D.—l

28

A total length of 135 miles 28 chains of railway has been opened during the year—43 miles 50 chains in the North Island, and 91 miles 58 chains in the Middle Island. The sections making up these lengths are as follow, and include certain railways purchased by Government from private companies:—

Appended to this report is a coloured diagram which shows the length of railway opened each year from the commencement. Kawakawa Bailway. A few minor works, such as road-crossings, and fencing near Taumarere, are all that have been done on this line during the year. Whangaeei-Kamo Railway. Tho proposed extension of this railway to deep-water at Grahamstown has been surveyed, and plans and estimates of the cost have been prepared. A branch railway to the Whauwhau coalmine, 1 mile 9 chains long, has been made by the proprietors, and connected with the main line at 1 mile 79 chains from port. The work was done under the supervision of this department, and passed as fit for traffic on the 18th August. Kaipaea-Waikato Railway and Beanch. Works in Auckland. —The new passenger-station contract was completed on the 27th November last; the station-yard was also completed about the same time, and the station was opened for public traffic on the 30th November. The only work now being done is the completion of the metalling of the approaches. A few small items of work have been done at Newmarket workshops. Minor Improvements, —A considerable amount of fencing has been done on the main line at Pukekohe, Taupaki, Manurewa (Papakura), and Papakura. Cottages have been built at Penrose and Te Awamutu, and a statiomnaster's house in Auckland new passenger-station yard Surveys. —The proposed new line of railway from Auckland to Penrose, via the beach, has been surveyed, and plans and estimates for two alternative lines have been prepared. The survey of the proposed railway route through the City of Auckland and suburbs, commencing at Kingsland Railway -station, and going northward to Auckland new railway-station, via Freeman's Bay and Customhouse Street West, was begun in February last, and it is expected that the field-work and plans will be finished in about a month. The survey of the Huntly Branch Railway has been completed, and plans of the same, including a bridge over the Waikato River, have been prepared in readiness to call for tenders. Pukckohe-Waiuku Branch. —The survey of this line has been completed, and plans and sections have been prepared, as well as plans showing the amount of land required for the railway. The survey of the main railway as constructed is well advanced, viz., the survey up to 98 miles and the levelling up to 77-J- miles, leaving 22-J miles of field-work to be completed. The plans of 27 miles have been finished, and the remainder up to 77-J miles will, it is expected, be finished in about two months. Waikato-Thames Railway. Hamilton-Te Aroha Section. —The works connected with the swing-bridge over the Thames at Te Aroha have been completed for some time, and the works on the permanent-way and part-forma-tion contract, Morrinsville to Te Aroha, were so far completed as to allow of the line being opened throughout for public traffic on the Ist instant. There are still a few minor works to be attended to, as well as the completion of the station-buildings contract, which was only let on the 15th February last; consequently, the great bulk of the work is yet in hand, and is spread over five different stations. The permanent water-supply at Te Aroha is also in hand, as well as the fencingin of the station ground.

Railway. Section. Length. Date of Opening. Kaipara-Waikato Hamilton-Grahamstown ... Thames Valley-Eotorua ... Greymouth-Nelson Creek ... Pioton-Hurunui ... Hurunui-Waitaki Little Eiver-Akaroa Eakaia-Ashburton Forks ... "Waimate Gorge ... Duntroon-Hakateramea Palmerston-Waihemo Catlin's Eiver Lumsden-Mararoa Orepuki Branch ... Auckland Station Morrinsville-Te Aroha Morrinsville-Oxford Still water (portion) Culverden-Hurunui Hurunui-Medbury Birdling's Flat-Little Eiver Eakaia—Methven Waimate-Waihao Downs... Duntroon-Hakateramea ... Palmerston-Dunback (part) Balclutha-Eomahapa Castle Bock-Murray Creek Colac-Orepuki ... M. oh. 0 15 12 55 30 60 0 10 9 50 1 14 5 38 22 20 8 21 15 38 6 77 7 66 4 9 10 35 30 Nov., 1885. 1 March, 1886. 8 March, 1886. 1 Sept., 1885. 9 Feb., 1886. 9 Feb., 1886. 16 March, 1886. 1 April, 1885.* 1 April, 1885.* 1 April, 1885.* 1 Oct., 1885. 15 Dec, 1885. 13 March, 1886. 5 May, 1885. Total 135 28 * In these cases the dates given are the dates on which the railways became the property of the Government.