D.—l.

From here to 61 m. 40 ch. formation has been completed with the exception of the bridge at 60 m. 67 ch. and No. 1 tunnel at 61 m. This latter, 286 ft. long, is nearing completion after driving a bottom heading and running the enlargement spoil through it to waste in the sea. No. 2 tunnel at 61 m. 27 ch., 165 ft., was completed during the year. This was also worked with the bottom heading. The approach cut to the south end of the Amuri Tunnel at 62 m. 25 ch. was completed. Slips from puggy country on to the railway formation which lies along the bottom of the gully will necessitate a lengthening of the tunnel by 5 ch. with a reinforced section. Work from the northern end was continued by hand methods until a few weeks ago, when a mechanical scraper, steel profiling with concrete gun, and Diesel locomotive were installed. 339 ft. have been lined from this end. From Oaro northwards earthwork is completed to 67 m., and from there to 73J m. the section is heavily manned and earthwork is about 50 per cent, completed. Although culverts and water-drives are almost complete as far as Oaro, there has been little done beyond there, and about twelve large culverts, crossing both road and railway, have yet to be built. Throughout the job pipe culverts are 90 per cent, complete. The controlling time feature of the undertaking is the tunnel-work, and until well on in the year there was not sufficient air-compressing machinery to ensure maximum progress being made. This difficulty has now been overcome, and only shortage of skilled tunnellers would prevent a good showing during the coming year. Tunnelling is in hand at 67 m. 65 ch., where 376 ft. of bottom heading and the southern portal have been completed. A number of tunnels on this end of the line are relatively short, and with a scarcity of compressors and machinery it has been necessary and apparently as economical to drive a bottom heading and work out by hand. The tunnel at 68 m. 35 ch. has been abandoned after striking rubbly slip material, and it is proposed to deviate at this point. The bottom heading, 390 ft. long, has been driven through the tunnel at 72 m. 40 ch. to 72 m. 46 ch., and at 72 m. 50 ch. the tunnel portal has been erected and excavation is proceeding with a mechanical scraper. A central concrete-mixing plant for the three tunnels —72 m. 30 ch., 72 m. 40 ch.., and 72 m. 50 ch. —has been erected at 72 m. 35 ch. Protection of the road from the sea where it has to be deviated outside the railway between 66 m. and 72| m. is proving a slow process, as the only point of rock suitable for providing durable stone of up to 6 tons in weight is at Goose Bay and runs beside the main highway, which must be kept open, and only small quantities can be quarried at a time and cleared up before any more stone can be brought down. Approximately 10,500 cubic yards of this sized stone have been placed at 66 m. 30 ch. and 69 m. 35 ch. For heavier protection at the toe it will be necessary to resort to concrete blocks. Permanent fencing has been repaired and completed from Parnassus at 44 m. to Ferniehurst Station Yard at 50 m. 50 ch. On the left, fm. has been erected between 60 m. 40 ch. and 61 m. 40 ch., but northwards of this point only about f m. has been done in short lengths where conditions have been suitable for permanent work. The temporary telephone-line, with poles where possible in permanent positions, was completed to give telephonic communication with Puketa at 73| m. The old permanent line is being overhauled and shifted where necessary and this work is completed to 55 m. Westport-Inangahua Railway. Cascade Section (sm. 70 ch. to 8 m. 78 ch. ; length, 3 m. 8 ch). —This section has been maintained ; during the year the track was lifted and packed over the full length of the section. A daily return service was run by the public-works train between Westport and Cascade Creek (9 m.) for the purpose of transporting workmen from Westport to the Cascade Creek Bridge. The Department continued to handle the coal traffic from the Cascade-Westport Coal Co.'s bins at Cascade Creek to Westport. In addition, large shipments of permanent-way materials were hauled from the Westport Wharf to stacking-places between Westport and Te Kuha. Materials for construction of Cascade Bridge were hauled to the site over the Cascade Section. Cascade - Inangahua Junction Section (8 m. 78 ch. to 22 m. 62 ch. (Westport chainage), and 62 m. to 58 m. 30 ch. (Stillwater chainage) ; length, 18 m. 34 ch.). —The average number of men employed throughout the year was 330, with a maximum of 350 ; at the present time 300 men are employed. The erection of accommodation was continued, particular attention being paid to the construction of quarters for married men and their families. A new camp for single men was commenced on the formation near the 20 m. peg in anticipation of work being pushed on in this vicinity. At Tiroroa and Inangahua Junction Camps electric-lighting sets have been installed. A large Y.M.C.A. has been built at Inangahua Junction. This hut contains a social hall, billiardroom equipped with two tables, supper-room, post-office, library, and provision for " talkie " pictures. Except for a distance of 4 m. between the 20 m. and 61 m. 70 ch. pegs, formation work has been well advanced. At 20 m. a large filling is now being constructed with a Diesel shovel tendered by Diesel locomotive and tip-trucks. Because of the inaccessibility of the balance of this 4 m. length and its suitability for the operation of heavy excavating machinery, its formation will be carried out by power-shovels and large carry-all scrapers and bull-dozing equipment. A carry-all and a tractor and bull-dozer are already on the ground, and a large tractor is due to arrive shortly. Several sections of the completed formation have been metalled to permit the running of motorlorries from the cable-ways to various parts of the works, 3*

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