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SUPPLEMENT TO PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT, 1888.

DESCBIPTION OF BAIL WAYS IN COUBSE OF CONSTBUCTION. Helensville Noethwabds. On the railway from Helensville northwards a contract is in progress to complete the line to a point in the Kaukapakapa Valley, about 8 miles from Helensville. When this is done, the total length of the railway northwards from Auckland will be 44 miles. The works now in hand are expected to be finished about the end of March next. A trial survey has been run for the continuation of the line to near Wellsford, 37 miles from Helensville, but it is not proposed to put any more works in hand for the present. The vote required to meet existing liabilities on account of this railway will be £15,000 for this year and about £4,000 for next year, leaving £49,839 for further undertakings in the future. Gbahamstown-Te Aboha. On the Grahamstown-Te Aroha Eailway the rails are laid from Grahamstown to Kaueranga, about 5 miles, and the formation, without bridges, is completed between Kaueranga and Hikutaia, about 8 miles ; and in progress from there to near Ohinemuri, about 6 miles. It is expected that the latter section will be finished next month. From Ohinemuri to Te Aroha, 13 miles, the con-tract-survey is complete. The total distance from Grahamstown to Te Aroha will be 32 miles. Plans and specifications have been prepared for a contract for the bridges and culverts on the Hikutaia and Ohinemuri sections, but it is not proposed to call for tenders during the current year. The amount now required to be voted for this railway, in order to meet existing liabilities, which include a considerable sum for land purchase, will be .£5,000, leaving £32,926 for appropriation in succeeding years. PUTAEUBU-BOTOBTJA. On the Putaruru-Botorua Bailway, the first contract from Putaruru to Ngatira, 8 miles, has just been finished, but as there would be no traffic on this section by itself it is not proposed to open it. At the Botorua end, the formation on 6 miles, between Botorua and Ngongotaha, has been carried out by the Maoris, in piecework contracts, to the extent of £5,940, in a very satisfactory manner. The intervening distance between Ngatira and. Ngongotaha, about 19 miles, has been surveyed for contract. The total distance from Putaruru to Ohinemutu is 32 miles. A survey is in progress for a road to connect the proposed station at Okohiriki, which is 18 miles from Putaruru, with the OxfordOhinemutu Boad. The length of this road will be about 6 miles, and it will strike the existing road about 6 miles from the Ohinemutu Township. Beyond the completion of this road-survey, it is not intended to do any more work in connection with the Putaruru-Botorua Bailway at present. The amount required to be now voted for this railway, to meet existing liabilities which will all probably fall due within the current year, is £20,000, leaving £36,103 for further undertakings in the future. Nobth Island Tbunk Bailway. North End. —On the North Island Trunk Bailway, at the north end, the line is completed and open for traffic from Te Awamutu to Te Kuiti, a distance of 25 miles. A further section of 9 miles is in progress, and expected to be