PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT, BY THE HON. WILLIAM FRASER, MINISTER OF PUBLIC WORKS.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1917 Session I, D-01

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1917. NEW ZEALAND

PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT, BY THE HON. WILLIAM FRASER, MINISTER OF PUBLIC WORKS.

Mr. Speaker,— When I prepared my Public Works Statement last year I was under the impression that I would be able to expend within the financial year the most of the money I was asking Parliament to vote for road and bridges. Acting on this belief I authorized for expenditure the whole of this sum to either the local bodies or to my District Engineers on the basis of one-half of the unauthorized items on the estimates for each county. Owing, however, to the impossibility of obtaining sufficient labour, I was unable to secure the expenditure of much more than one-half of the sum so authorized. The result is that from the sum I now propose asking Parliament to vote for roads and bridges—viz., £420,000 —I have first to deduct £60,000 for the flood-damage vote, and then the unexpended authorities issued prior to the 31st March, 1917, amounting to £195,000. This will leave £165,000, which will be only sufficient to provide for about one-half of those items on last year's estimates which were not authorized, and also enable a few of the most urgent new applications to be dealt with. If the war continues for another twelve months it can hardly be expected of me that I shall be able to expend the whole of the money proposed to be appropriated for roads and bridges ; still, I consider it advisable that I should be empowered to meet any contingency that may arise. The extraordinary and continuous rainfall that has been experienced over the greater part of the North Island during the last twelve months has caused an enormous amount of damage to roads and bridges. The country became waterlogged, and wherever the roads had not been metalled they were quite unable to bear any traffic and soon became quagmires, causing very serious inconvenience. I have endeavoured as far as it lay in my power to assist in repairing this damage, but the loss accruing from this deluge of rain has been very serious.

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The following table shows the brief particulars of the expenditure of the year, and also the total under each class of work from the inauguration of the public-works policy up to the 31st March last: —

TOTAL EXPENDITURE.

WAYS AND MEANS. On the Ist April, 1916, the available ways and means for £ public-works purposes were.... .... .... .... .... 1,293,102 And further funds were received as under : — Under the Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement Act, 1914 .... .... .... .... 500,000 Other receipts and recoveries .... .... .... 6,906* Making a gross total of .... .... 1,800,008 The ordinary expenditure of the year amounted to £1,278,448, plus the expenses of raising loans £35, thus bringing the total disbursements up to .... .... .... .... .... £1,278,483*

♦ Exolusive of expenditure of £439 under Ellesmere Land Drainage Act, 1908.

Expenditure. Class of Work. Expenditure Total for Year ended Expenditure to 31st March, 31st March, 1917. 1917. Railways— New construction Additions to open lines ... Roads ... Public buildings ... Immigration Purchase of Native lands ... Lighthouses, harbour-works, and harbour-defences Tourist and health resorts... Telegraph-extension Development of mining Defence-works (general) ... Departmental Development of water-power Irrigation and water-supply Payment to Midland Railway bondholders ... Lands-improvement Minor works and services ... Plant, material, and stores Cost and discount, raising loans, &c. Jg £ 335,404 25,176,466 285,543 9,539,536 220,845 11,261,098 256,131 6,880,681 6,533 2,338,272 2,061,963 3,767 1,140,075 1,094 258,509 3,207,722 4,592 896,014 9,742 1,036,977 131,701 1,194,654 18,451 16,049 20,405 150,000 Cr. 2,731 137,770 312,607 9,778 84,196 35 1,253,072 Wellington-Hutt Railway and Road Improvement ( Railway Account { Road ... Railways Improvement Account Railways Improvement Authorization Act 1914 Account Loans to Local Bodies Account —Roads to open up Crown lands Opening up Crown Lands for Settlement Account—Roads to open up Crown lands Land for Settlements Account—Roads to open up Crown lands National Endowment Account —Roads to open up endowment lands Aid to Water-power Works Account Irrigation and Water-supply Account Waihou and Ohinemuri Rivers Improvement Account.., Telegraph Extension Account 1,278,483 225,597* 24,730 6,787 66,968,468 228,374 101,658 641,275 365,351 697,408 206,626 165,679 53,401 49,032* 4,745 10,407 203,311* 356,570 115,000 52,592 203,311 Totals 1,803,092 70,155,713 * Including £1, cost oi raising loan.

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This leaves a balance to the credit of the Ways and Means £ Account at the end of the year of .. . . . . . . 521,525 For the current year it is proposed to provide additional funds as under :— Balance of authorized loan-money still to be raised — Under the Aid to Public Works and Land for Settlements Act, 1914 . . . . . . 45,100 Under the Finance Act, 1916, section 49 (Public Works) . . . . . . . . .. 700,000 Uuder the Finance Act, 1917 .. .. .. 850,000 Making the total ways andimeans for 1917-18 .. .. £2,116,625 The estimated expenditure for public works for the current year (excluding separate accounts having their own ways and means) amounts to £1,881,715, leaving an estimated balance of £234,910 to be carried forward to next year (1918-19). In addition to the amounts described |above, we have authority to raise the following sums: — Under the Aid to Water-power Act, 1910 . . .. 136,000 Under the Waihou and Ohinemuri Rivers Improvement Act, 1910 .. .. . . . . .. 50,000 RAILWAY-CONSTRUCTION. No sections of railway were opened for regular traffic during the financial year. Several sections are, however, almost complete as far as construction is concerned, and on some of them the Public Works Department is running a goods and passenger service. The total expenditure on railway construction and improvement work during the last financial year amounted to £846,544, as under ; — Construction of new lines .. .. .. .. 335,404 Addition to open lines .. .. .. . . 285,543 Railways Improvement Accounts .. . . . . 225,597 The following is a summary of the works which have been in progress during the year just closed : — Kaihu Valley Extension. No work has been done on this line during the year, with the exception of a few small repairs to river-protection works. Kawakawa-Hokianga. Work was resumed on the Okaihau Section at the end of September last. Con-struction-work by co-operative labour is now in progress. One large cutting it is proposed to excavate by means of a steam navvy. The navvy has been ordered, tut has not yet come to hand. Owing to the heavy rainfall experienced during the year floods were frequent, and caused much damage to both railway and roads in the vicinity. The permanent line has been pegged for a further distance of nine miles, and plans for same are nearly completed. Whangarei - North Auckland Main Trunk. The first four miles of this line are being constructed by contract. The whole of the formation, with the exception of the south approach to the Otaika River bridge and a small cutting, is practically completed. It is expected that the contract will be completed in about three months' time. The scarcity of labour and the bad weather experienced during the last twelve months have greatly interfered with the progress of the work. Construction-work is in hand by co-operative parties from 4 to 5\ miles.

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During the year platelaying was commenced from Kioreroa Station, and one mile and a half has been laid. It is proposed to continue the platelaying to Portland Station as soon as possible, and to complete this portion of the line so that it may be opened for traffic. On the Tauraroa Section the whole of the formation has been completed. Hails have been laid the whole length of the section, and ballasting is in progress. The bridges over the Tauraroa River and Moewhare Creek have been completed, with the exception of the plate girders, which have not yet come to hand. Temporary stringers have been placed on the piers to carry the ballast-train. On the Waiotira Section earthworks are in various stages of progress for about two miles. North Auckland Main Trunk. Construction-work has been continued from Huarau northwards. Owing to the exceptional rainfall during the year very heavy slips occurred, interfering very considerably with the progress of the works. The passenger and goods traffic between ilanganui and Huarau has been maintained. On the Paparoa Section ballasting has been carried out to the rail-head. Fair progress, under difficult conditions, has been made with the Huarau and Golden Stairs Tunnels. A tramway has been working constantly conveying goods and materials to these two tunnels. » No work was done during the year from Kirikopuni southwards. Waiuku Branch. Construction-work on this line has proceeded steadily during the year. All the formation-work at Patumahoe and Helvetia Stations is practically completed. Over four miles and a half of rails, including sidings at Helvetia and Patumahoe Stations, have been laid, and good progress has been made with the ballasting. HUNTLY-Aw ARO A. A few minor works, including the completion of the access road to Pukemiro Station and the construction of a concrete dam for a water-supply, were carried out. East Coast Main Trunk. Northern Section. —With the exception of the mile through Waihi Township, work was continued on this section —over a length of six miles —until March, when the works were closed down. Tauranga Section. —Formation-work on this section is practically completed to Matata Station yard. The rail-head is now about three miles and a quarter from Matata Station yard. Both passenger and goods traffic is run by the Public Works Department between Mount Maunganui and Paengaroa. No further progress has been made with the erection of the permanent bridge over the Kaituna River owing to the inability of the contractor to procure the necessary steelwork. The only work done during the year in connection with the bridge across the Tauranga Harbour was the casting and partial sinking of cylinders at piers A and B. Gisborne Northward. —The ballasting of the main line between Matawai and Motuhora Road Terminal Station, also the erection of the bridge over the Motu River, have been completed. A contract is in progress for the erection of the station buildings at Motuhora, and, with the exception of this, little work other than the usual finishing-up remains to be done. The goods service between Matawai and Motuhora has been maintained throughout the year. Gisborne Southward. —Concrete piers and abutments for three bridges have been erected, and concrete piles driven for another bridge. Some fencing and culverts have been erected. All platelaying has been completed, and ballasting is in progress. A bi-weekly passenger and goods service between Makaraka and Ngatapa has been maintained by the Public Works Department during the year. Napier Northward. — The work in connection with the erection of the Westshore Bridge has been steadily proceeded with. Further necessary plant and supplies

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ofsteel and concrete have been brought to the site, and good progress has been made with the pile-driving. At the end of the year six 50 ft. spans and one 25 ft. span were completely finished. No further work has been done by the Napier Harbour Board on the North Embankment In April of last year the dredge was moved to the South Embankment and worked for about eight months of the year, the rest of the time being occupied in removal, overhaul, and repairs. Stratford - Main Trunk. At the western end a limited number of men have been employed throughout the year on the varied classes of work necessary to carry the line from Whangamoniona to Tahora. Heavy slips occurred, but have been removed. Two tunnels of about 24 chains each have been excavated and lined, and cuttings and banks up to Tahora Station are approaching completion. Rails are laid and ballasting completed up to Kohuratahi, four miles and a half beyond the terminus, and a temporary tramway service to Tahora is still in operation. Another twelve months should see the line completed to Tahora, where the term nus will probably remain for some years. At the eastern end earthworks have been in progress over a length of 10| miles. The reinforced-concrete piers for the bridge over the Ongarue River have been completed. Progress on the Okahu Tunnel contract has been very slow. The total length of tunnel lined at the end of last March was 19 chains, leaving chains yet to be done. The contract let last year for the tunnels at 7 miles 55 chains and 8 miles 35 chains was determined in August last owing to the inability of the contractor to carry out the contract. The bottom headings and 2 chains of lining in brick were completed when the contract was determined. Opunake Branch. Formation-work during the year has been restricted to the seven-mile section from Te Roti junction to Kapuni Station, on which banks and cuttings are nearly completed. Concrete piers for the bridge which will carry the line over the Waingongoro River are well in hand, but the construction of this and two other bridges on the first section will occupy the available staff for another year at least. The route of the branch line to serve Manaia has been cleared, several culverts put in, and road-deviations formed and metalled. Raetihi Branch. The earthwork and platelaying is practically completed, and good progress has been made with the ballasting. Three bridges have been completed and a watersupply installed at Raetihi Station yard. A goods service which is run by the Public Works Department was inaugurated in August last between Ohakune and Makaranui Stations, and has been well patronized, timber comprising the principal freight. South Island Main Trunk. Beyond the terminus at Wharanui Station formation-work, platelaying, and ballasting is completed for a distance of three miles and a quarter, but it was quite impossible during the year just closed to make any progress with the construction of two small steel bridges on this length. Formation-work on the line is practically suspended owing to shortage of labour. Westport-Inangahua. No work has been done on this line during the past year. Nelson- Westland. At the Nelson end construction-works were continued with a limited number of men until the end of February last, when all work was suspended.

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Arthur's Pass Tunnel. Work in connection with the construction of Arthur's Pass Tunnel has proceeded steadily throughout the year. At the Otira end the work has been carried out by day labour, 32| chains of bottom heading has been driven through slaterock and 17| chains of excavation and lining completed. From the Bealey end 15j chains of bottom heading has been driven through greywacke rock, and 3-g chains of excavation and lining completed. Owing to the shortage of labour, the process of enlargement and lining has been considerably retarded, the average number of men working per shift being 26*8 at the Otira end and 12-9 at the Bealey end. The position at the end of March is that the bottom heading has been driven nearly 4 miles 46 chains, and the tunnel lined and excavated about 3 miles 60 chains. A distance of about 60 chains remains to be driven to connect the headings from each end of the tunnel. CIJLVERDEN-W AIAU. The whole of the formation, with the exception of about 5 chains at the Waiau end, has been completed. Rails have been laid to within 4 chains of the terminus. The first lift of ballasting has been completed to the rail-head, and the second lift is in progress. Since the beginning of October last a goods service has been run by the Public Works Department between Culverden and Waiau, and vice versa, since the end of February last. W aim ate Branch Extension. No work has been done on this railway during the past year. Tuapeka Mouth Branch. Two trial surveys to connect the Hillend district with the main line were completed during the year, but further trials will have to be made before a route can be definitely selected. Otago Central. Formation-work on the extension from Clyde to Cromwell has been completed, and extensive damage caused by a thunderstorm in November last repaired. Three concrete bridges have been built, rails laid, and the line partially ballasted to within two miles of the Cromwell Station. A goods service has been maintained during the year between Clyde and the Half-way Station in the Gorge. The repair of washouts caused by the November floods will delay the opening of this extension. Waiau-Orawia. No construction-work has been undertaken during the year, but a few workmen were retained to do bush-clearing work over about one mile of the route. Other Rail way-works. The expenditure out of the Public Works Fund under the heading " Additions to Open Lines " amounted to £285,543. Of this sum £250,321 was expended in the provision of additional rolling-stock, Westinghouse brake, steam-heating gear, electric light for cars and workshop machinery. The balance covered expenditure on improvements to station accommodation and yards, installation of tablet, telegraph, and telephone facilities, signalling and interlocking, improvements to wharves, and purchase of land. ROADS ON GOLDFIELDS (MINES DEPARTMENT). The total allocations under this head last year amounted to £41,766, on account of which a vote for £30,000 was taken. The expenditure during the year was £17,099, and the sum proposed to be allocated for the current year is £28,258, on account of which a vote of £20,000 is asked for.

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DEVELOPMENT OF MINING. The value of the mineral-output for the year was £2,978,436, being a decrease of £396,087 when compared with the output during the previous year. In addition to the mineral-output 1,331,003 tons of stone was obtained from quarries subject to inspection under the Stone-quarries Act. The expenditure under the heading of " Development of Mining " during last year was £4,592. A vote of £1,450 is proposed to be taken this year. PUBLIC BUILDINGS. The total amount voted and expended on construction of public buildings during the last financial year amounted to — New Buildings (Class XVIII,! Public Voted. Expended. Works Fund) .. .. .. £364,000 £251,431 For the current year the following appropriation is proposed : — New Buildings .. .. .. £310,000 General. Under this heading the new Parliament Buildings still accounts for the heaviest item of expenditure. Considering the unfavourable labour conditions ruling at present, fair progress has been made with the work during the past year. Substantial additions to the Government Printing Office have been completed. Judicial. Courthouses. —During the past year no new buildings were erected, but an addition was made to the Courthouse at Napier. Prisons. —An extension to the south wing of the Auckland Prison has been completed and occupied. The new north wing of the Invercargill Prison has been completed, and is now ready for occupation. Subdivisional walls at .Auckland and. the main walls at Invercargill have been proceeded with, and progress has been made in the erection of the first wing of the Paparua Prison buildings at Templeton. During the current year the major works being carried on are the buildings at Templeton, the provision of a kitchen block, offices, and subdivisional walls at Invercargill, and of an administration block and dairy buildings at Waikeria. Police-stations. —New buildings were erected at Waipukurau and Caversham, and a site for a police-station was purchased at Devonport. Good progress has been made with the erection of the new headquarters station at Wellington, which is now nearing completion. Additions to the Auckland Central Station to provide much-needed office and lock-up accommodation are also in course of construction. Post and Telegraph. Owing to the war conditions, expenditure on new buildings and additions and alterations to existing buildings has been kept down as much as possible. During the year small post-offices were erected at Kaitieke, Ruatorea, Mokau, and Waituna West ; and automatic exchanges built at St. Albans and South Dunedin. Additions were made to the office buildings at Te Awamutu, Hanmer Springs, Waitara, Whakatane, and Wanganui. In addition to the appropriations previously authorizedpbut not expended, it is proposed to make provision for a new post-office buildingjat Henderson, a lineman's cottage at Kahukura, a motor-garage at Napier, store buildings at Wellington, and alterations and additions at Ferry Road, Christchurch. Mental Hospitals. At Porirua the block of buildings designed for receiving and hospital wards is nearly completed, and in its " hospital " character, with ease of administration and observation, marks a decided advance. A nurses' home is part of this building. A survey has been made and materials have been collected for piping the; septictank effluent into the harbour.

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At Sunnyside a receiving and hospital block on the same general plan as at Porirua is nearing completion. A further contribution has been made to electrifying the machinery, and the Vigilant automatic fire-alarm system is being installed. An auxiliary farm of 338 acres has been acquired at Templeton. At Tokanui the erection of a third unit was completed, and satisfactory progress is being made on a fourth, liie permanent water-mains have replaced the temporary service. Four additional cottages for the married staff are nearly ready. At Nelson a brick kitchen has been erected as a first instalment to the rebuilding of the institution. The removal of the old kitchen will allow the drainage system to be remodelled to connect with the new sewer. The current year's estimates provide for a substantial contribution to the scheme for further classification and increase of accommodation and other urgent works. Agriculture. The expenditure under this heading for the past year was not large. For the current year some further necessary improvements at experimental farms and quarantine stations are provided for, together with an item to cover the cost of the purchase of land for an experimental farm in Westland. Hospitals. Considerable expenditure is required this year in order to provide the necessary facilities at St. Helens Hospitals. Land has been purchased adjoining St. Helens Hospital, Auckland, on which it is proposed to erect new wards, utilizing the present building as an administrative block and nurses' quarters. It is proposed to proceed immediately with the erection of new buildings at Christchurch, and to erect new wards at St. Helens Hospital, Dunedin, utilizing the present hospital as an administrative block and nurses' quarters. A suitable building has been purchased for the purpose of a St. Helens Hospital at Invercargill, and provision is made for this expenditure, together with the necessary alterations thereto. Additions are also required at Townley St. Helens Hospital, (lisborne. Considerable extension is required to the accommodation at present available for consumptives. This has been more especially necessitated owing to institutional treatment having to be afforded to returned soldiers. Extensions and improvements are required at both Otaki and Te Waikato Sanatoria, and this is provided for. An item has also been renewed to enable grants to be made to Hospital Boards to provide accommodation for consumptives. Workers' Dwellings. Of last year's vote of £50,000 only £35,437 was expended : there were also liabilities incurred of £295 for dwellings in course of erection and for land the purchase of which was being arranged. For the current year a vote of only £20,000 is proposed, as owing to the high cost of materials it is unlikely that many dwellings will be erected. DEVELOPMENT OF WATER-POWEB. The Lake Coleridge electrical-power undertaking has now completed its second year of operation. The maximum load reached 6,250 horse-power, which is in excess of the rated capacity of the three power units then installed at Lake Coleridge. Since the completion of the financial year, however, the fourth unit has been put in service, making a total installed capacity of 8,000 horse-power. An additional unit of machinery is on order having a capacity of 4,000 horse-power, and also material for a pipe-line. The manufacture of the turbine and the generator is well advanced, but there is very little prospect of getting delivery of the plates for the pipe-line, and efforts to obtain a permit for the manufacture from the Home authorities have been unavailing. During the year the additional consumers connected comprised the Christchurch Tramway Board, the Islington Freezing-works, Borthwick's Freezing-works (Belfast), the North Canterbury Farmers' Freezing-works at Kaiapoi, and two flour-mills,

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The financial results of the year's operations may be considered satisfactory, and a balance of £7,865 was carried to the net revenue account. The prospects for the present year are promising, and there is every indication at present that the undertaking will earn sufficient to meet interest charges and depreciation as well as working-expenses. During the year the feeder lines have been extended from Belfast to Kaiapoi, but owing to the lack of material and other considerations extensions in other directions have had to be postponed. Urgent requests have been received from Akaroa, Southbridge, Leeston, Timaru,- and other municipalities and districts on the route of the transmission-line from Christchurch to Timaru, but it has been impossible to comply with these requests. The demand for power threatens to exceed the capacity of the present machinery, and, having regard to the difficulty of obtaining delivery of machinery and plant on order to cope with the demand, the Department have declined for the present to enter into fresh contracts of any magnitude. A request has also been addressed to the Christchurch City Council and other local authorities taking a supply from, the .Department to exercise restraint in making new contracts. In order to tide over the difficulty of shortage of plant and to enable the Department to place the whole of the machinery in Lake Coleridge in service, a contract is being negotiated with the Christchurch Tramway Board and with the Christchurch City Council for the use of their steam plant for stand-by purposes. During the year considerable progress has been made with the surveys and other preliminary work in connection with the development of hydro-electric works in the North Island. Surveys have been completed for headworks on the Mangahao River, at Arapuni on the Waikato River, and a survey of the transmission-line between Shannon and Wellington has been completed, whilst a survey of a trans-mission-line between Auckland and the Waikato Eiver is in progress. investigations have been directed towards determining the best method of providing a general supply of electricity for the North Island. The indications point to the advisability of developing three sources -namely, the Waikato River, Waikaremoana, and the Mangahao in the south. Other water-power sources will, in all probability, be developed in course of time, but the three sources mentioned above would constitute the principal sources. A start has been made with the work of ascertaining the power requirements in the Wellington District, and a systematic canvass is being made of the powerusers and their requirements ascertained. A total of thirty-seven, licenses has been issued during the year for electriclight and power purposes. IKRIGATION. Only minor works in connection with the Ida Valley scheme in Central Otago were carried out during the year, consisting of a diverting-weir at the Manorburn Dam. and the completion and repair of some of the distributing-races. A few settlers in the valley were again supplied with water from the dam for irrigation on a small scale. Considerable progress has been made with the scheme to serve the country between Alexandra and Clyde from the Manuherikia Kiver. The site of the intake has been fixed, and the construction of a tunnel in the river-gorge commenced. The locality is particxilarly rough, and a special service road, with tram-line to the intake, has to be constructed. Slow progress is being made with the excavation of the main race to lead the water out of the gorge, and slips on the steep hillside are of frequent occurrence. WAIHOU AND OHINEMUKI RIVERS IMPROVEMENT. The dredge has been employed principally on excavating the Ngararahi Cut, which is 63 chains in length. At the end of March last there still remained about 12 chains to excavate through to the upper Waihou Kiver. By means of the dredge about 26 chains of stop-bank was constructed between Paeroa and Netherton. Four contracts were let for the construction of about 1 mile 60 chains of stopbanks on the left bank of the Waihou River above the Ngararahi Cut, but the work has not yet been completed.

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A considerable amount of survey-work in connection with further proposed stop-banks and drains has been done. The abnormal rainfall experienced in the district during the period under review has greatly hampered the progress of the works. WANGANUI RIVER. At the request of the Wanganui River Trust an exhaustive inspection was made of the Wanganui River from Raorikia, a few miles above Wanganui, to Taumarunui, with the object of ascertaining what is necessary to properly maintain the works which have already been carried out by the Wanganui River Trust; also as to what further works are required to make the river navigable by the river-steamers at all times of the year. TOURIST AND HEALTH RESORTS. No public works of any importance were undertaken during the year. The total amount expended was £1,094, compared with £5,167 for the previous year, and more than half of this amount was expended on drainage and water-supply works in Rotorua. TELEGRAPH EXTENSION. During the past year the extension of telegraph and telephone lines has resulted in the opening of forty new offices and ten new exchanges. The total expenditure amounted to £203,310. All construction-work has been considerably hampered on account of the short supplies of materials and limited staffs. Among the larger works undertaken were the construction of the following lines: Auckland-Dargaville M.C., HamiltonAuckland M.C., Tauranga -Whakatane M.C., Gisborne-Opotiki telephone circuit, Wanganui-Wellington M.C., Glenavy-Christchurch M.G., Dunedin-Glenavy M.C., Middlemarch-Alexandra, Auckland-Pukekohe, Stratford-Hawera, Waitotara-Orangi-mea telephone extensions, and Christchurch-Kaiapoi. Two hundred and twelve miles of line and 2,268 miles of wire were added to the telegraph system, and 460 miles of line and 13,944 miles of wire to the telephone exchange system. The number of telephone-exchange connections increased by 3,547. Underground cables were put down in several of the larger towns, and arrangements are in hand to extend this method. Thirty-nine new slot telephones were installed, bringing the total in use up to 237. LIGHTHOUSES. The automatic light on Okuri Point, to indicate the position of the dangerous Beef Barrel rocks, near the French Pass, has been completed, and was first exhibited on the 24th June, 1916. The light is giving satisfaction to mariners. Incandescent lights have been installed at Cape Foul wind and Manakau South Head. These lights are now installed at Cape Maria van Diemen, Cape Brett, Tiritiri, Cuvier Island, Castle Point, Cape Palliser, Pencarrow Head, Cape Egmont, Brothers, Cape Campbell, Godley Head, Akaroa Head, Jack's Point, Cape Saunders, Nugget Point, Waipapapa Point, Centre Island, Puysegur Point, Kahurangi Point, Farewell Spit, Stephen Island, Manukau Head, and Cape Foulwind. By their installation improved lights have been obtained, and also a considerable saving in the expenditure for oil, as these lights burn kerosene, which is cheaper than the paraffin used in the old lights. The tower of the lighthouse at Dog Island was found to be insecure, and it has been decided to encase the existing masonry tower in concrete, and the necessary plans are now in course of preparation. It has also been decided to erect new dwellings for the keepers at Puysegur Point Lighthouse, and some of the material required has been taken to the station by the s.s. " Hinemoa," but the erection of the buildings will not be put in hand until the summer. DEPARTMENTAL. The total number of permanent officers and employees in the Public Works Department on the 31st March, 1917, was 680, and of these ten have been discharged from the Expeditionary Forces as unfit for active service, and 150 are either in camp or serving abroad with the Expeditionary Forces.

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The total casualties suffered by the permanent officers of the Department since the outbreak of war are as follows : Died of wounds, 10 ; died of sickness, 2 ; wounded, 30 ; gassed, 1. In place of permanent officers and employees who have joined the Forces, the Department has taken on forty-eight officers, most of whom are employed in a temporary capacity. Let me state how greatly 1 appreciate the patriotism of those local bodies and settlers throughout the Dominion who have refrained from pressing their demands for expenditure during the war, on works which in normal times would be considered very important. I regret exceedingly that I have not been able to do more to relieve many cases of hardship, especially in the blackblocks ; but as soon as the war is over and our boys return, ample means will be then available to provide employment for all who need it. The construction of roads, bridges, and railways will be pushed ahead, and thus facilities will be afforded for increased settlement and for increased production. It is on these two factors that New Zealand has to depend to enable it to bear the heavy burden it has so readily assumed in aiding the Empire to win this appalling war.

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PUBLIC WOBKS STATEMENT, 1917.

INDEX. TABLES. Pose No. I.—Total Expenditure : Summary showing Total Expenditure out of Public Works Fund to 31st March, 1917, and Liabilities at that Date .. .. .. .. .. .. 2 No. 2.—Yearly Expenditure out of Public Works Fund, 1895 to 1917 • ■ .. ■. .. 3 No. 3.—Railways : Statement showing Expenditure on Construotion of Railways to 31st March, 1917, and Liabilities at that Date .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 7 No. 4.—Expenditure out of Separate Accounts under the Control of the Public Works Department .. .. .. .. ..' .. .. .. .. .. 10 No. 5. —Development of Water-power: Statement of Accounts as at 31st March, 1917 .. .. 11 APPENDICES. Appendix A.—Expenditure for the Year: Audited Statement of Expenditure out of the Public Works Fund for the Year 1916-1917 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 17 , B.—Annual Report on Public Works, by the Engineer-in-Chief .. .. .. 19 C—Annual Report on Public Buildings, by the Government Architect .. .. .. 43 D.—Annual Repokt on Electrical Work and Power Schemes, by the Chief Klectrical Engineer .. .. .. .. .. ... .. .. .. 46 E.—Hydro-electric Development—North Island Scheme, by the Chief HHectrical Engineer 49

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TABLE No. 1. Summary showing the Total Expenditure on Public Works and other Services out of Public Works Fund to 31st March, 1917, and the Liabilities on that Date.

I ------ -- - Number of Table containing Details. Total Net Expenditure to 31st March, 1916. Exnenditure t> ■ m * i H„ viv ,„ Recoveries „, . , „ . -, ,. Total TweKeMonths I on Account of Total Net Expend.- Liab ilitie s on Net Expenditure ,M Services ,w 4 "Timo 31st March, 1917. and 3! st March, 1917. of Pre ™ us Years ' "" Liabilities. I Works. Works. i I £ £ £ £ £ £ 3 Railways*.. .. .. .. 34,099,900 620,947 4.845 34,716,002 233,271 34,949,273 Railways Roads .. .. .. .. 11,040,253 220,845f .. 11.261,098 116,564 11,377,662 i Roads. Development of mining .. .. 841,422 4,592 .. 846,014 .. 846,014 Development of mining. Telegraphs .. .. .. 3,207,722 .. .. * 3.207.722 .. 3,207,722 Telegraphs. Public buildings .. .. .. 6,624,550 256,131+ .. 6 880 681 150,935 7,031,616 Public buildings. Lighthouses, harbour-works, and har- 1,136.308 3,767 .. 1,140 075 140 1,140.215 Lighthouses,harbour-works, and haibour-bour-defenees - defences. Departmental .. .. .. 1,062,953 131,701§ .. 1,194,654 1.316 1,195,970 Departmental. Development of water-powcr[! .. 18,451 .. .. 18,451 .. 18,451 Development of water-power. 18 of 1878 Coal-exploration and mine-development 10,835 .. .. 10,835 .. 10,835 i Coal-exploration and mine-development. 11 of 1877 Aiding works on Thames goldfields .. 50,000 .. .. 50.000 .. 50,000 Aiding works on Thames goldfields. Immigration .. .. .. 2,331,739 6,533 2,338,272 .. 2,338,272 Immigration. Purchase of Native lands .. .. 2,062,831 .. 868 2,061,963 .. 2,061,963 Purchase of Native lands. Defence .. .. .. .. 1,027,235 9,742 .. 1,036,977 113 1,037,090 'Defence. Charges and expenses of raising loans .. 1,253,037 35 .. 1,253,072 .. 1,253,072 Charges and expenses of raising loans. Interest and sinking fund .. .. 218,500 .. .. 218,500 .. 218,500 Interest and sinking fund. Rates on Native lands .. .. 68,672 .. .. 68,672 .. 68,672 Rates on Native lands. Thermal springs .. .. .. 14,600 .. .. 14,600 .. 14,600 Thermal springs. Tourist and health resorts .. .. 257,415 1,094 .. 258,509 190 258,699 Tourist and health resorts. Lands improvement .. .. 140,501 Cr. 2,731 .. 137,770 .. 137,770 Lands improvement. Payment to Midland Railway bond- 150,000 .. .. 150,000 .. 150,000 Payment to Midland Railway bondholders holders. Irrigation and .. 4,356 16,049 .. 20,405 1,424 21,829 Irrigation and water-supply. Plant, material, and stores .. .. 74,418 9,778 .. 84,196 2,980 87,176 Plant, material, and stores. 3 Railways*.. .. ... Roads Development of mining Telegraphs Public buildings Lighthouses, harbour-works, and har-bour-defences Departmental Development of water-po«er[| 18 of 1878 Coal-exploration and mine-development 11 of 1877 Aiding works on Thames goldfields Immigration Purchase of Native lands Defence Charges and expenses of raising loans .. Interest and sinking fund Rates on Native lands Thermal springs Tourist and health resorts Lands improvement Payment to Midland Railway bondholders Irrigation and water-supply*^ Plant, material, and stores £ 34,099,900 11,040,253 841.422 3,207,722 6,624.550 1,136.308 1,062,953 18,451 10,835 50,000 2.331,739 2,062,831 1,027,235 1,253.037 218,500 68,672 14,600 257,415 140,501 150,000 4,356 74,418 620,947 220.845f 4,592 256,131$ 3,767 131,701§ 6^533 9,742 35 1,094 Cr. 2,731 16.049 9,778 I £ 4,845 868 I I £ 34,716,002 11.261.098 846,014 3.207.722 6 880 681 1,140 075 1,194,654 18,451 10,835 50.000 2,338,272 2,061,963 1.036,977 1,253,072 218,500 68,672 14,600 258,509 137,770 150,000 20,405 84,196 I I 233,271 116,564 150,935 140 1,316 113 190 1,424 2,980 Totals.. .. .. 65,695,698 1,278,483 5,713 66,968,468 506,933 67,475,401 Totals. Totals 65,695,698 1,278,483 5,713 5,713 66,968,468 66,968,468 506,933 506,933 - i ; ! I l ! ! . __ * Exclusive of expenditure on Hutt Railway and Road Improvement, and Railways Improvement Accounts. t Includes £1,050 charged to " Unauthorized." t Includes £4,700 charged to " Unauthorized." § Includes £17 charged to " Unauthorized." j[ Expenditure subsequent to 1911-12 is under separate special account. % Expenditure 1911-12 to 1915-16 and part 1916-17 is under separate special account.

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TABLE No. 2. GENERAL SUMMARY. Showing Net Yearly Expenditure out of Public Works Fund, 1895-96 to 1916-17.

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.B. —The figures in italics, prefixed by " Or." are either recoveries on account of services of previous years or receipts-in-aid applied in reduction of expenditure. Expenditure from 1892-93 to 1896-97, inclusive, includes expenditure under Native Lands Purchase Account; and from 1894-95 to 1896-97, inclusive, expenditure under Lands Improvement Account. Total Net Expenditure Expenditure. Description of Services. to 31st March. 1895. 1895-96. 1896-97. 1S97-98. 1898-99. 1899-1900. 1904-5. 1905-6. 190O-1. 1901-2. 1902-3. 1903-4. £ 2,146,654 £ Cr. 10 £ ! 301 j £ 70 £ 105 £ 385 £ 214 £ 139 £ I 142 j * £ Cr. 7 £ 6,481 £ 8,753 Immigration Public Works Departmental 384,841 14.300 14.892 9.689 10,090 12,572 12,932 17.771 13.949 16.088 12,814 13,517 Development of Water-power 468 ' 2,901 I. Irrigation and Water-supply Railways 14,902,572 197,105 207,231 Cr. 334 I 351,600 374,192 | 417.937 717,723 1,333.940 | 759.752 828,704 779,891 1,021,265 Payment to Midland Railway Bondholders . 150,000 ■■ .. Roads :— Miscellaneous Roads and Bridges 3,705,312 45,261 Cr. 573 241,213 21,513 15,691 ' 241,209 Cr. 365 ': Cr. 365 32.578 49.569 16,023 103,555 248,934 237,351 Cr. 365 Cr. 347 46,550 ; 48.039 267,374 48.417 354.687 230,349 316.248 202,850 306,065 Roads on Goldfields Development of Thermal Springs and Natural Scenery .. Lands Improvement Account* 89 j207 108,108 47,573 51,690 ■ 45.594 26.112 45,139 Total, Roads 4,035,732 174.369 167,482 290,413 295,119 285,043 315,791 402.260 282,039 361,842 228,962 351,204 Development ol Mining 578,306 11.345 10,508 33,117 17,355 21.815 15.907 15.326 ' 24,213 16.278 6,258 j 18,533 Purchase of Native Lands 1,297,854 Cr. 37 129,000 61.503 53,182 Cr. 225 32.025 28,688 18,261 15,782 5,352 6,281 13,777 Native Lands Purchase Account 199,569 103,411 Total, Land Purchases 1,497,423 163,411 128,963 61.503 52,957 32,025 28,688 18,261 15.782 5.352 6.281 13,777 Telegraph Extension .. 699,022 35,538 36,791 29,384 28,551 26,771 50,101 31,729 68,578 j 47.228 79,298 | 77,186 * Subsequent expenditure under separate class " Lands Improvement," see next page. Continued on pay e 4.

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TABLE No. 2—continued. GENERAL SUMMARY— continued. Showing Net Yearly Expenditure out of Public Works Fund, 1895-96 to 1916-17— continued.

Description of Services. Total Net Expenditure to 31st March, 1893. 1895-96. I 1896-97. 1897-98. I 1898-99. j 1899-1900. Expenditure. Expenditu 1900-1. 1903-4. 1904-5. 1905-6. 1901-2. 1902-3. I I I Public Buildings :— General (including Miscellaneous) Parliamentary Judicial Post and Telegraph Customs Quarantine-stations Mental Hospitals Public Health Hospitals and Charitable Institutions School Buildings Agricultural Workers' Dwellings £ £ 198,909 - 3,724 : 20,993 294,832 ! 27,341 158,134 6,194 5,872 647 3,834 363,132 10,935 41,183 6,561 857,014 20,000 i 997 1,127 £ 8,178 9 14,806 7,504 16 16,404 700 22,143 819 £ 14,797 466 12,727 5,888 385 14,130 23,864 1,328 £ 8,764 20,636 11,109 5,168 17,667 43,403 520 £ 3,957 9,883 19,682 13,483 107 17,712 899 49,256 447 £ 5,594 3,039 29,630 20,954 875 2,607 18,872 5,141 33,681 971 i £ 12,513 4,424 28,728 40,361 2,066 424 16,743 | 1,200 38,606 535 | 9,031 1.503 33,224 74,686 6,630 10,167 3,540 ! 57,790 883 : ! £ 10,964 602 25,978 53,918 8,719 15,812 6,315 4,291 87,089 2,504 ! £ 9,021 697 13,083 16,008 13,018 15,949.1 4,265 ! 1,204 ! 42,721 1,362 £ 2,231 71 15,899 38.419 7.903 16,235 7.926 4.786 69.223 2,618 - L_ Total, Public Buildings 1,944,900 76,529 70,579 73,585 107,267 115,426 121,364 ! 145,600 197,454 216,192 117,328 165,311 Lighthouses, Harbour- works, and Harbour-defences :— Lighthouses.. Harbour-works .. .. .. Harbour-defences 128,820 310,757 470,527 234 3,861 3,314 6,067 866 4,667 2,180 568 2,547 3,727 1,777 10,158 3,333 365 5,328 1,017 1,540 3,960 j 2,060 ! 3,421 6,678 ! 6,082 1,373 6,126 6,206 1,773 2,885 2,167 1,308 2,515 962 2.684 1.300 Total, Lighthouses, &c. 910,104 7,409 11,600 6,295 15,662 9,026 6,517 12,159 13,581 10,864 5,990 4,946 Rates on Native Lands .. .. 61,634 340 332 156 347 744 ! 673 571 471 666 631 548 Contingent Defence 429,719 5,000 10,554 10,360 13,867 42,810 37,650 146,875 37,005 38,723 46,588 35.569 Tourist and Health Resorts 11,260 10,949 15,643 17,508 15.888 Lands Improvement* 1,741 2,349 2,019 2,248 1,052 Charges and Expenses of raising Loans 1,026,828 943 Cr. 6 5 Cr. 5 224 28,322 1,460 5,620 Cr. 516 88,180 87,249 10,764 236 Interest and Sinking Funds 218,500 Coal-exploration and Mine-development 10,835 Thermal Springs 14,600 Total Ways and Means Credits Grand Total —Net Expenditure 28,861,220 573 683,336 705 659,836 370 865,172 590 915,736 347 992,876 ' 516 2,142,736 11,514,444 7 1,796,841 1,321,510 1,730,686 1,309,020 * For previous expenditure see Roads Class. [Continued on page 5.

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TABLE No. 2— continued. GENERAL SUMMARY -continued. Showing Net Yearly Expenditure out of Public Works Fund, 1895-96 to 1916-17— continued.

Expenditure. Total Net Expenditure to 31st March, 1917. Description of Services. 1909-10. 1910-11. 1911-12. 1912-13. 1913-14. 1914-15. 1915-16. 1906-7. 1907-8. 1908-9. 1916-17. _ I I Immigration £ 14,353 £ 9,132 £ 15,075 £ 17,003 £ 9,441 £ 11,681 £ 14,694 £ 33,914 £ 33,219 £ 10,010 Cr. 10 £ 6,533 £ 2,338,272 Public Works Departmental* 16,710 1,194,651 16,710 18,219 24,512 41,176 42,733 49,864 57,426 66,650 100,719 111,489 f-131,701 Development of Water-power* 4,664 4,664 315 1,021 9,082 + + 18,45 Irrigation and Water-supply! 1,562 2,794 ;: || ||16,049 20,40i Railways .. 1,227,880 1,093,535 1,116,184 1,128,400 1,104,071 Cr. 652 1,125,905 Or. 6,987 1,148,832 1,104,897 620,947 Cr. 29,528 Cr. 5.485 Cr. 6,022 Cr. 4,633 I Cr. 4,845 34,716,00! Payment to Midland Railway Bondholders 150, 00< Roads: — 337,584 36,761 (353,836 I 4g4 365 4 0 oo62 **203,746 | Or. 515 I 24,143 30,065 24,432 17,099 Miscellaneous Roads and Bridges .. ; 308,500 285,248 422, 174 297,932 229,537 383,511 Roads on Goldfields Development of Thermal Springs and Natural Scenery Lands Improvement Account .. .. 38,970 38,494 •• 47,375 40,830 25,626 41,067 •• •• .. Total, Roads, 347,470 347,470 323,742 469,549 338,762 255,163 424,578 374,345 377,464 514,430 424,494 220,845 11,261,091 Development of Mining 11,064 11,064 8,633 32,859 18,597 Cr. 1,000 10,845 Cr. 1,000 21,244 Or. 30 10,644 Cr. 1,015 4,889 2,384 Cr. 255 6,602 4,592 896,01 Purchase of Native Lands 9,135 9,135 2,190 2,099 30,567 2,976 Cr. 2,286 Cr. 2,466 Cr. 917 Cr. 857 Cr. 1,060 Cr. 972 Cr. 868 Native Lands Purchase Account .. I ■■ Total, Land Purchases .. i .. I 9,135 9,135 2,190 2,099 30,567 690 Cr. 2,466 Cr. 917 Or. 857 ! Cr. 1,060 Cr. 972 Or. 868 2,061,96! Telegraph Extension .. i 114,068 155,491 163,033 i 123,423 111,867 147,692 251,375 392,648 288,395 249,554 | tt 3,207,72! * Expenditure on Development of Water-power, 1903-4, £2,561 ; 1908-9, £101 included in Class Public Works Departmental. t Includes " Unauthorized," £17. J Expenditure from 1912-13 is under the Aid to Water-power Works Account. § Previously included under Lands Improvement. || Expenditure from 1912-13 to 1915-16 and part of 1916-17 is under the Irrigation and Water-supply Account. % Includes £1,000,000 expended 1908-9 and 1909-10 under Wellington-Manawatu Railway Purchase Account. "• Includes £1,05( charged to "Unauthorized." ft Expenditure is under "Telegraph Extension Account."

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TABLE No. 2—continued. GENERAL SUMMARY-continued. Showing Net Yearly Expenditure out of Public Works Fund, 1895-96 to 1916-17— continued.

Expenditure. Total Net Expenditure to 31st March, 1917. Description of Services. 1910-11. 1911-12. 1912-13. 1913-14. 1914-15. 1915-16. 1900-7. 1907-8. 1903-9. 1909-10. 1916-17. Public Buildings :— General (including Miscellaneous) Parliamentary I Courthouses Judicial J Gaols (Police-stations Post and Telegraph Customs Quarantine-stations.. Mental Hospitals " i £ £ 14.216 16.200 1,047 4,119 35,192 28,938 43.918 43,724 414 47 8,049 7.987 £ 16.200 4,119 £ 39.635 5.172 £ 39.635 5.172 37.211 62,262 2.507 15,296 £ 41.964 3. 157 £ 44.044 237 £ 34,721 2.004 £ 44.719 18.806 ! £ 43.199 23.612 £ £ 52,239 22,050 31,478 17,133 ! ( 4,902 38.808 - 17,786 i 25,484 60,838 35,258 £ 12,648 22,586 299 15,685 21,147 22,744 £ 28,938 43,724 . 47 37.211 02,202 2.507 31,006 22,295 44,133 45.431 - .._ 28,445 08.574 233 117,815 12,707 130.815 8,809 122,999 78.815 •■ ■• 7.987 15,290 19,839 40.181 26,001 53,996 54,898 Cr. 15 44,602 Public Health .. Hospitals and Charitable Institutions School Buildings Agricultural 1.765 7.497 10.259 15.576 109,459 100.197 2.707 1,690 7.497 15.570 100.197 1,690 ; 4.402 11,153 102,340 5.543 4.402 11,153 102,340 5.543 319 7.259 98.103 6.103 1.484 124.926 1,160 12.745 90,535 3,684 370 8.750 105,000 6,475 1.435 121.954 4,398 998 : 1.426 122,940 ! 97,972 2,428 2,972 Or. 34 68,275 55,893 *7,570 70,367 3.046 Workers' Dwellings .. 22,644 46.455 41.741 35,437 ■• : . Total, Public Buildings i_ 227,026 226,035 285,521 277.157 324.668 350,090 445,192 i 309,600 431, 966 335,759 256,131 6,880,081 _ Lighthouses, Harbour-works, and Harbour-defences :— Lighthouses Harbour -works Harbour-defences 1,417 2,963 2,807 1,541 2,579 7.481 4,439 7.297 6.762 4,548 1,470 : 4,092 5.428 6,004 9,031 5.174 7.415 3,340 ! Cr. 1,462 339 539 Cr. 300 -3,887 12,563 ; 681 1,415 9,355 2,903 449 2,280 " 5.372 2,865 1,144 1,038 Total, Lighthouses, &c. 4.504 6.863 4.504 6.863 19.217 19,217 16,682 8,427 12.576 16,785 7,297 ; 17,131 13,673 3,767 1,140,075 Rates on Native Lands 695 837 695 837 27 27 68,672 jContingent Defence 14,874 18,574 j 14,874 18.574 10,766 10,766 4,977 6,071 6,071 10.437 10,437 23.790 30.180 15,221 37,619 9,742 1,036,977 Tourist and Health Resorts i 42.271 | 45,048 45,048 24.286 24.286 14,507 5,912 13.361 12.906 j 14,989 I 8,232 5,167 Cr. 12 Or. 500 1,094 258,509 1 1— Lands Improvement^ 5.605 9,561 9,561 19,542 19,542 . 6,910 11,125 20,394 22.550 Cr. 383 10,996 Or. 432 13,810 Or. 522 5,936 : Cr. 2,731 137,770 I Charges and Expenses of raising Loans .. .. < Or. 5,175 Cr. 8,487 Cr. 5.175 Cr. 8,487 575 575 17,715 66,367 67,470 72.950 105,449 35.495 5,037 Cr. 12,000 | Or. 66,392 Or. 66,954 Or. 71,681 Cr. 96,741 Cr. 34,865 Cr. 5,030 35 1,253.072 Interest and Sinking Funds 218,500 ■• Coal-exploration and Mine-development 10.835 Thermal Springs 14,000 Plant, Material, and Stores 74,418 9,778 84,196 Total Ways and Means Credits Grand Total —Net Expenditure '.'. 2 5,775 8,487 2,035,144 1,909,688 2,183,245 5,175 8,487 2,035,144 1,909,688 2 2,183,245 . _ _ 10,530. 103,524 105,792 43,400 11,160 5,713 2.022,876 1,891,918 2,190.731 2,347.965 2,421,464 2,565,019 2,333,784 1,278,483 i 66,968,468 * Includes £4,700 charged to " Unauthorized." f Includes expenditure on Irrigation and Water-supply— 1905-6, £22; 1906-7, £750 ; 1907-8, £1,554; 1908-9, £1,966.

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TABLE No 3. Expenditure on Railways to 31st March, 1917, and Liabilities on that Date.

Expenditure out of Public Works Fund during Year 1916-17. Lines of Railway. Total Expenditure by General Government to 31st March. 1916. on Account of Expenditure of Previous Years. New Works. Construction! Permanentand Surreys.) way. under charged to Land Claims . Special Acts ! "Surveys of New — - rJL™ '■ and other during Year Lines" now n. * i w ?*„£? Old 1916-17. charged to Total New Lines. Liabilities. * Individual Lines. W orks. Amounts t.„+„i Valuation of i:™- anilMaSd to 31st March, RaiIlvay Company. Liabilities. Total Expenditure and Liabilities, 31st March, 1917. Kaihu Valley Otiria to Hokianga Opua Wharf to Whangarei and Onerahi Whangarei to North Auckland Main Trunk (Waiotira) Helensville Northwards Waipu Branch Helensville to Te Awamutu Waiuku Branch (Paerata to Waiuku) Huntly to Awaroa Waikato to Thames — Frankton to Te Aroha Te Aroha to Thames Cambridge Branch (Ruakura Junction to Cambridge) Paeroa to Waihi and Tauranga Thames Valley to Rotorua — Morrinsvillc to Lichfield Putaruru to Rotorua Marton to Te Awamutu Raetihi to Ohakune Tauranga to Taneatua, including Te Maunga - Maunganui Branch Gisborne to Motu Gisborne to Ormond Tramway Napier to Gisborne — Gisborne Southwards Wairoa Northwards Napier Northwards Wellington to Napier — Napier to Woodville and Palmerston North Wellington to Woodville, including Te Aro Extension Featherston to Martinborough Wellington to Waitara — Wellington to Longburn Foxton to Waitara Mount Egmont Branch Opunake Branch (Te Roti to Opunake) Manaia Branch (Kapuni to Manaia) Rangitikei River Quarry Line 104,113 188.067 522.088 87,953 792.461 369 1,981.524 40.447 104,324 152,734 207.649 51,500 176.754 166,750 199.791 2,713,508 52,555 255.719 602, 841 4,975 163,519 990 33,924 918,232 1,617,816 399 987,319 1,554,498 72,103 31.258 1.131 206 3 1.312 3,530 £ £ £ £ £ £ 50 .. 50 7.876 .. 7,876 318 145 36,383 10,905 47,288 33,778 1,019 34,797 1,945 .. 250 3,506 .. 197,310 11,736 10,441 22,177 2,837 .. 2,837 .. .. 441 4 .. 934 6,174 .. 6,174 11 9 434 3,639 .. 2,666 10,869 5,041 15,910 .. 31,376 22,278 53,654 5,335 478 5,813 6,161 .. 276 8,000 927 8,927 643 .. 643 8,778 .. 8,778 839 .. 1,777 2,561 50 5,920 17,979 .. 2,926 965 .. 3,906 Or. i Cr. 4 13,883 80 13,963 983 .. 983 £ 413 80 r £ 104,163 195,943 522.548 135,241 829.453 369 2,182.340 62,624 107,602 153,672 207,649 51,500 182, 928 160.750 200,245 2,718,501 68.465 309,786 615.091 4,975 172,446 1,633 42,702 920.848 1,626,347 399 j 1,008,224 1,555,839 72,099 45,221 2,194 206 £ £ . £ 104.163 1,605 195.943 524,153 6,238 141,479 1,200 830,653 369 97,296 2,279.636 296 62,920 72 107,674 153,672 207, 649 51,500 320 183,248 166,750 200,245 2,718,501 1,585 70,050 8,000 317,786 7,551 622.642 4,975 447 172.893 15 1,648 1,890 44,592 920,848 1,626,347 399 1,008,224 1,555,839 72,099 710 45.931 2,194 206 * Railways Improvement. Authorization Act 1914 Account-

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TABLE No. 3—continued. Expenditure on Railways to 31st March, 1917, and Liabilities on that Date— continued.

Total Expenditure by General Government to 31st March, 1916. on Account of Expenditure Expenditure out of Public Works Fi New Works. nd during Year 1916-17. Works on Open Lines. ! Land Claims and other Old Liabilities. under Special Acts during Year 1916-17. previously charged to " Surveys of New Lines" now charged to Individual Lines. Amounts Total Valuation of Government J^SSErf to 31st March, *""■ Company. Total Expenditure and Liabilities, 31st March, 1917. Lines of Railway. Liabilities. Years. Construction Permanent- Total New and Surveys. way. Works. * * Stratford to Okahukura (East End) Stratford to Okahukura (West End) Nelson to Roundell Midland Railway — Belgrove to Inangahua Stillwater to Inangahua.. Brunnerton to Bealey Springfield to Bealey Westport to Ngakawau Westport to Inangahua Ngahere to Blackball Greymor.th to Point Elizabeth Greymouth to Brunnerton Greymouth to Ross and Mikonui Picton to Waipara — Picton Southwards .. .. Waipara Northwards Culverdcn to Hanmer (motor-cars and sheds) Culverden to Waiau Hurunui to Waitaki — Main Line (Culverden-Waitaki) Oxford Branch (Rangiora to Oxford West) Eyreton Branch (Kaiapoi to Bennett's) Lyttelton Branch Southbridge Branch (Hornby to Southbridge) Springfield and Whitecliffs Branches Fairlie Creek Branch (Washdyke Junction to Fairlie) Waimate Branch Rakaia to Methven Ashburton to Springbum Little River Branch (Lincoln to Little River) Canterbury Interior Main Line — Oxford to Malvern .. .. Whitecliffs to Rakaia Temuka to Rangitata Waitaki to BluffMain Line, including Port Chalmers Branch Duntroon Branch (Pukeuri to Kurow) Ngapara Branch (Waiareka Junction to Ngapara) £ 133,450 662,463 199,741 £ . £ 26,112 23,081 £ 1^209 £ 26,112 24,290 £ 230 £ £ £ £ 159,562 686,753 199,964 £ £ £ 57,408 216,970 1,053 687,806 199,964 Cr. "7 259,910 i 203,765 718,457 742,851 188,009 152,419 147,637 ! 255,056 150,651 I 338,201 I 1,806 ! Cr. 35 56,338 184 156 Cr. "57 7 1,806 Cr. 35 56,345 184 156 Cr. "o7 "73 5 209 261,721 I 203,939 \\ 774,802 : ) 743,035 188,009 152,575 i 147,532 ; 254,999 150,651 338,274 ; 78,307 543,574 61,579 100 340,128 I } 1 > 527 ' 177 804,614 188,009 14 152,589 147,532 254,999 150,651 338,274 Cr. 5 643,875 374,133 3,834 26,023 1.850,687 51,521 44,277 80,908 89,524 95,860 67,251 j 2,867 71 7,802 1,112 173 "77 3,979 ! 244 7,879 3,051 5,068 1,036 650,905 374,377 3,834 33,902 _.. 107 651,012 374,377 3,834 398 34,300 3,407 1,859,162 51.521 44,277 80,908 90,560 95,860 67,251 : 316,135 340,500 75,124 2,175,297 51,521 44,277 421,408 90,560 95,860 142,375 -, ! 70,298 74,640 61,639 108,524 5 70,303 74,640 61,639 108,524 68,819 74,640 61,639 108,438 53,649 542 5,152 3,278,366 97,099 26,090 1,475 1,475 4 86 19 6,813 53,668 542 5,152 53,668 542 5,152 5,205 3,290,384 97,099 26,090 82,259 37,500 58,009 . .. 3,372,643 134,599 84,099 * Railwa 1 r s Imi irovernent Authorization Act 1914 Account.

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TABLE No. 3— continued . Expenditure on Railways to 31st March, 1917, and Liabilities on that Date— continued.

Expenditure *f°vene s ™Acconj of Government to ! 31st March, <* ?l%f™ 1916. lears - ~ w . under charged to in ew works, works Land Claims Special Acts " Surveys of New n„ v ,L and other during Year Lines" now r, . ,- t, . -r , ■ v ?„f Old 1916-17. charged to Construction Permanent- Total New Lines. L j abilities . , Individual Lines, and Purveys. way. \\ orks. Expenditure out of Public Works Fund during Year 1916-17. New Works. Amounts Total 110 ' Total constructed bv Expenditure "abilities. to 31st March, 31st March, iyi '- Company. 1917 - Lines of Railway. Waitaki to Bluff — continued. £ Livingstone Branch (Windsor to Tokarahi) 82,785 Waihemo Branch (Palmerston to Dunback) j 33,191 Fernhill Railway Purchase .. ..I 1,415 Brighton Road Branch . . ' .. . . 6,474 Outram Branch (Mosgiel to Outram) ... 11,951 Lawrence Branch .. .. .. 305,293 Balclutha -Tuapeka Mouth .. .. 1,258 Catlin's River Branch (B lclutha to Taha- J 462,840 kopa) Heriotburn Branch (Waipahi to Edievale) .. ' 123,788 Waikaka Branch (McNab 'o Waikak.) .. 67,821 Gorj to Lumsden .. .. .. 111,966 Edenaale to Glenham .. .. .. 52,743 Riversdale to Switzer's .. .. .. 82,304 Kelso to Gore .. .. .. .. [ 602 Seaward Bush to Catlin's .. •• 1 10 , ooi Appleby to Toksnui .. .. .. } ls4 '» 81 Otago Central (Wingatui to Cromwell) .. 1,318,013 Invercargill to Kingston — Main Line .. .. .. .. 358,842 Mararoa Branch (Lumsden to Mossburn) .. 27,217 Winton to Heddon Bush .. .. 231 I Makarewa to Orepuki and Waiau .. •• 1 -jqr ai Thornbury to Wairio .. .. .. j 18 ! Forest Hill (Winton to Hedgehope) .. .. 22,984 Expenses oi Railway Commissions and other 10,337 Expenditure not chargeable to Individual Lines Surveys of New Lines — North Island .. .. .. .'. 35,701 Middle Island .. .. .. .. 5,752 Rolling-stock .. .. .. ..! 6,304,188 Stock of Permanent-way Materials, 31st March, 1915 ".. ..£118,190' 118,190 35,109,302 Stock of Permanent-way decreased by £40,385 40,385 Stock of Permanent-way Materials, 31st March, 1915 '.. .. £77,805 £ £ Cr. 8 703 Cr. 221 13,335 226 692 £ £ £ Or. ' S 703 Cr. 221 83 8,557 ' 21,892 226 [ 246 692 230,906 £ i £ i Cr. 493 £ 82,785 33.191 1,415 6,474 11.951 305.285 1,961 462,702 123.788 67,821 111,966 52,743 82.304 602 { 184,881 1,339,905 358,842 27,217 231 336,653 22.984 10,337 35,900 5,752 6,535.094 77,805 £ £ £ 82,785 33,191 1,415 12,829 .. 19,303 29,691 .. 41,642 305,285 1,961 462,702 123,788 67,821 111,966 52,743 82.304 602 184.881 1,748 1,341,653 91,937 .. 450,779 27,217 231 60,297 .. 396,950 22,984 10,337 35,900 5,752 79,395 6,614,489 58.252 136,057 _ _ 62,304 ; 375,528 285.543 261 — r Total .. .. .. 35,068,917 4,845 313,224 t 62,304 : 375,528 285.543 261 ■: 225,597 225,597 I 35,951,001 35,951,001 I 1,787, 330,567 38,069,309 1,| 787,741| 330,567 38,069,309 I •_ * Railways Improvement Authorization Act, 1914, Account. t Also includes value for £150,000 paid to debenture-holders under the Midland Railway Petitions Settlement Act Amendment Act, 1903.

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10

TABLE No. 4. Expenditure out of Separate Accounts on Works under the Control of the Public Works Department.

Year. Lo A c cco B nr es ; % s rrt ent Lands - Lands. Land for Settlements Account. Opening up Crown Lands lor Settlement Account, ttoads to open up Crown Lands. National Endowment Account. Roads to open up Nationalendowment Lands. Aid to Water-power Works Account. Development of Water-power. Irrigation and Water supply Account. Irrigation and Water-supply. Waihou and Ohinemuri Rivers Improvement Account. Waihou and Ohinemuri Rivers Improvement. 1890-91 L891-92 1892-93 1891 92 1892-93 .893-94 L894-95 894-95 .895-90 896-97 .897-98 898-99 .899-00 .900-01 1901-02 1902-03 i903-04 .904-05 .905-06 .906-07 .907-08 .908-09 909-10 £ 25,000 64,000 800 89,800* 8,0001 29,8331 30,0001 6,114f 42,971J 30.057J 31,017 18,770 16,972 31,363 37,390 31,979 18,578 25,753 28,895 38,801 47,371 38,524 54,713 40,507 £ £ £ £ 4,975 3,709 9,555 9,632 10,004 9,225 10,407 .910-11 .911-12 .912-13 .913 14 .914-15 .915-16 .916-17 607,608tj 45,691 49,739 47,951 63,245 5,619 6,554 2,689 4,282 9,151 13,344 6,787 92,975 47,974 24,730 35,009 142,828 74,291 55,410 49,032 14,689 33,602 32,090 29,874 4,745 697,408 206,626 165,679 53,401 ! 356,570 115,000 52,592 to the Public W ider Class " Roai the Public Worl the Land Iniprc oads. ure under the G'orks Fund undei dB." ks Fund, reducin jvement Accouni r section 31 of tt ie Government Loans to Local 1 * Payment expenditure ur t Paid into I Paid into penditure on r< 8 Bxpenditi lodies Act, 1886, in reduction of ig tile exp u nditu: t (now included i re under Class " Roads." in Public Works Fund under Cli ,ss " Roads"), reducing the oxovernment Loan is to Local Bodie is Act Amendment Act, 1891.

11

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Table No. 5. DEVELOPMENT OF WATER-POWER. STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS AT 31st MARCH, 1917. General Balance-sheet at 31st March, 1917, compared with Position at 31st March, 1916.

1915-16. Liabilities. 1916-17. 1915-1916. Assets. 1916-17. 1915-16. Liabilities. 1916-17. I £ s. d. Consolidated Fund — £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. Lake Coleridge — £ s. d. £ s. d. Interest at 4 per cent, per annum on Lake 332,450 17 4 Assets as per separate balance-sheet .. 388,080 14 10 25,33118 3 Coleridge expenditure to 31st March, 1917 .. 38,912 14 S 18,572 1 2 Profit and Loss Appropriation Account .. 30.528 5 11 86 14 0 Accident Insurance Fund .. .. 151 3 4 Public Works Fund— j 418,760 4 1 Expenditure under class "Public Works 351,109 12 6 2,661 17 10 Departmental" .. .. .. 2,661 17 10 Expenditure under class " Development of Other Schemes : Survevs and Investigation — 18.450 14 1 Water-power" .. .. .. 18.450 14 1 803 1 9 Clarence River .. .. .. 803 1 9 21.112 11 11 .. Horahora .. .. .. .. 653 13 3 21,112 11 11 368 9 6 Huka Falls .. .. .. .. 378 9 6 2,915 8 6" Hutt River (including purchase of dam-site) 2,868 19 3 I Aid to Water-power Works Account — 5 0 0 Kanieri Lake.. .. .. .. 5 0 0 309,000 0 0 Debentures issued .. .. .. .. ■ 364,000 0 0 38 9 0 Makuri River.. .. .. .. 38 9 0 335 7 8 Mangahao River .. .. .. 745 15 8 Lake Coleridge — 519 12 7 Opihi River .. .. .. .. j 519 12 7 5,853 4 10 Depreciation Fund Account .. 12,165 19 8 1,105 19 7 Rotoiti-Kaituna .. .. .. 1,105 19-7 2,731 10 6 Sundrv cre'dtors .. - .. .. 2,847 18 10 879 16 8 Tauherenikau.. .. .. .. 879 16 8 15,013 18 6 17 7 0 Toaroha .. .. .. .. 17 7 0 8.584 15 4 76 16 6 Teviot .. .. .. .. 76 16 6 11 19 0 Upper Taieri .. .. .. .. 11 19 0 Waikaremoana .. .. .. 362 3 11 ! 236 6 8 Wairua .. .. .. .. 236 6 8 8,703 10 4 7,313 14 5 General expenditure not chargeable to any 4,144 5 6 individual scheme .. .. .. .. 4,145 5 6 Cash balance in the Aid to Water-power Works 1,461 14 1 Account .. .. .. .. .. 7,430 5 2 £364.029 5 6 £439,039 5 1 £364,029 5 6 £439,039 5 1 £439,039 5 1 £439,039 5 1 P. S. Waldie, Ac ting-Accountant.

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12

LAKE COLERIDGE HYDROELECTRIC-POWER SUPPLY. Profit and Loss Account for Year ended 31st March, 1917, compared with Year ended 31st March, 1916. Gross Revenue Account.

1915-16. 1916-17. - 1915-16. 1916-17. £ s. d. 2,071 14 9 452 18 6 84 10 8 26 4 10 4 7 6 7 13 11 108 17 2 226 14 11 214 15 6 3,197 17 9 346 13 4 105 0 10 959 17 4 527 18 2 119 18 11 2,059 8 7 659 12 10 274 3 11 223 1 6 28 8 8 37 17 10 1,223 4 9 To Generating expenses, headworks, and powerhouse — £ s. d. Salaries .. .. .. .. 2,051 7 3 Wages .. .. .. .. 701 17 11 Supplies .. .. .. .. 177 9 1 Maintenance and repairs — Headworks .. .. .. 230 2 2 Pipe-lines .. .. .. '15 II 0 Power-house building .. .. 40 1 3 Power-house machinery .. .. 116 16 5 Roads and fences .. .. 172 4 9 Staff residences, &c. .. . . 235 12 9 Transmission-line — Salaries .. .. .. .. 215 10 0 Wages .. .. .. .. 72 18 10 Transport, including upkeep of horses, j traps, cars, and cycles .. .. 1,395.13 11 Repairs to power-lines .. .. 842 17 6 Repairs and alterations to telephonesystem .. .. .. .. 31 9 8 Substation. Addington — Salaries .. .. .. .. 795 0 8 Wages .. .. .. .. 382 6 6 Supplies .. .. .. .. 84 4 10 Maintenance and repairs — Buildings Buildings and yards, including water-supply and drainage .. 266 13 7 Machinery ' .. . . .. 132 13 4 £ s. d. £ s. d. 7,722 19 9 532 18 8 8,255 18 5 4 6 0 244 15 3 3,741 2 7 244 15 3 2,558 9 11 12 14 8 865 4 8 1,660 18 11 Bv Sale of energv — £ s. d. Wholesale .. .. .. .. 19,021 4 6 Retail .. .. .. .. 968 0 11 Discounts forfeited .. . . Meter-rents .. .. .. Rents — Lands and buildings.. .. .. 465 15 3 Electric lines .. .. .. 52 10 10 plant .. .. .. 30 10 6 Fees for retesting installations .. .. 1 7 0 0 ,, testing and repairing electrical apliances .. .. .. 27 13 7 Stand-by provision : Fees from wholesale consumers .. . . .. Supervision charges on works, not connected with Lake Coleridge, carried out by staff Profits on coal sold to employees at Lake Coleridge Balance to Net Revenue Account - £ s. d. 19,989 5 5 5 16 7 8 19 0 548 16 7 34 13 7 66 13 4 100 0 0 xxo ! 71 13 4 3 7 4 18 14 4 352 7 5 288 13 11 734 16 4 Distribution — Salaries .. .. .. .. 233 9 5 Wages .. .. .. .'. 8 12 0 Supplies .. .. .. .. 142 5 8 Transport, including upkeep of motor lorry and car .. .. .. 234 16 7 Repairs to feeder cables .. .. 1,103 18 4 1,723 J2 0

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13

41 9 4 Temporary supply cable from Christchurch Tramway Power- station to city I* ... 1.255 6 8 19 13 4 153 8 4 150 0 0 92 0 8 58 17 9 152 11 2 31 8 5 137 17 2 12 16 6 3 13 3 10 13 4 . 3 14 11 15 3 2 29 7 7 ': 2,126 12 3 Stand-by provisionsPayment to Christchurch Tramway Board (7 months at £850 per annum).. Payment to Christchurch Tramway Board, for energy supplied Management and general expenses — Salaries .. .. .. Wages Travelling-expenses.. Office-rent Postages and telegrams Telephone subscriptions Printing and stationery Advertising Accident insurance Fire insurance Legal expenses .. ... Meter-reading Commission on collection of accounts.. Electrical testing Bad debts Miscellaneous trade expenses 495 16. 8 42 7 0 538 3 8 1.225 5 7 21 13 7 139 5 5 200 0 0 108 0 0 87 1 7 113 7 10 . 13 7 2 209 1 5 17 1 5 87 5 6 217 19 7 34 13 1 174 1 4 0 18 1 17 16 1 2.666 17 8 i fr fr Balance to Net Revenue Account 12,888 14 9 7,865 9 9 i £9,383 9 0 £20,754 4 6 £9,383 9 0 £20 £20,754 4 6 0,754 4 6 £20,754 4 6 £9,383 9 0 Net Revenue Account. £ s. d. i 865 4 8 To Balance from Gross Revenue Account 5,386 5 7 , Depreciation at 2 per cent, .per annum on completed work .. 11,397 18 2 Interest at 4 per cent, per annum £ s. d. . 6.078 12 5 13,743 2 1 £ s. d. ! By Balance from Gross Revenue Account 17,649 8 5 Balance to Profit and Loss Appropriation Account.. £ s. d. 7,865 9 9 11,956 4 9 £17,649 8 5 £19,821 14 6 . £17,649 8 5 £19,821 14 6

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14

LAKE COLERIDGE HYDRO-ELECTRIC-POWER SUPPLY— continued. Profit and Loss Appropriation Account.

1915-16. 1916-17. 1915-16. 1916-17. £ s. d. 922 12 9 17,649 8 5 To Balance from previous year's statement .. Balance from Net Revenue Account £ s. d. .. I 18.572 1 2 .. i 11,956 4 9 ! i £_ s. d. 18,572 1 2 By Balance to balance-sheet £ s. d. 30,528 5 11 £18,572 1 2 £30,528 5 11 £18,572 1 2 £30,528 5 11 Accident Insurance Fund Account. ! I £ s. d. To Balance from previous year's statement .. 527 4 6 Payment of accident compensation 3 6 8 Interest at 4 per cent, per annum ! £ s. d. 86 14 0 569 10 0 18 2 9 . £ s. d. £ s. d. By Amount set aside in respect to workmen, &c, employed on — Operating and maintenance, as shown 137 17 2 in Profit and Loss Account .. .. £209 1 5 Capital extensions, and charged to Capital 306 0 0 Account .. .. .. .. 314 2 0 • ! : 523 3 5 443 17 2 86 14 0 Balance to balance-sheet .. .. .. ., 151 3 4 £530 11 2 £674 6 9 ! — •' . I £674 6 9 £530 11 2 £674 6 9 £530 11 2 =^^^^^^^^ Depreciation Fund Account. 1 £ s. d. 5,853 4 10 j To Balance to balance-sheet .. £5,853 4 10 £ s. d. £ s. d. 12,165 19 8 449 0 0 By Balance from previous year's statement 17 19 3 Interest at 4 per cent, per annum 5,386 5 7 Amount set aside as per Profit and Loss Account .. £12,165 19 8 : £5,853 4 10 £ s. d. 5.853 4 10 I 234 2 5 6,078 12 5 £12,165 19 8 £5,853 4 10 £12,165 19 8

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LAKE COLERIDGE HYDRO-ELECTRIC-POWER SUPPLY— continued. Balance-sheet at 31st March, 1917.

15

1915-16. Liabilities. 1916-17. 1915-16. Assets. 1916-17. £ [a d. 5,853 4 10 1,713 16 9 745 9 5 272 4 4 *■ L' 5,853 1,713 1 745 272 s. u. 4 10 16 9 9 5 4 4 Depreciation Fund Account Sundry creditors — On open accounts . On contracts Wages accrued Payment for current in advance .. £ s. d. 1,242 9 8 944 9 7 631 17 1 29 2 6 £ s. d. 12,165 19 8 £ s. d. Works at Lake Coleridge — £ s. d. 3,091 9 3 Land, including fencing and planting 5,317 4 6- Coalgate Gorge Road 7,566 3 8 Service roads .. .. .. .. 276 6 10 Service telephones Headworks — 68,657 0 2 Tunnel, including inlet and outlet works I 68,908 9 11 21,875 14 6 Pipe-lines.. .. .. .. 22,194 15 11 1,800 0 0 Tram-line.. .. .. .. 1,861 16 6 299 7 9 Weir at lake-outlet, gauges, and fencing 379 10 6 £ s. d. 4,023 1 1 5,317 4 6 7,566 3 8 279 12 8 2,731 10£6 342,524 17 2 r 2,847 18 10 4 ,( 3 342,524 1 17 2' | Balance carried to general balance-sheet — Total assets as per contra Total liabilities as above 418,760 4 1 15,013 18 6 8,760 4 1 • •• 5,013 18 6 nAU k i— I - I 92,632 2 5 Power-house — 19,641 2 3 Buildings, &c. .. .. .. 20,246 6 5 36.900 6 4 Machinery, &c. .. .. .. 43,113 1 2 218 18 11 Office furniture, fittings, &c... .. 264 12 1 ~ ! I _ ; -Li7 O I 56,760 7 6 I—: Accommodation for staff and workmen — 8,037 6 7 Buildings, fencing, &c. 9,662 7 4 . . .. " 4,905 10 5 38,666 0 6 2,342 0 11 Transmission- line — 3,120 4 1 Land .. .. .. .. 4,905 10 5 38,708 1 1 Power-lines .. .. .. .. 38,666 0 5 2,367 8 2 Telephone-system .. .. .. 2,342 0 11 Linemen's cottages, depots, tools, and 515 8 6 equipment .. .. .. .. 604 1 5 6,530 13 9 Alterations to public telegraph-lines .. 6,531 9 9 604 1 5 6,531 9 9 51,241 15 7 I Addington Substation — '2,189 17 11 Land, including cottages .. .. 2,446 16 7 3,849 16 3 Substation buildings .. .. .. 3,871 2 1 12,312 15 11 Machinery, &c. .. .. .. 12,882 0 5 786 9 11 Store buildings and workshops .. .. 1,611 0 4 2,446 16 7 3,871 2 1 12,882 0 5 1,611 0 4 Carried forward 19,139 0 0 20,810 19 5 I 244,061 16 4| Carried forward .. ... . I I 351,109 12 6 418,760 4 1 244,061 16 4 257,677 4 1 '

16

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P. S. Waldie, Acting-Accountant. E. Parry, Chief Electrical Engineer.

LAKE COLERIDGE HYDRO-ELECTRIC-POWER SUPPLY— continued. Balance-sheet at 31st March, 1917— continued.

Liabilities. \ 1916-17. 1915-16. Assets. 1916-17. Assets. 1915-16. _!__ . ■ £ s. d. 351,109 12 6 Brought forward .. £ s. d f s. 1. £ s d. 418,760 4 1 244,061 16 4 8,546 17 1 5,157 17 0 2,415 16 7 5,655 18 1 622 9 9 ' 835 4 8 675 19 8 i £ s. d. £ s. d. Brought forward .. .. .. .. .. 257,677 4 1 Primary distribution — Supply cables — Christchurch City .. .. ., 8,755 12 7 Christchurch Tramways .. ., i 2,889 5 2 Lyttelton.. .. .. .. 5,584 5 1 Northern .. .. .. .. 10,743 19 3 Southern.. .. .. .. 6,467 5 5 Lightning-arresters .. .. .. 622 9 9 Tools and equipment .. .. .. 1,276 4 3 Alterations to public telegraph-lines .. 984 5 1 23,910 2 10 8,723 8 7 2,871 12 0 11,595 0 7 37,323 6 7 Secondary distribution — Supply cables and reticulation .. .. 14,819 14 1 Local substations .. .. .. 5.425 6 5 ' 20,245 0 6 3,433 1 10 1,753 7 0 1,654 6 2 191 12 6 18 8 6 13,786 1 11 | 6,731 7 5 13,095 0 0 Service transformers and meters .. .. .. 10,925 11 1 Motor cars, lorry, and cycles, &c. .. .. .. 2,816 8 10 Public telephones to the lake .. .. ■ .. 1,654 6 2 ] Telephones to Christchurch City Council and Tramway Board.. .. ». .. .. 161 19 5 Christchurch office —Furniture and fittings .. .. 84 2 1 Engineering, office, and general expenses on preliminary surveys and durmg construction.. .. 14,753 2 6 Salaries of Engineers and others on preliminary surveys and during construction .. .. .. 8,194 179 Interest during construction .. .. .. 13,148 14 0 366,984 13 0 Stocks of material, &c., on hand at date .. j .. 12,628 18 1 Telephone subscriptions and fire insurance paid in advance .. .. .. .. .. 76 3 6 Material lost on s.s. " Rangatira," covered by insurance but not yet adjusted ... .. .. 634 10 0 Sundry debtors for current and rent .. .. 4,423 16 6 Sundry debtors for work carried out, &c. .. 3,332 13 9 7,756 10 3 320.230 5 1 9,803 12 4 55 14 9 2.028 4 4 333 0 10 332,450 17 4 388,080 14 10 Balance from Profit and Loss Appropriation Account .. .. .. .. .. 30,528 5 11 Balance from Accident Insurance Fund Account .. 151 3 4 ,,351,109 12 6 18.572 1 2 86 14 0 £418,760 4 1 £351,109 12 6 £418,760 4 1

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APPENDICES TO THE PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT, 1917.

APPENDIX A. AUDITED STATEMENT OF EXPENDITUEE ON PUBLIC WOEKS OUT OF THE PUBLIC WOEKS FUND FOE THE YEAE 1916-17.

Prepared in compliance with Section 8 of the Public Works Act, 1908.

Blß,— Public Works Department, Wellington, Bth June, 1917. In compliance with the Bth section of the Public Works Act, 1908, I enclose a statement of the expenditure during the preceding financial year on all works and services chargeable to the Public Works Fund. I have, &c, W. Fbasbe, Minister of Public Works. The Controller and Auditor-General, Wellington.

Statement of Net Expenditure on all Works and Services chargeable to the Public Works Fund for the Year 1916-17.

P. S. Waldie, Acting-Accountant. W. S. Shobt, Examined and found correct. Under-Secretary. Eobeet J. Collins, Controller and Auditor-General. Note. —Charges and expenses of raising loans not included in above figures. (Details on next page.)

3-D. 1.

Class. Votes. Summary. Appropriation. Expenditure. Credits. Net Expenditure. XVI XVII XVIII XIX 91 92-93 94-103 104-106 Public Works Fund. Public Works, Departmental Railways Public Buildings Lighthouses, Harbour-works, and Harbour-dofences Tourist and Health Resorts Immigration Roads, Bridges, and other Public Works Development of Mining Contingent Defence Lands Improvement Irrigation and Water-supply Plant, Material, and Stores Unauthorized £ 144,100 800,000 364,000 14,000 £ s. d. ) 139,322 14 1 > 673,849 15 4 ) 253,362 7 10 ) 3,771 9 7 £ s. d. 7,637 14 3 : 52,903 1 8 | 1,931 7 3 3 14 0 £ s. d. 131,684 19 10 620,946 13 8 251,431 0 7 3,767 15 7 XX XXI XXII 107 108 109-110-111 112 113 114-115 116 117 5,000 15,000 420,250 I 1,464 8 II I 14,777 4 8 i 236,926 12 3 370 7 5 8,244 3 1 17,132 2 9 1,094 1 6 6,533 1 7 219,794 9 6 XXIII XXIV XXV XXVI XXVII 6,000 30,000 15,000 40,000 20,000 i 4,591 13 2 9,741 3 61 2,018 13 0 16,747 12 2 20,667 12 2 6,838 11 6 I 4,749 3 2 699 0 4 10,889 0 5 1,071 18 2 4,591 13 2 9,741 3 6 Cr. 2,730 10 2 16,048 11 10 9,778 5 9 5,766 13 4 Total Public Works Fund 1,873,350 1,384,079 18 2 105,631 18 6 1,278,447 19 8

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APPENDIX A—continued.

Name of Vote. Appropriation, j Expenditure. Credits. Net Expenditure. j l_ I 91 Public Works Fund. Public Works, Departmental Railways— Railway-construction — Kaihu Railway Extension Kawakawa-Hokianga North Auckland Main Trunk— Kirikopuni, Southwards Kaiwaka, Northwards Whangarei-North Auckland Main Trunk Waipu Branch Waiuku Branch Huntly-Awaroa .. East Coast Main Trunk — Waihi-Tauranga Tauranga-Te Maunga Maunganui-Taneatua Gisbornc-Motu Napier-Gis borne — Gisborne-Wairoa Wairoa—dishorne Wairoa-Napior Napier-W airoa Mount Egmont Branch Opunake Branch Stratford - Main Trunk — East End West End 1 Raetihi - Main Trunk Stone Quarry Line, Rangitikei River .. Fcathcrston-Martinborough South Island Main Trunk Midland Railway— Nelson End Rcofton End Otira-Bcalcy Broken River-Bealey Westport-lnangahua Greymouth - Point Elizabeth Culverden-Waiau Waimate Branch Extension Lawrence-Roxburgh Otago Central Balclutha-Tuapeka Mouth .. Catlin's-Waimahaka Winton - Heddon Bush Oropuki - Waiau Extension Land Claims, &c. Surveys, New Lines of Railways Permanent-way Materials £ 144,100 1,000 10,000 1,000 30,000 50,000 1,000 15,000 2,000 10,000 10,000 25,000 6,000 20,000 10,000 1,000 20,000 100 25,000 £ s. d. 139,322 14 1 104 I I 5 8,355 9 3 22 3 10 35,172 10 11 36,485 3 4 11,760 18 3 2,855 10 1 6,333 I 2 5,252 1 1 31,867 12 11 6,549 9 0 8,639 14 6 643 1 3 15,009 8 4 Cr. 4 0 0 14,950 1 10 £ s. d. 7,637 14 3 55 1 2 478 12 4 0 17 11 1,415 7 6 102 6 6 24 12 7 18,14 3 159 3 0 52 15 0 5,690 19 7 1,214 7 10 040 5 9 6,231 6 6 •83 14 2 £ s. d. 131,684 19 10 49 10 3 7,876 16 11 21 5 11 33,757 3 5 36,382 16 10 11,730 5 8 2,836 15 10 6,173 18 2 5,199 0 1 26,176 13 4 5,335 1 2 7,999 8 9 643 1 3 8,778 1 10 Cr. 4 0 0 14,866 7 8 50,000 20,000 15,000 100 100 10,000 27,589 2 4 24,276 4 10 12,316 10 .7 1,477 8 6 1,195 10 8 1,447 10 2 26,111 13 10 23,080 14 2 10,869 0 5 92 3,559 13 6 622 1 7 2,937 11 11 8,000 100 60,000 1,000 200 100 20,000 2,000 500 15,000 200 200 6,000 1,200 1,000 2,000 70,200 1,940 7 0 124 2 9 57,187 11 5 183 14 0 233 12 4 133 18 9 158 9 6 849 .16 6 1,806 8 3 Or. 34 6 9 56,337 14 11 183 14 0 155 16 9 Cr. 57 6 6 7,801 18 11 1,475 2 0 Cr. 7 18 0 13,334 12 10 703 0 7 Cr. 221 3 3 77 15 7 57 6 6 347 15 0 8,149 13 11 .1,475 2 0 1 2 0 13,898 13 2 733 5 7 22 5 0 9 0 0 564 0 4 30 5 0 243 8 3 266 0 10 276 6 8 691 15 1 22,373 19 11 39 14 5 15 0 0 226 6 5 261 6 8 691 15 1 21,918 18 11 455 1 0 Total 520,000 Total Vote, Railway-construction 500,000 359,296 0 1 23,892 5 10 335,403 14 3 93 Additions to Open Lines Public Buildings— General Courthouses Gaols Police-stations Postal and Telegraph .. Agricultural Mental Hospitals Hospitals and Charitable Institutions School Buildings Workers' Dwellings Lighthouses, Harbour-works, and Harbour-defences — Lighthouses Harbour-works Harbour-defenoes Tourist and Health Resorts Immigration Construction and Maintenance of Roads, Bridges, and other Public Works—■ Roads, &c. Backblocks Roads, &c. Road and other Works on Goldfields and Mineral Lands ■Development of Mining Contingent Defence Lands Improvement— Improved-farm Settlements .. Lands, Miscellaneous Irrigation and Water-supply Plant, Material, and Stores Unauthorized —Services not provided for 300,000 314,553 15 3 29,010 15 10 285,542 19 5 94 95 96 97 98 99 .00 .01 02 .03 50,000 2,000 16,000 25,000 35,000 4,000 55,000 2,000 125,000 50,000 35,843 12 7 298 17 0 15,744 11 0 21,149 16 7 23,360 9 4 3,086 7 7 44,629 0 9 2,869 10 9 70,442 16 3 35,937 6 0 609 2 11 59 14 1 3 4 0 616 7 0 40 10 0 26 16 7 35.234 9 8 298 17 0 15,684 16 11 21,146 12 7 22,744 2 4 3,045 17 7 44,602 4 2 2,869 10 9 70,367 3 7 35,437 6 0 75 12 8 500 0 0 .04 .05 00 107 108 1,500 11,000 1,500 5,000 15,000 449 2 0 2,283 15 I 1,038 12 6 1,464 8 II 14,777 4 8 3 14 0 449 2 0 2,280 1 I I .1)38 12 6 1,094 1 6 6,533 I 7 370 7 5 8,244 3 1 ll!l 10 .11 300,250 90,000 30,000 175,456 6 5 44,340 9 11 17,129 15 II 16,345 6 4 755 6 9 31 9 8 159,111 0 I 43,585 3 2 17,098 6 3 12 13 6,000 30,000 4,591 13 2 9,741 3 6 4,591 13 2 9,741 3 6 14 15 .16 17 6,000 9,000 40,000 20,000 924 13 10 1,093 19 2' 16,747 12 2 20,667 12 21 6,838 11 6 3,931 15 9 817 7 5 699 0 4 10,889 6 5 1,071 18 2 Cr. 3,007 1 11 276 I I 9 16,048 11 10 9,778 5 9 5,766 13 4 Total Public Works Fund .. 1,873,350 1,384,079 18 105,631 18 6 1,278,447 19 8

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APPENDIX B. ANNUAL REPORT ON PUBLIC WORKS BY THE ENGINEER-IN-CHIEF. The EJnginebh-in-Chiei , to the Hon. the Minister of Public Works. Sir,— Wellington, Ist April, 1917. I have the honour to submit the following report upon the various works completed and in progress throughout the Dominion (luring the period from the Ist April, 1916, to the 31st March, 1917. There has been a further considerable reduction in the amount of work in hand, the number of men employed upon the works under my control having decreased by about one-third during the year. This is mainly due to the great reduction in the supply of suitable, labour owing to' the operation of the Military Service Act, but the position has in no way improved as regards tin! obtaining of certain classes of material and plant, notably rails and fastenings and structural steel. The staff has been further depleted by enlistments and resignations, but is still sufficient for present requirements. RAILWAYS. AIiSTKACT. The following table shows the expenditure and liabilities on Government railways in New Zealand up to the 31st March, 1917 : —

Name of Railway. Total Length of Railway or Section. Open for Traffic. Expenditure to 31st March, 1917. Liabilities on 31st March, 1917. M. ch. 24 30 45 25 58 6 19 77 86 22 163 48 127 35 69 33 138 27 93 45 206 89 M.ch. 19 58 16 25 58 6 £ 104,163 195,943 522,548 135,241 829,822 2,352,566 595,749 366,995 309,786 615,091 216,781 £ Kaihu Valley Kawakawa-Hokianga Opua Wharf - Grahamtown (Onerahi) Whangarei southward North Auckland Main Trunk Railway (from Helensville) Helensville - Te Awamutu, with Branches Hamilton-Thames, with Branches Thames Valley - Rotorua Tauranga-Opotiki, with Branches Gisborne-Opotiki Napier-Gisborne Wellington-Napier and Palmerston North (including Te Aro Extension and Greytown and Martinborough Branches) Wellington-Waitara, with Branches .. Stratf ord-Okahukura North Island Main Trunk (Marton-Te Awamutu), including Raetihi Branch Picton-Waipara (South Island Main Trunk Railway)— Picton southwards Waipara northwards Nelson-Bolgrove Midland Railway* Westport-Ngakawau Westport-Ngakawau Extension to Mokihinuif Mokihinui Colliery Line} Westport-lnangahua Ngahere-Blackball Groymouth - Coal Creek Greymouth-Brunner Greymouth-Waitaha .. Culverden-Hanmer Motor-oars and Sheds Hurunui-Waitaki, with Branches Canterbury Interior Main Line —Oxford-Temuka Waitaki-Bluff, with Branches Otago Contral Invercargill-Kingston, with Mararoa Branch Forest Hill Railway—Winton-Hodgehope§ Western Railways Preliminary Surveys Miscellaneous Stock of Pormanent-way on hand Rolling-stock i*605 47 77 146 19 87 20 89 33 6,238 1,200 97,664 320 44 34 8,000 7,551 2,352 249 44 350 11 101 27 233 12 285 59 37 53 2,547,594 2,683,783 846,315 710 58,461 218 42 209 69 2,786,966 1,585 92 38 90 45 22 73 239 75 19 56 7 12 8 69 26 0 3 40 8 70 7 51 50 32 56 6 44 14 22 73 179 67 19 56 7 12 3 69 5 74 3 40 8 70 7 51 38 68 650,905 374,377 199,964 1,983,497 188,009 107 4*962 501 52 83 0 600 21 182 51 117 4 12 40 94 8 443 8 11 44 546 16 134 78 97 44 12 40 70 31 152,575 147,532 254,999. 150,651 338,274 3,834 2,638,542 59,362 ■ 4,943,442 1,339,905 386,290 22,984 336,653 41,652 10,337 77,805 6,535,094 14 403 1,748 58*252 79,395 Total 4,116 48 2,970 46 1135,946,026 330,567 * The amount shown as expenditure represents the net ami + The funds for this extension—namely, 2s. lid.—wei t The funds for purchase of this line, £15,745, were provided § The expenditure on this line as a tramway was made by tl II Includes expenditure on railways under Hutt Road and .nd Railway Improvement Authorization Act 1911 Accounts. >unt charged 'e provided b; by the Westp le Lands Dor. Railway Imr. against the Dominion. y the Westport Harbour Board. iort Harbour Board. mrtmont. irovement, Railway Improvement Authorization Act

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Abstract— continued.

No sections of railway have been handed over to the Railway Department during the year, though several are approaching completion, and in some oases the Public Works Department is handling goods and passenger traffic. Kaiiiu Valley Eailway. No work has been done on this line during the year, with the exception of a few small repairs to river-protection works. K.AWAKAWA-HOKIANGA RAILWAY. Omapcre Section, 16 m. 25 eh. (Kaikohe) to 2J,.m. Iβ eh. (Okaihau). —From 16 m. 25 oh. to 18 m. 64 eh. the formation has been finished for some time, but slips are of frequent occurrence, and those have been removed from time to time. The length from 18 m. 64 oh. to 19 m. 44 eh., including a tunnel and some heavy earthworks, lias been constructed under contract. The work was completed at the end of April, 1916, about ten months after due date, the contractors having been hindered by slips, shortage of labour, &c. A considerable quantity of slipped material was left in the cuttings on conclusion of the contract, and this has since been removed. From the 31st March, 1916, to the 30th September, 1916, the Department had no men at work on this line. Since the beginning of October a few men have been employed on earthworks, culverts, &c. A stone-crushing plant is at work near 21 m., and has provided broken metal for all the culverts up to 22 in., as well as road-deviations and the main road between Kaikohe and Okaihau, which is in use as a service road. The weather has been exceptionally wet, and floods have been very frequent, causing much damage to the railway-works and the roads in the vicinity. A large cutting between 19 m. 58 eh. and 19 m. 74 eh. is the principal item of work to be done on this section. A steam-navvy will be set to work here early in the spring,, and an endeavour will be made to take out the whole of the cutting during the dry weather. Whangarei - North Auckland Railway. Oakleigh Section (0 m. to 7m. 60 eh.). —The Kioreroa contract (Oiii. to 4 m.) is still in hand, its completion being considerably overdue. The delay is partly owing to scarcity of good workmen and the very bad weather which has been experienced. The Otaika River Bridge (1 m. 76 eh.) is completed, including some protective works, but there is still a gap of 4 chains in the south approach, and a good deal of stone-pitching remains to be done on both approach banks. The remaining works comprised in the contract are practically completed. Platelaying was commenced from Kioreroa, and the rail-head is now at Im. 40 eh. Arrangements have been made with the Railway Department for a supply of ballast, and it is proposed to complete the permanent-way to Portland Station (5 in. 10 eh.) as soon as the Kioreroa contract is out of hand. With this object in view co-operative works on the section have been confined to the formation of the length between 4m. and sm. 10 eh., which is practically completed. Kails have also been laid in the main line at Oakleigh Station yard, with one siding and a back shunt to the wharf. Tauraroa Section (7 m. 60 eh. to lJf.m. 73 eh.). —The formation of this section was completed during the year, with the exception of some filling in the Tauraroa Station yard, which is being done with material from the works ahead. Bridges over the Tauraroa River (10 m. 19 eh.) and Moewhare Creek (13 m. 30 eh.) were completed with the exception of the plate girders, which have not yet come to hand. Temporary stringers have been placed to carry the ballast-train. Rails have been laid on the entire section and on to 15 m., with sidings at Mangapai and Tauraroa Stations. A siding has also been laid into the ballast-quarry at Tauraroa. This sidinginvolved the construction of a bridge over the Tauraroa River and considerable formation work. Air-drills and a stone-crusher are in operation at the quarry, and ballast is being run out for use on the line. A second stone-crusher is available, but cannot be used, as the two steam-engines required which were on order have been commandeered by the Imperial Government. Six miles of fencing were erected on the section, leaving only 70 chains to complete, and a telephone-line has been erected throughout. Very heavy slips have occurred in many cuttings on this section, and about 30,000 cubic yards of slipped material have been removed by the ballast-train. The section will not be satisfactory until it is ballasted.

Name of Railway. Total Length of Railway or Section. Open for Truffle Expenditure to 31st March, 1917. Liabilities on 31st March, 1917. Provincial Government Lines, etc. Canterbury (lengths included above) Otago and Southland Gisborne to Ormond Tramway Midland Railway, valuation of works constructed by M. ch. M. Oh. £ £ 731,759 372,522 4,975 company *683,460 Grand total 4,116 48 2,970 46 37,738,742 330,567 * Includes value for £150,000 paid to debenture-holders ui Act, 1903. idor the Mil Hand Railvvi ,y Petitions Settlonie: it Act Amendment

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Waiotira Section (H m. 78 eh. to 19 in. 79 eh.).— The cutting from 14 m. 73 eh. to 15 m. was taken out with ploughs and scoops. The outtings and banks from 15 m. to 15 m. 47 eh. have been completed by a steam-navvy, which was also engaged for four months in obtaining material for Tauraroa Station yard. During the remaining eight months the steam-navvy excavated 23,300 cubic yards (solid measurement), an average of 140 cubic yards per day, at a cost less than that of pick-and-shovel work. Most of the material had to be carried a considerable distance, a small locomotive being employed for thisi purpose. Several small outtings and banks between 15 m. 50 eh. and 16 m. 20 eh. are being formed to enable the steam navvy to proceed to the larger cuttings beyond. The cutting at 17 m. 65 eh. was nearly completed with ploughs and scoops, but no earthworks are now in hand beyond 16 m. 55 eh., the number of men available being insufficient to cover the remaining length. Good progress has been made on this line, considering the continual wet weather that has been experienced. The rainfall at Whangarei for the period was 867 in. Heavy slips in nearly every cutting have been very troublesome and caused a great deal of delay in the work, especially in connection with the platelaying and ballasting. North Auckland Main Trunk Railway. Kirikopuni Section (111) m. Jβ eh. to 115 m.j. —No work has been done on this section since November, 1915. Bickerstaffe Section (83 m. 75 eh. to 88 m. eh.). —Platelaying and ballasting have been completed, and stockyards have been erected at Maungaturoto Station. Slips from the batters of cuttings have practically ceased, but certain banks are still slipping and subsiding, requiring some attention during the year. The section generally has been maintained, and a goods and passenger service has been run between Huarau Station and Ranganui, the terminus of the opened line. Paparoa Section (88 m. Jβ eh. to 92 m. Mich.). —Platelaying in Huarau Station yard (90 m. 15 eh.) has been completed, and ballasting has been carried out to the rail-head at 91m. 25 eh., with the exception of part of the third lift, the line being in good running-order. Quarrying and crushing of metal at Hoteo ballast-pit was discontinued at the end of September. A railwaybridge is being erected over Paparoa Road (90 m. 35 eh.). Slips in cuttings have been numerous, owing to the exceptional rainfall, but the banks, with one exception, have caused no trouble. Some fencing has been done, but posts are difficult to obtain, owing to the absence of settlers' sons at the front. Beyond the rail-head the service tramway has been working constantly conveying goods and materials to the Huarau and Golden Stairs Tunnels. At the south end of Ihe Huarau Tunnel the reinforced-concrete approach has been completed from 91 m. 3696 oh. to 39*52 eh., and a short length of tunnel is also completed. Headings are driven ahead, and enlargement is in progress. The ground is very rotten and wet, requiring careful mining and close timbering, while the continual wet weather has made working-conditions most difficult and unpleasant. At the north end of the tunnel sinking from the surface for the portal and wing walls have been done, and concrete placed in position. The approach cutting was taken out and timbered where necessary to hold back slips. The invert between the wing walls was then completed and breaking-down started. Two lengths of lining were completed, and excavation is proceeding ahead. The ground is similar to that at the south end, and requires careful handling. Mareretu Section (92 m. 16 eh. to 96 m. 88 eh.). —The principal work in hand here is the construction of the Golden Stairs Tunnel. At the south end the approach cutting was taken out, sinking for the parapet completed, and concrete placed, wing walls and invert concreted, and breaking-down started. Concrete lining was completed from the face (93 m. 48 eh.) for a distance of I chain, and further excavation is in hand. Similar operations have been carried out at the north end. The ground at both ends is heavy and wet, as at the Huarau Tunnel. Apart from this tunnel, very little work has been done on this section. Generally, the works on this line have been greatly hampered by unfavourable weather and difficulty in obtaining sufficient labour. Wailtku Branch Railway. Earthwork is in progress at various points up to 10 m.,'the work done during the year being equal to about one mile of completed line. Rails have been laid from om. 19*50 eh. to 4m. 33 eh., including sidings at Helvetia and Patumahoe Stations. The sidings at the junction (Paerata) are only partly laid. Ballasting is practically completed up to and including Patumahoe Station yard (4 m. 7 eh.), and a little beyond. Bridges have been erected at Om. 18 eh and sm. 30 eh. Generally, satisfactory progress has been made, considering the very small number of men available. HUNTLY-AWAROA RAILWAY. This line was handed over to the Railway Department in December, 1915, but some additional work has been curried out by this Department. The Waitawhara Road, which connects Pukemiro Station with the Huntly-Raglan Road, has been formed and metalled throughout, a distance of 63J chains, and two small bridges have been erected. Fencing, gates, and cattlestops are being constructed at Pukemiro, and a water-service has been provided, comprising a concrete dam in the Waitawhara Stream and an hydraulio ram, with the necessary pipe-lines. East Coast Main Trunk Railway. Waih'l—Tauranga. Athenree Section (0 m. to 12 m. 36 eh.). —Work was continued between 2m. and Bm. with a small force of workmen until March, 1917, when the Engineer in local charge joined the Expeditionary Forces, and as a sufficient number of men are not available to continue economically the work was closed down.

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Tauranga-Opotiki. Te Maunga Section (41m. to 1,5 m.). —From Te Maunga Junction back to the site of the large bridge over Tauranga Harbour the formation is practically completed. Some concrete cylinders have been made and sunk to form two of the piers for the bridge, but little can be done here until the return of normal conditions enables the steel for the superstructure to be obtained. A little formation-work is being, done at the site of the Tauranga Station yard, with material obtained from the cutting at 40 m. 19 oh. Maunganui-Te Puke Section (Maunganui to Te Maunga, Branch Line, Om. to to. 27 eh.; Te Maunga to Te Puke, 45 m. to SJ/.m.). —This is practically an open section, the Department handling goods and passenger traffic from the wharf at Maunganui, on Tauranga Harbour, to Paengaroa, a total distance of 18J miles. Since January last mails have been carried as far as Paengaroa, connecting with the Rotorua and Matata coach services. In October, 1916, extraordinarily heavy rains caused severe floods in the swampy area traversed by the railway between 50 m. 50 eh. and 52 m. 28 eh. The Atuaroa Stream overflowed its banks, and a great volume of water was diverted into the Kopuaroa Stream, which crosses the railway at. 51 m. 22 eh., causing a serious washout. This has been repaired, but in order to prevent a repetition of this trouble it is proposed to stop-bank the Atuaroa Stream for some distance, and the necessary survey is in hand. Paengaroa Section (6//. m. to 59 to. 65 eh.). —This section is also complete, with the exception of the Kaituna River Bridge. This cannot be completed until the steelwork, which has been on order for many months, can be obtained. A temporary bridge is in use in the meantime, and a regular train service has been handled throughout the year. The traffic is considerable and increasing, and it was found necessary to make some additions to the station buildings at Paengaroa. Pongakawa Section (59 m. 65 eh. to 6J. to. 10 eh.). —During the year bridges were erected at 61m. 13 eh. and 63 m. 7 oh., also an overbridge at 62 m. 5 eh. The section is practically completed. Otamarakau Section (6//.m. 10 eh. to 71m. 5 eh.). —The earthwork on this section is practically finished, with the exception of a portion along a cliff at 69 m. 76 eh. to 70 m. 8 eh.; this is in hand, the material being used to make up subsidences in the banks across the swamps from 67 m. to 68 m. 70 eh., which have been troublesome, but now show signs of consolidating. A bridge with concrete pile piers has been erected at Waitahanui Stream 1 (70 m. 33 eh.), and |il;iiclii \i 11 ;_•; has Ikiii carried forward to the end of the seotion. A lirsi lifi of ballast haa been applied on all firm ground. Points and crossings and part of the sidings have been laid in Otamarakau Station yard. Fencing with concrete pasts manufactured on the works is in progress on the right of the railway from Waitahanui Stream. Matata Section (71m. 5 eh. to 79 in. 18 eh.). —Earthworks were practically completed to Matata Station yard, but as a result of the heavy floods in the latter part of last year it was deemed advisable to raise the formation-level along a considerable portion of the section. This work is now in hand, the material being brought by train from the vicinity of 70 m. Platelaying has been continued, with temporary structures over the streams, the rail-head being 75 m. 53 eh. General. A second steam-navvy has been obtained for use on this line. This is of a later pattern than the one already in use, and has shown excellent results. Unfortunately, just as the men were getting used to the machine and the work it was found necessary to cease operations owing to a prospect of a coal shortage. The old steam-navvy, which was in need of repairs, has been overhauled and will be put in commission again shortly. A small addition to our railway workshop at Maunganui, has been made, and some additional machine tools have been obtained. This shop deals with the whole of the ordinary repair work in connection with the plant and rolling-stock on the line, besides manufacturing ironwork for bridges, &c. Gisborne—Motu. Motu Section — £%. in. 10 eh. (Matawai) to Jβ m. 8 eh. (Motuhora). —A considerable amount of bushwork has been done at the terminal station-yard (Motuhora), and the yard has been completely formed. A quantity of slipped material has been removed from various cuttings, and the formation has been maintained. Seven concrete-pipe culverts were laid complete. All fencing was completed, six 12 ft. gates erected, and existing fences repaired where necessary. Concrete inlets and outlets were built on to thirty pipe culverts, and sundry drains made and maintained. Twenty-five chains of roads have been made and metalled. The Motu River Bridge (48 m. 36 eh.), consisting of one 80 ft. truss span and four 20 ft. stringer spans, was completed, the contractor having been greatly hindered in his work through difficulty in obtaining steel. Rails have been laid throughout, including the Motuhora Station sidings, and the main line is completely ballasted. A contract has been let for the erection of station buildings and four platelayers' cottages, and the work is in hand. With the exception of these buildings, the section is practically complete. Goods-trains have been running over the line during the year. An overbridge, to take the place of a level crossing, was erected at 32£ m. on the opened line. Gisborne-Napier (North End). Ngatapa Section (0 m. to 10 m. Iflch.). —The bank between 2 m. 5 eh. and 2 m. 20 eh. was raised and widened, and stop-banks were built across temporary cuts to the river at 1 m. 79 eh. and 2m. 5 eh. A good deal of fencing has been erected, with cattle-stops, gates, and noticeboards, completing the fencing on the section; also a 3 ft. culvert at 8 in. 60 eh. Eight concrete

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piers and six ooncrete abutments were constructed for bridges at 0 m., 5 m. 74 eh., and 9 m. 66 eh., and concrete piles were driven for a bridge at sm. 38 eh. Ngatapa Station approach roads were partly metalled. Rails are laid throughout. First lift of ballast was placed from Im. 63 eh. to 2m. 33 oh., and second lift on sidings at Patutahi and Ngatapa. A loading-bank front, in ooncrete, was built at Patutahi, and a temporary engine-shed and water-service installed at Ngatapa. A bi-weekly passenger and goods service was carried on between Makaraka Junction and Ngatapa. Work beyond Ngatapa was suspended in October, 1915, owing to scarcity of labour, and has not yet been resumed. Gishorne Napier (South End). Eskdale Section (Om. to 10 m., approx.J. —Apart from the Westshore Bridge and approaches, no construction-work has been done on this section during the year. Floods in the early part of August damaged some portions of the fencing and formation constructed some years ago. The construction of the Westshore Bridge has been pushed on at a gradually increasing rate throughout the year. For a time there was difficulty in obtaining suitable labour, but more men have since been obtained, and as the men have become more experienced much better progress has resulted. Reinforcing-rods for 201 piles were fabricated and 300 piles made, completing the total of 600. A further 172 tons of steel have been bent, labelled, and stacked. The gravelscreening plant was unfortunately destroyed by fire on the 27th February, 1917, but the shingle was hand-screened for a time, and a new screening plant is now in working-order. Pile-driving has been continued throughout the year, 398 concrete piles having been driven, as well as 326 temporary piles to carry the profiling for the reinforced-concrete superstructure. Up to the 31st March piles had been driven from pier 28 back to pier 10 inclusive, and six 50 ft. spans and one 25 ft. span were completed, and several others in various stages. The quantity of steel worked into the bridge is 192 tons, and of concrete 1,856 cubic yards. Prior to August, 1916, materials for concrete were brought from the bins ashore to the concrete-mixer at the bridge by punts, but a tramway has since been laid along the approach bank, and the materials are hauled out by a small locomotive. The approach banks are being formed by the Napier Harbour Board under contract with the Department. In April, 1916, the Board's dredge was moved from the north to the south approach, the former being practically complete, and during the year the dredge has worked for about eight months on the formation of the bank, the remainder of the time being occupied in removal, overhaul, and repairs. The bank can now be seen at low-water from about Im. 65 eh. to 2 m., while at high-water only about 3 chains is visible. Temporary stone retaining-walls have been built on the right of the line, from 1 m. 60 eh. to 2m. 7 oh., up to the level of high water. The quantity of material placed in the bank during the year is about 9,000 cubic yards. Stratford - Main Trunk Railway. West' End. Tahora Section (37 m. 53 eh. to J/7 m. Iβ eh.). —The line is complete to Kohuratahi (42 m. 28 eh.), some ballasting having been done during the year. A considerable quantity of slipped material has been removed. Toi Road crossing has been widened and metalled, and cattle-stops constructed. Beyond Kohuratahi the cuttings and banks are practically complete to 46 m. 78 eh. At No. 1 tunnel (44 in. 30 eh. 50 Iks. to 44 m. 54 eh. 50 Iks.), which was practically finished last year, the western face wall has been completed, but a wing wall will be required on account of the unstable character of the papa. No. 2 tunnel (44 m. 76 eh. 50 Iks. to 45 m. 9 eh. 50 Iks.) was completed by the enlargement and lining of 6| chains, except the western portal. Numerous water-tunnels have been driven, and six culverts laid. Three stream-diversions and two roaddiversions have been completed, and a road-diversion at Tahora Station is partly formed. Rails are laid'to 45 m. 19 , 50ch., and partly ballasted. Ballast is supplied by the Railway Department from Mount Egmont, but a temporary cessation of supplies has recently occurred. About 100 chains of fencing have been erected, and the telephone-line is being extended to No. 1 tunnel. Four cottages have been erected at Tahora Station. East End. Matiere Section (0 m. to llm.). —The reinforced-conorete piers for the Ongarue River Bridge at 0 m. 7 eh. were completed, and the bridge is ready for the steel superstructure when it can be obtained. The Okahu Tunnel contract is progressing slowly. A heading was driven through last year, and during the period under review the enlargement and lining have been completed for a. length of 19 chains, leaving 55-J chains to be done. In the approach cuttings the contractors have excavated 13,500 cubic yards of material. In the short tunnels at 7m. 55 eh. and Bm. 35 eh. bottom headings have been driven through, and enlargement and lining with brickwork were in hand under contract, but the contract was determined in August, 1916, owing to inability of the contractor to continue work. The lining was completed for a distance of about 2 chains. Owing to the absence of materials for concrete a brickmaking plant was established at 7 m., and this has been enlarged during the year. A twelve-chamber continuous kiln was completed in June, and the first lot- of bricks for use on the works was drawn in September. Since then there has been a satisfactory output of bricks suitable for tunnel lining and building, also hard waste for concrete. A little earthwork has been done at various places, and two 6 ft. culverts are in hand, but very little labour is available in this district.

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Raetihi Btsanch Railway. Work on this railway was interrupted and disorganized during May, 1916, by the lamentable accident at the Ohakune ballast-quarry, whereby the Engineer in charge of the works, his assistant, the overseer, and three workmen lost their lives. During the remaining nine months of the year the work has been pushed on as vigorously as circumstances permitted. Earthworks and platelaying are practically completed throughout (8| miles), also first lift of ballast; second lift and boxing-in for about three-fourths of the length. Fencing was erected for a distance of 140 chains, and sundry cattle-stops were constructed. Bridges at Im. 12 oh., Im. 61 oh., and 2m. 6 eh. were completed. A water-service, comprising a dam opposite Bm. 10 eh. and 12 chains of pipe-line was completed to supply the Jlaetihi Station. Goods traffic has been handled by the Department between Ohakune and Makaranui (4 m. 53 eh.) since August last, amounting to about 10,400 tons, mostly timber. Opunakb Branch Railway. Kapuni Section (0 m. to 7 m.). —Earthwork is in hand at various places up to 6 m. 38 eh., a steam-navvy being employed with satisfactory results, in addition to several co-operative parties. A considerable quantity of earthwork remains to be done on this section. All culverts and drains were completed last year, and the fencing is also practically completed. No work has been done on the Mangatoki and Kapuni Bridges. At the Waingongoro River (Om. 25 eh.) piers are being constructed for a concrete arch bridge, a total of 582 cubio yards of concrete having been placed in two piers and two abutments. The foundation for one of the remaining piers appears unsatisfactory, and the design will require to be amended to suit. At 2m. 4ch. a private-crossing overbridge, consisting of one concrete arch, has been completed, with approaches. Auroa Section (7 m. to 12 m.). — Praotioally nothing has been done on this section during the year. Culverts had already been constructed up to Bm. 46 eh. Shingle bus been carted to the various culvert-sites up to 11 m., and a settler's house and outbuildings were removed from the railway reserve to a new site. Mauaia Branch (0 m. to sm. 50 eh.). —Clearing has been completed to 1 m. 62 eh., and fencing has been erected to 2m. 59 eh., except a few gaps. Twelve culverts have been constructed between 0 in. and 3m. 50 eh. Two deviations of the Kapuni-Manaia Road, totalling 34 chains in length, have been formed and metalled. South Island Main Trunk Railway (North End). Kekerangu Section (56 m. 5 eh. to 63 m. 6 eh.). —Very little work has been done on this section during the year. Ballasting is complete to the rail-head at 59 m. 25 eh. Some earthwork, fencing, &0., have been in hand up to 60 m. 44 oh., and three culverts have been laid. Piers have been constructed for a bridge over Woodside Creek (56 m. 50 eh.), but the steel superstructure is unobtainable at present. Midland Railway. N elson-W estland (North Eml). Kawatiri Section (59 m. 17 eh. to 63 m. 10 eh.). —The number of men employed here has been very small. Earthworks have been in hand up to 61m. 60 eh., and not verj' much remains to be done to complete this length. At 61 m. 35 oh. four concrete piers were erected for a bridge, but steel for the superstructure is not available. A concrete retaining-wiill at 61 m. 87 eh. was completed, and another at 61 m. 9 eh. nearly so. Owing to scarcity of labour the work on this section was closed down at the end of February, 1917. Arthur's Pass Tunnel. At the Otira end all work in the tunnel has been carried out by day labour. The rock through which the bottom heading has been driven is mostly slate; some parts stood badly, and nearly all had to be timbered either at time of excavating or shortly after. Seventy per cent, of the shifts worked were on "wet time." All the enlargement has been timbered. At the Uealey end the work was carried out by co-operative contract up to the 11th May, 1916; since then it has been done by day labour. The heading has been driven through greywacke, and has been wet in the face practically all the time, drying up about a chain back from the face. Little progress has been made with the lining, owing to shortage of men. During the year the bottom heading has been driven a total distance of 47 chains 63 links (both ends), and the tunnel has been completed for a distance of 21 chains 8 links. The total length of heading driven to date is 4 miles 45 chains 66 links; lining completed, 3 miles 59" chains 90 links. The distance between the headings is 59 chains 52 links, or just under J mile. Distance between completed portions of tunnel, 1 mile 45 chains 28 links. Total length of tunnel, 5 miles 25 chains 18 links. The works have been undermanned throughout the year, a large number of our best tunnel workers being on active service with the New Zealand Tunnelling Company and other units. The conditions affecting the electrification of the Arthur's Pass Tunnel have been investigated, and the characteristics of the service have been ascertained in considerable detail. The Railway Department has provided particulars of the traffic anticipated and a service time-table corresponding thereto. Inquiries have been directed to different manufacturers regarding the locomotive equipment and the maximum power , which can be accommodated per axle. The weight of the locomotive and the principal features of the same have been determined. Several sources of power have been investigated and the extent of electrification discussed. No final conclusions have been reached in regard to any of these points, nor has the system of traction been finally determined. Further work is being conducted with a view to reaching finality on these points, further information obtained which will enable a decision to be reached.

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Culverden-Waiau Railway. This railway is 13 miles in length. Formation, including widening for station-yards, is completed to 12 m. 70 eh., the remaining length being about half-finished. A few minor works elsewhere remain to be done. Platelaying has been completed at 12 m. 76 eh., including all sidings at Achray (5 m. 15 eh.) and Rotherham (7 m.) station-yards, and one siding at Waiau. First lift of ballast is completed to the rail-head, including all sidings; second lift on main line only from sm. to 7m. 20 eh. Fencing is practically completed, also private crossings, with one exception. All culverts are completed, also steel-girder bridges at om. 20 eh., 9m. 32 eh., and llm. 42 eh. Timber bridges at om. 73 eh. and 3m. 55 eh. are nearing completion. A telephoneline has been erected throughout. Stockyards, with holding-yards, have been constructed at Rotherham, also a loading-bank; and the approach road from Rotherham Township has been formed. Loading-races for permanent stockyards at Waiau arc nearing completion. Since October, 1916, goods have been carried for the public over a portion of the line, and the service was extended to Waiau on the 28th February last. The delay in the completion of this railway is due entirety to acute shortage of labour, which still continues. Waimatb Branch Railway Extension. Length, J,, miles 60 chains. —No further work has been done on this section during the year. Otago Central Railway. Cromwell Section (J 52 eh. to 57 m,., α-pproso.). —Formation was continued from 54 m. 77 eh. to the terminus, about 1 mile 14 chains being completed during the year, leaving some 30 chains to complete. Formation of Cromwell Station yard is in progress, also road-deviations and widening. A 10 ft. concrete arch culvert was completed at 56 m. 32 eh. Concrete bridges at Leaning Rock Creek and Sonora Creek were completed, and the Nine-mile Creek Bridge nearly so. Platelaying was extended from 50 m. 55 eh. to 55 m. 2ch., a distance of 4 miles 27 chains. Ballasting was completed for about the same distance, first lift to 55 m. and second lift to 54 m. A goods service was maintained between Clyde and Half-way House, fruit and grain being the principal items carried. A thunderstorm in November, 1916, caused considerable damage to the railway and road. This will considerably delay the opening of the line, as bridges will be required at several washouts. Okepuki-Waiau Railway Extension. Construction-work on this extension ceased in November, 1915, but a few men were retained to complete the stumping on about 73 chains, and to burn off the felled timber. A settler's house was removed clear of the railway reserve. In January, 1917, bush fires destroyed the Department's store-sheds, with some tools and material, also the records of a good deal of survey-work. Fortunately, however, the bulk of this had been plotted and filed in Head Office. Sandy Bay Tramway. This tramway, which has been built for the purpose of obtaining access to a quarry of stone for the new Parliamentary Buildings, Wellington, was completed during the year, and has since been in constant use. SURVEYS OF RAILWAYS UNDER CONSTRUCTION, NEW LINES OF RAILWAYS, LAND-PLANS, ETC. Kawakawa-Hokianga Railway. The permanent line has been pegged during the year from 28 m. to 37 m., and the plans are nearly completed. A trial line has been run from 38 m. to near Tio Point (43 m. 50 eh.), where the line touches deep water on Hokianga Harbour. North Auckland Main Trunk Railway. A contract was let for a land-plan survey from 107 m. 25 eh. to 111 m.. 25 eh. Alterations have been made in the permanent-line survey near 112 m., and at Waiotira, the junction with the branch line to Whangarei. Waiuicu Branch Railway. A land-plan survey from 3m. 75 eh. to 12 m. 15 eh. has been completed, and the plans have been approved by the Survey Department. HUNTLY—AWAROA RAILWAY. A .contract has been let for the survey of land required for this railway from 7 m. 25 eh. to 8 m., also for the Waitawhara Road. East Coast Main Trunk Railway. Land-plan surveys for the first four miles of the Athenree Section, also for the Paengaroa Section, were completed by the Department's staff. The survey of the permanent line of railway beyond Matata has been continued as opportunity permitted, but little progress has been made. A great deal of detailed survey work is required on this swamp section. On the Motu Section two small areas were surveyed for a road-deviation and a station water-supply. On the line southward of Gisborne the Wharekopae deviation was surveyed from 14 m. to 22 m. 47 eh., and plans completed. Further survey work was carried out in connection with the location of the

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railway-line northward and southward of Wairoa, and the sidings to the wharf and to a ballastpit site, until January, 1917, when it was found necessary to transfer the Assistant Engineer to more urgent work. Northward of Napier the survey of the centre-line was extended to 10 m. GOch., and a land-plan survey from 0 m. to 0 m. 55 eh. and from 8 m. 3 eh. to 10 m. 60 eh. is in hand. Tl« ROTI - OI'UNAKE - MOTUROA RAILWAY. The permanent-line survey was completed from 46 m. to Moturoa, a distance of 1.0 miles 74 chains. The plans are in hand. Wellington-Wairarapa Railway Deviation. The survey in connection with the proposed deviation between Wellington and the Wairarapa has been entirely suspended, owing to the officers in charge of the survey party having joined the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces. Wellington-Paekakariki Railway Deviation. This survey is also suspended owing to officers joining the military forces. Tuapeka Mouth Branch Railway. During the year trial-line surveys between Hillend and the South Island Main Trunk Railway were oompleted from Hillend to Crichton (about llf miles) and Hillend to Lovell's Flat (about 10 miles). Neither of these lines can be regarded as satisfactory, as the gradients would be steep and the formation expensive. There are at least two alternative lines which seem worthy of investigation. A line was also surveyed from Hillend onward to a junction (at Greenfield) with the surveyed line up the Clutha Valley. This work has been suspended, the Assistant Engineer being now with the military forces. Generally, the amount of survey work carried out during the year has been much less than usual, owing to the absence of so man} - of our Engineers on active service.

ROADS, BRIDGES, ETC. The construction of roads and bridges has been greatly hampered by, the scarcity of labour, and also to some extent through lack of certain materials. Only the unexpended balances of former votes were available for expenditure, and in some districts works have been deferred owing to the excessive wages demanded by the few workmen available, so that roadwork generally "may be said to have been reduced to a minimum as regards both construction and maintenance. The year has been marked by a most extraordinary series of floods in various parts of the country, almost every district having suffered more or less. This has necessitated a considerable expenditure from the flood-damage vote, as well as a great deal of extra work for the Department's staff. Some of the more important works carried out are mentioned briefly below : — Mangamuka to Victoria Valley. —A considerable amount of work has been done on this important road. Bush has been felled for a distance of 34 chains, road widened 86 chains, drayroad formed 12 chains (11 J chains in rock), road repaired 230 chains, &c. Roderick Road. —There were 72 chains stumped and cleared, 137 chains formed 14 ft. wide, 36 ohains bush felled, &c. This road will be a feeder to the railway at Kaikohe. Matakama River Bridge. —A concrete bridge, 37 ft. long, with 12 ft. 6 in. roadway, has been erected by the Rodney County Council to replace an old wooden structure. Te Sana River Bridge. —Piles for this bridge have been made and driven, and work on the superstructure is in progress under the Rodney County Council. Omaumau River Bridge. —The Rodney County Council has also made and driven the piles for this bridge, which will be of reinforced concrete, 30 ft. long and 14 ft. wide. Taikata Creek Bridge. —The Waitemata County Council has completed this bridge, which is situated on the Great North Road Deviation, 2J miles north of Henderson Railway-station. The structure is of reinforced concrete, one 35 ft. and two 27 ft. 6 in. spans, with 16 ft. roadway. The format-ion of 36 chains of 16 ft. approach roads is in progress and nearing completion. Brooklyn Department is constructing a reinforced-concrete bridge of one 35 ft. and two 22 ft. 6 in. spans, with 12 ft. roadway. The piles have been made, and work on the superstructure is being commenced. Eingaia and Glasson ('reek Bridges. —These two bridges, in reinforced concrete, the former of seven 50 ft. spans and the latter of six 50 ft. spans, 15 ft. wide, have been erected by the Karaka Road Board. Tamaki River Bridge (Panmure). —This is a reinforced-concrete bridge on the main road from Panmure to Howick. It consists of fourteen 50 ft. and one 20 ft. spans, carried on four rows of concrete columns built up on reinforced-concrete piles. There is a2l ft. roadway, with footpaths on either side, the width over all being 32 ft. The work was carried out by the Manukau County Council. Piako River Bridge (Orchard). —This bridge will consist of ten stringer spans of 25 ft. each, and a central lifting span of 86 ft. 0 in., all in timber with the exception of the lifting gear, which is of mild steel. The work, which is being carried out by the Thames County Council, is well in hand, nearly all the piles having been driven and the superstructure constructed,

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fVaikato liiyer Bridge (Ra/ngvriri). —This new bridge is practically completed by contract. It comprises thirty-three 25 ft. stringer spans and three 123 ft. truss spans, in hardwood, on reinforced-ooncrete pile piers. The total length of the bridge is 1,194 ft., and the width between trusses 13 ft. 4 in. Waihou River Bridge (Tirohia). —A contract has been let for the erection of a timber bridge consisting of one 9 ft., four 25 ft., and one 24 ft. platform spans, and one G2 ft. truss spaa on hardwood pile piers. Waihato River Bridge (N garuawati/ia ). —A contract has been let for the erection of this bridge, which consists of three 123 ft., one 43 ft., and one 20 ft. spans, with 13 ft. roadway. The superstructure is of Australian hardwood, and will be carried on reinforced-concrete piles and C3'linders. All the piles have been made, and staging piles have been driven around the positions of the cylinders in readiness to commence sinking. Whatawhata to Raglan. —The proposals of the IJaglan County Council for re-forming, oulverting, and metalling about 15 miles of this road, at an estimated cost of .£16,000, have been approved. The Council has completed the whole of the formation and culverting and about 5i miles of metalling. When this work is completed the road between Whatawhata and Waitetuna will be metalled throughout. Hamilton to Roloruu. —The Matamata County Council has carried out, under Government grants, a considerable amount of raising, re-grading, culverting, and metalling on this road, effecting a very satisfactory improvement. Manga/piko Stream Bridge. —A reinforced-concrete bridge of two 15 ft. spans has been erected by the Rangiohia Road Board. Pirongia to Kawhia. —This road has been re-formed and metalled for a distance of 45 chains, under contract with the Department, and a timber bridge has been erected over the Kawaroa Stream. Waipa County Roads. —The Waipa County Council has carried out the metalling of nearly 11 miles of the following roads under Government subsidies, as well as over 9 miles on its own account : Pirongia to Te Awamutu, Te Awamutu to Ohaupo, Te Awamutu to Pirongia (Frontier Road), Te Rore to Pirongia, Whatawhata Swamp Road, and Kawa Road. Mangarapa Stream Bridge. —The Waitomo County Council has erected a platform bridge, 30 ft. span by 12 ft. wide, on rolled-steel joists, on the Hangatiki to Waitomo Road. Wharepuhunga Extension, No. 3 Block. —The Department has completed the construction of 2 miles 20 chains of dray-road, 12 ft. wide, also two timber bridges and sundry culverts. Wcdroa River Bridge (Tawanga). —Owing to a subsidence in the river-bank one abutment of this ferro-oonorete bridge settled down about 1 ft. This was raised by means of an hydraulic jack, and two additional piles were driven, restoring the bridge to its proper level. I'ongakawa Stream Bridge. —Timber and ironwork for a truss bridge of one 61 ft. span have been prepared, and erection will be commenced at once. Mtmgatoi Road. —Bush has been felled for a distance of 43 chains, and a 14 ft. road formed for 58 chains through heavy bush country, with a large proportion of solid rock cuttings. This work is very important to settlers. Mimilui Stream Bridge. —A. bridge consisting of three 25 ft. spans on masonry piers has been erected near Ruatahuna, in the Urewera Country, by the Department's bridge gang. The work was one of considerable difficulty, owing to the inaccessible character of the place. Motu-Opotiki Road. —This road was maintained for a distance of 15 miles for the greater part of the year. This length, with the Waiawa Deviation (3 miles), was then handed over to the local authority. Waioeka River to Matawai. —This road was widened from a 6 ft. track to a 12 ft. dray-road for a distance of 75 chains, and the portion already widened (5 miles 45 chains) was maintained —a work of some magnitude, owing to slips caused by the heavy rains experienced. Te Kuiti to Mokau. —Maintenance on this road has been carried out by contributions from the Waitomo and A.wakino County Councils, subsidized by the Government; but the amount available under this arrangement is hardly sufficient in view" of the very heavy traffic on the road. Waitomo County Roads. —The Waitomo County Council has formed 8 miles of Te Ahuroa Road and metalled 4 miles, as well as metalling a total length of 10 miles on Mangarino, Mangaotaki, Kumara, and Ngapaenga Roads. Mimi to Mokau. —The Clifton County Council has metalled 19 chains of dray-road, and quarried additional metal. The Department has lowered grades on Mount Messenger for 59 chains, sandstoned 12 chains of road, erected one small bridge and eight culverts, aoid completed 92 chains of engineering survey. Waiwakaiho River Bridge. —A contract was let for the construction of a weir across the river to protect the foundations of this concrete bridge. Work was commenced in July, 1916, but had to be suspended in December. It will be resumed shortly. Kotare Stream Bridge. —A girder bridge of one 30 ft. and two 16J ft. spans has been erected, and approaches formed. Waikawau River Bridge. —A bridge consisting of two 18 ft. and one 40 ft. spans has been erected. Manganui-a-te-ao River Bridge (lloihenga). —This bridge, consisting of one 121 ft. truss span, was completed under contract. Mangatiti (West). —On this road five small contracts were completed, comprising 54 chains of dray-road formation, 50 chains of horse-road 6 ft. wide, and twenty timber culverts. The dray-road already formed has been maintained for a distance of 5 miles, but only in a fit state for horse traffic, there being numerous slips, through which a 6 ft. track has been cleared. Under the flood-damage item 2J chains of road giving access to the steamer-landing on the Wanganui River was restored, having boon destroyed by floods.

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This is typical of the work carried out on a great many roads in the newly-settled bush areas along the Wanganui Eiver and throughout the surrounding district.' These new roads and tracks suffer considerable damage through slips and washouts, but such damage has been less than usual during the year under review. Kaitieke Stream Bridge. —An uuderstrutted bridge, 37 ft. in length, was_ constructed, also chains of 1-4 ft. road approaches. Diggers' Creek Bridge. —A bridge consisting of two 81 ft. spans, on the main Pohangiiia Road, has been constructed by the Pohangina County Council from plans supplied by the Department. Pohangina Bridge (Piri-piri Crossing). —A bridge, consisting of one 100 ft. and one 41 It. truss spans and three 25 ft. stringer spans, with 10 ft. 6 in. roadway, has been erected by the Pohangina County Council. Napier-Wairoa Road. —This main coach-road has been maintained by the Department for a length of 29£ miles. Severe storms during the year caused considerable damage to the formation, particularly the heavy rains of July last. The Department's section of the road was closed to traffic for only a day or two. The Wairoa County Council received and expended a grant towards the repair of flood damage on their section of the road, but much more work is necessary. This Council has also metalled 48 chains of the road under Government grant. Runanga-Pohue Road. —This main coach-road has been maintained for a length of about 26 miles, being kept open for traffic throughout the year. Otawhao Block. —A 30 ft. reinforced-concrete road-bridge has been erected and approaches formed. Thirty-eight chains of road were metalled. Purahotangahia Block. —An engineering survey of 30 miles of roads was completed. The block is intended for a returned soldiers' settlement, and a pack-track miles in length lias been formed to enable the settlers to take fencing-posts to their sections. Half a mile of 16 ft. road was formed in heavy sideling, and a contract has been let for a length of 3 miles 11 chains, of which, about 1 mile is finished. Porangahau Block. —Work in this block has been retarded by scarcity of labour, but a little over 1 mile of road has been formed, also one temporary bridge. A contract has been let for the erection of seven road-bridges. Devil's Creek Bridge. —A 36 ft. arch reinforced-concrete road-bridge has been erected by the Waipawa County Council. Waipawa River Bridge (Fletcher's Crossing). —This bridge, comprising six 42 ft. spans, is being erected by the Waipawa County Council, and is nearry completed. Matahoura Stream Bridge. —A bridge of four 25 ft. spans on concrete piers has been practically completed under the Wairoa County Council. Rokaiwana Stream Bridge. —This bridge, consisting of one 40 ft. span in ferro-oonorete, has been constructed by the Dannevirke Count}- Council. Turangawwi River Bridge. —A reinforced-concrete bridge, consisting of three 25 ft. and two 24 ft. spans, 16 ft. wide between parapets, has been constructed by the Featherston County Council. Wcdnui River Bridge (Wainuiomata Valley). —The Hutt County Council has completed a reinforced-concrete bridge of two 40 ft. spans, with reinforced-concrete wing walls. Mangatawainui Bridge, —The Department has constructed a bridge of one 40 ft. and two 25 ft. spans, on pile piers, on the Blairgowrie Road, together with 10 chains of approaches. Marainanga Stream, Bridge. —A bridge, consisting of three 20 ft. stringer spans on pile piers, has been completed, and the approaches arc in hand. Mangatainoka Block River Protective Works. —Four pile groynes of a total length of 120 ft. have been constructed, and a length of river-bank was trimmed, fenced in, and planted with willows. Poroporo Settlement. —The Upokongaru Stream Bridge, consisting of a truss span of 1.44 ft., with 12 ft. roadway, has been completed, with approaches. The roads throughout the settlement have been repaired, cleared of slips, and maintained prior to vesting in the local authority. Opawa River Bridge (Blenheim.). —The concrete-work on this bridge, which consists of eight 70 ft. spans in reinforced concrete, is all completed. The approach from the Blenheim , end is complete, and the northern approach is under way. Asphalt is being placed on the bridge-deck, and some concrete blocks are being deposited to prevent scour around the centre piers. Branch River Bridge. —This bridge was completed last year under contract, but owing to abnormal floods before the banks had consolidated a portion of the northern approach was washed out. Kaikour a—Parnassus Road. —Bridges over the Oaro, Goose Bay, and Okarahia Streams were completed under contract, and approaches thereto, by day labour. The Leader River Bridge was completed and can now be used, although the approaches are not quite finished. The road has been maintained throughout the year, and has given general satisfaction to the travelling public. Kohtitii-Westport-Reefton Road.—A considerable sum has been expended in the maintenance of this road, which connects the provinces of Nelson and Westland, the work comprising new metalling and improvements in alignment and grading, as well as. ordinary maintenance-work. Hope Valley Bridge. —A bridge, consisting of one 41 ft. and two 12 ft. spans on concrete piers and pile abutments, has been erected. Matiri River Suspension Bridge. —A suspension footbridge 160 ft. in length has been erected. - Anatoki River contract has been let for the erection of a bridge of two 52 ft. and two 20 ft. spans on pile piers. The work is progressing satisfactorily.

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Motueka River Bridge ( Motueka-Riwaka Road). —A contract has been let for the reconstruction of the eastern portion of this bridge, including nine new stringer spans, of various lengths, on new pile piers and abutment. Maruia River Bridge (Maruia North Block Road). —A bridge, consisting of two 81 ft. Howe truss spans on concrete pier and abutments, has been erected. Road approaches have been completed for a distance of about 22 chains. Tiraumea River Bridge. —A traffic bridge, consisting of four 25 ft. and one 61 ft. spans on piles, with 1.0 ft. 6 in. roadway, has been erected, and approach roads formed and metalled. Arthur** Pass - Eumara —Boss—Waiho. —Maintenance of these main roads has involved an expenditure of over £5,000, which is less than usual. The work includes new metalling, patching existing metal, cleaning out water-tables, fords, &c, cutting overhanging scrub, re-forming road surface, and sundry minor improvements. Lyell Greek Bridge. — A contract for the erection of this bridge, comprising one 80 ft. timber truss span, one 20 ft. span on pile piers, and one concrete abutment, is practically completed. Ashley River Bridge. —A bridge, comprising eight 25 ft. stringer spans, 9 ft. 6 in. roadway, on pile piers, is being constructed under contract. The work is well in hand. llurunui River Bridge (Lower). —A bridge, comprising three 52 ft., one 51ft., one 25 ft., and one 11 ft. spans, on pile piers, is being erected by the Waipara County Council. Three spans are practically completed, and a fourth is well in hand. Makerikeri River Bridge. —A contract has been let for the erection of a bridge of eight 25 ft. spans on pile piers, with approach roads and extensive gabion protection. Timber is being carted to the site. Okuku River Bridge. —This bridge is being erected under contract, and is nearly completed, It consists of thirty-seven 25 ft. stringer spans on pile piers, the roadway being 9 ft. 6 in. wide, except on four spans, where the width is increased to 19 ft. 6 in. to provide a passing-place for vehicles. A contract has been let by the Ashley County Council for the construction of the approaches and protective work, and this is nearing completion. Orari River Bridge (Badham's Road). —A contract has been let for the erection of a bridge comprising fourteen 25 ft. stringer spans on pile piers. The work is progressing satisfactorily. Waitaki River Protective Works. —Stone gabions were constructed and placed in position for a distance of 13J chains along the river-frontage of the Steward Settlement. Two small groynes were also constructed, and further work is in progress. Arthur's Point Bridge (S'hotover River). —Plans of a new structure to replace the present decayed wooden bridge have been prepared, and materials have been obtained. Construction work will be put in hand shortly. Lumsden - Te Anau Road. —This tourist was repaired and put in order as far as possible, encroaching scrub being cleared for a distance of 6 miles, and 35 miles of road generally trimmed up. Maclennan River Bridge. —A road-bridge, comprising eight 25 ft. timber spans on concrete piers, was erected under contract. Tautuku River Bridge. —A timber bridge of three 25 ft. spans was erected under contract. Lurnsden Protective Works. —Two gabion groynes were constructed, also 4 chains of stopbank and sundry minor works to prevent erosion by the river. The results so far have been satisfactory.

IRRIGATION. Otekaike Settlement. This work was completed during the year. Ida Valley Scheme. The plastering of the Manorburn Dam was completed, and a diverting weir was constructed. The upper section of the Alexandra Bonanza Water-race was lined with concrete where necessary, dry stone walls erected, spillways cut, and stock-bridges erected. This section is now complete in every detail. The lower section was deepened where necessary. Moa Creek to Black's No. 3 Race was completed. Halliday's Race was cleaned up, and a 20-ft.-span heavy-traffic bridge erected at the point where the race is crossed by the road leading to the Manorburn Dam. The Syndicate Race was acquired by the Government, and widened and deepened for a distance of about 3| miles. A few settlers were supplied with water during the irrigation season. Manuhekikia-Alexandra-Clyde Scheme. A survey party has been engaged throughout the year in setting out distributary races and surveying in connection with the intake in the Manuherikia Gorge and elsewhere. A considerable amount of plan work was done, and the plotting now in hand includes a 10-chain-scale plan of the whole of the country to be dealt with under this A. small contract for the construction of 33 chains of water-race has made very slow progress, about 10 chains still remaining (o be made. The Department has carried out earthworks on 2 miles of race-line, and removed several large slips. Preliminary work in connection with the tunnel intake was completed, including 22 chains of tramway and a service road. At the inlet end of the tunnel all loose material has been removed and a shaft sunk to formation-level. Driving has just been commenced. At the outlet <*nd the tunnel has been driven for a distance of 3 - 67 chains. The total length of the tunnel is approximately 24 chains.

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Irrigation Farms. The time lias now arrived for the Government to establish an experimental and instructional farm to be worked wholly by irrigation, in order that farmers may be able to ascertain and study the correct methods of irrigation and the crops best suited to each particular locality. Until steps such us this are taken it is hardly possible to ensure a successful future for any broad irrigation scheme. Waihou and Ohinhmuiu Rivers Improvement. Dredging. —During April, 1916, portion of the Waihou River between the Junction and Puke was dredged, the material being used to form stop-banks. On the 17th April the dredge commenced work at the lower end of the Ngararahi Cut, a canal 6;S chains long, 80 ft. wide, and 12 ft. deep, which will cut out a large bend in the river. Work lias since been fairly continuous, the output of the dredge being a total of 180,899 cubic yards of clay and sand. At the end of March, 1917, there remained llf chains of this out to be excavated. The material is pumped ashore to form stop-banks. A new barge, 36 ft. by 18 ft., with lifting-gear, has been constructed, and has proved very useful. An electric lighting plant has been installed on the dredge, enabling two shifts to be worked during the summer months. StO'p-ha-nks. —The dredge has constructed 26 chains of stop-bank near Thorp's Bend. A. stop-bank in continuation of the Paeroa stop-bank has also been made for a distance of about 6 chains. A length oi' I mile 60 chains of stop-bank between Paeroa and To Aroha has been let in small contracts at various dates, but the contractors have been greatly hampered in consequence of the abnormal rainfall, which caused the river to rise and flood the excavations repeatedly. It is expected that the completion of the Ngararahi Cut will enable these contracts to be carried out expeditiously. Flood-gates and Drains. —At Paeroa Main Drain two reinforced-concrete barrels, 70 ft. long by 4 ft. 6 in. diameter, fitted with automatic gates, have been constructed, and a large deviation drain over 15 chains in length has been excavated. Flood-gates similar to the above were constructed at Te Tawa Stream Drain. At Wilson's Drain a single flood-gate of the same type was completed. Sundry other flood-gates have been maintained. Ngahina Bridge. —A detailed plan of the Ngahina Bridge across the Waihou River was made, with a view to its alteration to suit the river-improvement scheme. Ngahina Wharf, —Sundry additional buildings are being erected in connection with this new wharf. Surveys. —A large amount of survey work lias been done in locating lines of stop-banks, also in connection with a proposed canal at Pereniki's Bend, the Tirohia-Rotokohu land-drainage area, Awaiti Eidge stop-bank, &c. General. —ln addition to works and surveys, easements and land-acquisition have been dealt with. Several buildings have been removed from lines of stop-banks, punts and gear have been overhauled, and a new pile-driving derrick has been built. The whole of the works on the rivers-improvement scheme have been much hampered by local floods, the rainfall having been far above the average of recent years.

WANGANUI RlVElt TRUST. During the year an exhaustive inspection was made of the Wanganui liiver from Taumarunui down to Raorikia, a little above Upokongaro, by the Inspecting Engineer, assisted by the Resident Engineers of the districts through which the river passes, the object being to ascertain what is necessary in order to properly maintain works which have already been carried out, and what further works are required to render the river navigable by the river steamers at all states of the stream. The River Trust has been furnished with a copy of the report.

MUNICIPAL TRAMWAYS. . Auckland. —A siding 3| chains in length, of single track, has been laid from the main line to the Tramways Office in Customs Street West. The alignment of 12 chains of double track in Customs Street West, between Queen Street and Hobson Street, has been altered to conform to street improvements carried out by the City Council, the result being a decided improvement in the tramway. The Queen Street extension, comprising 41 chains of double track from Wellesley Street to Karangahape Road, was completed. An automatic points-control apparatus was installed at the junction of Queen and Wellesley Streets. Gisborne. —A new storage-battery car is under construction in Christohurch. Wellington. —The large new car-shed in Onepu Road, Kilbirnie, has been completed, with the necessary sidings. Christchurch. —On the Sumncr route the tramway has been completed along the causeway across part of the estuary, as well as a deviation between Monck's Bay and Shag Rock, an extension of the W T oolston loop, and the construction of a new loop at the junction of Sumner Road with Mount Pleasant Road. On the Worcester Street route the line has been duplicated between Manchester Street and Stanmore Road. A proposal for a new loop in Moorhouse Avenue is under consideration. The plans of seventeen new trailers have been approved. Dunedin. —The Maryhill Cable Tramway, which had been acquired by the Dunedin City Council, was inspected and found to be unfit for traffic, and accordingly an order was issued forbidding its use. The Council's proposals to remedy the defects have since been approved.

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MARINE. As usual, the Department's district officers have made numerous inspections and reports, on behalf of the Marine Department, in connection with wharves, landings, harbour-works, reclamations, foreshore leases, &c, particularly in the Whangarei and Auckland districts. In addition the Department has carried out sundry works, including the following : — Kohukohu Beclamation, Hokianga. —The work of restoring the damaged retaining-wall and raising the height of the reclamation has been completed. Harbourmaster's House, liawene, Hohianga, —Some additional excavation has been carried out, and a drainage system, has been installed. Tauranga Harbour. —The Department carried out a little dredging in the channel leading to the town wharves, but the only plant available proved unsuitable, and the work was discontinued. Wairoa (H. 8.), —A marine survey of the Wairoa roadstead was carried out, and a suitable plan supplied to facilitate the working of this port by the deep-sea vessels which will call for meat from the new freezing-works. Hokitika Lighthouse. —The lighthouse was repaired and painted. Gape Foulwind Lighthouse. —A new outbuilding was erected. Avon Biver. —Levels and soundings were taken in connection with a proposed reclamation at New Brighton. Puysegur Point Lighthouse. —Timber has been, obtained and joinery manufactured for three new cottages. The work of erection will be commenced early in the spring.

DEFENCE WORKS. Sundry buildings have been erected, and existing works have been maintained and improved. A. considerable amount of maintenance work and some new construction were carried out during the early part of the year at the military camps. These have since been taken over entirely by the Defence Department. I have, &c, R. W. Holmes, M.lnst, C.E., The Hon. the Minister of Public Works. Engineer-in-Chief.

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Enclosure to Appendix B. Table of Lengths of Government Lines Authorized, Constructed, and Surveyed up to 31st March, 1917. NORTH ISLAND.

ote. —Column 12 : For detail information as to dates of openings of such portions of lines as are not given in this table see tables of lengths of lines in Public Works Statements, 1904-10. Appropriation. Division. to OO Section. Main Line. to to 33 Total. > 3 Under Under Forma- Plate- — tion. , laying. Date. State of Line. Opened. 1910-11 1911-12 1912-13 1913-141914-151915-161916-17 1 I I I I State of Line. Opened. Total. 4 5 6 7 1 I 8 9 10 11 M. ch. M. ch. i M. ch. i i j I 12 M. ch. 13 14 M. ch. M. ch 15 M. ch. 16 17 18 19 20 21 M. ch. M. eh. M. ch. M. ch. M. ch. I M. ch. 7 16 j 1 2 3 j KawakawaGr a hamtown (Onerahi) Kawakawa M. ch. 7 16 I M. ch. M. ch. M. ch. Opua Wharf - Kawa- ! 7 16 0 57 : 7 73 kawa Kawakawa-Kamo Kawakawa-Towai .. 21 18 l 0 61 21 79 Towai-Hukerenui .. 4 80 0 38 4 63 Hukerenui-Kamo ..16 0 3 29 ! 19 29 Kanio-Kioreroa .. 6 52 2 27 8 79 Kioreroa-Grahamto«n 2 50 1 16 3 66 Wharf Otiria-Kaikohe .. ! 16 25 1 45 j 17 70 Kaikohe-Hokianga.. 29 0 0 40 29 40 Dargaville-Booms .. 17 21 0 75 18 16 Booms-Tarawliati .. 2 37 0 25 I 2 62 Tarawhati-Donnelly's 4 52 0 38 j 5 10 Crossing Extension ... .. : 25 55 .. ; 25 55 McCarrol's- Paparoa 4 30 0 25 i 4 55 Paparoa-Bickerstafie . 3 75 0 63 4 58 Bickers'affe-Ranganui I 4 25 0 61 ' 5 06 Ranganui-Kaiwaka.. 2 35 0 62 i 3 17 Kaiwaka -Te Hana.. 8 65 1 03 9 68 Te Ha. .a-Wellsford.. 3 27 0 58 4 5 Wellsford-Wa\by .. 3 18 0 28 3 46 Wayby-Hoteo .. j 3 40 0 13 3 53 Hoteo-Kaipara Flats 2 45 0 13 2 58 Kaipara Flats-Wood- 3 5 0 16 ; 3 21 cock's Woodcock's -Ahuroa : 2 41 0 16 2 57 Ahuroa-Helensville.. 18 41 - 1 75 20 36 .. 12 April,1911 ..2 May, 1910 ... 2 Oct., 1911 .. i IMay, 1914 12 0 8 18 .. 1 June, 1914 4 33 0 19 | 21 18 4 30 , 2'SO .. .. 21 18 '.'. I 27 2 '.'. 2 50 16 25 .. .. .. 16 25 '.'. 17 21 2 37 .. .. .. 2 37 41 48 Kamo-Grahamtown 9 22 Kaihu Valley Kawakawa- Hokianga 45 25 Kaihu Valley 24 30 North Auckland Railway Kaipara Northwards 25 55 .. 1 30 1 75 0 68 3 07 ! .. 4 25 .. 1 Aug., 1914 .. 18 Mar. 1913 16 May, 1910 1 April, 1909 .. 13 May, 1908 11 June, 1907 17 Nov., 1905 .. 18 May, 1905 I .. 3 27 ' '.'. 8 65 2 35 .. .. '.'. 2 35 ► 45 42 86 22 45 4-2

33

D.—l

Table of Lengths of Government Lines Authorized, Constructed, and Surveyed up to 31st March, 1917— continued. NORTH ISLAND— continued.

s— T>. 1.

"c H CM A 6 . CO CO fc- clO CM CO CO rH 8 CM fclO CM CO CM x* CM I o CM A o m t3 rH Ol CO rH rH Ol cn 3 o J a CO rH A a § fclO rH Hi rH O T-H r4 A ° I a 13 CO 3 OJ G. o l"H I CO o H CO rH a o • c5 3 o CD 09 HH CC CO I CM rH Ol CM rH I T-i r~{ Ol T-i I o OS r4 H H*l rfl o J 3 CO I CM r4 A a <6 4^ i-H rH 1-t o 6 ■ • UI * fl fl a $ u co a cq * 3 i t>0 S'P. o rH a<=> a 05 o CO o CM CO H— W IO o CO CO CO CO IO -* CM co 3 5 "* 3 CD £ , 'S 0 c a . 1 o 3 4H 1 OS o .i * "o H H. 5 o CO Hll CO *• I _ a H CM CM CM rH o # . °s ' CO CO rH CM O • -t•pa^f >Ajng QD o o e£> CM "3 o H fcr]CO *3tOl CO lO CO CM ■* Ol fcCO rH o o IO CO CO CM o fc-i-4 O Ol iO rH O JO tCM tco IO i-4 O L— CO rH O CO O CM CO CO o i-4 i-4 fcO fc-fc-Ttf CO rH fc- « Ol > M 3 3CM •sSuipig CO J co CO o co 6* CO rH CO CO CO rH CM t* tH o rH i-H CO O CO rH CO CM rH CO trH "«# rH O <o CM O CO J O H a^ fl 0 'c3 fl otic CD M <D |3 ce o u <D H O 3 CO CO CO t- t- »H "O CM Q CO © iH ■5 I I f « e •OS <! 'AO « i , EH s*s*i If! W0H io to tD IN A rSl c3 *h 01 CO 3 T3 .2 3 HH OS ■S3 > o CO a P ■"" to CM 3 3 '3 & c3 HH c3 H 01 cS Ph Ol CO (M o Ol cS o tH c3 to -J a H O Ol IO rH O O 3 CD M o Ph C3 O u e& ce Oh y-4 O CO CM O IO -* oq cm cm CO rH rH i | , : O .2 'J5 ■+* o 2 •? n~; fl to j ""J '■i s a § 3 * la Ph Ph CO iO CM CO CM CM rH O CM rH O O IO IO O CM 00 CO CM CO CO CO trH CO CO *3 -dl CO Oi bo 3 . ce ca (H a ° ea so y 2 3 9 o fl S « 3° a 3 I a a co i-= s ■ v i S E -1 3 « „, « =4 § 1 « .2 o § | 4 > BO 3tLJ< fl CSJ< S t> H H HPh Oh O O CO i-4 O CM CO iO CO 00 iO O CO CO ItO-dH CM co CO Ol i 5 M CO A*~ CO CO t- fcCO rH OO IO CO Ol CO CM rH o Ol rH O CO to CM CO CM CM O CM CM CO CO T-H '98-8911 ft lO CM CO o o r-l CO CM i to 3 CM A m o (u a 00.M a! 3 5 .33 §3Q 3 Mo <<<t -* > C3 O Li 3 $ <i 3 a 3 w o fl 0) o Ph o u a a to <v a XI tH 6 "S M '3 CO SO fO Th h2 a 3 o s o H3 a w 3 '3 a o u CO 3 .Oh o ca J .-"'3 aw ■** hV> O (^ °o J3 is 5 'm . PiS 2.2 I 3 <jph ca a fl -wrrj I7c3 2 S fl 5? > rl O >H CO rfl t> hi z i i co .r. na 3 o >> 5 o g Op , 3 8 , .* 9 - g a " 8 ° ~ ca '3 o £• -Shs» s a-Sofeo" |S W co £ W Oh H

j.).—i.

Table of Lengths of Government Lines Authorized, Constructed, and Surveyed up to 31st March, 1917— continued. NORTH ISLAND— continued.

34

Appropriation. Division. 00 © Section. Main Line. to oo _ Total. _ Under Under Forma- PlateState of Line. Opened. I 5. tion. laying. Date. 1 1910-11 1911-12 1912-13 1913-14,1914-15 1915-16 1916-17 1 i Total. 1 2 3 5 6 7 S 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 M. ch. M. ch. 20 21 4 M. ch. M. ch. M. ch. M. ch. M. ch. (13 0 1 7 0 M. ch. Permt. Prelim. M. ch. M. ch. M. eh. H. ch. M. ch. M. ch. M. eh. M. ch. M. ch. East Coast Railway — contd. Waihi-Opotiki— ctd. Matata-Taneatua .. Taneatua-Opotiki .. 20 0 30 0 ." Prelim. Survej | 0 67 20 0 30 0 Branch Lines Mount Maunganui - Te M au nga Junction Te Puke Quarry Moturiki Quarry Morrinsville-Rotorua 4 27 5 14 .. - 4 27 Thames Valley - Rotorua GisborneRotorua Thames Valley-Roto-rua 69 33 3 0 1 0 69 33 0 20 0 10 5 27 3 20 1 10 74 60 .. •• 3 0 1 0 69' 32 Gisborne- Opotiki 93 45 Gisborne Wharf -Kaiteratahi Kaiteratahi-Karaka Karaka- Puha Puha-Waikohu Bridge Waikohu Bridge-Wai-kohu Waikohu-Otoko Otoko-Rakauroa Rakauroa-Matawai.. Matawai-Kowhai Road Kowhai Road-Motu Motu-Opotiki Napier- West Shore.. West Shore-Petane.. Petane-Eskdale Eskdale-Wairoa Wairoa River-Gisborne Gisborne Station - Makaraka Makaraka- Pat u tahi Patutabi-Ngatapa .. Ngatapa-Waikura .. 13 10 5' 5 1 75 3 29 0 35 7 75 6 60 5 65 5 79 I 2 45 0 71 0 24 0 32 0 32 0 32 0 50 I 0 55 15 55 5 76 2 19 3 29 0 67 8 27 7 12 6 35 6 54 2 10 41 2 3 70 3 63 4 45 46 21 72 0 3 5 : - ! •• 5 79 13 April, 1905 20 May, 1907 28 May, 1908 1 April, 1909 6 April, 1912; 2 Nov., 1914 2 Nov., 1914 j "• ... 7 75 660 5 65 I 44 3i 2 10 41 2 3 12 3 63 4 45 46 21 72 0 3 5 .. 2 10 41 2 Estim. 3 12 3 63 3 0 Prelim. 2 17 .. New survey Napier-Gisborne 206 20 0 58 •■ 1 45 46 21 44 0 12 67 •• 4 54 6 50 12 0 0 40 0 53 5 14 7 23 12 0 4 54 6 50 1 43 •• " 12 0 217 ' •• I .. .. •• I I I

35

D.—l

Table of Lengths of Government Lines Authorized, Constructed, and Surveyed up to 31st March, 1917— continued. NORTH ISLAND— continued.

State of Line. Appropriation. Division. c3 CO Section. Main Line. CD ao co Total. 's CD CD j Under Under I Forma- PlateOpened. 3H 3 GO. tion. laying. Date. 1910-1111911-12 1912-13 1913-14 1914-15 19151 -161916-17 Total. 1 ew survey — contd. 2 N apier- Gisborne — ctd. 3 M. ch. 4 5 M. ch. Waikura-Waterfall 5 0 Waterfall-Hangaroa 4 0 Hangaroa - Te Reinga 17 11 Te Reinga-Marumaru 12 40 Marumaru - Wairoa 7 0 River Wairoa Wharf Siding 1 64 Wairca-Napier .. 2 55 Napier Spit-Woodville 96 65 6 M. ch. 7 8 9 M. ch. M. ch. M. ch. 5 0 5 0 4 0 4 0 17 11 17 11 Prelim. 12 40 9 40 Prelim. 7 0 7 0 1 64 1 64 2 55 2 55 ! 111 70 10 11 M. ch. 12 13 M. ch. M. ch. .. I .. .. 14 M. ch. 15 16 M. ch. : M. ch. .. i 17 M. eh. 18 M. ch. 19 M. ch. 20 M. ch. 21 M. ch. .. .. .. Napier-Wood%'ille .. .. NapierWoodville and Palmerston North Wellington - Woodville 96 65 15 5 ... .. 96 6! ■ Woodville-Palmerston North Woodville-Wellington 17 21 Woodville-Palmerston 17 21 North Woodville- Wellington 115 79 [Te Aro] Woodside-Greytown 3 7 Peatherston -Martin- 11 50 borough Greytown-Martin- 4 62 borough Kaitoke-Featberston 9 0 Upper Hutt Woodside 21 30 Petone-Pigeon Bush 31 40 0 51 17 72 [ 137 72 3 71 11 50 1150 .. 17 2] 115 79 21 73 .. . 115 7! Greytown Branch .. Peatherston - Martinborough G r e yt own - M a r t inborough Coach road Route .. Tauherenikau Boute Wainui-o -mata Route Coast Route Coast Route 3 7 | 11 50 0 64 3 i 4 62 4 62 4 62' Rimutaka Incline Deviation Surveys 9 0 | 21 30 1 31 40 9 0 9 0 Prelim. 21 30 21 30 31 40 31 40 .. .. Foxton-New Plymouth Wellington-Manawatu Poxton-Patea Route Improvement Surveys 52 0 70 0 | 83 37 .120 44 26 7 Petone-Pigeon Bush 52 0 Petone-Carterton, via 70 0 Martinborough Wellington-Longburn 83 37 Foxton-Patea .. 120 44 Turakina-Matarawa 11 67 Aramoho-P-oat Valley 7 40 Tunnel Kai Iwi - Okehu .. 3 60 Nukumaru-Waitotara 3 0 15 76 14 75 52 0 52 0 70 0 70 0 99 33 135 39 11 67 11 67 7 40 7 40 .. 7Dec.,1908t .. 83 3', 120 i( .. 3 60 I 3 60 3 0 i 3 0 Prelim. ..I ! .. I * Trial survey. \ E 'ate of purchase.

D.—l

36

Table of Lengths of Government Lines Authorized, Constructed, and Surveyed up to 31st March, 1917— continued. NORTH ISLAND— continued.

Appropriation. Division. © 00 © Section. Main Line. to OO _ Total. ns © © Under Under ! Forma- PlateState of Line. Opened. CD tion. ! laying. 1910-11 1911-12 1912-131913-14 1914-15|1915-16 1916-17 Date. Total. I I I 15 16 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 17 18 ._ 19 20 21 Foxton-New Plymouth — contd. Patea - Waitara and New Plymouth Bull's Branch Wanganui Branch .. M. ch. M. ch. M. ch. 72 29 Patea-New Plymouth 72 29 11 52 Breakwater 3 79 Bull's Branch .. 3 79 3 29 Aramoho-Wanganui 3 29 2 23 M. ch. 84 1 3 79 5 52 M. ch. 3 79 j M. ch. Prelim. M. ch. . M. ch. M. ch. M. ch. M. ch. M. ch. M. ch. H. ch. M. ch. M. ch. M. ch. 72 29 .. 329 StratfordMain Trunk Stratford-Main Trunk 101 27 Stratford-Toko .. 6 26 0 40 Toko-Oruru .. 4 72 0 36 Oruru-Huiroa .. 4 50 i 0 35 Huiroa-Te Wera .. ! 6 77 1 16 Te Wera Pohokura .. ' 8 55 0 65 Pohokura - Whanga- 6 13 0 45 momona Whangamomona- Ta- ' 9 67 0 60 hora Tahora- Heao .. 1 40 I Heao-Matiere .. 35 57 Okahukura-Matiere.. 10 23 0 75 Matiere - Waitewhena 6 27 Watershed 33 40 Mangaroa-Puketutu 33 40 j 14 0 Aramatai-Hangatiki 14 0 30 0 .. 30 0 i 6 66 5 28 5 5 8 13 9 40 6 58 1 Mar., 1905 1 April, 1908 20 June, 1910 1 Aug., 1912 1 July, 1914 I .. 37J53 .. .. .. .. .. 6 - 77 .. 855 .. f> 1 ft [ 6 13 6 _3 10 47 2 20 7 47 1 40 35 57 11 18 6 27 1 40 35 57 6*27 Prelim. 10 23 1 17 .. Stratford - Ongarue — Deviations Puketutu - Mangaroa Deviation Opunake-Mountain Rd. 33 40 14 0 30 0 33 40 14 0 30 0 Prelim. Prelim. Prelim. 23 10 Opunake-Eltham .. . 23 10 , 23 10 23 10 Te Roti-Moturoa .. Manaia Branch 55 65 Te Roti-Kapuni .. 7 0 0 19 Kapuni-Auroa .. 5 0 Auroa-Pihama .. 4 42 Pihama Opunake .. 5 68 Opunake- Stony River 18 70 Stony River-Moturoa 14 45 5 50 ' Manaia-Kapuni .. 5 50 7 19 5 0 4 42 5 68 18 70 14 45 5 50 5 0 4 42 5 68 18 70 14 45 5 50 7 0 1 0 2"o 5 50 Mount Egmont Branoh 8 77 Manganui Section .. 5 74 2 3 Quarry Section .. 3 3 0 60 8 77 7 77 3 63 158 125 ! 1 April, 1908 6 0 •• .. .. .. ••

37

D.—l

Table of Lengths of Government Lines Authorized, Constructed, and Surveyed up to 31st March, 1917— continued. NORTH ISLAND— continued.

Appropriation. Division, CD ao CD Section. Main Line. ao bo State of Line. Total. CD Opened. Under Under > •r. CC tion. laying. Date. 1910-11 1911-12-1912-181913-14 1914-15 1915-1611916-17 Total. 6 ! 1 2 3 4 5 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 North Island Mam Trunk Railway Marton-Te Awamutu M. ch. 209 69 Marton Junction - Mangaweka Mangaweka-Taihape Taihape Mataroa .. Mataroa-Waiouru .. Waiouru-Erua Erua-Taumarunui .. Taumarunui-Te Awamutu Raetihi Section Ohakune to MokauRetaruke Divide Makatote Gorge-Ma-rae-Kowhai Marae-Kowhai-Ohura Valley Ngaire Section Tangarakau Section Heao Section Ohura Section Waitara Section Urenui to Tangitu River Hastings-Te Awamutu M. ch. 31 67 M. ch. 4 61 M. ch. 36 48 j M. ch. M. ch. M. ch. M. eh. M. ch. M. ch. M. ch. M. ch. M. ch. M. ch. M. ch. M. ch. M. eh. [50 58 84 se Raetihi Branch Central Route Deviation Surveys 13 1 5 70 18 10 30 63 35 65 74 33 1 61 0 61 [l2 50 14 62 6 51 97 28 •• ;; 10 Sep., 1904 1 June, 1907 30 June, 1908 13 Feb., 1909 9 Nov., 1908 6 20 80 53 74 35 8 53 30 0 8 53 30 0 1 7 9 60 j 30 0 30"0 Prelim. 8 53 34 0 34 0 34 0 I 34 0 Prelim. Ngaire-Ongarua 20 0 20 0 20 0 20 0 Explor. 103 58 38 73 26 0 10 70 27 75 46 75 12 0 •• " 38 73 26 0 10 70 27 75 46 75 12 0 I 38 73 26 0 10 70 27 75 46 75 | 12 0 .. ■" "■ Waitara-Tangarakau Urenui Route 46 75 12 0 Prelim. Hastings-Te Awamutu 170 0 170 0 170 0 170 0 Prelim.; 2690 1 2690 1 201 78 2891 77| 1197 27| 77 25 117 79 1144 53 14 54 39 75 7 20 1255 6e Totals .. 23 68 25 35 •• .. I i Note. —Taonui and Lichfield Branches ot mentioned above, as the rails have been taken up.

D.—l

38

Table of Lengths of Government Lines Authorized, Constructed, and Surveyed up to 31st March, 1917— continued. SOUTH ISLAND.

Note. —Column 12 : For detail information as to dates of openings of such portions of lines as are not given in this table see tables of lengths of lines in Public Works Statements, 1904-10. Appropriation. Division. Mileage. Section. I Main c-j. Line. Sidings. Total. Hm _ Under Under veyed. F ?. r " "v*" , 3 mation. laying. State of Line. Opened. laying. Date. 1910-11. 1911-12. 1912-13. 1913-14. 1914-15.1 1915-16.. 1916-17. Total. 1 2 3 M. ch. 22 73 4 5 M. ch. 22 73 6 M. ch. 2 52 7 M. ch. 25 45 8 M. ch. 9 M. ch. 10 M. ch. 11 12 M. ch. 13 M. ch. 14 M. ch. 15 M. ch. 16 M. ch. 17 M.eh. 18 M. ch. 19 M. ch. 20 M. ch. 21 M. ch. 22 73 N el son - Roundell Midland Railway Nelson-Belgrove.. Nelson-Belgrove Stillwater - Belgrove (via Tadmor) 147 7 Stillwater-Reefton S. Reefton S.-Reefton N. Reefton N.-Cronadun Cronadun-Landing .. Landing-Inangahua Inangahua-Kawatiri Glenhope-Kawatiri Glenhope-Tui Tui-Kiwi Kiwi-Tadmor Tadmor-Kohatu Kohatu-Belgrove Brunner-Otira Rolleston Section .. Tunnel Contract Tunnel Contract-Cass Cass - Broken River.. Broken River - Ota37 30 1 30 5 38 8 40 6 0 46 43 4 5 9 42 3 17 5 9 10 29 9 44 42 27 1 2 8 0 13 79 15 22 7 40 4 79 1 0 0 56 0 45 0 10 015 0 55 0 34 0 29 0 69 0 62 2 68 6 20 1 29 0 30 42 29 2 30 6 14 9 5 6 10 46 43 4 20 10 17 3 51 •5 38 11 18 10 26 45 15 1 2l 8 0 14 19 16 51 7 70 31 Mai-!, 1907 7 Aug., 1908 37 30 1 30 5 38 i:l .•• 840 4 54 »| 1 26 46 43 4 5 June, 1914 (:: .. I 13 14 3 ii i!l •• 2 Sept., 1912 .-•• I:: 942 3 17 •' I 12 59 18 Dec, 1908 7 Aug., 1906 5 9 10 29 9 44 42 27 Brunner - Springfield 92 68, 7 12 r _ .. 1 July, 1914 1 July, 1914 10 Dec, 1910 29 Oct., 1906 .. I .. ... 0*68 13 79 1 •• I 0 68 13 79 • • I .. 15 22 <r 27 40 .. .. Blackball Railway GreymouthNe 1 son Creek WestportNgakawau WestportNgakawau Extension Ngahere-Blackball ! i I rama Otarama-Springfield 4 58 0 16 4 74 3 4o; Ngahere-Blackball .. 3 40 1 20 4 60 16 July, 1910 3 40 3 40 Greymouth - Nelson Creek 7 51 Greymouth-Brunner-ton-Stillwater 7 51 6 18 13 69J 7 51 Westport - Ngakawau Ngakawau - Mokihinui 19 56 Westport-Ngakawau 19 56 8 12 27 68 .. I 19 56 •• •• •• Mokihinui Colliery Line Westport Inangahua Junction 7 12 3 691 N g ak a w a u-Mokihi-nui Mokihinui-Seddonvillej 7 12 3 69 5 74 20 6 1 18 0 25 0 10 8 30 4 14 -• ■• •■ 7 12 3 69 •• WestportInangahua 26 0 Westport - Te Kuha .. Te Kuha - Inangahua Junction 6 4 20 6 16 '6 4*'o 1 April, 1912 5 74 5 74 - •• •• I 4

39

D.—l

Table of Lengths of Government Lines Authorized, Constructed, and Surveyed up to 31st March, 1917— continued. SOUTH ISLAND— continued.

State of Line. ... Appropriation. Division. Mileage. Section. Sidings., Total. Under Under Opened. veyed. For- .riate-1915-16. 1916-17. rnation. laying. Date. .1910-11. 1911-12. 1912-13. 1913-14. 1914-15. i Total. ' I 1 State Colliery, or Coal Creek Railway 2 3 M. ch. Greymouth- Point 5 1 Elizabeth Collieries Extension .. 3 69 4 Greymouth - Runanga Colliery 5 II. eh. 5 1 6 7 8 M. ch. M. ch. M. ch. 2 10 7 11 9 10 >!, ch. M. ch. 11 1 Dec, 1904 12 M. ( 12 M. ch. 13 14 M. ch. II. ch. 15 M. ch. 16 M. ch. 17 SI. ch. -_ ; 18 M. ch. .. 19 20 M. ch. M. ch. 21 SI. ch. 5 1 Runanga Colliery-Point Elizabeth Collieries Greymouth-Hokitika 3 69 2 20j 6 9; 21 Jan., 1914 3 69 3 69 GreymouthHokitika Kumara Branch Hokiti kaRoss Greymouth -Hoki- 24 37 tika Kumara Branch 4 10 Kumara Branch 24 37 4 10 2 10! 26 47 4 10; 4 10 .. .. .. 24 3*7 Hokitika-Ross .. 15 75 Hokitika-Ruatapu .. Ruatapu-Ross Survey to Ross Townshin Ross-Waitaha Picton-Seddon Seddon-Kaparu Kaparu-Ward Ward-Mirza Mirza-Wharanui Wharanui-Kekerangu Kekerangu - Hapuka Biver Hapuka River-Lime-stone Creek Limestone Creek-Con-way River Conway River - Mendip Hills Mendip Hills 7 10 7 21 1 44 0 61 7 71 0 69 8 10 1 44 1 44 9 Nov., 1906 1 April, 1909 > .. .. 7 10 7 21 .. .. .. .. « .. New survey PictonWaipara Ross-Waitaha .. 10 0 Picton - Kaikoura 92 38 10 0 33 45 6 30 8 15 3 38 4 38 7 0 29 32 .. j 10 0 2 54 3 26j 36 71 0 76i 7 26 1 20 9 35; .. 0 30 3 68 0 341 4 72 7 0 7 0 .. j 29 32 29 32 • • •• .-•• .. .. .'. 630 8 15 ... .. I 56 6 :: ::! :: ::} 1 18 3 20 4 38 13 April, 1911 4 Dec, 1915 (:: {:: .. .. .. .. 338 4 38 Hapuka River- 40 50 Mendip Hills 40 50 23 0 .. j 23 0 23 0 i Prelim. .. .. 7 0 7 0.. Mendip Hills-Par- 5 61 nassus Parnassus - W ai- 44 14 para 10 50 .. j 10 50 5 61 5 61 5 61 2 0 3 61 I 44 14 Parnassus-Mina Mina-Domett Domett-Tormore Tormore-Ethelton .. Ethelton-Scargill .. Scargill-Waipara Culverden-South Waitaki Culverden-Flintoff's Flintoff's-Rotherham Rotherham- Waiau .. 8 43 3 63 3 10 5 28 8 51 14 59 206 7 1 14 9 57 0 70! 4 53 ■ 0 66; 9 24 j " I ISept., 1912 1 Aug., 1910 14 Nov., 1906 21 Mar., 1907 3 Nov., 1905 I * ! I 363 .. 8 43 " " I 44 1 Main Line .. 206 7 0 51 9 22 1 2' 15 61 64 68 270 75 .. I 206 ' HurunuiW aitaki 206 7 13 0 5 23 1 75 5 62 0 10! 5 33 0 43 2 38 11 6 63 5 23 1 75 5 62 •• •• I .. I .. .. I .. I .. .. I

D.—l

40

Table of Lengths of Government Lines Authorized, Constructed, and Surveyed up to 31st March, 1917— continued. SOUTH ISLAND— continued.

State of Line. Appropriation. Division. Mileage. Section. Main ~... „ Line, "dings. Totai. Opei ied. Under Under veyed. For- ±*late- — mation. laying. Date. 1910-11. 1911-12. 1912-13. 1913-14. 1914-15. 1915-16. 1916-17. Total. 1 2 3 M. ch. 4 5 M. ch. 6 M. ch. 7 M. ch. 8 SI. ch. 9 M. ch. 10 M. ch. 11 12 M. ch. 13 M. ch. 14 M. ch. 15 M. ch. 16 M. ch. 17 M. ch. 18 M. ch. 19 M. ch. 20 M. oh. 21 M. ch. HurunuiW a i taki — ccmtd Branches, — Rangiora-Oxford Eyreton (from Main Line) Lyttelton 21 76 20 7 Rangiora-Oxford West Main Line - West Eyreton-Bennett's Lyttelton - Christchurch Hornby-Southbridge Lincoln-Little River 21 76 20 7 2 36 1 61 24 32 21 68 21 76 20 7 6 26 6 26 6 26 6 26 i Southbridge Little RiverAkaroa 25 31 42 10 I 25 31 22 46 3 17 2 5 28 48 24 51 25 31 22 46 Springfield Whitecliffs 30 60 11 38 Reconnaissance Rolleston-Springfield Springfield-Coal-mine Darfield-Whiteclifis Whiteclifis to Bridge Rakaia-Methven 19 44j 29 63 0 77 11 33 0 5 22 20 1 3 7 1 1 53 19 44 33 67 13 11 19 44 Prelim. 30 60 11 36 Rakaia-Ash-burton Forks Ashburton 22 20 29 46 Tinwald-Springburn Extension Washdyke-Eversley 27 29i 2 17 36 5 2 65 1 52 25 5 29 1 2 17 38 50 22 2C 27 2S 217 Opawa and Albury to Fairlie Creek and Burke's Pass Waimate Waimate Gorge 55 8 2~45 36 5 4 42 8 21 Preliminary survey .. Studholme-Waimate Waimate- Waihao Downs Waihao Downs - Serpentine Sepentine-Kelcher's Oxford-Sheffield Surveyed Reconnaissance 19 3 4 42 8 21 i" 3 0 54 19 3 5 45 8 75 19 3 Prelim. "i 42 8 21 Waimate Branch Extension 4 60 2 65; 2 65 2 65 Canterbury Interior Main Line Oxford-Temuka .. 83 0 1 75 11 44 21 7 50 29 6*27 1 75 11 71 21 7 50 29 21**7 50 29 1 75 ii 44 Prelim. WaitakiBluff and Branches Main Line Branches, — Duntroon Duntroon-Haka-teramea Ngapara Livingstone Palmers ton-Wai-hemo i 246 69 21 75 15 38 South Waitaki-Blufi I Pukeuri-Duntroon .. Duntroon - Hakateramea Waiareka-Ngapara .. Windsor-Tokorahi .. Survey (trial) Palmerston-Dunback Surveyed 246 69 21 75 15 38 14 76 12 0 4 40 8 55 0 65 59 13 1 35 1 5 1 31 0 50 306 2 23 30 16 43 16 27 12 50 4 40 9 29 0 65 i i 246 69 21 75 15 38 14 76 16 40 0*5 Prelim. 14 76 12 0 440 8 55 0 65 6*54 " *8 55 o'e>5 •• •■ •• •• ••

41

D—l

6—D. 1

Table of Lengths of Government Lines Authorized, Constructed, and Surveyed up to 31st March, 1917— continued. SOUTH ISLAND— continued.

Appropriation. Division. Mileage. ! See tion. Lme. ; Bidiu g s - Tota1 ' | I I _ _ | Under i Under I bUr " i T?™-_ , PlnteState of Line. Opened. veyei I Date. I i ! — [1910-11. ] 1911-12.1912-13. 1913-14.: 16 M. ch. 1914-15. 1915-16.J1916-17. 17 18 19 . M. ch. M. ch. M. ch. I I I I I Total. 1 ; mation. i laying. I 1 I r I I i .. i . : 1 WaitakiBlufi and Branches —contd. ~ i ' 2 3 4 5 6 M. ch. M. ch. M. ch. Branches —contd. Inch Valley Rail- 2 29 Inch Valley.Lime Kilt, 2 29 0 23 way Port Chalmers.. 1 9 Glendermid - Port 19 3 40! Chalmers Green Island .. 2 44 Burnside-Saddle Hill 2 44 0 52 Green Island to 4 65 Surveyed .. .. 4 65 Brighton Fernbill Colliery 1 60 Abbotsford to Fern- 1 60 0 24! Line hill Colliery Kaikorai Valley 2 60 Surveyed .. .. 2 60 : Railway Outram .. 8 78 Mosgiel-Outram .. 8 78 0 68 Lawrence .. 21 761 Clarksville-Lawrence 21 76 2 2 Lawrence-Box- 37 10J Lawrence-Big Hill .. 7 33 0 44 burgh Big Hill-Beaumont.. 5 36 0 45 Beaumont-Roxburgh 24 21 Lovell'sFlat- -j 23 20' Surveyed .. .. 23 20 Tuapeka Mouth Balclutha - Tua- 22 o| Surveyed .. .. 7 0 peka Mouth ' Trial Survey .. 15 0 Crichton-Tua- 11 60i Surveyed .. ..j 1160 peka Mouth Balclutha-Apple- 105 49 j Balclutba-Owaka .. 19 20 163 bv Junction, or Owaka-Catlin's .. 3 38 0 30 Catlin's - Sea- \ '• Catlin's-Houipapa .. 2 30 0 9 ward Bush Houipapa-Puketiro.. 7 11 0 43 Puketiro-McLennan 5 29 0 59 McLennan-Tahakopa 5 19 0 38 Tahakopa-Marinui .. | 23 63 Marinui-Tokanui .. 6 0 Tokanui-Waimabaka 8 27 0 64 Waimahaka-Applebv 24 52 1 50 Waipahi-Heriot 20 3 Waipahi-Heriot .. 20 3 2 3 Burn Heriot Extension 6 20 Heriot-Edievale .. 6 20 0 45 Extension to! 28 10 1 Surveyed .. 28 10 Roxburgh, via : Rae'sJunction and Ettrick Via Spylaw .. 25 70 Surveyed .. 25 70 I 7 8 SI. ch. M. ch. 2 52 4 49| 3 16 4 65 4 65 2 4 2 60 2 60 9 66 23 78j 7 771 6 1 24 21 24 21 23 20 23 20 7 0 15 Ol 11 60 11 60 21 3 3 68 2 391 7 54, 6 8 5 57 23 63 '< 23 63 6 01 6 0 9 11 26 22 22 6 6 65 28 10 28 10 25 70| 25 70 _ 9 10 ch. M. ch. M. ch. .. - - 15 10 j 1 11 .. 1 Aug., 1910 15 Dec, 1914 •• •• 12 13 M. ch. M. ch. ! .. 733 .. | 14 15 M. ch. M. ch. .. .. .. .. .. ; .. .. ■ .. .. , •• I •• .. .. ! .. 536 '.'. '.'. 20 M. ch. I I •• " I 21 M. ch. 2 29 1 9 2 44 1 60 8 78 21 76 7 33 5 36 n .. ' ■ " •• .. i .. ■■ • - - - I .. 1 Aug., 1904 17 Dec, 1909 1 Feb., 1915 1 Feb., 1915 1 Feb., 1915 .. I •• 7 11 I 5 29 5 19 19 20 3 38 2 30 7 11 5 29 5 19 13 Prelim. .. .. .. .. 0 .. .. 20 Sept. 1911 8 27 .. 8 27 24 52 20 3 .. ■• •• .. ■• .. '■ 0 Prelim. 15 Feb., 1905J .. 6 20 •• .. .. •■ 0 Prelim.. i -. I .. i

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Table of Lengths of Government Lines Authorized, Constructed, and Surveyed up to 31st March, 1917— continued. SOUTH ISLAND— continued.

Appropriation. Division. Mileage. Section. State of Line. Main Line. Sidings. Total. E „_ Under I Under ° nr \ For- I Plateve 5' ea ' mation. ., laying. Under Date. I I III I 11910-11. 1911-12. 1912-13. 1913-14.il914-15. 1915-16 1 1916-17. Opened. — Total. 1 2 3 M. ch. Waitaki- Branches —contd. Bluff and Waimea Plains 36 39 Branches District Ry. — contd. Kelso-Gore .. 24 0 Gore-Waikaka .. 12 65; Riversdale- Swit- 13 70, zers Edeudale-Toitois 19 30 j 3 M. ch. 36 39 4 Gore-Lumsden 5 6 7 8 M. chJ M. ch. M. ch. M. ch. 36 39 1 34 37 73 ! | III 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 M. ch. M. ch. M. ch. M. ch. M. ch. M. ch. M. ch. M. ch. M. ch. Prelim. .. 26 Nov., 1908' 1 Oct., 1909. 19 M. ch. 20 M. ch. 21 M. ch. 36 39 12 65 13 70 24 0 12 65 13 70 Surveyed Preliminary survey.. Waikaka Section Riversdale-Waikaia 9 58 .. 9 58 9 58 14 22 .. 14 22 14 22 12 65 1 51 14 36 13 70 1 40 15 30 Otago Cen- Waitaki Bluff 182 51 tral Main Line to Lake Hawea 19 30 182 51 Edendale-Glenham Surveyed Wingatui-Ida Valley Ida Valley-Omakau Omakau-Chatto Creek Chatto Ck.-Alexandra Alexandra-Clyde Clyde-Cromwell Surveyed Invercargill-Kingston Wharf Lumsden- Mossburn 9 36 0 72 10 28 9 74 .. 9 74 9 74 98 18 5 62 104 0 13 20 1 16; 14 36 7 36 0 34J 7 70 10 39 1 6 11 45 5 45 0 771 6 42 12 35 0 79 13 34 35 18 .. , 35 18 87 4 5 15 92 19 1 Sept., 1904 .. 14 July, 1906 .. 15 Dec, 1906 .. 27 Mar., 1907 2 0 10 35 .. ' Prelim. 9 36 1-134 78 87 4 10 40 Invercar- Invercargill-King- 87 4 gill-King- ston ston and Lumsden-Mararoa 30 0 Branch, LumsdenMararoa Winton - Heddon 11 Oi Bush Forest Hill Winton to Hedge- 12 40! Railway hope Western Orepuki Branch 35 41 Railways Otautau Branch 22 15 Orawia Branch .. 11 0 Orepuki- Orepuki-Waiau .. 25 32 Waiau River Tuatapere-Orawia i Orawia-Clifden .. Surveyed Reconnaissance Surveyed Winton - Hedgehope 10 40 1 0 11 40 8 20, .. 8 20 8 20 11 20 .. 11 20 11 20 11 0 .. 11 0 11 0 12 40 0 65 13 25 " 1 Oct'.,' 1909 .. .'. '.'. '.'. '.'. '.'. '.'. 4 57 30 64 32 15 .. 1,571 51 29 78 22 72 27 10 3 69 51 16 7 76 12 40 35 41 22 15 4 48 8 7 1714 61 Makarewa-Orepuki.. Thornbury-Wairio .. Surveyed 2215} 637 6413 | :: 11 0 .. 11 011 0 Orepuki-Waihoaka .. Waihoaka-Tuatapere 4 48 ! 0 58 5 26 8 7j 1 10 9 17 8 17 .. 8 17 3 40 4 40 .. 4 40 4 40 2337 11 257 64 2594 75 489 28 - I Totals .. 2337 11 ••

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APPENDIX C. ANNUAL REPORT ON BUILDINGS, BY THE GOVERNMENT ARCHITECT. The Government Architect to the Hon. the Minister of Public Works. Sir.— Public Works Office, Wellington, Ist April, 1917. I have the honour to submit the following report on the various building-works throughout (he Dominion during the twelve months ended 31st Alarch last: — New Pamjament BuiM>iN<is. Fair progress is being made on this contract under present unfavourable labour conditions. Tin , quality of the marble coining to hand is improving, and very few flaws are now met with. The stonework of Molesworth Street .frontage is nearly completed to ceiling-level of first floor, with exception of columns of colonade and parts of central feature. In Museum Street front the stonework is up to ceiling-level of principal floor. The House of Representatives has been roofed in and gallery platforms are being framed by carpenters. The promenade roof over lounge lobby is constructed, and the ceiling of the latter is plastered. Plastering in rooms under lounge lobby and House of Representatives and in a port ion of the rooms in northern wing has been done. A considerable quantity of external plastering has been carried out. All steel-construction work has been executed excepting aboui J 7 tons. Heating and ventilation contract is proceeding slowly, following up as closely as possible the constructional work. Drainage-work has been done. Owing to shortage of labour only fair progress is being made with the electrical work. GjSNEBAL. Government House, Auckland. —The restoration of the portion damaged by fire in July last was completed in March of this year, and was carried out by day labour. During the year general maintenance and repairs have also been attended to. Government House, Wellington. —New cottage erected;, residence painted and general maintenance carried out. Auckland Departmental Buildings. —Alterations to provide extra accommodation have been carried out, and fittings and equipment for same made and installed. New Plymouth Departmental Buildings. —New brick destructor and benzine-store erected. Gisborne. —Electric motor installed in Public Works Workshops. Government Printing Office, Wellington. —Extensive additions in brick carried out. Five now motors installed, and electric light now being installed in the new additions. Nelson Departmental Buildings. —Caretaker's residence erected. Westport Departmental Buildings. —Drainage installation carried out by contract. Dunedin. —Erection of magazines and caretaker's residence at Chain Hills in progress. Cambridge. —A new ward for returned soldiers, providing accommodation for twenty patients, erected. Maungatapu Native School. —An addition of an open-air class-room made. Whakarewa Native School. —School and residence, with necessary outbuildings, erected. Tihitiki Native School. —Additions made. Mangatuha Native School. —Additions erected and teacher's residence renovated. Hiruharama Native School. —Additions and repairs to school and residence carried out. Tokomaru Bay Native School. —Extensive renovations to school building and teacher's residence were made. N'uhaka Native School. —Renovations in progress. Mount Cook. —Erection of Haast Memorial Hut completed. Otekaike Special School. —Workshops erected. Post-offices. Awanui Badio Station. —Residence for Engineer erected in wood. Kaita-ia. —Extensive additions put in hand and lineman's shed erected. Kohukohu. —Extensive additions carried out. Torua. —Tender accepted for erection of new building in wood. Te Awamutu. —Additions in brick, consisting of telephone exchange, ladies' retiring-room and lavatory, erected. Morrinsville. —Additions in wood have been erected. Wellesley Street. — A contract has been let for excavating site. Whakatane. —Alterations and additions carried out. Port Awanui. —Erection of new building in hand. Buatorea. —New building in wood erected. Kahukura. —Building removed from Port Awanui and re-erected at Kahukura on new site.

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Uolu. —New building erected. Piopio. —A new building in wood is in course of erection. Tβ Kuiti. —Contract for alterations and additions in progress. Taumarunui.- —Contract for additions in hand. Mokau. —Contract for erection of new building approaching completion. Waitara. —Additions and renovations carried out. Wanganui. —Additions, including ladies' retiring-room, carried out. Taradale. —Septic tank built and drainage installed. Napier,— Extensive alterations and renovations carried out. Waituna West. —New building erected. Palmer ston North. —Extensive additions carried out. Tokomaru. —New building erected. Heretaunga. —Tenders invited for erection of new building. Petone. —Alterations to buildings and drainage carried out; new destructor erected. Wellington. —Alterations to, radiators, lights, &c, and renovations carried out; lavatory accommodation extended; ventilators installed and minor repairs effected. Wellington, (Bulk Store). —Automatic fire-alarm system and two electric lifts and two motors installed. Wellington South. —Electric light, power, and heating installed. Courtenay Place. —Electric light installed in telephone exchange. Upper Mouttre. —New building in wood erected. St. Alba.ns. —New building for automatic-telephone exchange erected. Dunedin Garrison Hall. —Alterations to provide temporary quarters for chief post-office carried out. Dunedin South. —Automatic-telephone exchange erected. Boslyn. —Erection of new building for automatic-telephone exchange in progress. Queen stown.— -Extensive renovations and repairs effected. Courthouse. Napier.—Two additional rooms built and extensive repairs effected. Police-stations. Auckland Central. —A tender has been accepted for the erection of an addition to this building in brick. Te Aroha. —New two-cell lock-up erected in wood. Whakatane. —Alterations and additions, including drainage, carried out. U'riiroa. —Tenders invited for erection of sergeant's residence. Waipukurau. —New building erected. Wellington Headquarters. —Contract for erection of this building nearing completion. Caver sham. —New station, with quarters, erected under contract. Dunedin. —Gaol building converted to police-station. South Dunedin. —Old post-office building converted into police-station. Prisons. Auckland. —Equipment of south wing built last year completed. Waikeria. —Portion of the office quarters of Administrator's wing completed. Point Halswcll. —New fire service and water-supply installed. Templcton. —Work of erection of new buildings is proceeding satisfactorily. Addington. —A new laundry and washhouse has been erected. Invercargill. —North-wing extension completed. Mental Hospitals. Tokanui. —The erection of unit No. 4is in hand. Framework has been erected and is partly covered in. Porirua. —The new receiving-ward is nearing completion. A survey has been made in connection with the diversion of the drainage to Porirua Harbour. Sunnyside. —The erection of a new receiving-block is in progress. The plastering of exterior has been completed, and of the interior is well on the way to completion. Nelson. —The erection of a large kitchen in brick, together with cook's quarters, &c, is in hand. Agricultural. Motuihi Island Quarantine Station. —Four-roomed cottage erected. Te Kauwhata. —New office and fruit-store erected; also alterations to roof of wine-cellar carried out. Cambridge. —Two small offices erected. Weraroa Experimental Farm. —Contracts for erection of Manager's residence, Biologist's residence, and wool-shed and piggeries are in progress. Somes Island. —New bull-shed erected. Hanfurly. —Contract for Stock Inspector's residence in hand. T'apanui. —Stock Inspector's residence erected.

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Military Buildings. Devon-port. — Four new buildings have been erected at the Maori Military Camp at Narrow Neck, and general maintenance and repairs carried out. Motuihi Inland Internment Gamp. —An additional hut erected. Hamilton. —The section round the Artillery Barracks has been roaded and drained, and a concrete gun-washing emplacement laid. New Plymouth. —Alterations to Defence Offices were made. Hnwera. — Repairs and alterations to Defence Office. Napier.-*- Extensive repairs effected to Artillery Barracks. Palmerston North. —New ammunition-store, office, and store-room erected. Feather ston and Trenthdm Military Camps., —The erection of hutments which were in progress last year have been completed. Wellington. —New buildings for Base Records and War Pensions erected in wood and iron. The large blook of additions in wood and iron to the Defence Stores which were put in band last year have been completed. At Defence Headquarters offices in brick have been erected, and at the Garrison Hall a building for the Army Service Corps and new rtiotor-lorry shed have been completed. Somes hland. —Two hutments erected. Mahanga Bay, —New kitchen and store-room erected and extensions made to barracks. I'aumtuii. —At the Convalescent Homo additions were made to the nurses' quarters and a destructor provided. ///iii/ncr. —Military Convalescent Home, including doctor's residence, laundry, and meatstore, completed. In addition to the works specially mentioned in the foregoing report, a large number of minor works, comprising small buildings, additions, alterations, installation of lighting, water, and drainage services, have been carried out by petty contract, day labour, or the Department's artisans. Renovations, painting, and repairs to buildings throughout the Dominion owned by the Government have been attended to as required, and fittings and furniture supplied, mostly from the Department's workshops in the principal centres. I have, &c, John Campbell, Government Architect.

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APPENDIX D. ANNUAL REPORT ON ELECTRICAL WORK AND POWEE-SUPPLY UNDERTAKINGS, BY jTHE CHIEF ELECTRICAL ENGINEER.

The Chief Electrical I&jiginher to the Minister op Public Works. Sir, — Public Works Department, Wellington, 20tli August, 1917. 1 have the honour to submit the following report respecting the development of waterpower by the State, the issue of licenses for the utilization of water-power by other parties, and for the distribution of electricity. Lake Coleiudge Works. The Lake Coleridge hydro-electric power supply completed its second year of operation on the 31st March last, and has s now yielded definite industrial and financial results. The total capital outlay was increased during the year from £.320,330 to £366,984, the main item of expenditure under the heading being the installation of a fourth generating unit of 1,500 kilowatts capacity, raising the total power-house capacity from 4,500 kilowatts to 6,000 kilowatts, equivalent to 8,000 horse-power. A fifth turbine and generator set of 3,000 kilowatts capacity, together with material for an additional pipe-line, have been on order from some time. The manufacture of the turbine and generator is well advanced, but the prospects of getting delivery of the pipe-line are somewhat remote. As every effort to obtain a permit for the manufacture from the Home authorities has failed, efforts were made in Australia, in Canada, and in the United States to obtain a supply of steel plates for this purpose, but without success. Whenever we succeeded in obtaining quotations the prices were found to be prohibitive and delivery uncertain. The possibility of using wood-stave pipe for the upper portion of the pipe-line has been considered, and experiments are now being conducted with a view to testing the suitability of this class of pipe for the requirements. It is true that wood-stave pipe requires as much steel in the form of bands as an all-steel pipe, but the steel is in a form which is more readily procurable under present conditions. The delay in obtaining delivery of the fifth unit and pipe-line will cause a shortage of plant to meet the demand which will be felt very acutely in 1919, and to a lesser extent in 1918. The rainfall over the year has been below the average, whilst the rainfall during the season has been abnormally low. This, following upon a, succession of dry seasons, has resulted in the ground waters being drained, which will require time to replenish. The supply, however, lias been adequate for the requirements up to the present, but in view of the growth in the demand for power it is deemed advisable to make preparations for augmenting the supply of water, and a scheme has been prepared for diverting a portion of the Harper River when and as required, at a total cost of £-12,600, of which £5,150 is for a water-race and intake works, together with land-purchase, roading, and accommodation for workmen, the remainder being for river-diversion works designed to confine and maintain the river in a channel suitable for the purpose in view. The proposed diversion works would provide for about two and a half times the present output from the power-station, and is deemed to be ample for a long time to come. During the last dry season the storage in the lake was drawn upon to a depth of 22 ft., at which level it remains at the present time, and in order to restore the level the rainfall between this and December must be above the average. In view of a possible deficiency in the rainfall, and in view also of the growth in the power-output, it is desirable that the work of constructing the intake works and water-race should proceed as soon as possible and be completed during the coming summer. The completion of the diversion-works is not an urgent matter, but a commencement should be made with willow-planting, &0., next season, with a view to confining the river to its present channel, which is favourable for our purpose. No extension has been carried out to the main transmission-lines during the year, but the existing lines have been thoroughly overhauled. Insistent demands for supply of power have been received from Timaru and other localities on the main route between Lake Coleridge and Timaru, but owing to a scarcity of men and material due to the war the construction of the necessary transmission-lines has had to be postponed. Considerable extensions were made during the year to the primary distribution-lines from the Addington Substation, which now extend to Kaiapoi on the north, Lincoln and Tai Tapu on the south, Lyttelton on the east, and Templeton on the west, comprising a total route mileage of 57| miles. Applications for an extension of the primary distribution-lines have been received from Rangiora, Akaroa County, and Ellesmere County, but their requests have had to be declined for the present owing to stringency caused by the war. During the year retail reticulations have been erected in Lyttelton, Kaiapoi, Cashmere, Uiccarton, Hornby, and Templeton, and in most cases arrangements have been completed for the sale of these local reticulations to the local authorities, the Department reserving only the wholesale consumers and the bulk supply to the retail authorities. The results of the operation for the year have been very gratifying. The demand grew rapidly, and at the end of the year the connected load reached a total of 17,083 kilowatts, made up of 7,013 kilowatts in wholesale consumers and 10,070 kilowatts distributed over , thirteen local retail reticulations, of which the largest is that of the Christchureh City Council (8,817 kilowatts). The total energy issued from the power-house during the year amounted to 14,774,960 kilo-watt-hours, to obtain which 20,000 tons of coal would be required if generated in the most economical way by means of a steam-power plant of the size of the Lake Coleridge plant. The saving in coal is, however, much greater than this, as small-power plants are much less economical, and thei saving may certainly be put at 30,000 tons per annum, and probably 35,000 tons. In addition to this saving the power-user obtains his power for one-third to one-half the previous cost, so that the saving to the community is considerable.

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The maximum demand on the power-house rose during the year from 1,372 kilowatts to 4,366 kilowatts, and was thus still within the capacity of the original three generating units (4,500 k.w.), leaving the fourth unit of 1,500 kilowatts recently installed as a stand-by in the meantime and to cover extensions to the business during the current year. A number of new consumers have been connected up (hiring the year, amongst them being the Christchurch Tramway Board's system, which is now independent of the coal-supply; three large freezing-works, at Islington, Belfast, and Kaiapoi; and two large flour-mills, at Addington and Kaiapoi, In addition the demand within the city has grown from 1,020 kilowatts to 1,850 kilowatts, including 200 kilowatts for water-supply pumping and 60 kilowatts for sewerage pumps, both of which important services are now operated by Lake Coleridge power. Provisional agreements have been entered for the supply of power for the production of caustic soda and hydrochloric acid by electro-chemical means, and the production of steel castings by electrothermal means, both industries being the direct results of a cheap supply of hydro-electric power. The supply again proved fairly reliable. The total number of interruptions' to supply from all causes during the year was'fifteen, totalling in all sixty minutes' interruption. But of these the majority were only momentary, only three exceeded one minute's duration, and only one exceeded ten minutes' duration. The latter stop was duo to causes which have now been entirely overcome. The continuity and reliability of hydro-electric supply for practical purposes has thus been thoroughly established. Arrangements have been made with the Christchurch Tramway Board for the use of the whole of their steam plant, amounting to 2,000 kilowatts, for standby purposes. This provision will enable the Department to dispense with a spare unit at the power-house and to utilize the whole of the plant for revenue-earning purposes. It also enables the Department to maintain a local supply up to 1,000 kilowatts in the event of a breakdown of the transmission-lines. The rental to be paid compares favourably with the capital charges on an additional unit of generating plant, and is much less than would be the cost to the Department of providing and maintaining a stand-by plant of its own in Christchurch. Incidentally a saving is effected in the capital expenditure, inasmuch as use is made of an existing power plant. A similar arrangement is under consideration for the use of some spare plant belonging to the Christchurch City Council, and which they are putting in order for standby purposes. These two provisions will result in considerable economy, and will be of great service in view of the threatened shortage of plant. The financial results are satisfactory. It was not anticipated that the plant, which is designed for an ultimate capacity of 12,000 kilowatts, would prove self-supporting until the output reached at least one-half of this—viz., 6,000 kilowatts. With an output rising during the year from 1,372 to 4,366 kilowatts, the revenue obtained amounted to .£20,754, the workingexpenses to £12,889, leaving a balance of £7,865 to the credit of the net revenue account. The capital charges amounted to £13,743 in interest and £6,078 in depreciation, so that there was a loss of £5,878 on interest account, and a total loss, including depreciation, of £11,956, compared with a loss of £12,263 on interest account and a total loss, including depreciation, of .£17,649 as the result of the previous year's working. The rapid growth of the business indicates that by the end of the current year, which is the third year of operation, the plant will be earning sufficient to meet both interest charges and working-expenses, and will yield a surplus for depreciattion and reserve. The works have been well maintained during the year, and the plant is in good order. The staff is working efficiently and rendering very good service. Two of the power-house engineers resigned during the year. Two other members of the staff joined the Expeditionary Forces; three more were selected by ballot, but of these two were rejected. With few exceptions, the present staff are members of the Second Division, and in view of the forthcoming application of the ballot to the Second Division it has been deemed advisable to train men who are not eligible for service, and who have the necessary qualifications, for duties at the power-house and substation, and advertisements have already been issuer!. This will entail a considerable addition to the annual expenditure, but the circumstances demand it, and the expenditure must be faced. A summary of data relating to the year's operation is appended hereto, together with the result of last year's operation, for comparison : —

Year ended 31st March, 1916. 1917. Completed years of operation Capital outlay . . Kevenue — ■I Wholesale consumers 9 Retail consumers Other sources Total Working-expenses Interest at 4 per cent. Depreciation at 2 per cent. Total annual cost Maximum load in power-station (kilowatts) Average weekly load factor (per cent.) Energy issued from power-house (kilowatt-hours) Energy sold (kilowatt-hours) 1 2 £320,230 £366,984 £7,723 £19,021 £537 £983 £258 £750 £8,518 £20,754 £9.383 £12,889 £11,398 £13,743 £5,386 £6,078 £26,167 £32,710 1,372 4,366 44-3 52-9 4,860,260 14,774,960 3,994,767 11,664,961

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Electricity Supply in the North Island. Further to my interim report on this subject dated the 19th February, 1917 : The survey of the transmission-line between Shannon and Wellington has been completed, and the survey staff transferred to the Auckland District, where they are now engaged in completing a survey of a transmission-line between Auckland and Cambridge, on the Waikato River. A survey for a transmission-line from Shannon, through Palmerston North, to Wanganui should be the next in order. In the interim report reference was made to the development of water-power on the Waikato River at the Arapuni Gorge. The source has a good deal in its favour to recommend it. The oapital cost for the ultimate development is remarkably low, whilst it is within the economical limit for the initial stages, and it is favourably situated as regards the principal market and as a supplementary or even principal source of supply to the Wellington District. The development, however, necessitates the construction of a dam 146 ft. high, involving difficulties and unknown risks; and, following-the advice of the Engineer-in-Chief, the possibility of utilizing the Kaituna River, or the Waikato River at the Aratiatia Rapids, is being further investigated. Neither compares favourably with the Arapuni development as regards capital cost per horse-power developed, provided, of course, that no abnormal difficulties are encountered. On the other hand, the capital cost can be ascertained more definitely in. the two former cases, and further investigations are proceeding in the meantime. On the advice of the Enginecr-in-Chi'ef a report was obtained from the Mines Department on the geological features of the Arapuni Gorge. The survey was made by Dr. Henderson, and his report is on the whole favourable from a geological standpoint, and geological faults are absent. In view of the possibilities of this development it would seem, desirable to carry out extensive prospeoting-works for the purpose of ascertaining the nature of the foundations and sides and of testing the suitability of the rock to withstand water-pressure. A survey of the power requirements of the Wellington District has been put in hand, and up to date the power requirements have been ascertained for the following districts —namely, the Hutt Valley, and the Manawatu district between Wellington and Palmerston. A visit has been paid to the works of every power-user, their power requirements ascertained, and particulars obtained of the fuel consumed, cost of maintenance, and particulars of engine and boilers. These have been tabulated and located, so that the power-demand can be determined to a very close approximation, and the cost of transmission and distribution estimated within fairly narrow limits. This work will be continued and completed as soon as possible, the next district to receive attention being that between Palmerston North and Wanganui, after which the Wairarapa district will receive attention, and also the Hawke's Bay District as far as Napier. Electric Light and Power Licenses . ■The following electric light and power licenses have been issued during the year : — Electric Lines. —James Thomason (Murchison Township), Robert Ellis (portion Waimea County), Invercargill Borough (cancelling portion), Pahiatua Borough Council (Pahiatua Borough), F. N. Adams (Christchurch, revoking license), Hampstead Town Board (Hampstead Town District), Collinson and Cunningham (across King Street, Palmerston North), Wellington City Council (troHy-wire to Doyle Bros., Kent Terrace), John Barnett (Leeston, altering clause ne charge), Christchurch Tramway Board (trolly-wire to Holmes's premises, Nayland Street, Sumner), Heathcote County Council (Heathcote Valley and Bromley Ridings, Heathcote County), Wellington City Council (trolly-wire to Munt, Cottrell, and Co., Tinakori Road), Wellington City Council (trolly-wire to Excelsior Laundry Company, Adelaide Road), Rising Sun Gold-mining Company (portion of Aroha and Ohinemuri Survey Districts), Wellington City Council (trolly-wire to Welbilt Heel Company, Hopper Street), Nelson Bros, (across railway-line, Heretaunga Surve} 7 District), Wellington City Council (trolly-wire to South Wellington Picture and Investment Company), Kaitangata Borough Council (Kaitangata Borough), Martinborougli Town Board (portion of Featherston County), Waimairi County Council (Waimairi County), Hamilton Borough Council (Hamilton Borough), Riccarton Borough Council (Riccarton Borough), D. J. Barry (Tokomaru Bay), Wellington City Council (portion Wellington City), Kanieri Power Company (Kanieri Forks to pumping-station on Hokitika River), Te Kuiti Borough Council (Tβ Kuiti Borough), Wairoa Farmers' Co-operative Meat Company (Wairoa Borough to Wairoa River), Westport Borough Council (Palmerston Street, Westport), Kaponga Town Board (amending), Wairoa Borough Council (Wairoa Borough), Wanganui Brewery Company (power-house of Meat Company to Castlecliff Hotel), Lyttelton Borough Council (Lyttelton Borough), Collinson and Cunningham (across King Street, Palmerston North). Water-power and Electric Lines. —Wairoa Borough Council (power-house to Borough boundary), Inglewood Borough Council (Inglewood Borough), Kaupokonui Co-operative Dairy Factory (portion Waimate Survey District), Raetihi Town Board (portion Manganui and Makotuku Survey Districts). The standard regulations to which the electric light and power licenses must conform are being revised, and will possibly be completed and issued during the present year. Several modifications have been found desirable, mainly in view of the rapid growth of the application of electricity to cooking and other domestic purposes. Opportunity is taken to incorporate a number of special regulations issued with permits for the use of bare wire, which have become standardized. This has the advantage that applicants for the use of bare wire will know beforehand the conditions to which they must conform. Four fatal accidents have occurred during the year in connection with electric lines, but in no instance could these be averted by regulations. I have, &c, Evan Pahrt, Chief Electrical Engineer.

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APPENDIX E. HYDRO-ELECTIUC DEVELOPMENT—NORTH ISLAND SCHEME. INTERIM REPORT. Public Works Department, Wellington, N.Z., 19th February, 1917. Mhmohandum for Hon. Minister of Public Wobks, Public Works Department. I hereby submit, as requested by you, an interim report regarding the present position of the investigation into the scheme of developing the water-power resources of the North Island. Before relating the actual position of the work of investigation I wish to put on record some underlying principles which govern my actions in preparing the scheme. The fundamental principle involved is that of centralizing the power-generating plant and concentrating it into a few large units where the energy can be generated under more economical conditions than in small units, and transmitting the power so generated to the individual powerusers. By this means both labour and fuel are economized even where the centralized power plant depends on fuel for its motive power, and mucli more so where water is available as a motive power. This concentration and the ability to transmit and to distribute has been made possible through the agency of electricity. At first the concentration was on a small scale and limited to comparatively small areas —usually the boundary of a local authority—but for the last fifteen years the process of further concentration lias been going on at an increasing rate, and the local generating plant superseded by a larger centralized plant in the same way that the individual power plant was superseded by the local generating plant. That the advantages are substantial is proved bj- the rapid growth of power-supply undertakings and the enormous dimensions to which they have attained. The conclusion one arrives at on regarding this evolutionary process and the principles involved is that the generation of electricity should be concentrated to the greatest possible extent. Hearing this principle in mind, and having regard to the state of the art of transmission of energy at the present time, it may be stated that, regarded as a purely engineering proposition, it is quite possible and feasible to supply the whole of the North Island from one single source, more or less centrally situated, but there are several objections to this course which render it inadvisable. One is that there is no single source of power in the North Island which can be regarded as sufficient for all time, so that even if one source were to be selected for the time being, sooner or later it would require to be supplemented by the development of other sources. Another objection is that the distances of transmission resulting from the development of a single source, whilst not excessive, are yet somewhat great for the amount of power at present to be transmitted. This objection, whilst valid, is not a vital one; but another objection which is vital, and is really the determining factor in the question, is the nature of the country through which a great deal of the transmission-lines would require to be brought. A single source of supply would involve the erection of some hundreds of miles of transmission-lines over broken country of such a nature as to offer a serious obstacle in the way of repair and maintenance; and, having in view the importance of maintaining a continuous and uninterrupted supply, it is an essential condition that the transmission-lines should be as accessible as possible. It is, I think, clear that a supply from a single source is not the best solution of (lie problem of a general supply for the North Island; and the question arises as to what is the next largest possible concentration which can be effected, having regard to all circumstances. It is quite obvious that the unit should be as large as possible not only on general principles, but also on the special ground that small water-power developments are unduly costly. Generally speaking, a water-power source of less than about 10,000 horse-power cannot be economically developed. It is quite true that there exist quite a number of small water-power plants that are more economical than steam in their respective districts, depending upon the price of coal and the extent to which the power is used; but when it comes to a general supply to a large district which oarries with it the necessity of adequate storage to maintain the supply at all times, a small-power plant is found to be unduly expensive in first CQst, whilst the cost of operation, attendance, &c, is much the same for a small plant as for a large plant. All things considered, the capital cost of headworks, power-station, and plant, including everything up to the point of transmission, should not exceed £20 per horse-power of plant, otherwise, when account is taken of the cost of transmission, the extent of the capital expenditure will tend to swamp the advantages to lie derived from substituting water-power for fuel. Having in view the principles set forth, the scheme which best satisfies all requirements is one in which, at the outset, three water-power sources would be developed for supplying respectively the Auokland District, the Hawke's Bay District, and the Wellington District. These sources would in the ordinary course of development be linked up together, and by reinforcing each other provide additional guarantee of continuity of supply. Regarding the source of power for Hawke's Bay District, undoubtedly the best is Waikaremoana. The amount of power obtainable from this source is greatly in excess of the requirements of this district, and it should be regarded as a supplementary source for supplying the

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Wellington District. Very complete surveys have been carried out during last year and accurate measurements made of the flow, and all the necessary information obtained to enable the most economical method of development to be prepared and carried out. Next, as regards-the supply to the Auckland District: Consideration has been given to the plan of taking over the Horahora works of the Waihi Company, which the Government has power to do under the license. There is about 9,000 horse-power obtainable from the source on the lines of the present development, of which the company at present utilize about 4,000 horsepower, leaving a surplus of 5,000 horse-power which would be available for general supply purposes. The available surplus, however, is not nearly adequate enough for the needs of the Auckland District, which demands a source capable of supplying at, least 30,000 horse-power in order to provide for growth and developments, but even this cannot be regarded as sufficient for ultimate requirements. Surveys have been made with a view to supplementing the power at Horahora locally, and a scheme has been prepared which shows that by damming the Pokaiwhenua River and diverting the Waipa Stream into the channel of the former, and piping the water from the dam to an extension of the present power-house, an additional 7,000 horse-power can be obtained. This provides for a total of 16,000 horse-power at an overall cost of £330,000 for the hcadworks and power plant. Of this 16,000 horse-power it would be necessary to reserve about 5,000 horse- , power for the use of the Waihi Company, and considering that there is a prospective market in the mining districts and on the route of the existing transmission-line from Horahora to Waihi there would not be enough left to warrant the cost of a transmission system as far as Auckland. There are several other possible sources, but the best source so far is found to be the Arapuui Gorge, on the Waikato River, where 120,000 horse-power can be obtained on the basis of a 50-per-cent. load factor ba,sed upon the minimum observed flow of the Waikato River during a phenomenally dry season, which occurred in 1915. The gorge is about eight miles from Horahora, and complete surveys have been made during last year to enable a scheme of development to be planned. This scheme involves the construction of a dam on the Waikato River, and before coming to a final conclusion it will be necessary to take prospects to prove the suitability of the foundations. One objection to this scheme is that, whilst the development is an exceptionally economical one for the full development, the initial cost of the large hydraulic works required makes it unduly expensive for partial development of under 40,000 horse-power; but if it can be found that within reasonable time there is a prospective market for this amount, the development of this scheme would be justified on an economical basis. Some further investigation is necessary before a final decision can be come to regarding the best source of supply for the district. As regards the extent of the initial installation of power and works, I would propose for the Auckland District a power plant of 30,000 horse-power, with trunk lines to Auckland on the north and Te Kuiti and Rotorua on the south, with depots at intervals, and a system of primary distribution to serve the intermediate towns and surrounding districts. In order to provide for this plant and equipment a sum of £1,200,000 will be required. As regards a source of supply for the Wellington District, considerable difficulty has been encountered in finding a source which satisfies all the requirements, because, although the rivers are numerous, they do not lend themselves to economical development, and as a rule the power to be derived from any one source is small compared with the requirements. It has been suggested that the Hutt River would form a suitable source for supplying the southern end of the Wellington District. The amount'of water is barely adequate for the needs of Wellington City if provision is to be made for natural growth and progress, whilst for the amount of power available the cost of development is excessive. In any case the amount of power obtainable is not large enough to supply an extended district, whilst a power-station in the Manawatu district is well situated for supplying Wellington, Wairarapa, and parts of the Hawke's Bay and Taranaki districts, having regard to the distances and the power to be supplied in each locality. Aftei> considerable investigation the most suitable source for the supply of the southern district is found to be the Mangahao River. This river rises on the slopes of Mount Dundas on the Tararua Ranges, and flows into the Manawatu near Woodville, and it is found that by diverting through the hills for a total distance of three miles there is made available the fall of 1,040 ft. in the sixty-five miles of river between the Mangahao and the loop of the Manawatu near Shannon. It is proposed to develop this source by tunnelling through the range from the Mangahao into the Tokomaru Valley, there diverting a part of the Tokomaru, and then from the Tokomaru Valley through into the valley of the Mangaore, with a power-station situated within three miles of the railway at Shannon. Observations of the flow were made during last season, which was exceptionally dry, and are also being made during the present season, and based upon the dry-season flow it is possible to obtain 25,000 horse-power on a 50-per-cent. load-factor basis by impounding the waters and taking advantage of the natural features of the country for the purpose. This is sufficient to satisfy the power requirements of the district whioh it is intended to serve for some time to conic, but will require to be supplemented in due course as the country develops. The natural extensions of the transmission-lines from three sources will ultimately link them together, so thai by this means security will be obtained, and also additional supply obtained for the Wellington District from the other sources. It is possible, however, that in course of time the requirements will be so great as to require another development in the Taranaki District, where there is more than one promising source. In the design of this scheme 1 propose to adopt a new principle in regard to the provision for a stand-by. It is necessary to provide an additional power unit over and above the power

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obtainable from the source, so as to permit of the overhaul and repair of machinery. The usual method is to install an extra unit of water plant in the power-house. In the present instance I propose that the stand-by unit should be a complete steam set. The advantage of a steam stand-by set in this scheme is that not only does it serve the purpose of a spare unit, but it also provides means of tiding over short periods of exceptional or abnormal low water, thus enabling the available water to be used to a larger extent. The additional cost of the steam unit over a water-power unit is not great, and the cost of running on infrequent occasions would be a negligible proportion of the total operating cost, whilst the additional security and value conferred on the water-power plant is out of all proportion to the added expense. I would propose further, instead of installing the steam unit at the power-house, to take advantage of the fact that Wellington City has already a steam plant installed which is of the capacity required for the purpose aforesaid, and as they will deem it advisable and prudent to maintain this in running condition to provide against temporary interruptions of the supply, which are inevitable on every transmission system, there should be no difficulty about coming to terms for the use of this plant for relieving the load on the water-power plant in case of necessity. Some modification of the existing Wellington plant may be necessary to fit in with this scheme, but this is a detail about which there should be no difficulty in a matter winch is to the advantage of both parties. The cost of providing headworks, power-station, and plant for 25,000 horse-power would be at normal prices £420,000, which is under the limit of £20. per horse-power specified above. This illustrates the advantage of concentrating the power-supply for a considerable district in one source. If, for instance, we sought to provide for the needs of Wellington City and immediate neighbourhood only from this source the cost of hydraulic works for the power required would be excessive, whereas when developed for the full capacity and for the benefit of a larger area and population it becomes a sound commercial proposition. As regards the area to be supplied, there is an economic limit to the area over which a given amount of power can be distributed, and one of the obstacles to a satisfactory scheme of power-supply in New Zealand at present is the small amount of power required per square mile of area supplied. Having regard to this principle, and stretching it to the limit, we should be working on economical lines in serving the following districts from this source : the whole of the Wellington Province as far north as Taihape and Wanganui, and the southern portion of Hawke's Bay. 1 would propose, in the first place, to run trunk lines to Wellington, Palmerston North, Wanganui, and Masterton as chief centres, and from these centres, as well as from intermediate points on the trunk line, to provide the necessary distribution-lines and substations to serve the surrounding districts. The cost of providing the trunk lines, distribution-lines, substations, and other services to give a supply in bulk to local distributing authorities and to large power-users throughout this area would be £580,000, making a total of £1,000,000, which expenditure is at the rate of £40 per horse-power. The capital charges on this expenditure at 7| per cent., to include interest, depreciation, and sinking fund, work out at £3 per horse-power per annum; the annual cost of maintenance and operation would amount to £25,000 per annum, or the equivalent of £1 per horse-power per annum. Both charges require a return of £4 on the average per horse-power per annum in order , to provide for all charges with a reasonable provision for depreciation. We know by experience in Christchurch that we can secure this revenue without difficulty, even where economical fuel plants are already installed. The development of the Mangahao would help Wellington out of a difficulty, and from the Government's point of view Wellington alone would provide an immediate load on the station of about one-third its capacity, and would enable the large area outlined above to be supplied at the same time both economically and advantageously, and the prospective markets in these districts, combined with the natural increase in Wellington, should absorb the balance of the power available in a very short time. Complete surveys have been made of the Mangahao scheme and plans and estimates prepared. A survey of the transmission-line between Shannon and Wellington is proceeding and will shortly be completed, and the position of the substation to serve Wellington and the Hutt Valley has been located. Summarizing the foregoing, the scheme of development recommended is that three sources of water-power should be developed in the first place— i.e., Lake Waikaremoana for the Hawke's Bay District; Arapuni Gorge, or some other to be selected, for the Auckland District; and the Mangahao Kiver for the Wellington District. These three sources in a natural course of extension will get linked up together, thereby enhancing the value of each source by adding to the security of supply and enabling a continuous output to be maintained throughout the whole of the Island. The position in regard to the investigation now is that detailed surveys have been made of the Mangahao Kiver, of Aratiatia Rapids on the Waikato, of the Arapuni Gorge, and the Waikato, Pokaiwhenua, and Waipa Rivers near Horahora, and of Lake Waikaremoana. Further investigations and calculations utilizing existing survey information have been made of the Hutt River, Huka Falls, Kaituna River, and other schemes. Observations of flow made during the recent sequence of dry seasons have necessitated a modification of previous estimates of the power obtainable from the various sources. A survey staff is at present engaged on the transmission-line between Shannon and Wellington, and will shortly be transferred to the Auckland District in order to survey a route for the trunk line between the Waikato and Auckland.

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Considerable difficulty has been found in maintaining the staff for survey purposes, and we have at present only one survey party at work, whereas there should be three or four, with corresponding office staff, in order to carry out the work expeditiously; but under present conditions it is found impossible to keep the parties together for long, and we have to be content with slower progress. As regards the order of development, Waikaremoana scheme should be deferred for the present. The development of this source should, to my mind, be made dependent upon the construction of the Napier—Gisborne Railway. The railway should open up a better road for the transmission-lines and render them more accessible for the construction and maintenance. At present -this country is most difficult, especially from a maintenance point of view. There is every reason also in favour of operating this railway electrically. The Auckland and Wellington schemes should proceed simultaneously. The work in connection with the latter, however, is more advanced, and if labour is obtainable, which is very doubtful, the headworks could be put in hand at once and prepared in readiness for machinery and pipe-lines, which, however, could not be obtained during the continuance of the war. A beginning could be made perhaps by constructing roadways for access to the headworks. The schemes outlined above provide for the need of the more settled portions of the country, and inaugurates a general scheme of distribution which will in course of time embrace the whole country. E. Parry, Chief Electrical Engineei.

Authority : Marcus F. Marks, Government Printer, Wellington.—l9l7,

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