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APPENDIX B. ANNUAL REPORT ON PUBLIC WORKS BY THE ENGINEER-IN-CHIEF. The Engtneer-in-Ohief to the Hon. Minister of Public Works. Sir, — I 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, 1919, to the 30th June, 1920. Although it is now nearly two years since the war closed, matters throughout the world have not reverted to pre-war conditions a 1 anything like the speed it was anticipated before the close of hostilities. This, coupled with the heavy mortality amongst the able-bodied men of the Dominion, lots resulted in the Department still having great difficulty in carrying on works vigorously. The immense amount of development work and new construction being carried out by private enterprise still further limited the supply of labour. However, arrangements Lave been made to house the men and, in general, improve conditions in connection with public works, and it is hoped this will result in the Department being able to man its works more satisfactorily. The universal inflation of prices has been the cause of very much increased costs of all works. EAILWAYS. Abstract. The following table shows the expenditure on Government railways in New Zealand up to the 31st March, 1920 :—

Tot-H.l 'local Name of Railway. Itaii'wayor Soction. Total Length of Kailway or Soction. Open for Traffic. Expenditure to 31st March, 1920 iu «v, M. ch. 24 30 45 25 58 6 19 79 85 22 163 48 127 35 09 33 138 27 93 45 230 64 M.ch. 19 58 16 25 58 6 M. ch. Kaihu Valley .. .. .. .. '.. .. 24 30 Otiria-Ngapuhi .. .. .. .. .. .. 45 25 Opua Wharf-Onerahi .. .. .. .. .. 58 6 Whangarei-Waiotira .. .. .. .. .. 19 79 North Auckland Main Trunk Railway (from Helensville) .. 85 22 Helonsville - Te Awarautu, with Branches .. .. .. 163 48 Frankton Junction-Thames, with Branches .. .. .. 127 35 Thames Valley - Rotorua .. .. .. .. .. 09 33 Tauranga-Opotiki, with Branches .. .. .. .. 138 27 Gisbome-Opotiki .. .. .. .. .. .. 93 45 Napier-Gistiorne .. .. .. .. .. .. j '230 64 Wellington-Napier and Palmerston North (including To Aio Extension and Greytown and Martinb;.rough Branches) .. 249 44 Wellington-Waitara, with Brandies .. .. .. .. 350 11 Stratford-Okahukura .. .. .. .. .. 112 47 North Island Main Trunk (Marton-Te Awamutu), including Raetihi Branch and Waipa Gravel-acoess Branch .. .. 225 7'J Picton-Waipara (South Island Main Trunk Railway)— Picton southwards .. .. .. .. .. 92 38 Waipara northwards .. .. .. .. .. 90 45 Nelson-Greymouth .. .. .. .. .. .. 170 0 Greymouth-Arthur's Pa-s .. .. .. .. .. 49 78 Rolleston-Arthur's Pa-s (inoluding Whiteoliffs Branch) .. 92 59 Westport-Ngakawau .. .. .. .. .. 19 56 Westport-Ngakawau Extension to Mokihinui* . .. 7 12 Mokihinui Colliery Linef .. .. .. .. .. 3 69 Westport-Inangahua .. .. .. .. .. 26 0 Ngahere-Blackball .. .. .. .. .. .. 3 40 Greymouth- Uewanui and Branches .. .. .. .. 8 70 Greymouth-Waitaha .. .. .. .. .. 50 3'2 Hurimui-Waitaki, with Branches .. .. .. .. 459 34 Canterbury Interior Main Line—Oxford-Temuka .. .. 83 0 Waitaki-Bluff, with Branches .. .. .. .. 600 21 Otago Central .. .. .. .. .. .. 182 51 lnvercargill-Kingston, with Mararoa Branch .. .. .. 117 4 Forest Hill Railway—Winton-Hedgehopej .. .. .. 12 40 Western Railways .. .. .. .. .. .. 94 8 Preliminary surveys Miscellaneous Stock of permanent-way on hand Rolling-stock 47 77 150 39 87 20 69 33 £ 121,803 125,771 523,636 291,615 1,147,351 2,637,546 634,605 373,057 478,723 623,330 286,160 49 32 249 44 350 11 112 47 233 12 285 59 42 26 2,580,246 2,738,b63 976,641! 225 79 218 39 2,838,652 92 38 90 45 170 0 49 78 92 59 19 56 7 12 3 69 26 0 3 40 8 70 50 32 459 34 83 0 600 21 182 51 117 4 12 40 94 8 56 6 44 14 118 6 49 78 84 45 19 56 7 12 3 69 5 74 3 40 8 70 38 68 413 70 11 44 546 12 134 78 97 44 12 40 70 31 654,37a 373,877 565,515 1,071,154 840,743 188,009 152,820 147,532 255,273 339,048 2,630,435 59,934 4,968,260 1,404,067 386,456 22,984 337,784 41,652 10,337 75,888 6,848,285 Total .. .. .. .. .. 4,158 52 3,00G 3 §37,752,229 * The funds for this extension —namely, £35,501 Ms. lid. — were provided by the Westport I The funds for purchase of this line, £15,745, wore provided by the Wostport Harbour Be 1 The expenditure on this line as a tramway was made by the Lands Department. § Includes expenditure on railways under Hutt ftoad and Hailway Improvement, Kii,i and Kailway Improvement Authorization Act 1914 Accounts. Harbour Board, 3ard. ihvay Improvement Authorizatiou Act,