D.—l

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APPENDIX B. ANNUAL REPORT ON PUBLIC WORKS BY THE ENGINEER-IN-CHIEF. (Ist July, 1915, to 81st March, 11)16.) The ENOiNUicu-iN-CiiiEf to the Hon. the Minister of Public Works. Sir,— Public Works Office, Wellington, 11th May, 1916. I have the honour to submit the following report upon the various works completed and in progress throughout the Dominion during the period from the Ist July, 1915, to the 31st March, 1916. In view of the early session of Parliament this report covers a period of only nine months instead of twelve, consequently the progress to be recorded is less than usual. Moreover, the activities of the Department have been greatly curtailed owing to circumstances arising out of the war. The necessity for economy in the expenditure of public funds has led to the cessation of work on several lines of railway, as well as a gradual reduction in the number of men employed on the other lines and on road-constrtaction. The erection of various important structures has been deferred owing to the impossibility of obtaining structural steel and other materials, while nearly all works have been hampered and delayed owing to difficulty in obtaining plant or material. It has not even been practicable to proceed with survey-work owing to lack of engineering assistance, practically the whole of the members of our professional staff who aro. lit and eligible having volunteered for active service. The draughting and clerical staff is also well represented in the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces. On the other hand, our staff of overseers, gangers, tradesmen, &c, which includes a larger proportion of elderly or ineligible men, lias not, been depleted to the same extent, and there has been some little difficulty in providing suitable employment for all permanent officers, although the position in this respect is by no means acute. RAILWAYS. Abstract. The following table shows the expenditure and liabilities on Government railways in New Zealand up to the 31st March, 1916 : —

Name of Railway. Total Length of Railway or Section. Open for Traffic. Expenditure to 31st March, 1916. Liabilities on 31st March, 1916. Kaihu Valley Kawakawa-Hokianga Opua Wharf - Grahamtown (Onerahi) Whangarei southward North Auckland Main Trunk Railway (from Helensville) Helensville-Te Awamutu, with Branches Hamilton-Thames, with Branches Thames Valley - Rotorua Tauranga-Opotiki, with Branches Gisborne-Opotiki Napier-Gisborne Wellington-Napier and Palmerston North (including Te Aro Extension and Greytown and Martinborough Branches) Wellington-Waitara, with Branches Stratford - Okahukura North Island Main Trunk (Marton-Te Awamutu), including Raetihi Branch Pieton-Waipara (South Island Main Trunk Railway)— Picton southwards Waipara northwards Nelson-Belgrove Midland Railway* Westport-Ngakawau Westport-Ngakawau Extension to Mokihinuif Mokihinui Colliery Line} Westport-Inangahua Ngahere-Blackball Greymouth - Coal Creek Greymouth-Brunner Greymouth-Waitaha Culvorden-Hanmer Motor-cars and Sheds Hurunui-Waitaki, with Branches Canterbury Interior Main Line—Oxford-Temuka Waitaki-Bluff, with Branches Otago Central Invercargill-Kingston, with Mararoa Branch .. Forest Hill Railway—Winton-Hedgehope§ Western Railways Preliminary Surveys Miscellaneous Stock of Permanent-way on hand Rolling-stock .. M. eh. 24 30 45 25 58 0 19 77 86 22 162 74 115 33 69 33 138 27 93 45 206 39 M.ch. 19 58 16 25 58 6 £ 104,113 188,067 522,088 87,953 792,830 2,177,795 537,137 366,541 255,719 602,841 198,433 £ 2^700 47 77 158 21 75 18 69 33 8,183 1,969 488 1,475 44 34 2,500 1,500 21,438 249 44 350 11 101 27 233 12 285 59 37 53 2,536,447 2,646,515 795,913 2,911 57,266 218 42 209 69 2,766,063 900 92 38 90 45 22 73 239 75 19 56 7 12 3 69 26 0 3 40 8 70 7 51 50 32 56 6 44 14 22 73 179 67 19 56 7 12 3 69 5 74 3 40 8 70 7 51 38 68 643,875 374,133 199,741 1,924,983 188,009 1,138 6\947 501 52 83 0 600 21 182 51 117 4 12 40 94 8 448 8 11 44 546 16 134 78 97 44 12 40 70 31 152,419 147,537 255,056 150,651 338,201 3,834 2,619,587 59,343 4,930,867 1,318,013 386,290 22,984 336,181 41,453 10,337 118,190 6,304,188 "l20 '*255 15 1,678 2 50 109,995 Total 4,103 72 2,970 46 ||35,104,327 293,522 * The amount shown as expenditure represents the net ami t The funds for this extension—namely, £35,501 2s. lid.—wei I The funds for purchase of this line, £15,745, were provided § The expenditure on this line as a tramway was made by tl II Includes expenditure on railways under Hutt Road and .ad Railway Improvement Authorization Act 1914 Accounts. >unt charged t :e provided by by the Westpi ih Lands Depi Railway Impi against the ] y the Wostpi iort Harbour lartment. rrovement, I dominion. >rt Harbour Board. Board. iailway Improvement Authorization Act