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common roads. Moreover, the traffic on this line will at times, at all events, such as on the arrival of several ships together, be so considerable that common vehicles would certainly never satisfy the wants of the public; the quantity of stone which is likely to be required both for the roads and for building purposes, would alone keep such a line in very constant occupation with a great establishment of horses.

My own impression then is, that the only description of permanent way which will be at once sufficient and really economical, either with a large or a small traffic, is one of the ordinary narrow gauge, substantially laid with rails not less than 70 lbs. to the yard, on transverse sleepers every four feet; or with equivalent strength; and that as locomotive traction will certainly be required at a very early period, it will be most economical to introduce it from the first.

I have therefore adopted this principle as the basis of the plans and estimates submitted.

A single line of rails only is required with sidings at the two termini; these with the one leading into the quarry in the Motupiko hills, and the branch line to the Lower Harbour, will for some time to come, at all events, supply all requirements for crossing.

It is proposed at present to combine the outlay under the head of Stations to the narrowest practical limits to construct them wholly of wood and of no greater extent than will be necessary to accommodate the first year’s traffic.

The Invereargill Station will comprise:—

1st. Booking Office and Manager’s House, with Office and Board Room, 52 x 50, of two storeys.

2nd. Passengers’ Platform, on both sides of the line, 80-ft. long, 15 wide.

3rd. Shed covering the above, 90-ft. long, 40 wide. A projecting wing on the east side of this will serve for lamp room, left luggage, porters, &c.

4th. A siding elevated on piles, to leave clearance for 320-ft., for the delivery of road metal and other stores above the level of drays.

5th. A short siding to the westward will lead to a small repairing shop, 50 x 30.

6th. Coke platform and water tank.

Campbelltown Station:—

1st. Booking Office and Clerk’s Residence.

2nd. Passengers’ Platform, single.

3rd. Shed over the above, 50 x 30.

4th. Coke shed and water-tank, with pump.

Atonga Mokomoko:—

Station, 40 x 20, and Passengers’ Platform.

A Goods Warehouse will soon be required at Invercargill, but it is not provided for in the estimates.

The rolling stock enumerated in estimate No. 3, will be sufficient only for a commencement. Another engine and additional trucks will be required should the increase of traffic be great.

The passenger carriages have been put down at a low figure, on the assumption that the expensive luxury of very highly finished carriages would be out of place for the present.

A very careful consideration of these various estimates, with all the aid I could obtain from inquiry, and from the suggestions of a gentleman of great experience, whose assistance I have thankfully to acknowledge, convinces me that the work can be executed for the sums named, though I am well aware that the disproportion of these estimates with the cost of railways in Australia may at first sight suggest them as, to some extent, equal. The causes however of this disproportion are easily explained.

1st. The line is all but level throughout.

2nd. It does not include a single engineering difficulty, nor even any one extensive work.

3rd. All unnecessary work is rigidly excluded; the whole line being of the plainest and cheapest class consistent with safety.

4th. The expenditure on stations is unusually small; and

5th. The usual heavy items of land compensation and law are in this instance so small as to be almost insignificant.

It is almost impossible to make any safe estimate in detail of the traffic which this line will enjoy. The growth of the trade of the Colony is so rapid that approximate estimates based on the actual experience of the whole of the short time during which the Province has had a political existence, and though far within what the best informed residents know to be probable, would appear in more settled communities or to persons not acquainted with the natural requirements of this part of New Zealand, to be exaggerated; and might tend rather to weaken their confidence in the prudence of the undertaking.

To show the advancing condition of the commerce of the Province, it may be sufficient simply to state the Tonnage Returns for the years 1861 and 1862:—

Southland Ports, Year ending 30th September:—

The consideration of such a return will show how completely hypothetical any estimates of the tonnage of 1864 must be, and on this railway the variation of the traffic will be pretty accurately represented by that of the shipping.

But it can hardly be necessary to attempt any detailed traffic returns. It will be sufficient to show that an immediate traffic is available quite equal to cover the current expenses and to afford a moderate return on the capital expended. It is impossible to doubt the great future development of it, and the expediency and prudence of constructing