E.-7a

1873. NEW ZEALAND.

DUNEDIN AND PORT CHALMERS RAILWAY, (CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO THE PURCHASE OF).

(Return to an Order of the House of Representatives, dated the 7th day of August, 1873.) " That there be laid upon the Table copies of all Correspondence and Telegrams received by or despatched by the Government in connection with the purchase by tho Government of the Dunedin and Port Chalmers Railway. Also, copies of any Documents and Papers in connection with the said purchase. Also, copy of Report, if any, on the estimated cost of present line to date of purchase, and cost requisite to render the line thoroughly efficient."— (Mr. Murray) No. 1. His Honor the Superintendent of Otago to the Provincial Engineer. Superintendent's Office, Dunedin, 18th November, 1872. Memorandum for Provincial Engineer. Be good enough, together with Mr. Brunton, C.E., to report upon the Port Chalmers Railway, on behalf of the Colonial Government, with a view to purchase. Mr. Brunton has been furnished with a list of the information required. J. Macandrew. Superintendent.

No. 2. The Provincial Engineer, Otago, to His Honor the Superintendent. Provincial Engineer's Department, Dunedin, Sir,— 29th November, 1872. I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your Memorandum of 18th instant, instructing me to report upon the Port Chalmers Eailway, with a view to its purchase by the Colonial Government, and regret that my absence in the interior prevented my replying to it before this. I now beg to submit the following report upon the main features of the line : — The length of the line between termini is 7| miles. The gauge is 3 feet 6 inches, the sharpest curve is of 8 chains radius, and the steepest gradient 1 in 60 for a length of 17 chains. There are two tunnels on the line, one between Blanket and Sawyer's Bays, 330 feet in length, and lined with stone walls and brick arching for a length of IGS feet; the other is at Port Chalmers, and is 622 feet iv length, and lined at either end as above for a length of 4 chains. The cross section of each is 13 feet wide, 16 feet high to keystone, and 9 feet 6 inches to springing of arch. There are seven timber bridges on the line, the longest being 150 feet in length at Pelichet Bay, where there are two others of 15 feet each. The piles are of manuka timber, and the superstructure of Oregon. Shorter bridges of similar construction are at the other bays. The total length of bridges is 285 feet. There are thirty culverts upon the line, built of stone and arched of brick, or with the rails carried upon strong Oregon beams. The pier at Port Chalmers is designed to be 800 feet in length, whereof an extent of 720 feet is already executed. The breadth is 36| feet. The piles are of jarrah timber, with the exception of a few in the shallow water at the shore end, which are of manuka. The bearing beams arc of Oregon, and the planking of totara. The earthworks generally arc 18 feet 6 inches wide at formation level, and are completed throughout, though some slips will require removal, and the slopes dressing up. The line has been laid out through its entire length with prudence, by Mr. Simpson, who has avoided heavy earthworks, except where unavoidable at the tunnels already referred to. He has placed the line I—E. 7a.