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APPENDIX B. ANNUAL REPORT ON PUBLIC WORKS BY THE ENGINEER-IN-CHIEF. The Engineer-in-Chiep to the Hon. Minister of Public Works. Sir,— Wellington, Ist July, 191' J. 1 have the honour to submit the following report upon the various works under my control completed and in progress throughout the Dominion during the period from the Ist July, 1918, to the 30th June, 1919. The Department's operations are still affected by the aftermath of war conditions, but notwithstanding this handicap the number of men employed is steadily increasing. The influenza epidemic caused considerable delay in the progress of all the works, many having been closed down for several weeks. No sections have been handed over to the Working Railways Department this year. The prospects of obtaining plant and material are slowly improving, but prices are still highly inflated.

RAILWAYS. Abstract. The following table shows the expenditure on Government railways in New Zealand up to the 31st March, 1919 :—

Name of Kailway. Total Length of Kailway or Section. Open for Traffic. Expenditure to 31st March, 1919. Kaihu Valley Otiria-Ngapuhi Opua Wharf - Onerahi Whangarei-Waiotira North Auckland Main Trunk Railway (from Helensville) Helensville-Te Awamutu, with Branches Frankton Junction-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 Raotihi Branch.. Picton-Waipara (South Island Main Trunk Railway)— Picton southwards Waipara northwards Nelson-Belgrove .. .. .. Midland Railway Westport-Ngakawau ' Westport-Ngakawau Extension to Mokihinui* Mokihinui Colliery Linet Westport-Inangahua Ngahere-Blaokball Greymouth-Rewanui Grcymouth-Brunner Greymouth-Waitaha Hurunui-Waitaki, with Branches Canterbury Interior Main Line—Oxford-Tenruka Waitaki-Bluff, with Branches Otago Central Invercargill-Kingston, with Mararoa Branch Forest Hill Railway—Winton-Hedgehopo) Western Railways Preliminary surveys .. ... .. Miscellaneous Stock of pormanent-way on hand Rolling-stock M. ch. 24 30 45 25 58 6 19 77 85 22 163 48 127 35 69 33 138 27 93 45 206 52 I M. eh. 19 58 16 25 58 6 £ 104,984 176,601 522,735 242,557 1,002,468 2,486,297 f12,246 369,447 398,376 623,100 241,122 47 77 150 39 87 20 69 33 49 32 249 44 350 11. 104 47 ■ 233 12 285 59 42 26 2,564,288 2,717,351 924,520 218 39 218 39 2,824,459 92 38 90 45 22 73 239 75 19 56 7 12 3 69 26 0 3 40 8 70 7 51 50 32 501 52 83 0 600 21 182 51 117 4 12 40 94 8 56 6 44 14 22 73 179 67 19 56 7 12 3 69 5 74 3 40 8 70 7 51 38 68 443 8 11 44 546 12 134 78 97 44 12 40 70 31 654,056 373,877 199,982 2,066,394 188,009 152,818 147,532 255,026 150,651 338,911 2,696,170 59,699 4,960,671 1,384,731 386,456 22,984 336,339 41,652 10,337 46,872 6,732,065 Total 4,118 78 2,993 3 §37,015,782 * The funds for this extension —namely, £311,501 2s. lid.—were provided 1 The funds for purchase of this line, £15,745, were provided by the Wei I The expenditure on this line as a tramway was made by the Lands I § Includes expenditure on railways under Hutt Road and Railway I and Kailway Improvement Authorization Act 1914 Accounts. by the Westport itport Harbour Tit lepartment. improvement, Kai Harbour Board! 3ard. ilway Improvement Authorization Act,