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ANNUAL REPORT ON RAILWAYS IN THE NORTH ISLAND BY THE ENGINEER IN CHARGE. The Engineeb in Chaege, North Island, to the Hon. the Ministeb for Public Woeks. Sib,— Public Works Office, Wellington, 31st March, 1881. I have the honor to forward the annual report on railway works executed and in progress during the year ending 31st March, 1881. The expenditure on railways in the North Island up to that date, £ s. d. exclusive of preliminary surveys, was ... ... ... ... 3,560,989 14 7 The amount of contracts let and other liabilities ... ... ... 208,544 18 4 Total expenditure and liabilities ... ... ... ... 12 11 Below is a table showing lengths of lines and miles opened for traffic in the North Island, with expenditure and liabilities on each ; and at the end of this report is another table, giving list of railways and contracts completed or in progress, times of completion, &o. During the year a length of 69 miles has been opened for traffic.

AUCKLAND DISTRICT. Kawakawa Railway. Taumarere Contract (1 mile).—This is now nearly completed. The contract time expired on 2nd instant, but it will probably be the middle of May before all the work will be finished. Kawakawa Contract, Wo. 3 (4 miles 5 chains). —This includes the remainder of the formation, the terminal wharf in deep water (21 feet at low-water springs), and the plate-laying complete. The whole has been let by contract, to be completed by the 6th June, 1882. The contractor is making satisfactory progress. Whangaeei-Kamo Railway. The Kama Contract (2 miles 55 chains) and the Whangarei Contract (5 miles 25 chains), described last year, have both been finished, as has also a temporary branch (40 chains long) to the town wharf. This was laid to give present facilities for shipping coal, pending the completion of the line to a permanent wharf in deeper water. It was opened for coal traffic 28th October. 1880, and for passenger traffic on the 3rd March, 1881. The site for the terminal wharf has been surveyed and decided on. It is situated in the long reach about 1 mile 60 chains below Limeburners' Creek, reckoning by the river. There will be about 9 feet alongside at low water, and about 15 feet at high water. The wharf and the remainder of the line is now advertised for public tender (5 miles 25 chains to 6 miles 40 chains). Kaipaba-Waikato Railway. Waitakerei Contract (12 miles 64 chains; between 10 miles 0 chains and 22 miles 69 chains at the Kumeu Junction). —This should have been finished 11th September, 1880, but much time was lost in beginning the tunnel and in other ways. It is expected that it will be ready for traffic about July next, and the line will then be opened through from Auckland to the Kaipara (Helensville). A portion of this contract was opened for public traffic on 21st December, 1880—viz., from 10 miles to 11 miles 5 chains (Henderson's Mill). Newmarket Junction Station Contract (58 chains). —This has been satisfactorily completed, and a commodious and roomy station-ground is the result. The work was finished and opened for traffic on 11th December, 1880. Newmarket Workshops Site. —This work was completed satisfactorily on 25th November, 1880.

Name of Raiiavay. Expended to 31st March, 1881. Liabilities on 31st March, 1881. Length. Open for Traffic. Noeth Isiand. Kawakawa Wbangarei-Kamo Kaipara-Waikato Waikato-Thames Wellington-Napier Wellington-Eoxton Poxton-New Plymouth £ s. a. 42,695 7 2 32,923 17 1 1,081,646 10 4 95,890 16 9 1,228,940 16 0 43,364 0 8 1,035,528 6 7 £ s. d. 25,162 2 7 7,082 9 3 60,516 16 8 19,584 12 4 25,103 17 0 6,833 11 8 64,261 8 10 M. ch. 7 79 6 52 146 45 62 1 221 39 71 15 217 68 M. ch. 2 68 4 50 130 31 1 1 138 57 157"13