19

D.—l

Abstract— continued.

During the period under review only two sections of railway, totalling 15 miles 16 chains in length, as shown in (he following table, were handed over to the Railway Department for general traffic :—

Several other sections, "totalling approximately 40 miles, are approaching completion. Kaihu Valley Railway. The work in hand on this line comprises an extension from 19 m. 22 ch. to 23 m. 70 ch., a distance of 4 miles 48 chains. Operations were suspended in November last. Up to that date good progress had been made with the formation and culverts, more than half the earthwork having been done. Rails were laid to L9 m. 50 ch., where there is an outcrop of good stone, and a stone-crusher was installed to provide broken stone for the concrete culverts and other purposes. Fortunately the earthwork on this line lias not been hampered by the frequent slips which are a constant source of trouble on all works in the North Auckland distriot. Kawakawa-Hokianga Railway. Omapere Section — 16 m. 25 ch. (Kaikohe) to 'ilf.ni. Jf v 2 ch. (Okaihau). —The length from 16 m. 25 ch. to 18 m. 64 ch. was completely formed last year, and nothing lias been done since, but several slips will have to be removed before platelaying can be commenced. The section from 18 m. 64 ch. to 19 m. 44 ch. is comprised in the Tubulin contract, and includes a tunnel between 19 in. 2 ch. and 19 m. 9 eh., and several heavy cuttings and banks. The contract is practically completed, but slips have been numerous, and there remains some 11,000 cubic yards of slipped material to be removed. From 19 in. 44ch. to 25 in. the work was in hand by co-operative contract, but the number ■of men employed was allowed to dwindle down until January last, when the few remaining were tiansferred to other works, and operations here were suspended. The principal work in hand was a large cutting between 19 in. 58 ch. and 19 m. 74 ch., but progress was slow owing to the very stick)' nature ol the clay and frequent slips. It will probably pay in this case to use large power-driven plant in order to take nut (lie whole of this cutting during dry weather. A stonecrusher has been installed in a rock-cutting at 20 m. 76 ch. to provide material tor culverts, several of which have been constructed, besides other incidental works. About 60 chains of light formation has been done beyond 21 m., while the earthwork up to that point is well advanced. A railway-construction service road had been made between Kaikohe and Okaihau. This is being maintained, and will continue, as a public road. Whangarei - North Auckland Main Trunk Railway. Eioreroa Contract (0 in. to If. m.J. —The contract has been hampered to some extent by scarcity of suitable men and inability to obtain construction rails. It comprises a considerable length of bank across the mud-Hals and tidal creeks of the Wlianglirei Harbour, with the necessary water openings. Two small bridges, at 0 in. 35ch. and 2 m. 60 ch., are completed, and the larger Otaika River Bridge is well in hand. The long bank between I in. 77 ch. and 2 m. 72 ch. is now the principal obstacle Io the completion of the contract, and is expected In take about three months. Oakleigh Section (lf.ni. to 7 m. 60 ch.). —Co-operative parties were at work over the whole of this length until November last, bill work has since been confined to tho length from 4 m. to Otaika Station (5 m. 10 ch.), which is well advanced. A considerable amount of work has been done up to and including Oakleigh Station yard (7 m. 45 ch.). This yard is formed, aud the approach

Name of Railway. Total Length of Open for Railway or Traffic. Section. Expenditure Liabilities to on 31st March, 1916. 31st March, 1916. Provincial Government Links, bto. Canterbury (lengths included above) Otago and Southland Gisborne to Ormond Tramway Midland Railway, valuation of works constructed by company M. oh. M. ch. £ £ 731,759 372,522 4,975 •683,460 Grand total 4,103 72 2,970 46 36,897,043 233,522 * Includes value for £150,000 paid to debenture-holders u: .ct, 1903. ider the Midland Hailwi ly Petitions Settlemei it Act Ameudmeut

Plan Mileage Railway. Section. Length. Date. \l. oh. M. ch. 18 9 to 56 5 0 0 to 7 20 South Island Main Trunk Huntly-Awaroa Mirza and Wharanui Pukemiro M. oh. 7 76 .. "'7 20 4 Dec;., 1915. 20 Dec, 1915.