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The Epuni subway has been completed and is in use. A contract has been let for a pedestrian subway at Taita Station. Two contracts have been let for the Taita Bridge (850 ft.), one for the casting of piles (of which 66 have been cast) and another for driving the piles and constructing the piers. Excavation has now commenced on abutment A and piers B and C. Concrete platform fronts have been completed at Naenae Station (1,100 ft.) and Wingate (550 ft.). The filling of the Wingate Station has also been dune and a temporary station building erected. Haywards-Plimmerton Railway. —Grade investigations have been carried out between Judgeford and Pahautanui. Porirua Area. —At Porirua, surveys, plans, and estimates have been completed in respect of the deviation of the Porirua Stream on the section south of the railway-station. A start has been made on the survey of the proposed railway deviation between Porirua and Plimmerton by way of the western side of the Porirua Harbour. South Island Main Trunk Railway. —A contract has been let for the construction of an overbridge at Mororimu. The construction of a 200,000-galion reservoir at Kaikoura has almost been completed. Completed-line plans have been finished, and legalization plans are well in hand. HYDRO-ELECTRIC DEVELOPMENT Investigations Investigations into the development of electric power were carried out during the past year with only half the Head Office staff available in the previous year, and in the field a staff of two engineers, one surveyor, and eleven survey or engineering assistants. The main items of work carried out were as follows : Waipapa Power Project. —A few exploratory bores remain to be finished to complete the investigation field-work on this length of the Waikato Kiver. The work done to date indicates that a feasible site exists for a hydro-electric scheme, but lack of staff is holding up examination of the field data and the preparation of an investigation report. Seven sites were prospected by drilling, a topographical survey was carried out at two sites, and geophysical surveys were carried out at four sites. Whalcama.ru Power Project. —The topographical survey and plans of the lake which will be formed by a dam at Whakamaru have been completed and survey monuments for the construction work have been erected, thus completing the investigation field-work for this scheme. The investigation report has also been completed, following which a recommendation was made which resulted in the Government approval being given to the project. Atiamuri Power Project- Field investigation work has been completed and survey plans prepared of the lake that would be formed by a dam at Atiamuri. The final geological report has been prepared by the New Zealand Geological Survey ; soil-testing by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research has been completed ; and the permeability and strength testing of foundation rock is under investigation by the Dominion Physical Laboratory. Concrete aggregates from deposits in the vicinity of Atiamuri are being tested and the extent of the deposits is being explored by drilling and geophysical surveys. Plans and the investigation report on the scheme are under preparation. Maraetai, Ohakuri, Parariki, and Aratiatia Power Projects.— Geophysical surveys have been made at each of these sites to determine the foundation conditions. At Ohakuri the topographical survey of the dam site and power-house area has also been completed.

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