D.—2b.

11

Stations Station-buildings are in very fair order and neatly kept, platforms in good condition , privies and urinals in good order and clean. The goods-shed at Kamo is in good condition, but showing a little decay at ground-level, that at Euatangata is new From Buatangata to Waro. Formation on this length is excellent, cuttings neatly sloped, drains clean, and neatly in line with slopes, clear of weeds, and everything in the best order Permanent-way The road is in excellent running trim, rails 531b. steel, ballast abundant, and of clean scoria, sleepers new and good. At the summit the siding is in excellent order. Structures All the bridges and open culverts are good and new Fencing Fences, cattle-stops, and gates in the best condition. Stations The station-buildings, platforms, cottages, privies and urinals, goods-sheds, cattlepens, loading-banks, are all in the very best condition. Kawakawa Line. ' Commencing at the coal-sidings at Kawakawa, the rails are 561b. iron, the ballast poor, and sleepers many half-rotten , other parts of this siding, however, have better ballast and sleepers; the ballast is broken slate. At Kawakawa there is a goods-shed in very fair condition, except that the roof is rusty, engine-shed in very good condition, cattle-pen in good order, and loading-bank very good. From Kawakawa to Port Opua. The formation at the upper part is little above the water of the swamps, and the bridges are thus partly drowned this arises from the drains being choked with weeds. Permanent-way The rails are 561b. iron, in fair condition, and good for some years with light traffic. From five miles and a quarter the rails are 531b. steel, and very good. The ballast is rough, broken slate, the line is fairly-well ballasted. The road is better at the part near the bay , the upper two miles near Kawakawa is not in such good condition. The line has fairly-good sleepers, but those under sidings are much gone in places, and want renewal if there were any traffic, which at present there is not. Structures The bridges on the upper or inland part are suffering considerable decay—piles gone at ground-level, stringers, caps, and sills, and other various pieces are here and there found in most of the bridges with rotten ends or decayed parts. These are still serviceable, but extensive renewals must begin soon. Near the sea all the bridges are in much better condition. Fencing The fences occur only in detached parts, and are in fair condition. Stations The station at Opua has the station-building in good condition, with good platform, Manager's office good order and neat, privies and urinals clean and good order There are two platelayers' cottages in good condition, and empty The wharf has the piles coppered, and in good condition , the caps and floor-beams are also in good condition, and the top planking fairly so, a few planks only being rotten at ends. The Kaihu Valley Eailway Formation is narrow, being only lift, wide , one or two cuttings are slipping, but not to any serious extent the formation generally clear of weeds. Permanent-way The line generally is good, though there are a few places where it wants straightening and picking up, and in places the rails are not properly curved. The rails are 531b. steel, and very good. The ballast is rough, heavy gravel, there is sufficient of it generally, and we noticed only a few places where it was short. The ballast in many places is very weedy The sleepers generally are good, although already they are being renewed, and there are a few places where they are much decayed. The line is only in use seven years, which is about the life of kauri sleepers. Structures The bridges are in very fair condition , in several of them the piles here and there are touched with decay at ground-level, a sill or two has rotten ends, but in most the beams and caps are severely shaken by the sun, and, we think, are badly in want of tar Box and open culverts are in good condition. Fencing Except at stations there is no fencing, there are signboards and cattle-stops, all in good condition, but want paint. Stations At Dargaville the station-house is good and neatly kept, with good platform, with attached store in good order, engine-shed in good order, with good pit —in it is a small lathe dismounted and not used, tank-stand, good order, coal-stage and small store in good order; privies and urinals in good order, water-supply and pump in good condition. The wharf is in very good condition and preservation. The other station-buildings are sheltersheds, mostly with earth floors, and in good condition. Mile-posts A number of mile-posts are being prepared for erection on the line. Wellington Eailways. Wellington to Lower Hutt. Formation is in excellent condition. The pitched slopes of banks, which are repeatedly damaged by waves, are kept constantly repaired, and are mostly in good order Permanent-way The line is in first-rate running-order The rails (531b. steel) are in good condition. Ballast of broken stone is good and abundant. Sleepers (totara and birch) are very good. The line is clear of weeds.