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the 30th May, and to Hawera one month later. These dates will however be later by some weeks, as the delivery of the permanent-way to the contractors did not commence at the stipulated time. Workshops, Sentry Hill. —The machinery in these has been erected and set to work, and the formations and rail-laying in the workshops yard have been completed. Rolling-stock. —Two 6-wheel composite and one 6-wheel second-class carriages have been erected and handed over to the Railway Department. Two cattle-vans have been altered to carry horses. One second-hand Class D locomotive engine has been added to the stock; as also two new engines of the same class. Ten low-side wagons and six timber trucks are being erected. WELLINGTON DISTRICT. Carterton Contract (20 miles 41 chains). —This work has been satisfactorily completed, and the line throughout to Masterton was opened for public traffic on the Ist November, 1880, and is now in good working order. Opaki Section. —This lies immediately beyond Masterton. A small number of " unemployed " were sent from Wellington in March, 1880, and were kept at work on it until the end of December, 1880. No other work has been done since. Wellington Railway-station. —The works under contract were sufficiently advanced to allow of the line and the passenger-stations being used by the Ist November —on the occasion of the line being opened to Masterton —and the remainder of the necessary works have since then been pushed on as rapidly as possible, including a goods-shed, 150 feet long, and the platelaying in numerous sidings, which is still being proceeded with. /Station Buildings, Fencing, Sfc. —Numerous small contracts have been let and completed for such works along the line, and some are still in hand. SUBVEYS.. Wellington-Foxton Railway. —These have been carried on beyond Paikakariki to beyond Otaki, and it is expected that by the middle of May the surveyors will have reached the junction with the other lines already surveyed southwards from Eoxton and Palmerston, at Horowhenua. Land Plans. —These have been prepared for the extension of the line beyond Masterton to Opaki; Clareville Station ; Wellington Station and reclaimed land; and on the Wellington-Foxton Railway for the section from Kaiwarra to Johnsonville. Maps. One outline map of the North Island, showing railway line, &c, is attached to this report; also one map in illustration of exploration survey north of Auckland. I have, &c, John Blackett, The Hon. the Minister for Public Works. Engineer in Charge North Island.