1,-6.

At 57i miles the line commences to ascend by a 1 in 50 grade to 59| miles, and then by a flatter grade to the saddle in the Tangarakau Range at 60^ miles. At 57^- miles the line enters a small eroek-gorge, which rLc* rapidly to j'^mlles, the sides being very steep, which will make the work heavy. From 59^ to 60* miles the creek runs alowly, the sides being much flatter, and the work of construction will consequently bo very much easier. In consequence of the creek falling so slowly at the top, it will be impossible to cut off any more of the rise than can be done by a cutting. From 60^ to 68^ onies (lie descent into tho Eao Valley occurs by alin SO grade. The work of onstruetion along this gvji.de will bo very heavy. From (iir,1 to ('>('> \ miles the line passes up the Eao Valley with easy grades and work (0 n saddle at the head of the Mahorahora; it then descends by a 1 in 50 grade, with moderate work, to the Mangaroa Valley at ('■>s} nii les (this grade may probably he ilattened); then up the Mangaroa Valley to 72 miles ; then crossing into the Ohura Vailey on a ver\ low saddle with an easy grade ; then up the Ohura and Vaikabi, vnUeys to Si) miles with easy grades. The work of construction to 81 miles will be easy, then to M miles* it will be a little heavier, and from 83 to 85 miles it will be heavy, requiring a."short tunnel at Si miles to etit off a bend in the river. Between 85 and 87| miles the ascent to the saddle in the W&ngftnui-Mokau watershed is made by a 1 in 50 grade, the work of construction being moderate. From 87| to I>H- miles the line descends by a lin 50 grade. The work of construction along this grade will be very heavy, including one tunnel 10 chains long through a cross spur: in fact, I consider this the woist portion of the whole line. Before proceeding further, I might state that, from a view I had of the country, I think the the line between 03 and 71 miles may be straightened coasideiably. J was unable to examine this part as thoroughly as I wished, on account of provisions running short. From 91$ to 93£ miles the line- passes over open flat country, the construct! on-works required being easy. Between 9J| ami 'Mi miles the line rises by a 1 in 50 grade, and descends by a. I in 55 grade to cross the low hills between the Mokau-iti and'Mokau livers; work moderate. From 97| to 109£ miles the line runs up the Mokau Valley, with flat grades and easy work, the large bends in tho river-being cut off by passing over saddles in the low lulls in the valley. Between 109-J- and 112 miles the. line descends by a 1 in 50 grade into the Mangapu Valley. Two lines for ibis grade are shown on the plan, as a, trial line must bo run on both to decide which in the better. The work 011 both will be very heavy on account of steep sidelings, cross gullies, and tunnel. From 112 to 123 miles, the line follows down the Mangapu Valley to -Mr. Bochfort's line near the confluence of the Mangapu and Mangaokewa creeks ; work easy. The T;n an k r.i Range, which is crossed by the line at 60^ miles, extends from thence in a northerly ami somh-v.osterly direction, the counti; towards the east being a great deal lower than that towards the west. The country on east side consists of valleys varying in width from 20 to 100 chains, with low hills on each side varying in height from 200 ft. to about 400 ft.; while the 'IVngai\^au Kange stands out like a wall, tins top b-mg yen straight, with very tew peaks, and reaches an extreme elevation of about I,looft. above the Ohura Valley. The valleys narrow in again at. about P3 miles, near where the line commences to ascend to the saddle in a, branch of the Taugara!;au Jtange, which forms the Mokau-Wanganui watershed, and continues, narrow to 90 miles, I here being'no Hat land in them: the hills on each side are very steep. At 90 miles the line is in open country, comparatively flat, which is drained by the Hinoteko, a tributary of the Mokiui-iti: both these rivers ate crossed at about 1)4 miles, they being situated very close together. From there to 100 miles, in crossing from the Mokau-iti to the Mokau, the country is rather broken. From 100 miles to Te Awamutu the valleys are altogether wider, and covered (with very few exceptions) with dense fern. At 94 miles the line enters the limestone country. This stone will form a suitable material for building culverts, as slabs van ing in thickness from 1 to 6 inches can lie obtained without any quarrying or dressing, which would sail well for the lloors and roofs of 9in. to 18in. drains. The Wairere Falls, in the Mokau River, near 9S miles, are. formed by a mass of stone of the came description as that in the hills round Wellington : this is covered above the river-level with a cap of limestone horizontally stratified. A seam of coal, nlsouL off. thick, is exposed to view on each side of the Tangarakan ltiver at u5 miles, and is similar in character to thai; now being worked about twenty-four miles from the sea up the Mokau Eivrr. The maximum length of tho bridge required to cross any of the rivers, on She square, will be 80ft., with the usual end-spans according to height of aches. ISeiure finally adopting this line, I consider it advisable to explore the country to rind whether. a'lino could be run from 42 miles in an easterly direction to the Eao, and up that river until the lino already e.\pior< d is reached : this would avoid the rough and valueless country in the Tangarakan Gorge, and would open more eflcctiveh the good country said to exist in the lower part of the Eao \ alley. This line was not examined because time was short, and, having found a practicable route, 1 did not consider ii ;'d\ Valilc 10 waste time and money in trying to improve the line already obtained, as it could be done to beUer advantage while running the trial line. From (il to 71 miles ari aii/rn^live Inn.' was explored as idiov.n on plan, which is not an improvement, as it 11 ins out 01 the direction, and lengthens tile line, a nil t^ ihj savmg in cost, A lino was aho explored from 77 miles up the Ohura Valley, across a very low saddle, to join Mr. Kochfori/s line in the Ongaruhe Valley. The grades would be easy to the saddle ; from thence a drop of 200 ft. occurs, which would require a 1 in 50 grade. At 87 miles this

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