D.—1.

36

clear of the heavy floods to which these valleys are subject. The gradients and curves are good, and the works generally light: the heaviest work is in crossing the Mangatainoko, where 11 or 12 chains of bridging will be required. The length of the Eketahuna-Woodville section is 26 miles 54 chains. This makes the distance from Wellington to Woodville by the Wairarapa 114 miles 64 chains, as against 105 miles 17 chains by the Manawatu Eailway Company's line and Palmerston. Nelson-Belgbove Railway. The expenditure on this line during the past year has been mostly for land-compensation, with a few minor additions to stations. A reconnoissance survey has been made of an alternative route for the Nelson-West Coast line. It leaves the Nelson-Belgrove Eailway at Richmond and runs by Motueka, Tadmor, and the Hope to the Buller Valley. PICTON-AwATEEE RAILWAY. Open Line. —The only work in progress during the year that need be noticed is the improvements at Picton. The wharf has been lengthened 100ft., and a goods-shed built on it, and the sidings leading thereto have been improved and extended. Accommodation has also been provided for the Harbourmaster. Dashwood Section. —A contract for the formation of this section, which is 3J miles long, was entered into on the 9th July, 1884. The works were to be finished on the 9th July, 1886, but they are still far from completion. At the present rate of progress they will not be out of the contractor's hands before December next. The contractor has throughout carried on the works in anything but a satisfactory manner. The land-plan survey of the Dashwood section has been finished, and a contract has been prepared for the next section, 2-|- miles. Westpokt-Ngakawau Railway. There have been no works chargeable to construction executed on this line during the past year. Gbeymouth-Bbunnebton Railway. Greymouth Wharf. —Under an arrangement with the Harbour Board, a contract was entered into in June, 1886, for the extension of the Greymouth wharf. The extension is 650ft. in length, and it will be provided with two hydraulic cranes for lifting the bodies of the coal-wagons and depositing the coal in the ship's hold. About 450ft. of the wharf are finished, and the erection of the cranes is in progress. The hydraulic machinery, which is of the most improved description, was manufactured at Sir William Armstrong's works. The Harbour Boards pay the cost of these works. Surveys. —ln view of the necessity of having better communication between the line and the coal: mines on the northern side of the Grey at Brunnerton, surveys have been made for a railway-bridge. As the valley is narrow and deep, it is difficult to give the necessary accommodation at a reasonable cost. Several bridge-sites have been surveyed, but a final decision has not yet been come to in the matter. Geeymouth-Hokitika Railway. Formation. —A considerable amount of formation-work has been done on this line during the year. With the exception of about a mile near the Greymouth end, a quarter of a mile near the Arahura River, and the spaces at bridge and culvert sites, there is little formation unfinished between liokitika and the Kapitea—about 10 miles —and, again, between the Teremakau and Greymouth— about 8 miles. The intervening portion —about 5 miles—has been postponed pending a decision as to the proposed deviation towards Kumara. Bridges. —A contract was entered into on the 28th August, 1886, for the erection of a bridge over the Arahura River. It is to consist of seven 80ft. spans and eleven lift, spans. The larger spans are to have piers of cast-iron cylinders filled with concrete, the superstructure being the ordinary timber-and-iron truss. The small spans are to be entirely of timber. A portion of the timber-work has been executed, but the large spans were delayed for some time by the non-arrival of the cylinders from England. A contract is now ready to be advertised for the bridge over the Teremakau. As the river is a very large one, and. subject to heavy floods, it was necessary to prepare a special design. A structure entirely of concrete and iron was accordingly determined on. There are six spans of 121ft. The abutments are of concrete, and the piers consist each of two cast-iron cylinders filled with concrete. The superstructure is a wrought-iron lattice-girder, carrying the roadway on the lower chord. Surveys. —During the year a number of trial-surveys have been run to ascertain whether the Greymouth-Hokitika Railway could with advantage be brought nearer Kumara. They all show that the advantages to be gamed are more than balanced by the deterioration in the character of the line, steep gradients and sharp curves being unavoidable on all the deviations proposed. Hubunui-Waitaki Railway and Bbakches. Works on Open Lines. —Minor improvements and additions amounting in the aggregate to a considerable sum have been carried out during the year by the Working Railways Department. Timaru. —The clift-protection at Tima?:u, which has been in progress at intervals for many years, was entirely suspended during the greater part of 1886-87. But recently a further encroachment of the sea has taken place, so it is necessary to deposit more stone,