E.—3.

XI

Greymouth to Hokitika. There does not appear to be a prospect of a sufficient traffic between these two rival ports, in the improvement of each of which large sums of money are being expended, to justify proceeding with this work. The line, as laid out, runs along the coast, and would not be conducive to settlement to an extent sufficient to provide profitable traffic for many years to come. The traffic of the alternative route, by way of Kumara, is already carried on between that township and Greymouth by a tramway laid down by private means; and we consider that the present wants of the district are thereby sufficiently provided for. The traffic to the townships of Goldsborough and Stafford is not of magnitude enough to call for railway communication. Hokitika to the East Coast by Browning's Pass, Brunnerton to Oxford and Greymouth to Amberley. The large cost of either of these lines, and the limited traffic which could be calculated upon, make it, in our opinion, necessary to postpone the construction of any one of them for, at all events, some years to come. When the condition of the colony, both as regards population and finance, makes railway communication between the East and West Coasts a feasible project, further exploration will be essential before a route is finally decided upon. Amberley to Waikari. This section is now in course of construction, and we consider it desirable that the portion of it from Amberley to the foot of the Weka Pass should be opened for traffic as soon as possible, and that effort should be made to finish the remainder in time for the next grain season. Waikari to Hukunui. This section would serve about 195,000 acres of agricultural land north of the Hurunui, and w rould probably cause a large portion of it to be brought under cultivation. In the whole the line would carry the trade, both import and export, of an area of 1,395,000 acres, and we recommend its early construction. As the Hurunui is already bridged for dray traffic, we think that the terminus of this section should be on the soiith bank of the river. Lincoln to Lake Forsyte:. The works upon this section are in progress, and should be completed to the end of the seventeen miles now under contact. A railway to that point will bring Akaroa to within an easy journey of Christchurch, and will probably take the greater part of the passenger traffic which now goes by sea. Lake Eorsyth to Little River. This section would be more expensive than that from Lincoln to Lake Eorsyth, and would not, we consider, add materially to its traffic. We therefore do not think it desirable to continue the line beyond the last-named point. Little River to Akaroa. The works upon this line would be generally expensive, and would involve the construction of a long tunnel; the population of the district is comparatively small, and we do not see a sufficient prospect of a remunerative return for the outlay to induce us to recommend that it should be incurred. Tinwald to Mount Somers. ■ This branch is already in progress. The cost will be small, and it will serve a large agricultural district, and at the same time open out a coal mine and stone quarries at Mount Somers, which it may fairly be calculated will bring considerable traffic to the line.