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greatly exceeded. It is probable, however, that the central and two adjoining blocks will be ready for occupation in September, which will enable the patients in the old asylum to be removed, and possession of the site given to the High School Governors, for which they are pressing. The reservoir for supplying water to the asylum is finished, also the main drain for the sewage, and arrangements are being made for completing the water connections and smaller drains, SURVEYS. General. —In addition to the surveys for authorized sections, which have been dealt with under their respective heads, several reconnaissance and preliminary surveys have been made for unauthorized lines and sections, as follow : — Main Trunk Line. —The preliminary survey of the section of the coast line between the Waiau and Kahautera, in progress at the date of my last annual report, was completed early in the year. It gives full information with reference to what may be considered the key to the whole of the East Coast route, for this is much the roughest piece of country anywhere between Christchurch and Picton. The length of the section is twenty-seven miles, and of this distance nine miles are easy, eleven moderately rough, and seven exceedingly rough; the latter bears a general comparison to the country between Dunedin and Blueskin, only somewhat rougher. The ruling gradient is 1 in 50, and the longest incline at this rate four and a quarter miles, the greatest altitude attained being 495 feet. The preliminary survey has been made to curves of 10 chains radius, but it is questionable whether it would not be necessary to adopt a lower minimum in setting out the line permanently. The section crosses two main Saddles—one at Hawkeswood, the watershed between the Waiau and the Conway ; and the other between Limestone Stream, a tributary of the Conway, and the Okaria, a small stream that flows into the sea on the southern side of the Amuri Bluff. The line attains a level of 390 feet at Hawkeswood, but the works are not exceptionally heavy, there being only an open cutting at the summit. The heaviest works on the section occur at the Okaria Saddle and on the inclines leading to it from both sides. The summit tunnel is 66 chains long, and there is another of 61 chains through a low range on the southern incline, with several smaller ones through spurs. Heavy works occur again along the beach from the Oara or Owaru to the Kahautera, the most important being a tunnel 20 chains long through a projecting bluff. It is probable, however, that this could be reduced to 12 chains in setting out the line for contract. The preliminary survey shows altogether twenty tunnels, of the aggregate length of 295 chains; but this could possibly be reduced by about 25 chains. The tunnels near the Okaria Saddle are expected to be through limestone and other soft materials, but those along the beach will be through hard sandstone. The earthwork, rock-cutting, and bridging are also very heavy ; there is altogether 124 chains of bridging at various places, but the great majority are small; only 24 chains will require to be of special design. The twenty-seven miles from the Waiau to the Kahautera is estimated to cost, on the average, about £16,800 per mile, exclusive of stations and rolling stock—that is, about £4,000 a mile more than the first twenty miles of the main line north of Port Chalmers. East and West Coast Line. —A preliminary survey of the line via the Waiau Valley, Cannibal Gorge, and lleefton is in progress, but the work is not sufficiently advanced to give a correct idea of the character of the line at the main range—the most difficult part. The survey is finished from the commencement on the Amuri Plain, near the " Red Post," to the Hanmer Plains, a distance of twenty-one miles ; the country this far is very easy. Further information is also being obtained with reference to the Arthur's Pass route, particularly on the portion between the Otira River and Brunnerton, where no survey had -previously been made. Whitecliffs to Rakaia. —A survey is in progress of the line via the Wairiri Valley, its main object being to accommodate the Brockley Coal Mine, recently opened, and others likely to be opened up in the vicinity. The line is particularly easy to make, but it cannot be brought nearer than two miles to the mine without making it exclusively a mineral line. If the Rakaia-Arthur's Pass route were adopted for the West Coast railway a saving of several miles on the distance to Christchurch would be effected by following the Wairiri Valley. But, so far as accommodating the agricultural country is concerned, and as a link in the Canterbury interior main line, it is considerably inferior to the Hororata line previously adopted. The coal is, however, particularly good, and the field is extensive. A special report on the subject has been made by Dr. Hector and Mr. Cox. Land Surveys and Plans. —During the great rush of railway construction it was difficult to keep up the work connected with the acquiring of land, consequently it fell considerably behind. In 1880 arrangements were made to have the arrears brought up, but the staff was so small, in proportion to the other work of the department, that little could be done. This year, however, it has been pressed on, and the greater portion is expected to be finished in eight or ten months. Complete plans of the railway lands are being prepared, accompanied by schedules giving the following particulars : Owner'.g name, locality, distance from nearest town, area, and amount cf compensation. When completed, these plans and schedules will form a valuable public record,