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APPENDIX F.

ANNUAL REPORT ON PUBLIC WORKS BY THE ENGINEER-IN-CHIEF.

The Engineee-in-Chief to the Hon. the Ministbe for Public Wobks. Sib,— Public Works Office, Wellington, Ist July, 1896. I have the honour to submit the following report on the various works completed and in progress throughout the colony during the past year. RAILWAYS. Absteact. The following table shows the expenditure and liabilities on Government railways in New Zealand up to the 31st March, 1896 :—

* The funds for this extension —namely, £3s, sol 2s. lid., were provided by the Westport Harbour Board. + The funds for purchase of this line, .£15,745, were provided by the Westport Harbour Board. During the year a total length of 20 miles 15 chains of railway was opened for traffic. The following table contains particulars of the sections : —

Appended hereto is a coloured diagram showing the length of railway opened each year since the commencement of the public works.

Name of Railway. Total Length of Railway or Section. Open for Traffic. Expenditure to 31st March, 1896. Liabilities on 31st March, 189(3. Kaihu Valley Kawakawa Whangarei-Kamo and Extension Helensville Northwards Kaipara-Waikato, with Branches Waikato-Thames Thames Valley—Rotorua and Lichfield Branch Wellington-Napier and Palmerston North (including Te Aro Extension and Greytown Branch) Wellington-Foxton Foxtdn-New Plymouth, with Branches North Island Main Trunk Nelson-Roundell .. .. .. .. :. Midland Railway Greymouth-Nelson Creek Greymouth-Hokitika .. .. .. Wostport-Ngakawau Westport-Ngakawau Extension to Mokihinui* Mokihinui Colliery Linef Picton-Hurunui— Picton-Awatere Section.. Hurunui-Red Post Section Hurunui-Waitaki, with Branches Canterbury Interior Main Line—Oxford-Temuka Waitaki-Bluff, with Branches Otago Central Invercargill-Kingston, with Mararoa Branch Western Railways Preliminary surveys Miscellaneous Stock of permanent-way and rolling-stock on hand Value of permanent-way in hands of Railway Department M. ch. 19 40 7 41 23 77 110 0 151 1 62 58 73 36 M.ch. 16 46 7 41 14 52 7 42 151 1 43 38 73 36 £ s. a. 51,981 12 4 90,638 8 1 130,813 11 1 64,239 9 5 1,390,451 5 11 255,318 5 8 359,768 4 1 £ b. a. 565 14 0 3,928 19 5 6,809 0 9 5,321 18 2 63 12 0 233 12 208 42 2,039,572 0 0 42,116 3 4 1,441,568 15 11 516,854 11 5 179,099 8 7 10,808 15 6 216,246 11 11 191,409 5 4 227,493 15 7 18,465 18 4 197 60 216 0 52 0 195 49 56 77 22 73 16,175 8 10 7 51 24 37 19 56 7 12 3 69 7 51 24 37 19 56 7 12 3 69 7,142 2 0 582 16 7 34 40 9 50 474 41 83 0 628 23 182 56 117 4 57 56 20 42 9 50 433 38 11 44 458 27 56 20 97 44 57 56 263,872 1 6 39,093 6 1 2,533,068 7 5 59,343 9 2 3,632,786 18 4 682,203 19 2 320,902 18 4 225,225 9 9 65,391 9 6 10,336 19 11 28,540 8 2 14 0 6 11,843 12 1 14,751 0 7 660 13 10 9,i(30 10 3 25,000 0 0 Total 2,797 20 2,006 3 15,094,145 11 6 95,485 7 4 Peovincial Goveknment Lines, etc. Canterbury (lengths included above) Otago Gisborne to Ormond Tramway Forest Hill Tramway .. 731,759 0 0 372,522 2 5 4,975 1 7 556 5 2 Grand total 2,797 20 2,006 3 16,203,958 0 8 95,485 7 4

Railway. Section. Length. Date openea for Traffic. Waikato-Thames Wellin gton- Woodville... Waitaki-Bluff Catlin's Eiver Te Aroha-Paeroa... Eketahuna-Newman Fernhill Colliery Line Hunt's Eoad Section (part) M. ch. 12 63 2 4 1 60 3 48 20th December, 1895. 16th March, 1896. 19th December, 1895. 16th Total ... 20 15