17

D.—l

Catlin's-Waihaiiaka Railway. Catlin's End. Puketiro, Papatowai, and Tahakopa Sections (21, in. 8 ch. to 1,1 m. 01/ch.). —The whole line was completed and handed over to the Railway Department on the Ist February, 1915. Otago Central Railway. The construction of the extension of this railway from Clyde to Cromwell (12 miles 28 chains) was commenced in July, 1914, and very good progress has since been made. The earthworks are all in hand up to Cromwell. The first bridge, at IT m. 20 ch., has been erected, and it is hoped to have the others in hand shortly. Hails have been laid to 47m. 51 ph., and ballasting has been completed to 47 in. 27 ch. Orepuki-Watau Railway. Orawia Section (1/8 in. 23 eh. to 58 in.). —Construction-work has started on this section beyond Tuatapere, and some of the earthworks are now in hand. A contract for the erection of two platelayers' cottages at Tuatapere is in progress. SURVEYS OP RAILWAYS UNDER CONSTRUCTION, NEW LINES OF RAILWAYS. LAND PLANS.'ETC Kawakawa-Hokianga Railway. ■A. land-plan survey was completed during the year from 16 m. 60 ch. to 19 m. 44 ch., and tenders are now being called for land plans up to 25 in. Exploration surveys were completed beyond the Hokianga River. The permanent line has now been pegged to 26m. Whangarei Southwards Railway. The plans of the permanent line from 15 m. to 1.9 m. 78 ch. where it junctions with the main line were completed during the year. Land-plan surveys have been made from om. to 14 m. Mangapai-Waipu Survey. Four miles of permanent-line pegging has been done. Kaikohe to Ohaeawai. A trial line survey was completed during the year. North Auckland Main Trunk Railway. The permanent line has been surveyed from 93m. 70ch. right through to Kirikopuni at 122 m. Reconnaissance surveys were made from Kaiwaka io Waipu, and from Mareretu to Waipu. Landplan surveys of the Paparoa Section of railway and the access road to the Paparoa Station have been carried out. Waiuku Branch Railway. Surveys of the permanent line were made from 9m. 40 ch. to 12 m. 20 ch. A land-plan survey contract of the first 4 miles is in progress. Huntly-Aw akoa Railway. A survey of a further •'! miles of this line to Burnt Bridge is in hand. Land-plan surveys are complete to 7 m. 22 ch. East Coast Main Trunk Railway. Tauranga-Opotiki. —A trial survey was made from 92 m. 71 eh. to 100 m. 40 eh., and permanent survey will now be put in hand. Gisborne—Motu. —Land-plan survey is in hand from Matawai to 19 m. 10 eh. Gisborne—Nap-ier. —From the Gisborne end the permanent survey has been extended to 34m. at Hangaroa Township. A trial survey of a deviation from 14 m. to near 20 m. is to be put in hand. About 2 miles of line both north and south of Wairoa have been permanently pegged. Te Roti - Opunake - Moturoa Railway (Length, 58 miles 74 chains). Te Roti-Opnnake. —The permanent survey has been completed to 23 m. at Opunake. .Opunake-Moturoa. —The permanent-line survey has been extended from 35 m. to 38 m. 60 ch. From 38 m. 60 ch. to Moturoa various trial lines aggregating altogether 56. ] , miles have been run. Manaia Branch. —The permanent line has been pegged from 0 in. at Kapuni Station to sm. 50 eh. at Manaia. Wellington-Paekakariki Railway. Last November this Department took over from the Railway Department surveys for the relocation and duplication of the railway between Wellington and Paekakariki. The surveys for six different routes between Wellington and Tawa Flat were completed, and information obtained for duplication between Tawa Flat and Plimmerton. Between Plimmerton and Paekakariki two routes have been surveyed. Wellington -Wairarapa Railway. Surveys for a deviation through the Rimutaka Range were put in hand during last autumn, and a trial line has been run from the Wainui-o-mata Stream to Pigeon Bush, via the Wairongomai Stream. Work is now in hand between Wainiii-o-inata and Petone.

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