C—l 3

14

Order of Reference No. 3. —As to Converting the Tramway to a Standard Railway. We have already stated under a former heading that the tramway is not at all similar to the New Zealand standard-type railway, and it cannot be brought into such a condition as would render it suitable for incorporation into the general railway system of New Zealand except at enormous cost. This cost has been estimated for us by the Chief Engineer of the New Zealand Working Railways at approximately £600,000, as under : — Estimated Cost of bringing the Tramway to New Zealand Government Standard foe Secondary Lines. Cuttings to be miniimi in width of L 5 ft. : embankments to hv minimum width of 12 ft. Curves, minimum radius, 5 chains. Gradients, ruling gradieni I in 35, eased for curvature. Bridges to be suitable strength for all railway wagon stock. Rails to be 551b. per yard. Structures to standard clearances. Stations to New Zealand Railways standards. Dwellinghouses for railway staff. Formation, Track, <ni<l Structures Putaruru to 19 m. (near Kopokorahi): — (a.) Cuttings and embankments — £ £ Widening outtings and embankments, sm. to 19m. ... ... 6,500 Relocation, 6m. to 7m., and near 10m., at £5,000 ... ... 7,500 14,000 (6.) Bridges— £ 470 ft. at £1(1 ... ... ... ... ... ... 4,7(10 Culverts ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 500 5,200 (c.) Track: New track (55 Ib. rails) at £3,100 per mile, less value of existing rails, &c., .£5OO per mile: 1!) miles at £2,600 (say) ... ... ... 50,000 (</.) Clearances: Altering existing structures to standard clearances ... ... 100 (c.) Stations — £ Standard nag stations, live at £1,200 ... ... ... 6,000 Reading ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 1,000 7.000 (/.) Water-services ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 500 (g.) Fencing— £ Fences, eleven miles a. I £'_'IO ... ... ... ... 2,640 Cattle-stops, twenty at £30... ... ... ... ... 600 3,240 (A.) Dwellinghouses: Houses for staff, eight at ,£BOO ... ... ... ... 6,400 86,440 Contingencies ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 8,560 95,000 19 m. to 46f m. (near Oruanui) : — £ New construction and location, 28 miles at; £16,000 ... ... ... 448,000 Contingencies ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 22,000 470,000 Total, Putaruru to Oruanui ... ... ... ... 565,000 Rolling-stock for Whole Line to T α-upo. £ Engines, three at £10,000 ... ... ... ... ■■ ■•• 30,000 Passenger-cars, four at £1,300 ... ... ... ... ... 5,200 Wagons, twenty at £400, twenty at .£6OO ... ... ... ... 20,000 Vans, two at £700 ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 1,400 56,600 Contingencies ... ... ... ... ■■• ■•■ ■■■ 3,400 Proportion of this for Putaruru-Oruanui Section (say) ... ... ... ... 35,000 Gross total ... ... ... ... ... ... £600,000 The cost of altering the existing railway from 46f miles (the proposed junction of an extension to Taupo) to Mokai has not been included, as this portion of the railway would probably be worked as a branch for the purposes of the Timber Company.