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APPENDIX F.

NOETH ISLAND MAIN TKUNK EAILWAY. EEPOBT ON THE PROPOSED NGAIRE, WAITARA, AND AWAKINO ROUTES BY MR. R. W. HOLMES, M.lnst.O.E. Mr. R. W. Holmes to the Engineeb-in-Chief, Wellington. Sir,— Public Works Office, Wellington, 31st July, 1899. I have the honour to forward herewith my report on the Taranaki-Auckland Railway, together with the drawings as enumerated below: — Enclosures herewith. 1. Report. j 5. Longitudinal sections of routes. 2. Appendix. | 6. Plan and sections part Awakino route, by Mr. A. C. 3. Report by Mr. A. C. Koch. Koch. 4. Map of Taranaki, showing routes. Index to Report, dc. Page Page Extent of each route .. .. .. .. 105 Roadworks .. .. .. .. .. 113 General description of location of each route .. 106 I Appendix .. .. .. .. .. 113 Surveys .. .. .. .. .. 106 I Central line— Grades and curves .. .. .. .. 107 Distances .. .. .. .. .. 113 Engineering-works .. .. .. .. 107 Cost .. .. .. .. .. 113 Estimated costs .. .. .. .. 109 j Reasons for adoption .. .. .. .. 113 Country .. .. .. .. .. 109 Forest-conservation .. .. ~ .. 114 Former reports .. .. .. .. 110 Tables of distances— Land-tenure .. .. .. .. .. 110 Central line .. .. .. .. .. 114 Settlement .. .. .. .. .. 110 Ngaire route.. .. .. .. .. 114 Minerals .. .. .. .. .. 110 Waitara route .. .. .. .. 115 Timbers .. .. .. .. .. 11l Awakino route .. .. .. .. 115 Artas of country served .. .. .. .. 11l Estimated cost— Railway revenue .. .. .. .. 11l Central line .. .. .. .. .. lig Port of Mokau .. .. .. .. .. 112 Ngaire route.. .. .. .. .. 116 Distances .. .. .. .. .. 112 Waitara route .. .. .. .. 116 Plans and report .. : .. .. 112 Awakino route .. .. .. .. 117 Respective merits .. .. .. .. 112 Awakino route: Report by Mr. A. C. Koch .. 117 Best route .. .. .. .. ..113 I have, &c, The Engineer-in-Chief, Wellington. R. W. Holmes, Resident Engineer.

Sir,— Wellington, 31st July, 1899. I have the honour to report that, in accordance with instructions received during May, an inspection and exploration of the country along the Ngaire, Awakino, and part of the Waitara routes for a line of railway to connect Taranaki with the Central line between Wellington and Auckland have been made, and the following remarks thereon are submitted for your information:— Extent of each Route. Ngaire Boute. This route connects with the opened line between Wanganui and New Plymouth near Eltham Station, and with the Auckland-Wellington Central line at Kawakawa, in the Ongaruhe Valley. M. eh. Distance between Eltham and Kawakawa Junctions ... ... 103 5 Distance from Wellington to Auckland vid this route ... .. 477 5 Distance from New Plymouth to Auckland vid this route ... •... 295 75 Waitara Boute. This route connects with the Wanganui-New Plymouth opened line in the vicinity of Waitara Station, on the Sentry Hill-Waitara branch line, and with the Ngaire route at 54 m. 21 eh., in the Waingarara Valley. - M. eh. Distance between Waitara and Waingarara Junctions ... ... 46 75 Distance between Waitara and Kawakawa Junctions ... ... 95 60 Distance from Wellington to Auckland vid this route ... ... 499 52 Distance from New Plymouth to Auckland vid this route ~, ~, 264 22 17—D. 1.