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station, which is 4 miles from Palmerston (on the Eoxton-Palmerston section) has been in progress• 15j miles have been surveyed, but not plotted, and 9^ miles explored but not yet surveyed; making 25 miles in all. Many trial lines have been cut over this ground, to insure the best line being obtained, much of the ground being liable to heavy floods. For the same reason, it is proposed to have an alternative survey of a portion of the Eoxton-Horowhenua section. Bunnythorpe-Woodville. —The survey of this section was discontinued for some time, but has been resumed ; and a trial line is now being pushed through the Manawratu Gorge, on the right, or north, bank of the river. Land Plans. —These have been prepared for a distance of 16 miles on the Foxton line ; and on the Waitotara-Waverley section the ficldwork is complete, and plans are now being plotted. Survey plans and sections have-been made for the proposed new railway station and wharf at Foxton, including a necessary deviation of the railway line, and the w rork is being prepared for contract under public tender. Carlyle-New Plymouth Eailway. Ngaloro Section (8 miles 60 chains to 13 miles 40 chains). —This was opened for traffic on 19th December, 1879. Waipuku Section (13 miles 40 chains to 17,miles 52 chains).—This also was opened for traffic on the same date as above. Stratford Contract. —(17 miles 52 chains to 22 miles 20 chains). —This contract included formation, permanent-way, and stations; and was so far completed as to be opened for traffic on the same day as the preceding sections, as far as Stratford—22 miles. Manqawhero Contract (22 miles 20 chains to 29 miles). —This includes formation and permanentwray. The date for completion is the sth November, 1880; but the contractor has been offered a bonus to complete the line ready for traffic up to 25 miles 45 chains by June, and he is making every effort to accomplish this: adding about 34 miles to the working railway, and so diminishing the distance to be travelled over the road by coach in winter by the same amount. The line is already linked in for 1 mile 20 chains. Waingongoro Contract (4 miles 34 chains).- —This is being prepared for public tender, and will be advertised shortly as a formation and permajient-way contract. It has occupied a considerable time in survey and explorations to obtain the best line in a difficult piece of country. Normanby Section (4 miles 0 chains). —This joins the above, and extends southwards to and through the Township of Normanby. Over this length bush-clearing to 4 miles from Normanby has been executed by petty contracts and day-labour, and the remaining portion. 4 miles to 8 miles 33'86 chains, extending over the Waingongoro section, is being cleared by petty contracts. Formation over the first portion is completed to 3 miles, and another mile will be finished in a few weeks. The remainder will be executed by petty contracts as soon as bush clearing is completed. Workshops, Sentry Hill. —These buildings have been erected by contract, and were finished in January, since wdien the erection of the machinery has been progressing; and a contract has been let for the formation of the workshops yard, and the laying of rails and sidings in connection, with the shops. It is expected that these will be finished, and the machinery erected, by the middle of May. Surveys. —The surveys completed were those for the Waingongoro and Normanby sections, as well as for a water supply for the Sentry Hill workshops. Surveys have also been in progress during the year between Normanby and Carlyle, including the Carlyle branch. The latter line, after many trials to secure the best, may now be considered as definitely fixed. The main line has been the subject of much exploration and many trial lines, especially in the neighbourhood of the Eivers Tangahoe and Manawapou, which presented many difficult features. A suitable line has, however, been found a little more to the seaward than the original one, and the surveys are nearly complete for this particular section. WELLINGTON DISTBICT. Wellington Bailway Wharf and Beclamation Contract. —This includes the erection of a timber railway wharf, 650 feet long and 35 feet wide, springing from a triangular base filled in solid, and surrounded next the sea with a timber and concrete retaining-wall 530 feet long. On the wharf is laid three lines of rails, with the necessary points and crossings. It is expected to be fully complete by about the middle of April, and the work has been most energetically and faithfully carried out iu every respect. Petoni Workshops Contract. —This included the building of three shops each 50 feet by 40 feet, and one 63 feet by 47 feet; the whole was completed in a satisfactory manner by 31st January. The steam engines and various machines have been erected in their places; the shafting for driving these has also been fixed, and in a short time these workshops will be in working order. The roads intended to connect the whole of the shops with the sidings in the yard are being laid, and the engine traverser and turntables are being fixed. An office for the manager has also been erected within the workshops yard. A main drain, intended to lay dry the workshops ground, has been laid throughout its length, and a set of water tanks, capable of holding 6,400 gallons, has been erected; a well has also been dug and a pump fixed for filling the tanks, from which pipes will be carried to the various shops. Carterton Contract (20 miles 4L chains long). —This work, since it was taken over by the Public Works Department for completion, has been pushed on as vigorously as possible, the average number of men employed being about 275 ; latterly, however, this number has been reduced about one-half, as much of the work has been finished. All the heavy works, including bridges and culverts, large cuttings and embankments, are nearly completed, the work yet remaining to be done consisting of laying of permanent-way and ballasting, &c. It is expected that the whole of the works will be completed and ready for traffic to Masterton by the Ist September. Greytown Branch Bailway. —The formation of this was let by. contract, and finished on 10th January. Since then the permanent-way has been laid by the Public Works Department, and con-