D.—l

IV

distant. Of this length the formation of three miles and a quarter has been completed, with the exception of the removal of some slips. Work has been commenced on a further length of some three miles and a half, but the number of men employed gradually dwindled until it became necessary to suspend operations and remove the few remaining men to other works. Whangarei - North Auckland Main Trunk. This is an important new line, which was recommended by the North Auckland Railway Commission. It is nearly twenty miles in length, and will link up the existing AVhangarei system with the North Auckland Main Trunk Railway at a point 23J miles north of the present terminus at Otamatea, on the Otamatea River, a branch of the Kaipara Harbour. Construction-work is in progress over the whole length, the first four miles under a contract, which is approaching completion, and the remainder by co-operative parties. The earthworks, on the whole, are not very heavy, but slips in. the bigger cuttings give some trouble and interfere with progress. A small wharf has been built near Oakleigh Station, eight miles south of Whangarei, and is connected by a siding with the railway, for the purpose of landing construction materials. Owing to the very great scarcity of a suitable material for ballasting, roadmaking, and concrete-work throughout this district, advantage is being taken of a suitable volcanic deposit in the vicinity of Maungakaramea. A quarry has been opened up, and crushing machinery is being installed. It is proposed to concentrate upon the construction of 'this line, and also the adjacent portion of the Main Trunk line, in order to take advantage of the cheaper and better material than those available at present. The quarry is situated some seven miles inland from Oakleigh Station, from which point the laying of the rails is proceeding. North Auckland Main Trunk. Works are completed as far as Maungaturoto Station, a length of four miles and a quarter, to which a temporary goods and passenger service has been maintained during the year, and which has been, extended to Huarau, two miles further on, during the past three months. Construction-work is in progress over a length of seven miles from Huarau northwards, including two tunnels of 297 yards and 550 yards respectively, both in difficult material, which limits the rate of progress. Much of the country traversed is of an unstable nature, and slips are frequent in the winter months. Ballast has to be hauled from the Department's quarry at Hoteo, on the opened line, a distance of twenty-six miles from the present railhead. On the section from Kirikopuni southwards light earthworks were carried out over a length of about two miles, but no tunnels or bridges were undertaken. It became necessary to suspend work in October last. Waiuku Branch. Formation-work along nine miles of the branch line has continued during the year, and steady progress has been made, sufficient to permit of rails being laid from the junction to Patumahoe, four miles distant. HUNTLY-AwAROA BRANCH. This branch, starting from the Main Trunk line at Huntly, was completed to Pukemiro Station, a length of 7 miles 20 chains to the west, and was handed over to the Railway Department on the 20th December, 1915. East Coast Main Trunk. Northern Section. —Work on the section between Waihi. and Athenrcc, about eight miles and three-quarters in length, has been steadily carried on during the past year, and considerable progress has been made. Tauranga Section. —On the important section commencing at Tauranga Harbour formation-work is completed as far as Pongakawa, nearly twenty-four miles to the east, and the goods service which is run by the Public Works Department to this point is well patronized by the settlers along the route. Passengers are carried between the starting-point at Mount Maunganui and Te Puke, thirteen miles