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The above developments make the question of terminal facilities at Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch particularly urgent. For instance, the increase in mileage actually connected with the port of Auckland since 1914 has been 137 miles; and by the year 1931 a further length of 220 miles will be added, without taking into consideration the Taranaki connection now in course of construction. Since 1914, the length of additional railway connected with the system centring upon Christchurch is 166 miles, and a further 60 miles will in all probability be added by the year 1931. After the most mature deliberation on the proposals I do not hesitate to assure the taxpayers of the Dominion that they need have no misgivings as to the expenditure, as I am satisfied that from the point of view of return on the outlay the proposals will amply justify themselves. Works authorized under the Railways Improvement Authorization ACT, 1914. Estimated Cost of Improvements. Now stations and station-yards, goods-sheds, and terminal facilities at Auckland, £ Wellington, Palrnerston North, Hastings, Lyttelton, Christchurch, Addington (including a connecting-line between the Addington-Cul verden line from a point about 48 chains from Addington Junction running in a south-westerly direction and the main south line at a point about 9 miles 50 chains from Lyttelton, as shown on Plan No. 21769, deposited in the Government Railway Offices at Wellington), and Timaru .. ' . . .. . . .. . . .. . . 1,570,000 Duplications : Penrose-Papakura, Ohinewai-Huntly, Horotiu-Frankton, NewmarketNew Lynn, and Lyttelton Tunnel .. .. .. .. .. 485,000 Grade-easements: Penrose-Mercer, Mercer--Frankton, Frankton -Te Kuiti, and Palrnerston North - Marton .. .. .. .. .. .. 250,000 New engine-depot and approach-lines at Auckland .. ... .. .. 140,000 Additions to workshops at Newmarket and Petone .. .. .. .. 60,000 New line, Auckland to Westfield, as shown on Plan No. 21997, deposited in the Government Railway Offices, Wellington .. .. .. .. .. 375,000 Signalling, interlocking, and safety appliances .. .. .. .. .. 270,000 Bridge-strengthening .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 50,000 Total .. .. .. .. .. .. £3,200,000 The intention was to complete the works in five years, but the intervention of the war rendered that impossible, and for the past ten years the Department has been carrying on its operations, entailing the handling of five million additional passengers and one million additional tons of goods per annum, with facilities that were considered to be inadequate for dealing with the traffic which was handled in 1914. Of the works included in the above schedule it was found practicable to carry out the following : — s pen t to ioth July, 1924. £ Auckland yard reclamation, &c. .. . . . . .. .. .. 296,668 New engine-depot, &c.. . .. .. .. .. .. .. • .. 28,791 Auckland-Westfield —new line .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 9,671 Grade-easements, Penrose-Morcer .. .. .. .. .. .. 240,534 Grade-easements, Palrnerston North - Marton .. .. .. .. .. 12,708 Grade-easements, Mercer -Te Kuiti .. . . .. .. . . .. 602 Duplications, Horotiu-Frankton and Newmarket - New Lynn .. .. .. 5,234 Wellington, new yard .. .. .. .. . . . . .. 32,547 Hastings new yard .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,871 Christchurch new yard .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 5,7.12 Addington marshalling-yard .. .. .. .. . . .. .. 11,777 Lyttelton rearrangement .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 3,206 Workshops additions, Newmarket and Petone . . . . .. .. .. 35,962 Plant, steam-shovels .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 12,014 Hayward's improvements, automatic signalling .. .. .. .. .. 2,248 Signals .. .. ■ .. •• .. .. .. .. .. 264,110 £963,685