D.—l

60

clearing, and logging has been completed from 31 m. 68 eh. to 37 m. The bulk of the earthwork is being pushed on between 32 m. and 35 m. 52 eh., and good progress has been made during the past season, the climatic conditions having been fairly favourable. Benching was done on the seats of all banks on sloping ground, and stone drains put into all watercourses where culverts do not drain them, as far as 35 m. 45 eh. The greater portion of Avery's Creek bank, at 32 m. 44 eh., has to be made up from the north side, where the cutting is being worked in two places to facilitate the filling ; as soon as the weather improves sufficiently, double shifts will be worked. The cuttings on either side of the Matai Creek bank, at 33 m. 14 eh. are being taken out in two places, and double shifts are being worked in all four faces. Caberfeidh Station, at 33 m. 56 eh., is about half formed, and al7 chain road-diversion has been formed with spoil from cutting. Two creek-diversions have been cut, and twenty-one culverts, totalling 2,185 tin. ft., have been put in between 32 m. and 34 m. 37 eh. Quarries have been opened up at Avery and Matai Creeks for the purpose of supplying material for culverts. Forming and clearing for service tramway have been continued to 36 m. 12 eh., and rails laid and packed with corduroy to 35 m. 28 eh. Waimahaka End. Tohanui Section (24 m. 48 eh. to 32 m. 75 eh.— 8 m. 27 eh. in length).—Work on this section is nearing completion. The erection of Te Peka and Tokanui Station buildings, which is being carried out by contract, should be finished at an early date. It is anticipated that the line will be ready for handing over to Working Railways Department by the end of September next. Lawrence-Roxburgh Railway. Beaumont Section (29 m. 33 eh. to 35 m. — 5 m. 67 eh. in length). —Plans and specifications were prepared with a view to letting a contract for construction of portion of this section from 29 m. 34 eh. to 30 m. 29 eh. (including Big Hill Tunnel). Tenders were duly invited, but those received were considered altogether too high, and it was decided in March. 1911, to carry the work out on the co-opera-(dve-contracl principle. The accessary plant and machinery, including engine and air-compressor, were sent on to the work in the same month, and an air-pipe line laid into the tunnel-workings. Engineshed, store, coal-shed, and smithy were also erected. The fannel-approach cutting has been advanced from 29 m. 33-65 eh. to 29 m. 34-8 eh. and face of cutting, which was at 29 m. 72-4 eh. (north end) when work was resumed, has been advanced to 29 m. 71 eh., while the bank into which excavated material is being run has advanced to 29 m. 73-83 eh. The old bottom heading of the tunnel has been ret im be red and debris cleared and a start made on the face, which stood at 29 m. 54-64 eh., in April. This has now advanced to 29 m. 51 eh., being a total distance of 6o chains from the portal. In addition, a top stope, 8 ft. by 7 ft. on roof of heading has been driven from 29 m. 57 eh. to 29m. 54-93 eh., a distance of 207 links, and the first length of full arch excavated and timbered. Two 18 in. moulded concrete pipe culverts of a total length of 287 ft. have been completed, and a double 18 in. moulded pipe, 178 ft. long, is nearly complete. Excavation lias been done for another 18 in. moulded pipe, 188 ft. long. All necessary dray-roads, sledge-tracks, loading-banks, &c, for the cheap md expeditious handling of cement, coal, timber, &c, have been constructed. SURVEYS OF RAILWAYS UNDER CONSTRUCTION, NEW LINES OF RAILWAY, LAND, PLANS, ETC. Kawakawa-Kaikohe Railway. —All the surveys in connection with the location of this line from its junction with the Kawakawa -A\ hangarei Railway at Otiria to within a short distance of the town of Kaikohe have been completed. Kaikohe Ilokianqa Railway. —Several trial lines have been surveyed between these places during the past year, giving sufficient information to enable bhe exact route to be determined when required. Kaihu Valley Railway. The work (if reinstating the centre-line on the extension of this line to be ((instructed has been completed, together with the deviation in (lie vicinity of Waima Station. North Auckland Railway. — The permanent survey of this line has now been completed as far as Maungatuioto Station. f East Coast Railway (Taurqnga Southwards). —The permanent survej has been completed as far as Te Puke. Bast Cons! Railway (CUsborne Northwards). .---The permanent location survey has been carried to forty-six miles, which is about two miles beyond Matawai Station. Trial-line surveys are now being executed in continuation along two proposed routes to Opotiki. East Coast Railway (Gisbornc Southwards). -Trial-line work towards completion of the trial surveys which were undertaken some years ago has been in hand during the past year between Gisborne and Wairoa via the Te Arai and Mangapoike Valleys. Attention is now being devoted towards the completion of the former trial line via the Hangaroa Valley. Stratford-Ongaiitc The permanent survey of this line has now been completed for about 5 miles north of Whangamomona, and trial-line work has been completed as far as the Waingarara, a tributary of the Tangarakau. A commencement has been made with the location of the line at the Ongarue end. Mount Egmont Branch Railway. —The permanent survey of this line is just about completed. Midland Railway (North End). —The location of the permanent line lias been completed to Glenhope Station. Trial-line surveys for an extension beyond Glenhope are now in hand. A land-plan