5

E.—2a

Waimea Water Race. —Cast-iron pipes for this race have been ordered in England. A re-survey of part of the line, in order to increase the head of water, is beiDg made; the rest of the race is pegged out.

Table A. —Length of Railways in course of Construction. Miles. Chains. Kaipara ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 17 0 Auckland to Mercer ... ... ... ... ... ... 46 0 Napier to Waipukerau ... ... ... ... ... 18 13 Waitara to Wanganui ... ... ... ... ... 11 13 "Wellington to Masterton ... ... ... ... ... 13 75 Nelson to Foxhill ... ... ... ... ... ... 13 14 Picton to Blenheim ... ... ... ... ... ... 17 10 Rangiora to Kowai ... ... ... ... ... ... 0 79 Rakaia to Ashburton ... ...• ... ... ... ... 18 0 Ashburton to Temuka ... ... ... ... ... 8 60 Mocraki to Waitaki ... ... ... ... ... ... 39 22 Dunedin to Clutha ... ... ... ... ... ... 51 8 Tokomairiro to Lawrence ... ... ... ... ... 22 0 Invereargill to Mataura ... ... ... ... ... 39 50 Winton to Kingston ... ... ... ... ... ... 22 17 Brunner to Grcymouth ... ... ... ... ... 7 23 Rangiora to Oxford ... ... ... ... ... ... 7 14 Racecourse to Southbridge ... ... ... ... ... 15 70 Rollcston to Malvern ... ... ... ... ... 35 40 Total ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 404 34 Table B. —Length of Railway for which Tenders are to be shortly invited. Miles. Napier to Waipukerau ... ... ... ... ... ... 27 Wellington and Masterton ... ... ... ... ... ... 33 Manawatu to Wanganui ... ... ... ... ... ... 17 Nelson to Foxhill ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 7 Picton to Blenheim ... ... ... ... ... ... 2 Rangiora to Kowai ... ... ... ... ... ... 12 Ashburton to Tcmuka ... ... ... ... ... ... 38 Canterbury Branch Lines ... ... ... ... ... ... 24 Total ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 160 Table C. —Railways Open for Traffic. Miles. Chains. Canterbury Great Northern ... ... ... ... ... 18 53 Canterbury Great Southern ... ... ... ... ... 12 53 Port Chalmers Railway (purchased) ... ... ... ... 8 0 Total ... ... ... ... ... ... 39 20 Joun Cahruthers, The Hon. the Minister for Public Works, Wellington. g Engineer-in-Chief.

Enclosure A. Mr. H. P. HiGGiifsoif to the Engineer-in-Chief. REPORT ON THE NGAKAWATJ COAL FIELDS, WITH A VIEW OF DETERMINING THE BEST MEANS OF EXPORTATION. I date the honor to report that on the 11th June I visited the Ngakawau in company with Mr. A. D. Dobson, Provincial Engineer for the Nelson Province, whose knowledge of the district was of great service to me. I also, before going there, obtained much valuable information from Captain Leech, the Harbour Master at Westport, who is thoroughly acquainted with the rivers on the West Coast. I also obtained an insight into the nature of the district and its rivers from Dr. Hector's report on the coal mines in the western district of the Province of Nelson. It was obvious to mo that there were only three propositions to deal with, viz., — 1. To render the Ngakawau Eiver navigable for small steamers and barges drawing not more than eight feet, which would convey coal to larger vessels lying in the Eivcr Bullcr. 2. To construct works of such a nature as to give 12 feet or more in the Ngakawau at low water, with wharfage for sufficient vessels to carry the whole trade, and to make such excavations in the bed of the river as would allow these craft to swing clear of everything. 2—E. 2a.