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WAIPOUA TO RUAMAHANGA RIVER, TE ORE ORE.

Notice having been given to the Government by Mr. J. V. Smith that he intended fencing off the road line between Waipoua and the Ruamahanga River, Te Ore Ore, it was necessary that portions of the road line should be constructed; 57 chains have been formed and metalled, and 20 chains formed only, at a cost of £174 6s. 3d. A small sum of £30 9s. has been spent upon the opening up of the proper road line through Te Ore Ore on the approach to the new Te Ore Ore Bridge. A far larger sum will be necessary to complete the work.

TINUI TO ALFREDTON.

The Tinui to Alfredton line of road was commenced by a party of immigrants ex “Ocean Mail,” under the direction of Mr. Graft, Assistant Engineer; up to the 31st March the expenditure had been £140 14s., for about 70 chains of road. Owing to a difference of opinion with reference to the proposed route to be taken with this road, the money has been expended between the Wharehama Bridge and the turn-off near Mr. Langdon’s. Several of the immigrants have obtained other employment, so that at present there are only five men at work; the advantage of sending parties of immigrants into the country districts cannot be over estimated, probably they may not at first be so well up to the work as old colonists, still the fact of their being sent into out of the way districts such as this enables the country to be opened up more rapidly than it otherwise would be.

TE ORE ORE BRIDGE.

This work has been let to Mr. W. Francis for the sum of £2,648; this is exclusive of approaches; Mr. W. E. Chamberlain is clerk of works. The bridge has twenty-four spans of 29 feet centres, or a total length of 696 feet. The piles in fourteen piers have been driven, and the work is progressing very satisfactorily.

ABBOTT’S CREEK BRIDGE, No. 1.

This bridge has been let to Mr. J. A. Petherick for the sum of £1870; Mr. Vine is clerk of works. The bridge is a Howe Truss girder, of three spans of 70 feet centres; the bottom of the creek is rock and the piers are being fixed in concrete on the solid; the work is now well in hand and progressing satisfactorily.

TOLL HOUSE AT WAIHENGA.

The first building was constructed by Messrs. Allen & Bishop for the sum of £657. I had visited the work on Wednesday, the 17th day of December, and taken it off the contractors’ hands. On the following Friday the house, in some unaccountable manner, was burnt to the ground. The Provincial Secretary had given instructions as soon as it was taken off the contractors’ hands to have it insured. On account of his being away on an official visit to Wanganui upon my return to town this could not be done, so that it was a total loss to the Province. The lessee was also a very large loser by the accident. The contract for the new house is let to Mr. Wakelin for the sum of £645. The house has very good accommodation for travellers, and is built upon a block of land secured from Mr. Bidwell, one acre being freehold and nine acres leasehold. The stable and fencing cost £221 6s. 3d. The house and toll gate is leased for three years to Mr. James Barber, who pays a rent of £475 per annum; in consequence of the fire and destruction of the house the rent does not commence until the new building has been completed and the collection of tolls made legal. In addition to paying the above rent the lessee has to clear away all logs or drift timber that may collect in the vicinity or against the bridge, which at times is a very serious consideration.

BRIDGES, &c.

The Waiohine Bridge has been strengthened and repaired at a cost of £90. Mr. Welch has carried out his contract for the repairs of the main road between Ray’s and Masterton in a very satisfactory manner. From Ray’s to Wellington, we have it in our own hands. The supply and cartage of all metal, as well as the breaking thereof, is let by contract. Owing to the large traffic, and various difficulties that are occasioned through the Railway construction, I am now of opinion that this line would be as cheaply and far better looked after in this way than letting it by contract. The whole road is at present in very fair order, much better than it was this time last.