D.—No. sa.

SUMMARY.

4

MEMORANDUM ON RAILWAYS.

Estimated Cost. Previous Appropriation (for Works only). Province. Name. Additional Appropriation required. Works. Land. Engineering and Office. Total. i i ! i Main Lines Coal Eield Eailways ... Branch Eailways M. oh. 637 25 27 0 100 0 £ 3,120,246 156, 000 260, 000 £ 178,500 4,400 10,000 £ 137,754 7,000 13,000 £ 3,436,500 167,400 283,000 £ 2,442,410 126,250 150,350 £ 994,090 41,150 132,650 Totals ... 764 25 3,536,246 192,900 157,754 3,886,900 2,719,010 1,167,890 a. The previous appropriation was for a Tramway, to cost £2,000 a mile ; the appropriation now asked for is for a Bailway. b. The present estimate includes a Bridge over the Bakaia, not previously provided for. c. The present estimate includes Bridges over the Bangitata, Orari, and Hinds, not previously provided for. d. The former appropriation was not founded on any estimate, the Engineer's estimate, which amounted to £186,149, having been received too late. The total estimated cost for Wobks amounts to £3,661,516, against £2,719,010 formerly appropriated, the difference being £942,506. This difference is accounted for as follows :— Bise in cost of Iron... ... ... ... ... ... £450,000 Bakaia Bridge, not formerly provide! for ... ... ... 40,000 Bangitata, Orari, and Hinds Bridges, not formerly provided for ... 80,000 Increased rates for Work ... ... ... ... ... 247,230 £817, 230 To this add —Approximate estimate for Purchase of Land ... 192,900 Engineering and Office ... ... ... ... 157,760 Total ... ... £1,167,890 In the estimate on which the former appropriation was founded, the prices were based on those paid for comparatively small works on Boads, &c., and sometimes the lowest of these was taken as the standard. It will be found, however, that large works cannot be carried out for the same rates, and I have therefore added £200,000 to the estimates on this account, as well as a sum of £450,000 for the rise in'iron which has taken place since the former estimates were framed. In other respects, the former estimates have not been altered, and as they were founded on mere trial lines, they can only be regarded as approximate. John Caeetjthees.