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Station-buildings, Contract No. 10.—This included the erection of goods-sheds, passenger-stations and platforms, and stationmaster's house, on the Waitakerei section, and was completed 18th July, 1881. Kaipara Bridge Contract. —This contract was for the erection of a new railway bridge over the Kaipara River, on the opened line of railway, and formation, permanent-way, and ballasting 10 chains of railway in connection with it. The work was satisfactorily completed 21st November, 1881. Ballasting and improving Railway between Kumeu Junction and Helensville. —This work has been carried on by a gang of men under the Working Railways Department: it consists of widening banks, trimming slopes of cuttings, and ballasting the line with scoria from Mount Albert. The line, as originally constructed, had no ballast under the sleepers. Station-buildings, Contract JVb. 22. —This included erection of passenger-station building at Morningside, and was completed satisfactorily. Reclamation Contract, Auckland. —Satisfactory progress has been made with this during the year, and it is expected that the work may be finished in about two or three months : the work consists of the erection of masonry-breastwork and a small quantity of filling behind it. Filling Contracts. —Three small contracts, respectively 8,000, 2,300, and 15,000 cubic yards, have been entered into and are nearly completed for filling in the above reclamation: when these are done about 126,000 cubic yards will still be required to complete the filling. Goods-shed Contract, Auckland Station. —This was completed and the shed opened for public traffic 4th January, 1882 : the shed is 200 feet long by 42 feet wide. Improvements, Auckland Station. —A large quantity of permanent-way material and Public Works stores which was stored in this station has been removed to the workshop ground, Newmarket, the lines and sidings, &c, in the station-yard have been rearranged and relaid, and a number of new sidings have been added; the ground around the goods-shed and the approach-roads have also been formed and metalled. Still further improvements and additions are required in this station, which it is proposed to carry out gradually, as arrangements can be made from time to time for doing so. Timber Slip and Booms.- —-These have been erected at the outer end of the breakwater reclamation, Auckland Harbour, for receiving and retaining the timber brought in by railway until it can be rafted away to the several mills. Waikato-Thames Railway. Hamilton -Branch Extension Contract. —This includes formation and permanent-way of 6 chains of railway between Hamilton Station and the west bank of the Waikato River, and the levelling of the ground near the riverbank for the storage and working of material for the railway bridge : it was satisfactorily completed sth December, 1881. Hamilton Railway Bridge Contract. —This is for the erection of a railway bridge across the Waikato River, on the line of the Waikato-Thames Railway. The bridge will consist of three spans of iron 132 feet each, supported on two cast-iron cylindrical piers, 80 feet above the bed of the river, and two masonry abutments; also four 20-feet spans of timber between abutments and top of bank. The contract was signed 12th October, 1881, and the work should be completed by 29th June, 1882 ; but the contractor has as yet not displayed much energy in the prosecution of the work, and it is to be feared he will be behindhand in its completion. Morrinsville Contract. —Four miles of formation, lying between 14 miles and 18 miles, entered into 24th June, 1881. Work has been carried on steadily, and little now remains to complete it; it should have been finished by 18th March, 1882. Kopu Contract, Thames. —This includes formation of railway from Kauaeranga Creek, 1 mile 63 chains, to Kopu Wharf, 4 miles 40 chains, and was signed 28th June, 1881. This has been carried on steadily, and little now remains to complete the work. Rolling-stoch Contracts. —These embrace the erection of 60 platform wagons, 60 iron coalboxes, and 35 cattle-wagons, and have all been completed satisfactorily, excepting 10 of the cattlewagons, for which iron-work was not in store. The timber and other materials prepared by the contractor for these have been taken over and placed in store. Three 3-Ton Steam Cranes Contract. —One of these has been completed, tested, and sent (about six months since) to Whangaroi, where it has been working ever since. A few small alterations were necessary, but the machine now appears well adapted to its work, which is to lift the coal-boxes from the platform wagons, swing them round over the vessel and tip the coals into the hold, then to replace the coal-boxes on the wagons. A second crane is now ready for testing at the works (Messrs. Eraser and Tinne's, Auckland), and the machinery of the third crane is completed ready for erection. Surveys. Hamilton-Cambridge Branch. —Contract surveys for 11 miles 77 chains of this railway, starting from 4 miles 21 chains on the Waikato-Thames Railway and ending at the east end of the Whitaker Terrace, in the Township of Cambridge, have been completed, and plans and sections prepared. Tenders for 4 miles 55 chains of the above have been called for (Tamahere Contract). Fukekolie-Waiukw. —Careful trial surveys have been made of a proposed line of railway, starting from Pukekohe Railway-station, 30 miles from Auckland, and ending at the east side of the Waitiku Creek, near the Township of Waiuku, a total distance of 10 miles 58 chains. Plans and sections are being prepared. Grahamstown-Kopu.- —Surveys have been completed of a deviation of the railway line between Shortland Station and Kauaeranga Creek, made to avoid expense in land purchase: plans and sections and estimates are being prepared, so that a contract for the completion of the formation between Shortland and Kopu may be entered into. Morrinsville-Te Aroha. —Arrangements are being made to have this survey carried out, extending to the Thames River at Te Aroha, gold-fields township: the smallness of the available staff has caused some delay in beginning this work.