466

which from a straight line would render the fastening of prick post to the three rails, if not a practicable impossibility, a matter of very tedious fitting, involving a great waste of labor. To avoid this, a judicious alteration has been made, by which the prick posts have been omitted, and to insure an equal strength, the length of the rails or panels has been reduced from 10 feet to 8 feet. We do not find that the description of timber for the rails is specified; they are, however, mostly, of Red Pine, and of good quality. The posts are required to be of Black Pine or Totara, and are according to specification in this respect. With respect to size, the posts and rails are also correct; the objection taken in this particular, appears to have arisen from a misconception of the meaning of the term "cross section," the objector reading it as synonymous with diameter, whereas the area of the cross section is intended.

Considered sufficiently satisfactorily it will be necessary to institute an inspection by a party properly provided with the requisite tools.

CULVERTS.

In Mr. Cameron's evidence he describes a culvert which he considers objectionable in embankment No. 5. As we found no such culvert we believe this to be an error, and that embankment No. 7 is intended, where there is a culvert somewhat of the description he notices, which is also noticed by Mr. Elliot. Mr. Marchant appears to have authorised this departure from the specification as the construction in the specification was not necessary on this good ground.

PEAT FOR EMBANKMENTS FROM SIDE DITCHES AND SIDE CUTTINGS.

Messrs. Elliot and Cameron object to the use of peat, more especially in its wet state, in which state, it is said, some of it has been used. On our inspection we were unable to detect any instance in which the peat had been so used, and we noticed that the side cuttings and ditches from which it had been taken, judging that they would afford the best index to the state in which it had been employed; and we considered that it was in every case, in which it had been used for embankment, sufficiently dried for the purpose; and were fortified in this opinion by observing that in no place had the slopes of the embankments bulged out. We noticed no objectionable peat or vegetable matter anywhere but on the Moko-moko Branch, and here it had been removed from the seat of the embankment, and the material supplied from cuttings.

HARBOUR SHEETING OF THE EMBANKMENTS.

This appears to have given way during the late gales, where the work was incomplete; it is, however, being strengthened; when complete it is considered that it will be quite sufficient for some time, and when the railway shall be in operation it may, if required, be replaced by stone at a cost for both works very much less than that which would here been incurred by facing with stone in the first instance.

BRIDGES.

The bridge over the Waimatua Creek was, by mistake, made 20 inches too high; it has been reduced and is now at its proper height. According to the specification, the timber for this and the Moko-tua Bridge should have been Kaura, Black Pine, Totara, or Blue Gum. When inspecting the line we found that the bridges had been tarred and therefore we could not fully satisfy ourselves about the description of timber used, but on cutting the edges of two or three of the stringers we found that they were Miro, and we consider it, if sound (which it appeared to be), a good timber for the purpose; we do not, however, know what particular wood is meant by the term Black Pine, and we believe it is applied to more than one kind. Mr. Bailey, the inspector on this contract (who gave his evidence in a very straightforward and intelligent manner), evidently calls Miro Black Pine; for he says—"The timber used in the culverts and bridges is all of the description specified. If this should not be considered sufficiently satisfactorily it will be necessary to institute an inspection by a party properly provided with the requisite tools."

The reasons assigned by Messrs. Marchant and Dundas for the use of material from side cuttings for embankments, instead of that from cuttings, are, we consider, very satisfactory.

For we estimate that the loss to the Province, by delaying the completion of the railway for 6 or 8 months to enable