472 KEPORT— 1891. 



veyed, it is difficult to estimate the annual cost to maintain it 

 on such unstable ground, constantly liable to slips produced 

 by the heavy rainfall of the West Coast. The section of rail- 

 way described was originally estimated to cost, for the 

 tunnel, £92,166 per mile, equal to £307,600; and for the re- 

 mainder, £22,046 per mile, equal to £458,024 : making a total of 

 £765,624 for this section. The approximate estimate of cost 

 — the surveys not being completed — of the same section with 

 the incline, instead of the tunnel, is — nineteen miles close under 

 the hills or on the river-flats of the Teremakau and Otira 

 Rivers, with heavy rock protection-work, at £11,500 per mile, 

 equal to £184,000 ; six miles of incline at £25,000 per mile, 

 equal to £150,000 : total, £334,000 ; giving an estimated saving 

 in cost of construction in favour of the incline of £431,624, 

 which, at 5 per cent., is equal to £21,581 as the saving in in- 

 terest on the cost of construction alone per annum. The sur- 

 veys, so far as they are completed, for the incline, show excep- 

 tionally favourable results, and the author anticipates that the 

 estimated figures now given will, at any rate, not be much 

 exceeded. The country to be passed through by the incline is 

 of a comparatively solid and rocky nature, which will greatly 

 reduce the original estimated cost of maintenance on the in- 

 cline itself. 



The surveys have been difficult and costly, owing to the 

 rugged character of the country. The author's staff have 

 shown great skill, courage, and perseverance. Laying out the 

 incline is near completion, and, so far, without serious acci- 

 dent to any of those engaged on the work, which has required 

 the nerve and coolness of practised alpine climbers,' combined 

 with great technical skill, to overcome the difficulties of survey 

 and final location of the line. 



The comparative estimated cost of working the tunnel sec- 

 tion and the incline section may prove of interest, being based 

 upon statistics obtained in working the Government railways 

 of New Zealand. The New Zealand Public Works Statement 

 for 1888 — Return No. 4 — gives the average cost of working the 

 railways at 56-02d. per train-mile, made up as follows (the 

 author takes the returns of this year, as the original report to 

 the Government was based upon figures obtamed there- 

 from) : — 



d. 



A.— Maintenance .. .. .. .. 20-08 



Locomotives . . 

 Carriages 

 Traffic expenses 

 General charges 

 Sundries 



13-02 

 5-30 



14-18 

 301 

 0-43 



56-02 



