D.—l

73

Stratford - Main Trunk Railway. Western End. Pohokura Section (22 in. 65 eh. to 31 in. 40ch. — 8 miles 55 chains in length). —This section is complete, and arrangements have been made to hand it over to the Railway Department. Whangamomona Section (31 in. 40 eh, to 37 in. 53 eh. — 6 miles 13 chains in length). —Most of the earthworks on this section are complete, although several of the cuttings which slipped badly continue to give trouble, especially on the eastern side of Whangamomona Tunnel. At 35 m. the line was slightly deviated to avoid a bad slip. The Whangamomona Tunnel (30J chains) is complete. The platelayinu is complete to 35 m. 71 eh. The first lift of ballasting is done to 35 m. 71 eh. The ballasting is finished to 34 m. 10 eh. To facilitate the transport of materials ahead and hasten the erection of bridges, a horse-tram has been constructed from the rail-head to the Whangamomona Township, and will be extended to the end of works as soon as possible, as carting has become practically impossible. The piers of bridge at 35 m. 71 eh. are nearing completion, and other bridges are in hand. Tahora Section (37 ra. 53 eh. to 47 m. 30 eh.). —All earthworks are in hand up to 45 m., and are practically complete to 38 m. There are two bad slips at 37 m. 57 eh. and 38 m. 12 eh. Most of the creeks have been temporarily bridged until material for the culverts can be brought by train and tram. At Tahora Saddle four water-drives, totalling 1,166 ft. in length, have been driven to drain banks between 44 m. 56 eh. and 44 m. 68 eh. The very large cutting at 44 m. 70 eh. is started. To facilitate and expedite its excavation a heading is being driven through. The bottom heading of tunnel at 44 m. 52 eh. is commenced. All the tunnel-blocks and washed gravel for this tunnel are ready at Skinner Road ballast-pit. Eastern End. Okaroa Section. —After exhaustive examination a route was found connecting with the North Island Main Trunk line at Okahukara instead of at Ongarue, as originally intended, which was shorter by a distance of 6 miles. This route was adopted, and has been permanently surveyed for a distance of 9| miles. A service-road to give access to the line during construction, and which will serve afterwards as a main road through the Whatitokarua Block, is being formed and pumiced. This road is well advanced, and should be available for through traffic before Christmas. The clearing of the line of railway is completed to the eastern side of the Summit Tunnel. The culverts on the first If miles are well advanced, and every cutting on that length that can be conveniently manned is being worked. Information is being collected to enable tenders to be called for the construction of the tunnel, 74 chains in length, and its approaches. Mount Eomont Railway. This line has been cleared up to 8 m. 10 eh., and formation is nearly completed to 8 m. The Little River diversion is approximately half-finished, as is also the formation of the stationvan! at the. foot of the Rope incline. Timber for the Little River bridges is being squared in the busli near the site. Full information has been obtained of the extent and lie of the rock-deposit. The inclination of both the top and bottom of the rock, and also the surrounding country, is such that the devising of a practicable scheme for cheaply working the quarry has been a matter of some difficulty. A contour survey (with plan) extending over a very large area was found necessary and was carried out, and the working arrangements are now being elaborated. Ohakune-Raetihi Branch Railway. Though the first sod of this line was turned on the 19th February, very little has been done, owing to the necessity for a considerable amount of trial survey before the best route could be ascertained. The permanent line has been pegged for a distance of 2 miles, and plans are being prepared ; meanwhile a few men are engaged on bushwork. South Island Main Trunk Railway. North End. Mirza Section, (48 m. 9 eh, to 51 in. 45 eh — 3 miles 36 chains in length). —The formation of this section is so far advanced as to be ready for platelaying throughout, including the Mirza Station yard. Most of the material is on hand for platelaying. A school for the use of workmen's children has been erected at Mirza Station. Mills Section (51 ra. 45ch. to 56 in. 6ch. — imiles 41 chains in length). —The formation on this section, which is comparatively heavy, is well advanced as far as the Ure River (54 m.), and is in hand to 54 m. 70 eh. Two water-drives, totalling 384 ft., were driven and lined at 53 m. 14 eh. and 53 m. 24 eh. The excavation of the tunnel at 53 m. 2 eh. is in hand, and lining-material is being obtained and blocks moulded. Owing to the country along the line south of the Ure River being composed entirely of sand, it has been found necessary to thickly plant all the slopes of cuttings with marramgrass and also to partially cover large areas of adjacent bare sand with marram, lupin, and other sandbinding plants. Plans of the Ure River Bridge are ready for the calling of tenders.