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and the masonry piers and abutments of the same are being erected by masons on the co-operative principle. Six of these works are completed, and the remainder are making good progress; and, should the weather be favourable, the whole will probably be finished about the end of August or early in September. About 169 men are now at work on this line. The average earnings of the co-operative labourers during the year amounted to about 7s. 6-|d. per man per day of eight hours. Wrought-iron Girders Contract. —This is a contract for the manufacture of iron girders for the bridges on the Middlemarch-Hyde Section. Tenders were invited, and the contract was let to Messrs. J. and A. Anderson, of Christchurch, on the 21st December last; amount, £2,022 18s. The contract provides that the raw materials may be imported, but that the manufacture of the girders is to be wholly executed in the colony. Land-plans. —The plans of the land required tor the railway from Mullochy Gully to Sutton Stream, a length of 26 miles 10 chains, are completed, and will be ready for proclamation at an early date. Catlin's Eiver Eailway. Catlin's Section (about 46-J- chains). —Tunnel, formation, and permanent-way : This section begins at 13 miles 10 chains (the terminus of the portion opened for traffic), and ends at 13 miles 56-50 chains. The contract was finished on the 24th September, 1892. This short piece of line, however, has not been opened for traffic yet. Co-operative Works. —The work of formation of a further portion of the line, about 2 miles 28 chains in length, was put in hand by co-operative contract on the 29th April, 1891, and continued until the 14th November, 1891, when the works were stopped, and they have not been resumed since. The work done consisted of bush-felling and clearing, and earthwork. Seaward Bush Eailway. Waituna Section. —This section begins at the terminus of the opened line, at 11 miles 18 chains. The work of formation was begun on the co-operative principle on the 21st December, 1891, and has been successfully carried out since then, the formation, bridging, and fencing over the whole section from the commencement as above to 18 miles 52 chains being now well advanced. At present there are about forty men at work, divided into six co-operative parties. Tho average earnings of the men during the year has amounted to about 7s. lid. per man per day of eight hours. Bridge-piles Contract. —There being some difficulty in getting suitable piles for the bridges for this line on the spot, a contract for the supply and delivery of ninety-nine totara or silver-pine piles, from 20ft. to 35ft. long, was advertised in Auckland, Wellington, Westland, Otago, and Southland, and a tender for silver-pine piles, being the lowest, was accepted. Only two tenders were received in. Otago and Southland, and they were informal, being one for only thirty piles, and the other for eighteen piles. The contract is about completed. Land-plans. —The survey and plans of the land required for the railway have been completed up to 14 miles 25 chains, and the land has been taken by Proclamation. Sleepers. The two contracts for the supply of 5,000 totara sleepers each for the North Island Main Trunk Eailway, which were let in March, 1892, were completed in November last. 10,000 Sleeper Contract. —A contract for 10,000 sleepers for the Eotorua Eailway was widely advertised in Auckland and other districts in May, 1892. Four tenders were accepted, for lots amounting in all to 15,500 sleepers; three of these being for a total of 5,500, delivered at Hokitika at 2s. sd. and 2s. 6d. per sleeper, and the fourth (an Auckland tender) for 10,000, delivered at Eotorua, at 3s. 9d. The tenderer in the latter case, however, failed to take up his contract, thus reducing the total number to be supplied under these contracts to 5,500, most of which have been delivered. 12,000 Sleeper Contract, for Whangarei-Kamo Railway Extension. —This contract was advertised in the Auckland district in May, 1892. Eight tenders were received, but, not being considered satisfactory, they were declined, except one small lot of 2,000 tendered for by a settler. Subsequently, however, tenders for seven lots, amounting in the aggregate to 3,800 sleepers, were obtained from settlers in the Whangarei district at satisfactory prices agreed upon. 16,000 Sleeper Contract, for Whang arei-Kamo Bailway Extension. —This contract was advertised in the Auckland district in December, 1892. Only two tenders were received—viz.: one for 1,500 sleepers, and the other for 1,000 —in all 2,500 sleepers—and as they were not considered satisfactory they were declined. 70,000 Sleeper Contract.—A contract is now advertised throughout the colony for the supply and delivery of 70,000 sleepers, required for the permanent-way of the following sections of railway now in progress —viz.: Kamo to Hikurangi, Paeroa to Te Aroha, Tarukenga to Eotorua, Middlemarch to Hyde (Otago Central), and Waituna Section (Seaward Bush Eailway). Tenders are due on 6th July next. During the year seventy-five small contracts were entered into, for the supply and delivery of 46,300 silver-pine sleepers at 2s. 6d. per sleeper. These contracts were for the most part taken up by parties of settlers or working men, and were practically co-operative contracts. They are all nearly completed. Sleeper-conveyance Contracts. —Tenders were invited for the conveyance of 10,000 sleepers from Greymouth or Hokitika to Onehunga, and a contract for the same was let, and is now nearly completed ; and another contract, for the conveyance of 15,000 sleepers, is about to be advertised.