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APPENDIX B. ANNUAL REPORT ON PUBLIC WORKS BY THE ENGINEER-IN-CHIEF. The EJnginebh-in-Chiei , to the Hon. the Minister of Public Works. Sir,— Wellington, Ist April, 1917. I have the honour to submit the following report upon the various works completed and in progress throughout the Dominion (luring the period from the Ist April, 1916, to the 31st March, 1917. There has been a further considerable reduction in the amount of work in hand, the number of men employed upon the works under my control having decreased by about one-third during the year. This is mainly due to the great reduction in the supply of suitable, labour owing to' the operation of the Military Service Act, but the position has in no way improved as regards tin! obtaining of certain classes of material and plant, notably rails and fastenings and structural steel. The staff has been further depleted by enlistments and resignations, but is still sufficient for present requirements. RAILWAYS. AIiSTKACT. The following table shows the expenditure and liabilities on Government railways in New Zealand up to the 31st March, 1917 : —

Name of Railway. Total Length of Railway or Section. Open for Traffic. Expenditure to 31st March, 1917. Liabilities on 31st March, 1917. M. ch. 24 30 45 25 58 6 19 77 86 22 163 48 127 35 69 33 138 27 93 45 206 89 M.ch. 19 58 16 25 58 6 £ 104,163 195,943 522,548 135,241 829,822 2,352,566 595,749 366,995 309,786 615,091 216,781 £ Kaihu Valley Kawakawa-Hokianga Opua Wharf - Grahamtown (Onerahi) Whangarei southward North Auckland Main Trunk Railway (from Helensville) Helensville - Te Awamutu, with Branches Hamilton-Thames, with Branches Thames Valley - Rotorua Tauranga-Opotiki, with Branches Gisborne-Opotiki Napier-Gisborne Wellington-Napier and Palmerston North (including Te Aro Extension and Greytown and Martinborough Branches) Wellington-Waitara, with Branches .. Stratf ord-Okahukura North Island Main Trunk (Marton-Te Awamutu), including Raetihi Branch Picton-Waipara (South Island Main Trunk Railway)— Picton southwards Waipara northwards Nelson-Bolgrove Midland Railway* Westport-Ngakawau Westport-Ngakawau Extension to Mokihinuif Mokihinui Colliery Line} Westport-lnangahua Ngahere-Blackball Groymouth - Coal Creek Greymouth-Brunner Greymouth-Waitaha .. Culverden-Hanmer Motor-oars and Sheds Hurunui-Waitaki, with Branches Canterbury Interior Main Line —Oxford-Temuka Waitaki-Bluff, with Branches Otago Contral Invercargill-Kingston, with Mararoa Branch Forest Hill Railway—Winton-Hodgehope§ Western Railways Preliminary Surveys Miscellaneous Stock of Pormanent-way on hand Rolling-stock i*605 47 77 146 19 87 20 89 33 6,238 1,200 97,664 320 44 34 8,000 7,551 2,352 249 44 350 11 101 27 233 12 285 59 37 53 2,547,594 2,683,783 846,315 710 58,461 218 42 209 69 2,786,966 1,585 92 38 90 45 22 73 239 75 19 56 7 12 8 69 26 0 3 40 8 70 7 51 50 32 56 6 44 14 22 73 179 67 19 56 7 12 3 69 5 74 3 40 8 70 7 51 38 68 650,905 374,377 199,964 1,983,497 188,009 107 4*962 501 52 83 0 600 21 182 51 117 4 12 40 94 8 443 8 11 44 546 16 134 78 97 44 12 40 70 31 152,575 147,532 254,999. 150,651 338,274 3,834 2,638,542 59,362 ■ 4,943,442 1,339,905 386,290 22,984 336,653 41,652 10,337 77,805 6,535,094 14 403 1,748 58*252 79,395 Total 4,116 48 2,970 46 1135,946,026 330,567 * The amount shown as expenditure represents the net ami + The funds for this extension—namely, 2s. lid.—wei t The funds for purchase of this line, £15,745, were provided § The expenditure on this line as a tramway was made by tl II Includes expenditure on railways under Hutt Road and .nd Railway Improvement Authorization Act 1911 Accounts. >unt charged 'e provided b; by the Westp le Lands Dor. Railway Imr. against the Dominion. y the Westport Harbour Board. iort Harbour Board. mrtmont. irovement, Railway Improvement Authorization Act