D.—l

56

The permanent survey of the Gisborne-Karaka Bailway has been extended about four miles during the year. The survey of the Stratford-Whangamomona line has been continued up to 22 miles 55 chains from Stratford, and a trial line to connect with the Ngaire route. This survey goes vid Huiroa, but further survey may give a shorter line. A trial survey for 7 miles of the Wainuiomata routp for the Bimutaka deviation of the Wellington-Woodville Bailway was made during the year, also a reconnaissance survey of the proposed coast route. The length, Petone to Carterton, vid Gollan's Valley, coast, and Martinborough, is about 70 miles. A reconnaissance survey has been made of possible routes of railway from Masterton to Dannevirke via Bakanui, Pongaroa, and Weber; also of alternative lines —one, starting from Mauriceville, passes through Alfredton and joins the first at miles from Masterton; the other starts from Pahiatua, passes through Makuri, and joins the first line just north of Pongaroa. An extension of the permanent survey of the Midland Bailway from Beefton to Inangahua is in progress. The survey has been finished to 55 m. 60 eh., a length of 16£ miles from the end of the Beefton contract. Several trial surveys were made along routes proposed to bring the railway into Beefton,but these all proved unsatisfactory, and the original direct route was adopted. A permanent survey was made of the proposed Ngahere-Blackball branch line. The survey of the flokitika-Boss Bailway was started in December last. After a very full examination of the river the line, was located on the most direct route leading from the Hokitika Bailway-station. The permanent survey has been extended to 30 m., and the trial survey to the Totara Biver. The Coal Creek Bailway has been repegged. The surveys for the long tunnel at Arthur's Pass were stopped in August last. In January last Mr. V. G. Bogue visited the pass, and reported on various alternative routes. A start has been made with the surveys suggested by Mr. Bogue. A land-plan survey of the Otago Central from 79 m. to 105J m. is partially completed. A contract for the land-plan survey for the Catlin's Biver Bailway Extension has been satisfactorily completed. Alternative surveys have been made of the extension of the Seaward Bush Bailway from Waimahaka. One vid Tokonui is sixteen miles long, and joins the first trial line at Bogle's Creek. Another trial line has been run to the same point by a route only about thirteen miles long. A trial line for a light railway was made from Anderson's Bay to near Portobello, a length of about 12 miles 27 chains. Sleepers. A large number of contracts and agreements for the supply of sleepers were current during the year ending the 31st March last, and the deliveries made in the districts from which they were obtained were as follows :— Auckland District—27,s9s totara, 5,974 puriri, 2,707 matai; Stratford District—B,99l rimu; Hunterville District—6o,oß6 totara; Nelson District—l,ooo matai, 100 birch ; Westport District — 4,939 totara, 36,752 silver-pine; Westland District—l,sol totara, 100,976 silver-pine; Otago District—3,7oo totara, 7,322 matai, 3,049 blue-gum. Details of contracts current during the year ending 31st March last will be found in Appendix D. BO ADS, BEIDGES, ETC. Westport District. —Two short contracts are in progress on the Westport-Waimangaroa Boad. Denniston Hill Boad was widened and metalled for a length of 1 mile 50 chains. The Karamea Bridge was finished in February last. New beacons were erected and rocks blasted in the Little Wanganui Biver, and also some snagging done. A road to the Little Wanganui Wharf was surveyed. Beports for the Mines Department were furnished on : Boad, Long Tunnel to Addison's Flat; road, Coalbrookdale to Cedar Creek ; Millerton Boad ; road, Deadman's Creek to Brighton ; Nile Suspension Bridge; road, Bradshaw's Terrace; road, Wilson's Lead; road, Lyell Bridge to Byan's ; road, Eight-mile to Lyell; road, Charleston to Brighton ; road, Millerton to Mine Creek; on removal Warrigal Islands, Mokihinui Biver; road, Brighton, Grey County; road, Little Wanganui Wharf to Beach ; road, Granity Creek South; road, Addison's to Buller (loop-line road); road, Mokihinui to Westport; road, Mokihinui to Ngakawau ; road, Lyell to Cedar Creek ; road, Fairdown to Waimangaroa; road, Waimangaroa to Buckfield; pack-track, Mullocky Creek to Karamea ; Oparara Boad ; Fenian Creek Boad ; Orawaiti Bridge ; Bradshaw's Lead Boad; road, Karamea Mud-flat; road, Land of Promise ; road, Caroline Terrace ; road, Stony Creek to Waimangaroa ; road, Cascade Creek; road, Addison's; road, Costello's Hill; road, Fairdown to Waimangaroa. Greymouth District. —An additional 2 miles 25 chains of the Great South Boad was widened and metalled; this joins the previously widened portion of the road. A heavy slip on the road at Mount Hercules has been removed. Some repairs at the Forks-Waiho end have been made. Two small co-operative contracts have been let for renewals of bridges. The piers of the Taylorville Suspension Bridge have been renewed in ironbark, the cables tarred, and the bridge put in an efficient state. The Clarke Biver Track was repaired during the year by day labour. The Ahaura road-bridge repairs were finished during the year, and the works on the Potts Creek Bridge finished. Bepairs to works on Lake Hochstetter Track were done during the year, consisting of replacing a horse-bridge, repairing culverts, and clearing drains. A small co-operative contract for repairs to the Ahaura-Orwell Creek Boad has been carried out. A short length of the Ahaura-Haupiri Boad was widened by contract. The Saltwater Creek road-bridge was repaired, and work was finished on the Sawyer's Creek Bridge. Plans were prepared for a horse-bridge over Moonlight Creek.