D.—2

Wharves. —These structures were maintained in good condition. Strengthening and renewal of Greymouth wharves in hand. The construction of a ferro-concrete wharf in a new and more convenient site at Picton has been commenced, also the extension of the Nelson wharf and breastwork. Buildings. —Additions were made to several station buildings, and a number of houses were built. The expenditure on maintenance of buildings was £65,208, or about £12,000 more than the previous year. Many of the older buildings are now coming in for renewal. Miscellaneous Works. —Additions and improvements were carried out during the year amounting to £19,418, which was charged to working-expenses. The most important works were: Additions and alterations to sidings —Auckland, Penrose, Whangarata, New Plymouth, Hawera, Utiku, Napier, Lyttelton, Addington, Oamaru, and Moana. Additions and improvements to water'services—Tahekeroa,'Huntly, Ashburton, Thornbury, Colac, and Koromiko. Improvements to lighting—Auckland goods-yard, Marton, Woodvilie, Carterton, Wellington, Opawa, Rangiora, Temuka, Timaru, Mataura, and Invercargill Workshops. Reading-rooms and libraries —New market, Frankton, Upper Hutt, Greymouth, and Hillside (additions). W.C.s and urinals — Matatoke, Burmythorpe, Irwell, Lake Road, and Clifton. Purchase of land —Paerata, Ngawapurua, Winslow, Milton, and Bluff. Miscellaneous—Additions to station building, Kawakawa; additional gas-filling valves, Auckland; drainage of cottages, Newmarket; weighbridge and siding, Newmarket Workshops; improvement to road approach and lighting cattle-yards, Matamata;' shifting houses and engine-shed, Putaruru ; stock-yards and siding, Manurewa : sanitary improvements, engine-shed, Palmerston North; new station, &c, Sentry Hill; verandah, St. John's; asphalting coal-yard and erection of hydraulic crane, Woodvilie; addition to creosote shed, Woodvilie; coal-yard, Cross Creek; approach road to goods-shed, Featherston; fencing main line 94 m. 60 eh. to 95 m. 70ch., Wellington-Napier district; respacing sidings on wharf, Timaru; office for Car and Wagon Inspector, Christchurch; shelter-shed, Opawa; drop pit, Addington; skylights, Westinghouse brake shed, Addington; telephone service, Culverden - Waiau Fexry; stone protection, foreshore, Oamaru; improvements, ladies' waiting-room, Oamaru; wagon-lifting shed, Hillside; closing-in riveting-shed, Hillside; overbridge, south end of platform, Dunedin; Stationmaster's house and station building, Waiwera ; addition to creosote-shed, Kew; fencing, Waimea Plains railway; additions to coal-shed, Greymouth; alterations to station building, Greymouth; additions to workshops, Greymouth; erecting telegraph-wire, GreymouthStillwater; additional office-accommodation, Otira ; extension of eastern small wharf, Picton; connecting station and houses witli town water-supply, Gisborne; additions to thirty-seven dwellings; providing bath-rooms for fifty-seven dwellings, and washing-coppers for ten dwellings; building fifty-six portable huts. Additions to Open Lines. —The principal works carried out during the year were as follows : — Additions to station buildings, station-yards, and sidings—Morningside, Auckland, Newmarket, Pukekohe, Wairangi, Frankton, Morrinsville, Karangahake Tunnel (relief siding), Waihi, Te Kuiti, Inglewood, Hawera, Waverley, Wanganui, Marton, Rata, Taihape, Ashhurst, Woodvilie, Awatoto, Port Ahuriri, Masterton, Amberley, Christchurch (part), Sandy Knolls, Waihao Downs, Waimate, Oamaru, Tokarahi, Burnside, Shands, Milton, Iliversdale, One Tree Point. Erection of new houses —Te Kuiti, Putaruru, Turakina, Marton, Karere, Waihao Downs. Stationmasters' houses— Eltham, LovelPs Flat, Fairfax, Bluff (completion). Miscellaneous : Footbridge, Otahuhu (part); overbridge, Timaru (part); strengthening Hamilton Bridge (part); verandahs — Fairlie, Waipawa, Edendale, Marton; drainage—Bluff (completion); additions to goods-sheds —Hamilton, Pahiatua (part), Wellington (part); goodsshed — Runciman ; additions to car-shed, Invercargill; approaches for viaduct, Mangatewainui (part); purchase of land—Linwood, Christchurch, Fairfax; additions to water services—Waitakerei, Te Kuiti, Kaitoke; additions, engine-depot, Dunedin (part); fencing-line, Wanganui district (part) ; shelter-sheds and platforms —Glasgow, Ashhurst (extension), Riversdale (extension) ; jetty at Elfin Bay, Lake Wakatipu ; foot-warmer furnaces—Auckland, Wanganui, Wellington, and Nelson districts; new wharf, Picton; stock-yards —Bonny Glen, Amberley, Windsor; stone-crush-ing plants—Te Kuiti, Auckland district (part), Kai Iwi, Wanganui district (part), Fernside, Wellington district; additions, erecting shop, Napier ; pneumatic interlocking, Dunedin ; vat and lamp, Timaru; 3/55 ft. engine turntables, Auckland Section. The cost of these works, charged to capital, amounts to £90,124. Doubling and Improvement of Lines. —Auckland-Penrose : Good progress was made with this work, the bulk of the formation and platelaying having been completed. The principal works still to complete are the superstructure of the Parnell Bridge, the Remuera Road Bridge at Newmarket, and the bridges at Racecourse platform and Gladstone Road. The double line between Newmarket and Penrose will be brought into use on completion of the interlocking and blockworking appliances, probably about September. The portion between Parnell Tunnel and Auckland cannol be opened till the Parnell Bridge is completed, probably a year hence. Hutt Road and Railway Improvement : Progress on this work has been retarded by the difficulty of obtaining adequate supplies of suitable rock for the sea-wall. About four miles of the duplicated line between Lower Hutt and Paparangi Point is now open for traffic, and a further length to Ngahauranga will be opened very shortly. It will now be possible to push on with the road-forming and metalling. Addington-Rolleston : Formation has been completed, and platelaying is being proceeded with. The remodelling of Addington and Hornby Junction station-yards is in hand, several new station buildings are in course of construction, and the double line will probably be ready for opening about November or December.

in—r>. 2.

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