. The appropriation of the Council provided for the exact contract amount, viz., £3,450, this sum has been exceeded by £233 13s., caused by the above extra work and cost of supervision. The contractors claim a further sum of £140, which was withheld from them as penalty for not finishing the work at the specified time; for particulars of this claim I beg to refer you to my reports to the Provincial Secretary, Nos. 20 and 21, 1872. The work has been completed by the contractors in a thoroughly satisfactory manner. The banks of the river will require constant attention; there is a supply of fascines and stakes on the ground, ready for service, should the river at any time threaten the approaches.

The Waingawa bridge has been completed, and in use since June last. The appropriation of the Council, viz., £1,539, has been exceeded by the sum of £13 11s., incurred by constructing wings to approach piers, and supervision of work which was unprovided for in the contract or appropriation of the Council. The work has been completed by the contractor, Mr. Francis, in a very creditable manner.

The contracts of Messrs. Burgess & Co., and George Peek, for formation and metalling of portions of the Great North Eastern Road on the Taratahi, 143¼ chains in extent, have been completed in a satisfactory manner. This work completes the Great North Eastern Road through to the Waipoua River at Masterton.

The contract of Mr. Bull for the formation of one mile from Bull’s to the Rangitikei River has been completed and paid for. Your Honor will remember this work was entered into by the late Executive upon a guarantee of ten per cent. interest on £400, the principal to be paid when the Government were in a position to do so. The agreement was very loosely drawn up, and the work was not carried out in such a manner as I should have liked to have seen it. This finished the works in progress when I last reported.