75

The whole of the road from Bull’s to Palmerston, 18½ miles in length. Through the difficulty in getting good metal, portions of this line will require constant attention, and be, comparatively speaking, an expensive road to maintain.

WANGANUI TO WESTMERE.

The completion of this piece connects the town of Wanganui with the road constructed by the General Government north of Wanganui; we have taken it over as far as Waitotara. I refer your Honor to previous reports of mine on this road; it will be a very expensive one to maintain, from £1,200 to £1,500 should be at once expended in metalling portions that are likely to break through during the winter.

METALLING TAUERU ROAD.

This road has been metalled throughout to Kaumingi. From Te Ore Ore culverts have been renewed, and most of the bridges replanked; in connection with this work those portions of the road previously improved have now been completed, with the exception of that part crossing the Te Ore Ore Plain. There is a good dry metalled road from Masterton to Mr. Vallance’s, Kaumingi. Your Honor is aware of the difficulties that have arisen respecting the taking of the road through Te Ore Ore; they have not yet been overcome.

MASTERTON TOWARDS FORTY-MILE BUSH.

The contracts in hand at the date of my last report have been completed, this gives a metal road in the above direction of nearly 2¼ miles from Masterton. Now that the Forty-Mile Bush is being so largely settled it would be very desirable that the formation and metalling of this road should be continued, as the traffic is becoming very great, and the ground in its natural state will not carry any heavy weight, especially as the road line is being fenced off.

PAHAUTANUI TO BELMONT BRIDLE TRACK.

Has been completed, and has been very serviceable to horsemen and others from the West Coast.

The estimated cost of some of the works have been exceeded, while in other cases the full amount of appropriation has not been expended.

WELLINGTON, WAIRARAPA, AND EAST COAST DISTRICTS.

The following new works in the Wellington, Wairarapa, and East Coast districts have been undertaken, and are now either completed or in course of completion:—

Approaches to Ruamahanga and Waihenga consist in the formation and metalling of 128½ chains of road, which was contracted for by Mr. M. B. Cave for the sum of £488, and the construction of five bridges, two of which are each 150 feet long, contracted for by Mr. Petherick for the sum of £697 15s. The estimated cost and appropriation of the Council for this work was only £600; the large excess was due to the survey of the approaches having been made during very dry weather, and it was afterwards found that creeks and backwaters thought practicable without bridging would have to be bridged; it is now completed, and forms a good approach on either side.

A grant in aid to the extent of £100 was given towards repairs to Underhill Road. It had been cut through in many places. The heavy timber traffic from Woodside Saw Mill would have to come down the main line if the district road became impassable. A grant in aid to the extent of £47 was given to open up a new track to Upper Taueru, the sum expended by the Highway District Board and Government, together with private subscriptions, was altogether inadequate for the purpose intended; to open up a serviceable road will take at least £1,000.

In consequence of an arrangement made between Mr. Waterhouse and the Government with reference to his purchase of Crown lands on his runs at Castle Point and Tiraumea at 7s. 6d. per acre, instead of going to auction at 5s., the sum of £280 was given as a grant to the Castle Point Highway District Road Board to improve the communication between the Tiraumea and Castle Point; this has been expended on the road line laid off by Mr. Barton, and has certainly done a little to improve the communication, but a large amount of work will still be required some time or other to open up the Crown lands to the north and eastward of the Tiraumea River, where the Province has a very large and valuable estate.