§4

The length of road, so far as I can judge, will be about eighteen miles from the Mungaroa Road to the pah at Waikanae.

We found throughout our route quantities of pigeons, ducks, pigs, and wild cattle.

I have, &c.,

J. D. Baird, Esq.,
Provincial Engineer.

W. ALFRED FITZHERBERT.

Enclosure 2 in No. 2.

Wellington, March 4, 1874.

Sir,—

I have the honor to report that I have examined the route for the proposed deviation of the Great North Western line of road, so as to avoid the Paikakariki hill.

The proposed deviation would commence in the Horokiwi Valley, about 30 chains below Mr. Blackey’s Hotel, near a wooden bridge.

The proposed road would follow the course of the stream over which the above mentioned bridge crosses, up to its source; then cross a saddle, and follow the Wainui river down to the flat. The elevation of the saddle is 59 feet below the level of the summit of the Paikakariki hill, where the road now crosses. On the Horokiwi side of the saddle the road could be formed on flat land the greater part of the distance up the valley, and the rest would require a moderate amount of side-cutting. I think very little rock would be met with. A few sections through which the road passes are clear of bush, the rest would have to be cleared.

On the Wainui side of the saddle an immense amount of side cutting would be required to form a suitable road; judging from the appearance of the sides of the hills a great portion of the cutting would be through rock.

The distance from the junction of the road in the Horokiwi Valley at the point B to the point A on the Wainui flat is about 9 miles, by the proposed new road it would be about 7½ miles.

I have made a sketch map of the country showing the proposed road and the amount of Crown Lands which would be available for settlement... The cost of making the 7½ miles as shown on map, I have estimated at £14,000, and the Crown Land available for settlement at 680 acres.

I have, &c.,

J. D. BAIRD, Esq.,
Provincial Engineer, Wellington.

JOHN BARTON.

Appendix C.

ANNUAL REPORT UPON THE PROVINCIAL HOSPITAL.

Provincial Hospital,
Wellington, 6th April, 1874.

Sir,—

I have the honor to forward for your information the usual yearly report upon the administration of the Provincial Hospital. My last report dated the 8th April, 1873, mentioned that an Epidemic of Fever had set in, the result of neglect and apathy displayed by the city authorities in not initiating and carrying out a system of drainage and removal of sewerage; during this last year twenty-eight cases of fever have been admitted into the Hospital, resulting in four deaths; and I am again able to report that no case of sickness, or disease has originated within the establishment. This immunity from infection cannot be expected to continue much longer in the present building, and in order to maintain it thus far, I have felt it to be my duty, to remove several loathsome, and Chronic cases from the main building, and locate them in one of the outhouses (a weather boarded unlined strawshed). I have done so without risk, or much inconvenience, during the summer months, but if necessity compels me to make use of this building for the same purpose during the winter, I must trust to this and my previous reports to exonerate me from the consequences that may arise.

Respecting the state of the present Hospital buildings I need only repeat from my last report adding the remark, that nothing has been done in the shape of repairs since that report was written. I there say:—“Last year I reported that the buildings generally were in a delapidated condition and the roof especially required repairs and shingling, nothing has been done in this direction, I believe, in consequence of the intention of the Hospital Trustees to build a new Hospital; I now look forward with anxiety to the coming winter, when I fear every rain will saturate the wards, and every sunny day will draw out unhealthy exhalations, from the decayed timber of the building.”

I have, &c.,