37

D.—l.

A._P_P_BlsriDl22: ______

ANNUAL REPORT ON THE PUBLIC WORKS OE THE MIDDLE ISLAND. The Engineeb in Chaege, Middle Island, to the Hon. the Ministee for Public Woeks. Sib,— Public Works Office, Dunedin, 31st March, 1881. I have the honor to submit the following report on the various works completed and in progress in the Middle Island during the financial year just ended. Adhering generally to the arrangement adopted in previous years, the report will be divided into the following heads: Ist. Railways; 2nd. Roads and Bridges; 3rd. Water-races; 4th. Miscellaneous Works; sth. Buildings; 6th. Surveys; and 7th. General Remarks. RAILWAYS. Geneeal. The following statement shows the expenditure and liabilities on railways in the Middle Island up to the 31st March, 1881, including surveys and the valuation of the Provincial lines:— £ s. d. Total expenditure out of loan ... ... ... ... 5,863,700 4 3 Valuation of Provincial lines ... ... ... ... 1,104,281 2 5 • • • Total expenditure up to 31st March, 1881... 6,967,981 6 8 Liabilities on 31st March, 1881 ... ... ... ... 220,548 10 0 Total expenditure and liabilities ... ... £7,188,529 16 8

The details of the above, together with the lengths of railways authorized and open are given in the following table, the lines taken over from the Provincial Governments of Canterbury and Otago, and the expenditure on preliminary surveys, being included:—

The following statement shows the rate at which the several railways in the Middle Island have been completed during each financial year, further details being given in the table hereto appended (Enclosure No. 1) : —

Lengths of Railway Opened in Middle Island during Financial Year.

Nelson to Geeymouth Railway. Section, Port of Nelson to Roundell. —The only construction works of importance that have been in progress during the year on this section are the completion of the line from Nelson to the Port, and the Bellgrove Sub-section, an extension inland of the present railway for three miles.

Name of Railway. Total Length on which Expenditure Authorized. Open for Traffic. Expenditure to 31at March, 1881. Liabilities on 31st March, 1881. Authorized by " The Immigration and Public Woeks Appropriation Act, 1879 :" — Nelson to Greymouth Greymouth to Hokitika ... Westport to Ngakawau ... Picton to Hurunui Hurunui to Waitaki ... .... Canterbury Interior Main Line Waitaki to Bluff ... ... Otago Central Invercargill to Kingston ... Western Railways Preliminary surveys M. chs. 70 0 24 0 19 19 31 32 406 0 41 0 398 53 65 0 107 16 64 0 M. chs. 27 52 19 19 18 11 334 38 £ s. d. 389,919 12 1 22,009 1 10 211,709 5 5 189,778 7 6 1,845,255 15 9 17,511 17 0 2,633,508 12 10 104,163 10 6 250,479 16 11 130,170 18 7 47,193 5 10 £ s. a. 10,517 0 0 454 14 10 2,506 19 1 156 8 2 55,028 10 11 2,075 7 1 106,852 5 10 20,076 15 11 2,049 2 1 20,424 19 5 406 6 8 336 47 86 84 29 13 Total 1,226 40 852 24 5,841,700 4 3 22,000 0 0 220,548 10 0 Purchase of wagons Provincial Government Lines : — Canterbury (lengths included above) Otago „ „ 731,759 0 0 372,522 2 5 General Totals ... 1,226 40 852 24 6,967,981 6 8 220,548 10 0

Up to June 30,1872. 1872-73. 1873-74. 187-1-75. 1875-76. 1876-77. 1877-78. 1878-79. 1879-80. 1880-81. Total. M. chs. 76 36 M. chs. 27 62 M. chs. 11 21 M. chs. 127 03 M. chs. M. chs. 249 44 154 12 M. chs. M. chs. 93 41 58 33 M. chs. 18 56 M. chs. 35 36 M. chs. 852 24 I