D.—l

The Port line was finished and opened for traffic in May, 1880, and the formation of the Bellgrove Sub-section was completed in June, 1880. Contracts for plate-laying and stations on the Bellgrove Sub-section have been entered into, and the works are progressing favourably. The permanent survey of the continuation of this railway to the head of the Blue Glen—l 94 miles from Bellgrove—is completed; and, as previously reported, a trial survey has been made right across the range into the Buller watershed, near Roundell. Section, Greymouth to Kelson Creek. —The principal, works in progress during the year have been the formation of the Stillwater Sub-section—63 chains—and the enlargement and improvement of the Brunnerton Station-yard. The Stillwater Contract has just been completed, and the works, which are very heavy, have been carried out in a satisfactory manner. No provision has yet been made for laying the permanent way on this sub-section, for it cannot conveniently be worked till another length is made. The improvements at the Brunnerton Station, which were much wanted, are calculated to meet the requirements of the traffic for some time to come. The working survey of the continuation of the line from Stillwater to Nelson Creek has been completed during the year. It shows the length to make to be 71 miles, and that a good line is obtainable at a moderate cost. The earthworks will be rather heavy, it being necessary to keep clear of the Grey floods, which are very high at this place: the other works are, however, comparatively light. Greymouth Harbour Works. —The work done on the Grevmouth Harbour Works during the past year consists of the extension seaward of the south training-wall for a distance of 944 feet, the construction of a bridge over the Erua Moana Lagoon, dredging the river-bed and lagoon entrance, and depositing the materials in the reclamation inside the wall. A new dredge has also been built in Dunedin for the works. The quantity of materials deposited in the wall and reclamation works during the year is as follows:. Rock, 28,700 tons; quarry rubbish, 7,000 tons; and shingle from the dredges, 117,200 tons. The average cost per ton has been —rock, 3s. Id.; quarry rubbish, Is. 9|d.; and shingle, llfd. The above figures show the average cost of the quarried materials to be 2s. lOd. per ton as against 3s. 2d. the previous year. On the other hand the dredging is a little dearer, the price for 1879-80 being only lid: this increase is attributable to the work being now somewhat more difficult. The training-wall is out to a length of 14 chains, and, although subjected to heavy seas and floods, it is standing admirably. The wall is already credited with having beneficially affected the channel and bar. Although not impossible, I think it is premature to come to this conclusion; but I have no doubt a sensible effect will result from every advance that is made in future, and that a permanent improvement will be effected so soon as the wall reaches the line of the beach—about 10 chains distant. The Greymouth harbour works are in very good working order, the various operations are carried on in a systematic manner, and the work is done very cheaply. A suitable face having been got on the quarry, hand-drilling and small blasts have been superseded by drives and large blasts. Two of these have been fired during the year; the first took down about 1.1,000 tons; the second is not yet worked out. The large blasts not only reduce the cost of quarrying, but they furnish heavier stone for the sea-wall —a most important consideration. The rate at which the sea-wall progresses and its cost depend almost entirely on the depth of water at the tip-head, which varies occasionally to an extent of 10 or 12 feet, according to the set of the river. This variation in the depth affects the cost to an extent of from £150 to £250 per chain of wall. These facts lead to the conclusion that it would be desirable to push on the work with all possible speed when the water is shallow, and go slowly when it is deep. The bridge over the lagoon above referred to, which is in accordance w r ith Sir John Coode's plans, gives access to the sea-wall from the shore without interfering with the tidal flow in the lagoon. The large dredge manufactured in Dunedin by Messrs. Kincaid, McQueen and Co., and put together by them in Greymouth, is all but finished. She is expected to be ready for work in a week or two.

The following table shows the depths of water on the Grey bar at each high water of spring and neap tides every month from June, 1879, to March, 1881, inclusive. The table is compiled from information kindly supplied by the Harbourmaster at Greymouth: —

38

Month. Spring-tides: Neap-tides: Height on Bar, in feet. Height on Bar, in feet. I Spring-tides: Neap-tides : Height on Bar, in feet. Height on Bar, in feet. April... May ... June... July ... August September October November December January February March 12 and 11 10 and 7 9 and 10 9, 10, and 11 10 and 10 10 and 11 11 and 12 13 and 10 10 and 10 12 and 11 11 8 and 6 8 and 10 10 and 11 10 and 7 11 and 11 8 and 10 9 and 7 9 and 9 12 and 13 12 and 12 6 and 11 10 and 10 10 and 10 10 and 10 12 and 81 10 and 10 12 and 12 11 and 11-1 10 and 10 111 and 12 9| and 12 111 and 919 and 9 9 and 8| 7i and 9 9, 10, and 9 10-1 and 9 9! and 8 11 and 11| 91 and 9 8 and 9 91 and 10