I—9

48

84. Mr. Duncan.] Is there any indication of gold-bearing land along either of the routes ?— There is a little gold in the Kaimanawa Eange, but it has been prospected for in a very desultory manner, and very little obtained. 85. The Chairman.] There are no mineral areas of any value that you are aware of other than the Mokau coal?— Not within the limits of the area we have been discussing, except that at the Wairere Falls there is a possibility that some veins or lodes may yet be found. There has been no definite valuable discovery of minerals anywhere in the district. There have been many rumours, but they have never stood investigation. At the same time it is possible in the volcanic areas there may be developments of the same character as at the Thames, but such have not yet been proved.

APPENDIX.

NOETH ISLAND MAIN TRUNK EAILWAY. Statement op Estimated Cost op completing the Noeth Island Main Teunk Eailway. Central Boute. Mangaonoho to Ongaruhe, 133 miles, at £9,650 per mile* ... ...£1,283,450 Stratford Boute. ■ Eltham Junction to Ongaruhe, 103 miles 5 chains, at £8,818 per mile £908,819 Ongaruhe to Upper Mokau Station (common to both Boutes). 251 miles ... ... ... ... ... ... ... £210,000 15th September, 1892. William H. Hales.

Cost of Construction, North End. Opened line from Te Awamutu to Upper Mokau ... ... ... £184,585 Poro-o-tarao Tunnel Section ... ... ... ... ... 54,420 Works in progress, Mokau Section, and liabilities, 31st August, 1892 27,393 £266,398

Sot, — Public Works Department, Wellington, 26th September, 1892. In reply to your letter of to-day's date, I have the honour to inform you that the plans and specifications for the Makohine viaduct have not been prepared yet. The plans are in course •of preparation. I have, &c, William H. Hales, The Chairman, North Island Main Trunk Eailway Engineer-in-Chief. Committee, Parliament Buildings.

CENTRAL ROUTE. i Estimated peobable Cost op the Peincipal Beidges and Viaducts. Mangaonoho to Hautapu. Four bridges... ... ... ... ... ... ... £12,000 Two viaducts ... ... ... ... ... ... 56,000 £68,000 Turangarere to Waimarino. Seven bridges (1,810 ft.) ... ... ... ... ... £13,000 Viaduct, 28/44 ... ... ... ... ... ... 16,250 „ Hapuawhenua ... ... ... ... ... 8,000 „ Mangaturatura ... ... ... ... ... 11,000 „ Manganui-a-te-ao ... ... ... ... ... 7,000 Maketoti ... ... ... ... ... ... 17,500 £72,750

* Mangaonoho is the end of the railway constructed and under contract, distant about 22J miles from Marton Junction. t No bridges under 50ft. are included in these figures.