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A tramway is now being laid from the brickworks at 7 m. into Matiere Township to serve for cartage of construction materials and for haulage of settlers' goods. All culvert-work is practically complete to Matiere. The erection of a plant for the manufacture of bricks from papa by the semi-dry press method is almost complete, and making and burning of bricks is to begin at once. North Island Main Trunk Railway. Raetihi Branch (0 m. 8 eh. to 8 m. 51, ch.). —The whole of the earthworks and culverts are in hand, the formation being almost complete to 7m. Bridge-piers are complete at Im. 23 ch. and Im. 60 ch., and those at 4m, 77 ch. aro in course of construction. The steelwork for these bridges is being manufactured by contract. Rails have been laid to Im. 20 ch. It is expected that the ballasting of line will be put in hand by September. Opunake Branch Railway. Kapuni Section (0 m. 0 ch. to 7m. 0 ch.). —This section has been cleared throughout. A small contract was let for the formation of Matapu Station yard. All cuttings up to sm. are in hand, and 2m. 5 ch. of light earthwork has already been formed. A steam-navvy is being assembled at 1 m. 5 ch. to take out long cutting at this point. The duplication of the main line from Te Roti Station to the junction with branch ltiie is now being done by the Railway Department. Plans are now complete for the bridge over the Waingongoro River near Te Roti. A start has been made with, the delivery of gravel for bridges ahead of this. Two platelayers' cottages have been erected at Kapuni Station. South Island Main Trunk Railway. North End. Mirza and Mills Sections (51m. 1,5 ch. to 56 m. 6ch.). —A contract was let for the completion of earthworks, platelaying, and ballasting to 56m. 6ch., the end of the Mills Section. All earthworks have been completed and the rails laid throughout. The main-line ballasting is complete, and the station-yards are nearing completion. A contract for the erection of station buildings on this section is in hand. Kekerangu Section (56 m. 6 ch. to 60 m.). —Several culverts and an 18 ft. arched concrete bridge have been constructed. Earthworks are in hand between 56 m. 6 ch. and 57 m. 59 ch. Large areas' of drifting sand lying between the railway-line and the sea-coast are being planted with marram-grass with great success. Midland Railway. Nelson-Westland Section (North End). Kawatiri Section (59 m. 17 ch. to 63 m. 10 ch.). —Construction-work was resumed on this section in November, 1914. The earthworks are completed from 59 m. 20 ch. to 60 m., and partly so from that point to 62 in. The culvert-work is also in hand, and plans for the bridges are almost ready. Arthur's Pass Tunnel. At the Otira end of tunnel all work has been carried out by day labour. Better progress has been made this year than last. This end is practically all wet, and heavy timbering has been necessary. At the Bealey end work has continued under the co-operative system : here also an improvement in progress has been made. Since November last the bottom heading has been in wet ground. The total length of heading driven during the year (both ends) is 39'38 chains, and the length of tunnel completed 43'99 chains. The distance between the ends of the headings is now 1 mile 64'45 chains, and between the completed portions 2 miles 17'06 chains, the length of the tunnel being 5 m. 25 ch. 12 ft. Culverden-Waiau Railway (Length, 13 miles). Contracts have been let for formation-work for the whole length, and good progress is now being made. The earthworks are complete to 5 m 66 eh., and in various stages of progress up to 13 m. Fencing is complete to sm. 24 ch. All culverts and bridges (except for stringers) are finished up to 6 m. Two cottages were removed from the South Island Main Trunk Railway and re-erected at Waiau Station yard. Platelaying has commenced at Culverden Station. Westport-Inangaiiua Railway. Cascade Section (5 m. 71, ch. to 10 m.). —The earthworks on this section are being carried out under the small-contract system. Several of these contracts have been completed during the year, and there now remain practically only three to complete. Waimate Branch Railway Extension (Length, 4 miles 60 chains). The formation of this extension was commenced during the year, and the earthworks and culverting are now in hand up to 4m. Crushed stone has been delivered at the various bridgesites. A considerable amount of wire-netting protective work has been completed at om. 58 oh., where the river is close to the railway. Lawrence-Roxburgh Railway. Beaumont Section (29 m. 33 ch. to 31, in. 09 ch.). —This section was completed and handed over to the Railway Department on the 15th December, 1914.