J).—l

14

The formation of I'aparoa Station yard is in progress. A contract is in hand for manufacture of steelwork for bridges on this section. Mareretu Section (92 in. 16 ch. to 96 m. 38 ch.). —Some of the small culverts have been built, and several of the cuttings opened up on this section. II lINTLY-A W A IK)A RAILWAY. The extension of the Huntly Bridge to form a subway across the Main South Road was com pleted early in the year. All formation-work and bridges are complete up to 7m. 22'5ch., with the exception of a single-span bridge at 2m. 65 ch. and an overbridge at 6 in. 5 ch. Within a month or so the line should bo completed to 7m. 22 - sch. Waiuku Branch Railway (Length, 12 miles 25 chains). The formation of the hist three miles of this line is being carried out by small contracts, whilst further earthworks, culverts, and fencing ate in hand under the co-operative system up to 7 m. 23 ch. The formation of flic existing main line from 27 m. 66 ch. to 28 m, 20 eh. has been widened, and rails' have been laid and ballasting completed to carry the branch line to Paerata Station. The concrete piers for the bridge at (I in. 11 ch. have been erected; the steel superstructure is being manufactured in Auckland. Two platelayers' cottages have linen erected at Paerata .1 unci ion. East Coast Main Trunk Railway. Waihi—Tauranga. Athe-uree Section (om. to 12 m. ■!■"> ch.). —Two piers of the Victoria Street bridge subway in Waihi have been built, and the roadway has been lowered the I'ull width Io give the required headroom. Between Im. and 6m. contracts for the earthworks only are in progress. From (i in. to Sin. cuttings, stream and road diversions arc in hand. A contract for the manufacture of the steelwork for bridges mi this section is in hand in Auckland, Tauranga—Opotiki. Te Maunga Sec/ton (1,1 m. Io i/') in.). —The earthworks on this section have been put in hand up to the harbour-front, and a start made with the long embankment across the foreshore forming the approach to the bridge across I lie harbour. Rails have been laid round triangle al junction and to high-water mark. Ballasting lias been done on a small purl inn. Plans have been made of the bridge across Tauranga Harbour, ami one contract let for the supply of portion of the steel; ami offers arc now being invited for the supply of the remainder. Maunganui —Te Puke Section (Maunganui, om.tol, m. 27 ch.; Te Puke, $.6m. to 51, m.). — Considerable subsidence still takes place on the banks on this sect inn, so a steam-navvy has been erected in a suitable position to obtain material for maintaining them. This lias so far worked very well. Quarrying and crushing has been continued al Moturiki quarry; a crane lias been erected, and everything put in order for procuring stone for the protective work on the long bank across the harbour. Te Puke quarry was opened up and two crushers installed, and a further larger crusher, willi elevator, screens, &c., is now being erected. A considerable amount of traffic has taken place on this section during the past, twelve months. Te Puke -Paengaroa Section (51/ m. to 59 m. 05 ch.). —All earthworks have been completed, but the long Kaituna bank gives trouble through subsidence: it is now being made up with stripping from the Te Puke quarry. The bridges are complete, except the Kaituna, for which a contract has been let : the ironbark limber is now on the ground, but no work has so far been done Inwards erection. Most of the bridges have boon erected by the Department's own staff, and the steelwork manufactured in the Department's workshop at Tauranga. Rails have been laid throughout, and the lino, including station-yard, completely ballasted, with the exception of I he Kaituna bank . Stockyards and goods-shed have been erected at Paengaroa. Paengaroa-Pqngakawa Section (59 m. 05 ch. to 01, m. 10 ch.) .—Nine small contracts were let. for earthworks; they have been satisfactorily completed, though subsidence still occurs on many of the banks. Bridges have been erected at 60 m. 76 ch.. til in. 3'soch., and 61 m. 55 eh. The rails have been laid to 62 m. lOch. and ballasting is in hand to 61 in. 55 ch. A contracl has been lei for the erection of station buildings at Rangiuru, Maniatutu* Paengaroa, and Pongakawa stations. Pongakawa-Otamarakau Section (01, m. 10 ch. to 71m. 5 ch.). —Most of the formation-work is complete, except some of the banks and cuttings which have been made narrow: in these cases it will be more advantageous to complete with steam-navvy, locomotive, and trucks. Oiamarakau-Matata Section (71m. 5 eh. to 80m. ','.', ch. ).~\ fair amount of earthwork has been done on this section, including side drains and road-diversions. Gisborne—Motu. Rakauroa Section (31m. 25 ch. to 38 m. 25 ch.).— Slips on various parts of this section were very troublesome, therefore a considerable amount of drainage work had to be undertaken before the section was safe for traffic. It was handed over to the Railway Department on the 2nd November, 1914.