D.—l

18

South Island Main Trunk Railway. Kekerangu Section. —A survey of a deviation between 60 m. and 61 m. 22 ch, is nearly finished. This was necessary on account of large slips near 61 m Midland Railway (Nelson-Westland Section). Kaioatiri Section. —The permanent survey was completed to 63 m., and is now being continued to 65 m. Waimate Branch Railway Extension The permanent survey of line to 4 m. 60 ch. has been completed. BaLCLUTHA - TUAPEKA MOUTH RAILWAY. A trial line about 23 miles long was completed early in the year, and about 6 miles 70 chains have been permanently pegged. Otaoo Central Railway. The survey work from Clyde to Cromwell was completed in December, 1914. Wyndham-Mokoreta Railway. Trial surveys of this proposed railway have been made. Orepuki-Waiau Railway. Trial surveys have been made to Orawia, and the permanent line has been pegged to 53 rn.

ROADS, BRIDGES, ETC. Exclusive of the usual road-formation, metalling, and maintenance works carried out, the following are some of the more important works which call for special mention : — The Motu-Opotiki Main Road has now advanced so far towards completion as to allow of limited wheeled traffic. On the Mangapoike Road, 1 mile 15 chains of dray-road and 4 miles 48 chains of bridle-track have been completed, leaving about 7 miles of bridle-track to widen in order to complete as a dray-road from Gisborne to Wairoa. Over 9 miles of metalling were completed on the Napier-Wairoa Road; the whole road has been maintained, and straightened and widened at some of the sharp bends. On the Te Kuiti - Mokau Road about b\ miles of metalling has been done, besides ditching and maintenance. Two miles of Awakino Valley (Lower) Road have been formed into a drayroad, and 1 mile of ditching done, and a tunnel is in hand. On the Ohura Road a considerable amount of metalling has been done, besides maintenancework and various improvements. The erection of a bridge over the Tangarakau River (top crossing) is nearing completion. On the Rotoaira-Waimarino Road a good deal of widening and pumicing has been done, and two bridges have been built. Thirty-eight prison buildings were built at the prison-camp site and 4| miles of telephone-line erected. About 14£ miles of the Main Kohatu-Westport-Reefton Road have been metalled, besides several miles of patching. Several bridges have been repaired, and the new bridges over Blackwater Creek and Orowaiti overflow are almost finished. The main road between Arthur's Pass and Waiho has been maintained and 39J, miles metalled, besides several miles of metal patching and re-forming. The work of improving the Kaikoura to Conway River main road so as to make a first-class coach-road was commenced during the year : already about 18 miles have been widened and improved and 1| miles metalled. A few of the principal bridges, protective works, &c, are mentioned briefly below :— Tokatoka Swamp Stop-banks, Drainage, and Tramway. —The 15 J chains of tram-line required to complete have been constructed by the Department. Fourteen miles of stop-banks have been maintained during the year. Owing to serious tidal encroachments along the foreshore about 21 chains of stone protection-work were constructed. Mangere Bridge. —The erection of a ferro-concrete bridge 808 ft. long and 38 ft. wide to carry a roadway and double line of tramway over the Manukau Harbour between Mangere and Onehunga has been carried out by the Mangere Road Board under Government subsidy. Waikato River Bridge (Rangiriri) .—-A. contract has been let for the erection of a bridge 438 ft. long over the Waikato River at Rangiriri. Waihou River Bridge. —The erection of the bridge with approaches over the Waihou River at Puke, on the Paeroa-Netherton Road, has been completed. It has been provided with an opening span, and dolphins have been erected to prevent passing vessels from damaging the bridge. Wairoa River Bridge. —A ferro-concrete bridge, consisting of eleven spans of 45 ft. each, has been constructed across the Wairoa River on the Tauranga to Waihi Road, about 5} miles from Tauranga. Rangitaiki River Bridge (Te Teko). —The erection of this ferro-concrete bridge is being carried out by the Department. It is situated on the main road between Rotorua and Whakatane, and consists of seven spans of 45 ft. each. Ongarue River Bridge. —A bridge has been erected across the Ongarue River near Taringamotu Station, which will give access to the Irawhata Block,