RAILWAY ENGINEER’S REPORT.

Railway Engineer’s Office,
Invercargill,
February 15th, 1865.

His Honor the Superintendent.

Sir,—I have the honour to submit the following Report on the works of the Bluff Harbour and Invercargill Railway, and on the present position of the contracts for its completion.

The works executed and required for the completion of this Railway are treated under two heads, viz:—

1st. Works of construction to be executed within the Province.

2nd. Supply of Permanent Way and Rolling Stock, including Freight and Landing Charges for the same.

The works of construction to be executed within the Province were let by Contract. Contracts 1, 3, and 5, to Mr. Davies; Contract 2, to Messrs. J. A. Ross & Co.; and Contract 4, only a portion of which is debited to this Railway, to Messrs. Edwin V. Carter & Co.; and the Contract for the supply of sleepers was let to Messrs. Maning & Whitton.

These works were executed under my control, subject to instructions received from time to time from His Honor the Superintendent.

The supply of Permanent Way material and Rolling Stock was contracted for in England, on general specifications and particulars prepared in this office, and forwarded from the Superintendent’s office, with instructions from His Honor to the Provincial Agent in London. The arrangements in connection with these were never subsequently referred to this office.

Character of Ground over which the Railway had to be Constructed.

The length of the Railway and branch to the Mokomoko (Stanley) is 17 miles and 30 chains. Of this length 7 miles and 26 chains are over swamp, of which 3 miles and 75 chains in length was of such a character, that it was frequently impracticable to walk over it, and at no time previous to its drainage, could levels be taken over this length of the Railway; and the levels on either side of this portion of the swamp were connected by levels taken round the beach, and up the Mokomoko Inlet, a dotted line being shown on the section describing the approximate surface as too swampy to be levelled over.

Over such ground, it was altogether impracticable to estimate accurately what amount of drainage would be necessary to form the required crust over the bog, or what settlement would accrue, when it was so drained, and superincumbent weight applied to it.

Of the remaining 10 miles and 4 chains of the Railway, 3 miles and 58 chains in length had to be constructed across the several bays of the Bluff Harbour, and the one of the New River Estuary; in all of which bays the works were more or less exposed at high-tide to the action of the sea during gales of wind.

Intended Character of the Railway Works.

It was determined by the Provincial Government to construct the Railway over the ground described above in the cheapest manner possible, consistent with obtaining a good workable Railway for a speed not exceeding that of 20 miles an hour. In accordance with this determination, the works were designed for a minimum of expenditure in every respect, and were such as would be absolutely necessary under any circumstances.

Character of the Estimates given by me.

The Estimates given by me, from time to time, referred to the special Contracts and Works, designed in the manner stated above. On the Contract figures for these, where the works were let, and on an Estimate for the work, where the Contract had not been let, and there is no Estimate of mine intended to include all