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APPENDICES TO THE PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT, 1877. ANNUAL REPORT ON RAILWAYS BY THE ENGINEER-IN-CHIEE. The Engineee-in-Chief to the Hon. the Ministee for Public Woeks. Sib,— Public Works Office, Wellington, 18th July, 1877. I have the honor to submit the following annual report on work done in railway construction during the past financial year : — The expenditure on railways up to the 30th June, 1871, was ... ... £12,160 During the year ending 30th June, 1872, it was ... ... ... 205,057 „ ' 1873 „ ... ... ... 604,323 1874 „ ... ... ... 1,049,465 1875 „ ... ... ... 1,691,356 1876 „ ... ... ... 1,600,133 „ 1877 „ ... ... ... 967,426 Total expenditure to 30th June, 1877 ... ... ... £6,129,920 This sum is subdivided thus — North Island ... ... ... ... ... ... £2,199,465 South Island ... ... ... ... ... ... 3,930,455 Total ... ... ... ... ... ... £6,129,920 Contracts have been entered into and other liabilities incurred to the extent of £530,333, apportioned as follows :— North Island ... ... ... ... ... ... £240,082 South Island ... ... ... ... ... ... 290,251 Total ... ... ... ... ... ... £530,333 The whole of this liability will have to be met during the present year, and a further sum of £509,766 will be required to carry on the works, including the purchase of land, which you have indicated to me as those to be done during the same period. This gives a total to be expended during the year of £1,340,099. The following table shows the lengths of railway opened for traffic and under construction, including the Provincial railways, which, by " The Abolition of Provinces Act," havo come uuder the charge of the Colonial Government: —

Kame of Eailway. Expended to 30th June, 1877. To bo spent, 1877-78. Total Estimated Cost on 30th Juno, I 1877. Total Length authorized. Open for Tratlic. To be opened during 1877-78. Will not be finished by 30th June, 1878. Nortii Island. Mis. chs. 8 19 142 40 64 1 68 39 33 33 9 31 86 10 Mis. chs. 2 68 61 15 58 36 19 44 11 13 Mis. clis. Mis. chs. 5 31 29 40 Kawakawa Kaipara—Puniu Napier —Manawatu Wellington—Masterton Waitara —Patea, North Patea —Manawatu, North „ „ Central „ „ South 51 65 5 45 24 75 13 40 9 31 ) 26 59 j - 24," 0 8 60 ( 20" 26 I 39 5 Tolal,*North Island ... 412 13 212 47 131 75 67 51 South Island. Nelson —Foxhill Westport—Ngakawau ... Picton—Blenheim Greymoutli —Bi-unnerton Amberley—Waitaki audBranches— General Government Lines ... Provincial Government Lines Waitaki to Bluff and Branches — General Government Lines ... Provincial Government Lines 20 11 19 19 18 52 7 50 19 10 10 0 17 10 7 50 1 1 9 19 1 42 249 21 54 37 249 21 54 37 323 63 122 19 214 7 76 0 109 56 20 73 25" 26 Total, South Island 815 32 647 55 142 31 25 20 Stjhmaey op Length. North Island ... South Island ... 412 13 815 32 212 47 647 55 131 75 142 31 67 51 25 26 Total 1,227 45 860 22 274 26 92 77