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Blenheim-Awatere Eailway. Omaha Contract (2 miles 43 chains.) —Laying permanent-way : This contract was practically finished during the year, and the section was handed over to tho Eailway Commissioners to be opened for public traffic on the 18th April, 1893. Westport-Ngakawau Eailway (Extension to Mokihinui). Patten's Bridges Contract —This contract, which comprises the erection of twelve small bridges between the Ngakawau Eiver and the Mokihinui Eiver, was let on the 23rd October, 1891; but the original contractor failing to carry it out, it was relet on the 2nd May, 1892, and completed on the 18th June last. Amount of contract, £899. Mokihinui Contract (7 miles 12 chains). —Being a contract for the laying of the permanent-way and ballasting from Ngakawau to the end of the present extension, at 26 miles 28 chains. It was let on the 28th March, 1892, and completed on the Ist November, 1892. Amount, £3,416. Co-operative Works. —As previously reported, the formation and culverts of this line were carried out by twelve small contracts, the work being done to a large extent under the co-operative system ; and, during the year the following works have been carried out (also on the co-operative system): Clearing away heavy slips at the Mokihinui end of the line, repairing damages to bridge approaches, clearing and forming station-yard at Mokihinui, forming road-approaches to and tarring the Ngakawau Bridge, clearing and forming road-approaches to the Ngakawau Station, and the erection of sixth-class passenger-stations at Ngakawau and Mokihinui. It is expected that the line will be finally completed and ready for traffic next month. There were eleven co-operative contracts in progress on the line during the year ended 31st March, averaging about six men to each, and the net average wages earned by the men amounted to more than 9s. per day of eight hours. Greymouth-Hokitika Eailway. The Kapitea Contract (4 miles 20 chains), formation only ; and the Arahura Bridge Extension Contract, consisting of the addition of four lift, spans, laying the rails and planking for a roadway, were completed, as previously reported, on 14th March, 1892, and 29th August, 1891, respectively. A contract for the erection of the New Eiver Bridge, at 15 miles 76 chains, consisting of two lift., one 13ft., and three 40ft. spans, was let on the 7th June, 1892, and completed on the 13th February, 1893 ; and a contract for the erection of the Saltwater Creek Bridge, at 18 miles 38 chains, of five lift, and three 40ft. spans, was let on the 7th June, 1892, and completed on the 3rd November, 1892. Both bridges are on piles, and planked for roadway. The remainder of the works on the line, comprising the trimming-up formation, clearing and cutting drains, erecting bridges, laying permanent-way, ballasting, stations, &c, are completed or in progress on the co-operative principle; and of these the completed works include twenty-two bridges, comprising in the aggregate thirty-two lift., twelve 13ft., twenty-nine 20ft., and nine 40ft. spans, all except three being erected on piles, and eight being planked for roadways. The platelaying of the main line was finished and ballasting commenced in April last; and the work was so far advanced by the 24th May that on that date excursion trains were run between Greymouth and Hokitika by special arrangement with the Eailway Department. It is expected that the line, exclusive of the Greymouth and Hokitika Stations, will be completed and ready for traffic early in September next. During the year ended 31st March, there were thirty co-operative contracts in progress on the line, averaging about 7 men to each ; two parties of 18 men each ; one of 20 men; one of 36 men; and one of 49 men :in all thirty-five parties and 373 men; the average number of men employed throughout the year being about 112, and the number now on the ground is about 86. The net average earnings of the men during the year amounted to fully 9s. 6d. per day of eight hours. The works have been carried out smoothly and have been well done. Stations. —Drawings and specifications for the stations at Greymouth, Hokitika, and Kumara Beach Eoad have been prepared, and steps are being taken to have the construction of the same put in hand on the co-operative principle. The proposed station-buildings are as follows : — Greymouth Station. —Second-class passenger station and passenger platform, 295 ft. by 16ft., and goods-shed, 100 ft. by 40ft. Hokitika Station. —Second-class passenger station and platform, 250 ft. by 16ft; two-stall engine-shed; 50-ton coal-store; goods-shed, 60ft. by 30ft; loading platform, 50ft. long; and watertanks. Kumara Beach Boad Station. —Fourth-class passsenger station and platform; goods-shed, 40ft. by 30ft.; and loading platform. Land-plans. —The survey and plans of the land required for the railway, from 10 miles to 14 miles 62 chains, have been completed. Silver Pine Timber. —I may mention that in carrying out the works on the GreymouthHokitika Eailway, the local West Coast silver-pine timber has been largely used for the construction of bridges and culverts, as well as for sleepers and other works on the permanent-way. It is very suitable for such works, being hard, close grained, not liable to warp or crack, and is one of the most durable of our timbers. In positions where it is buried in, or placed in contact with, the ground, its lasting properties are superior to heart of totara, and quite equal to puriri. Otago Central Eailway. Middlemarch to Hyde Section. —The work of formation of this section, under the co-operative system, was begun on the 23rd October, 1891, and is now in progress over the whole section— namely, from 42 miles to Hyde, at 56 miles 15 chains, a length of 14 miles 15 chains. The formation is completed up to the end of the fifty-second mile and well advanced for the remainder of the distance; and the whole formation up to 56 miles 15 chains, including the station-yard at Hyde, will probably be finished about September next. There are fourteen bridges on this section,