THE MAIN TRUNK RAILWAY.

The contractors for the portion of the line already let, Messrs Coates and Metcalfe, have practically completed the first, or Puniu section, which will be handed over to the Government in the course of a few days. The main portion of the work has been done some time, but several small matters, such as hanging gates, putting in cattle stops &c., have been left to the lust. It has been found necessary also to put in an additional bridge at the south end of the Kawa swamp owing to tho large amount of water flowing through. This work, which has been delayed somewhat owing to the difficulty of procuring piles of the necessary length, is now almost completed. The line froiri Te Awamutu to the end of the first contract, a mile beyond Otorohanga is one of the best laid down in the district, and reflects the highest credit upon the contractors. Mr Baliance was especially pleased with it, and could not refrain from comlimenting Messrs Coates and Metcalfe at the close of the meeting in the Public Hall. Though the ballast in some places is not properly fixed, and the line is of course new the journey was most pleasant. Very little oscillation was observable, and the jolting and jumping incident to a great portion of the line between Hamilton and Auckland were conspicuous by their absence., The cuttings, of which there are a larga number, some of huge proportions, appear to have stood remarkably well so far, and the embankments are substantial and sound. Though tho line will probably be opened for traffic in the course of a week or so, the ■station buildings are not in readiness. Mr H. Worthington has the contract in hand and is making good progress with the station and goodshed at Otorohanga, but several weeks must necessarily elapse before the contract can be finished. Messrs Coates and Metcalfe are pushing on the Kuiti contract most vigorously from every available point and they hope to have the formation completed in six weeks or two months, and the whole contract, including platelaying and ballasting, by June. There are no engineering difficulties of any moment on this section, which is twelve miles in length, the Puniu section being 15 miles. The Waitati contract, for which tenders are now invited, will be a much more formidable job thau the others. The section is only eight miles long, but it runs through extremely difficult country, and will involve a large amount of rock blasting. Quite a number of intending tenderers have visited the locality, and there is likely to be keen competition for the work. It is generally expected that the contract price will not be far short of £80,000. The country traversed by the line from Te Awamutu to the Kuiti differs in no essential points from the Waikato proper. The land bordering on the line up to Otorohanga closely resembles that between Ohaupo ana Te Awamutu, and the quality of the soil appears to be much the same. There can be no doubt that large portions are eminently well adapted for the purposes of village settlements of the type adopted by Mr Baliance. The general appearance of the country has been recently fully discribed in these columns. Otorohanga, which is at present the terminal city, so to speak, will soon have to give way to the Kuiti, the settlement at this end of the Waitati contract. As this job is likely to last at least two years, Te Kuiti will enjoy for that period the reputation of being one of the busiest inland settlements iu the province. The worst feature of kindred settlements in other parts of New Zealand is happily not to be seen at Otorohanga, and will be absent at Kuiti ; we refer to the curse of drunkenness.' The prohibition of the sale of liquor in the King Country is one of the best things the Government have done, and though the circumstance occasionally causes some little temporary inconvenience, the sufferers in such cases are apt, in contemplation of the benefits conferred upon the native race, to think lightly of their own troubles. The Resident Engineer in charge of the line, Mr C. W. Hursthouse, resides at Otorohanga., and to this gentleman and to Mr Coates our representative, who accompanied Mr Ballance, is indebted for any information asked for.