3

F.-2,

LINES AND WORKS PBOJECTED AND FINISHED DURING THE YEAR. Poet Albert Line. This line, which is 2-1 miles in length, was completed in May last. A guaranteed station will be opened at Port Albert at an early date. The lino starts from Warkworth, and the wire runs on the main North line for 1G miles, then branching off to Port Albert for a distance of eight miles, which latter distance is a complete new line. The cost of this line is shown in Table H. TAUEANGA TO KATIKATI RECONSTRUCTION. This section has daring the past year received a thorough overhaul. The scrub from under the line has been removed, and all poles cleared around. The weak parts of the line have been, strengthened, and, where necessary, wholly renewed, as well as several angles being cut out. The section is now in first-class condition. Catlin's Rivee and tiie Nuggets. This line, which is 24 miles in length, was completed in June last. The line starts from Kaitangata and passes through the island of Inch Clntha to Port Molyneux. From Port Molyneux to the Nuggets it follows the coast line. The line to Catlin's River branches off at a point about three miles from Port Molyneux towards the Nuggets on the coast, following a road up the Korora Creek, and through the Ahuriri Flat on to the main road leading to Catlin's River from Balelutha. This line presented no engineering difficulties, and the route adopted is comparatively free from bush. The cost of erection of the line is shown in Table H. Duntroon Line. This line, which is 22 miles in length, was completed and a station opened at Duntroon in February last. The wire runs on the main line from Oamaru to the Awamoko Junction, and from thence to Marewhenua follows the railway line. The department has received a guarantee of 6 per cent, upon the cost of this line. For cost of erection, see Table H. llokitika to Ross Reconstruction. New poles have been erected throughout the whole of this section, and the line otherwise strengthened where necessary. Fourtii "Wire, Bleniieisi to Chhistciiurcii. The increasing work upon the Southern circuits rendered the erection of this wire necessary. It was commenced early in November, and completed by the end of December. During the running of this wire the whole section was overhauled and strengthened throughout. The cost of erection of wire and repairing and strengthening line will be found in Table H. Reefton to Ahauea Reconstruction. The decayed state of the sapling poles on this section rendered necessary the renewal of the line. "While this was being done a large extent of bush was cut down, so as to aft'ord better protection to the line. Eight miles of line have been removed from places inaccessible by horse, and erected on higher ground alongside of new road, which will facilitate repairs in case of accident. For cost, &c, see Table H. Nelson to Blenheim Reconstruction. (Completed from Blenheim to Havelock.) This section is now undergoing a complete overhaul, and is finished as far as Havelock. A large number of poles, chiefly matai in a far advanced state of decay, are being replaced by new poles sawn from the heart of totara; and, so as to render the line more secure from falling trees, a considerable extent of timber will be felled. Attention has also been given to such places where it is desirable to shorten and strengthen the line. The cost for the portion of this work completed is shown in Table H. "Wyndham Ltne. This line, which is a loop from the Edcndale Station, is four miles in length. It was completed in May last, and an office at Wyndham is now in course of erection. The cost is shown in Table H. Quarantine Island and Poetobello Line. This line starts from Port Chalmers and passes through Quarantine Island, and thence across to Portobello. It is used as a telephone wire at present and as a means of communication between the island and the mainland. Lowthee to Kingston. This line, which is 31 miles in length, follows the railway line for the whole distance. A station has been opened at Kingston. It is intended at some future date to extend this line to Queenstown over the mountains, which will provide an alternate route via Invercargill in the event of accident to the gold fields line. The cost of line is shown in Table H. LINES AND WORKS IN COURSE OF CONSTRUCTION. NOETHEEN WAIEOA LINU, INCLUDING SECOND WIEE AUCKLAND TO "WaIPU. This line starts from Waipu and follows the made road for six miles, thence branching off to Mangaturoto. From Maugaturoto to Pahi the line will follow what is to be the main trunk road to Paparoa. From Paparoa to the Wairoa River the line passes across the Matakohe Creek, and through the settlement of the same name. It then passes through a heavy bush for about six miles,