D.—l.

EAILWAYS UNDBE CONSTEUCTION. The only new railway-work started last year was the Eeefton-Inangahua Section of the Midland Eailway; but those previously in hand have been steadily proceeded with, and the following sections have been opened for traffic :— M. Cb. Gisborne-Ormond (26th June, 1902) ... ... ... ... 10 25 Stratford-Toko (9th August, 1902) ... ... ... ... 6 26 Blenheim-Awatere (10th October, 1902) .. ... ... ... 13 3 Mangaonoho-Mangaweka (3rd November, 1902) ... ... ... 9 11 Ormond-Kaiteratahi (10th November, 1902) ... ... ... 2 5 Waipara-Scargill (16th December, 1902) ... ... ... ... 14 59 Tahekeroa-Ahuroa (Ist September, 1903)... ... ... ... 4 51 Orepuki-Waihoaka (Ist October, 1903) ... ... ... ... 4 40 Total ... ... ... ... ... 64 60 At the present rate of progress, the following sections will probably be ready for opening before another Public Works Statement can be presented:— M. Oh. Kawakawa Southwards... ... ... ... ... ... 7 57 Paeroa-Karangahake ... ... ... ... ... ... 4 23 Poro-o-tarao-Taumarunui ... ... ... ... ... 27 36 Taumarunui-Piriaka ... ... ... ... ... ... 6 48 Mangaweka-Taihape ... ... ... ... ... ... 13 18 Toko-Oruru ... ... ... ... ' ... ... ... 4 70 Motupiko-Tadmor ... ... ... ... ... ... 10 0 Greymouth-Coal Creek... ... ... ... ... ... 5 1 Otarama-Staircase ... ... ... ... ... ..5 3 Ida Valley-Ophir . ... ... ... ... ... 13 25 Owaka-Catlin's Bridge... ... ... ... ... ... 3 38 Heriot-Edie ... ... ... ... ... ' ... ... 6 20 Total ... ... ... ... ... 107 19 The following is a brief detailed account of what has been done on each of the lines since my last Statement. Kawakawa-Gkahamtown. The section at the northern end of this line is approaching completion. Some timber has already been carried over a part of it, and the whole section up to the 15-mile peg will be finished and ready for traffic shortly. At the southern end the construction of the Whangarei Bridge is in hand, also the formation between the bridge and the proposed wharf at Grahamtown, and preliminary work, in the way of surveys and. borings, is in hand at the wharf-site. The total expenditure on this railway last year amounted to £11,372. For the current year a vote of £15,000 is asked for. Helensville Northwards. The progress of work on this line was considerably retarded by some heavy slips that took place in June last. The section from Tahekeroa to Ahuroa— 4 miles 51 chains in length—was completed and opened for regular traffic on the Ist September last. Beyond Ahuroa the Araparera Bridge has been finished and the rails laid over it, and the formation practically completed for a mile beyond. At this point a 20-chain tunnel is in hand, the excavation of which is about half done. The expenditure on the line last year amounted to £9,553, and for the current year a vote of £15,000 is proposed. Paeeoa-Waihi. The combined railway and road bridge over the Ohinemuri Eiver at Karangahake has been finished, and the section of the railway to Karangahake is just on the point of completion, and will be opened for goods traffic shortly. Beyond Karangahake work has almost been confined to the tunnel, which is now fully half done. Some proposals with the view of expediting the completion of this railway have lately been made by the Waihi Gold-mining Company, and are now under consideration by Parliament.

III