39

D.—l

Picton to Hueunt/i Railway. Section, Picton to Awatere. —The formation and permanent way of the extension of this line from Opawa to Blenheim was completed and opened in May, 1880, but the Blenheim Station-buildings were not finished till November. The only work now remaining unfinished between Picton and Blenheim is the protection of the northern bank of the Opawa River, above the railway-bridge. A contract survey has been made for a short section of the extension of the line southwards from Blenheim, and a trial survey run to the Dashwood Pass, the water-shed between the Wairau and Awatere Valleys. The trial survey shows a good line to be obtainable at a moderate cost. Westpoet to Ngakawau Railway. The only construction-work of any importance done on this line during the year is the extension of the Waimangaroa Bridge for 171 feet. The extension was necessitated by an encroachment of the river on its banks The Buller Relief Channel, cut in 1879, continues to act satisfactorily: it has undoubtedly been the means of relieving the railway and the adjoining country from the heavy floods which periodically caused great damage and threatened to cut a fresh channel for the Buller between Westport and the hills. The original width of the channel at the bottom was only 6 feet, but it has been widened by successive floods to an average of about 200 feet. The survey for the land, plans of the Westport-Ngakawau Railway has been completed during the year. The following table, compiled from information kindly furnished by the Harbourmaster, shows the depth of water on the Buller bar at each high water of spring- and neap-tides from June, 1879, to March, 1881, inclusive:

HOKITIKA TO GEEYMOUTH RAILWAY. The last of the small piecework contracts in progress at the date of the last annual report was finished in July, and no new works nor surveys have been undertaken since. Hueunui-Waitaki Railway, with Beanches. Main Line.- —The new sections in progress during the year comprise the Waipara contract and Weka Pass section —an extension of the line from Amberley to the Waipara River and across the intervening range to the Waikari Plain. The Waipara section was completed and open for traffic in October, the works having been carried out in a satisfactory manner. The Weka Pass section, originally reserved for the " unemployed " of Christchurch, was carried on by them till December last, when the works were stopped altogether and the men paid off. The total expenditure on the Weka Pass section during the year was about £13,800. The average cost of the work has been, for labour only: earthwork, Bd. per cubic yard; loose rock, Is. 6d.; and solid rock 2s. lOd. The average number of men employed was 160. With the exception of the completion of large cuttings at Pigeon Rock and the Summit, and the construction of a viaduct over the main gully, the formation is practically finished. It is now proposed to let these larger works by regular contract, and finish up the formation at other places by piecework or day labour. A stationmaster's house has been erected at Waikari, it being, in the meantime, occupied by the officers of this department in charge of the works. The land survey and plans for the Weka Pass section are completed, and the survey of the extension of the line to the Hurunui has been ordered. The proper location of this section is of considerable importance; for, although there is no difficulty, so far as the section is in itself concerned, it involves the question of the future extension and ultimate destination of the railway. I have, on several occasions, inspected the country and otherwise given the matter some personal attention, so I hope to be able to make a definite recommendation when I get the results of certain surveys now ordered. The principal works that have been in progress on the open portions of the main line during the year are: the extension of the Rakaia Bridge, the erection of a locomotive-erecting shop, boilerhouse,

B—D. 1.

.Month. Spring-tides: Height on Bar, in feet. Neap-tides: Height on Bar, in feet. Spring-tides: Height on Bar, in feet. Neap-tides: Height on Bar, in feet April... May ... June ... July ... August September October November December ]41 and 14 13| and 12f 12 and 131 13 and 12 12|, 13| and 13 131 and 12 121 and 111 12* and 12* 12| and 121 14| and 131 12 andl2| 111 and 101 11 and 11| II and Hi 10 and 11| 10| and lOf HI and 11| 10| and 9| III and 10 111 and 10 13 and 13 121 and 14 12 and 14 12 and 14 12 and 13 13 and 14 14 and 14 15 and 131 14 and 13 15, 14, and 14 13 and 15 15 and 14 11 and 10 10,11, and 12 12 and 12 11 and 12 11 and 12 11 and 111 12 and 12 13 and 111 12-1 and 11 12 and 13 101 and 111 11 and 10 January February March