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APPENDIX B. ANNUAL REPOKT ON PUBLIC WORKS BY THE ENGINEER-IN-CHIEF. The Engineer-in-Chief to the Hon. Minister of Public Works. Sir — I have the honour to submit the following repori upon the various works under my control completed and in progress throughout the Dominion during the period from the Ist June, 1920, to the 31st July, 1921. During the past year the improvement in the conditions of the employees, together with increased wages, has enabled us to obtain a better supply of labour. The labour-saving appliances which the Department procured have resulted in increased output, and generally the progress made in connection with public works has been much above the average of the last few years. The prices for material and labour have not yet receded to any substantial extent, and consequently the cost of works still remains very much above what it was in pre-war times.

RAILWAYS. Abstract. The following table shows the expenditure on Government railways in New Zealand up to the 31st March, 1921 :—

Name of Railway. Total Length of Railway or Section. Open for Traffic. Expenditure to 31st March, 1921. Kaihu Valley Otiria-Ngapuhi Opua Wharf - Onerahi Whangarei-Waiotira North Auckland Main Trunk Railway (from Helensville) Helensville - Te Awamutu, with Branches Frankton Junction-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 Stratford-Okahukura North Island Main Trunk (Marton-Te Awamutu), including Raetihi Branch and Waipa Gravel-access Branch Picton-Waipara (South Island Main Trunk Railway)— Picton southwards Waipara northwards Nelson-Greymouth Greymouth-Arthur's PabS RoUeston-Arthur's Pass (including Whitecliffs Branch) Westport-Ngakawau Westport - Ngakawau Extension to Mokihinui* Mokihinui Colliery Linef Westport-Inangahua Ngahere-Blackball .. .. .. .. .. ' .. Greymouth-Rewanui and Branches Greymouth-Waitaha Hurunui-Waitaki, with Branches Canterbury Interior Main Line—Oxford-Temuka Waitaki-Bluff, with Branches Otago Central Invercargill-Kingston, with Mararoa Branch .. Forest Hill Railway—Winton-Hedgehope", Western Railways Preliminary surveys Miscellaneous Stock of permanent-way on hand Rolling-stock M. ch. 24 30 45 25 58 6 19 79 84 24 163 48 127 35 69 33 145 32 93 44 231 44 M.ch. 19 58 16 25 58 6 5 23 54 27 150 39 87 20 89 33 £ 145,035 125,771 525,771 334,335 1,369,470 2,778,187 669,131 376,579 629,096 623,880 419,670 49 32 249 44 350 11 112 47 233 12 285 59 4-2 26 2,646,743 2,777,515 1,037,972 225 79 218 39 2,868,179 92 38 90 45 170 0 49 78 92 59 19 56 7 12 3 69 26 0 3 40 8 70 50 32 459 34 83 0 600 21 182 51 117 4 12 40 94 8 56 6 44 14 118 6 49 78 84 45 19 56 7 12 3 69 5 74 3 40 8 70 38 68 413 70 11 44 546 12 134 78 97 44 12 40 70 31 657,129 374,162 580,490 1,211,796 841,692 188,354 152,623 147,532 275,325 339,250 2,674,583 59,942 4,982,342 1,429,740 387,299 23,337 347,415 41,679 10,337 81,400 7,046,624 Total 4,165 38 3,017 56 §39,180,385 4,165 38 3,017 56 * The funds for this extension—namely, £35,501 2s. lid.—were providei t The funds for purchase of this line, £15,745, were provided by the We | The expenditure on this line as a tramway was made by the Lands j § Includes expenditure on railways under Hutt Road and Railway ] ,nd Railway Improvement Authorization Act 1914 Accounts. by the Westport Harbour Board, stport Harbour Board, lepartment. tnprovement, Railway Improvement Authorization Act