Australian (Sydney, NSW : 1824 - 1848), Tuesday 11 August 1846, page 3


RAILWAYS.

The following Report by Mr. Woore, was read by him at the Public Meeting held at Mr. Lyons' Rooms, on Thursday last, for the purpose of collecting information relative

to the introduction of Railways into this Colony. REPORT. With the view of ascertaining the facilities attending the formation of railroads as the means of communication throughout the counties of Cumberland, Camden, and Argyle, in the colony of New South Wales I have personally examined every line that is supposed to be available for such a pur-pose, and will endeavour to describe their relative merits. Owing to the country being covered with timber and brushwood, it would be impossible to carry on a minute survey until that has been cleared away, consequently I have con-fined myself to tracing the different lines, with the object of ascertaining where the most practicable lies, that a pathway be cleared along it to enable the levels to be taken. The directions of those lines are shown on a map I have prepared for the purpose, which I now lay before you, and it is for you to determine which of them shall be adopted. In connecting Sydney with Goulburn, there appear to be three distinct lines through Cumberland and a part of Camden, in which county they unite in the neighbour-hood of Bong Bong, and from thence to Goulburn there is but one ; that these lines may be the better understood, I shall desig-nate them as the eastern, the western, and the central lines. To commence with the eastern, it has been asserted that there is a good line for a railway passing along the coast ranges, consequently I examined that line ; but after tracing it upwards of sixty miles I found the obstacles and disadvantages so great as compared with other lines I had previously examined, that I gave it up. This line, after leaving Sydney, passes over a sandy ridge in front of Mrs. Chisholm's cottage, near New Town, where some cutting would be required, then along the edge of Botany Swamps to Cook's River, which it would cross at the dam, then in a south-westerly direction to George's River, crossingit near to Rocky Point, on an extensive em-bankment, as piles cannot be driven, owing to the bottom being rocky ; then ascending old Matty's Road, passes through Bottle Forest, which is a solitary spot of good soil, extending over 300 acres (an oasis in the desert) it would then follow up the ridge, which lies between Wooronora Creek and Port Hacking Creek, the first three miles of which are generally level, but the follow-ing ten are very uneven, as the ridge forms a succession of rocky heights and hollows, that although the outline is generally level, considerable expense would be caused in forming it into a railroad ; the next five miles slightly ascends, running principally through swamps that give rise to the Woo-ronora Creek, George's, and the Cataract Rivers. These swamps are composed of peat, soft, and boggy, impassable in wet weather, consequently there would be con-siderable expense attending the formation of a railroad across them, either by means of piles or embankment. The line must then pass along the very edge of the clifts over Wollongong, to avoid the heads of the Cordeaux aud Cataract Rivers, which rise within a few feet of the cliffs. From thence it has been supposed it could be carried on to Bong Bong, but the country is of much too broken a nature to allow of this being easily effected. There does not appear to be a single advantage attending this route, unless it is that of connecting Wollongong and the coast to the southward with it. If this be practicable, however, the expense would be great, and in the present state of the colony the return very limited, more particularly as we should have to compete with the steam boats. On the other hand, the outlay in forming the road would be very great, as, in addition, to the difficulties in crossing Cook and George's Rivers, the making of the road along the ridge between Wooronora and Port Hacking Creek, and of crossing the swamps, there is scarcely any timber to construct the rails, sleepers, and fencing of, the country being a perfect desert, but were these difficulties overcome, I should still think it would not be advisable to adopt this route, as it is so totally unconnected with the located parts of the colony — and the route is in itself of so sterile a nature, that it is incapable of being rendered productive. The central line, or that known as Sir Thomas Mitchell's new line, by the Pheasant's Nest, also crosses Cook's River, by the dam, but on leaving it, takes a more westerly direction than the eastern line, runs through a rocky hill opposite the dam, then follows the line of the Wollongong Road through Connally's land, and by Storie's garden — near which it must cross two deep gullies, both falling into George's River ; then along a narrow ridge which divides the falls of George's River from Salt Pan Creek ; then descending rather a deep gradient to George's River, it must cross it on embankment, as the bottom is too rocky for pile driving ; the width here is said to be 400 yards. It would then ascend another steep gradient of a mile and a half out of the river, and following the Watta-gong Road to about a mile from where it crosses the Wooroowra ; from whence it passes up the ridge that lies between Woo-roana and George's River. About twelve miles from the rise out of George's River to this point the line is pretty level and straight ; but from thence to Appin it must cross Dahlia Creek, George's River, and Tug-gerah Creek, besides several tributaries to them, each of which forms an extensive chasm from a mile to two miles wide, and from 400 to 500 feet deep. Sir Thomas' road, in order to pass these obstacles at all, is obliged to make considerable detours, which are always to be avoided in railways. The whole of this line is through a similar desert to that described on the eastern — without timber, and not worth traversing byroads of any description. Besides these difficulties, the line must cross over Broughton's pass in the Cataract, and the Pheasant's Nest in the Nepean Rivers — which alone are serious obstacles to a railway ; but when taken in conjunction with the others, and the unsoundnes of the ground in Bargo, I consider them sufficient to render the line wholly impracticable, at least, without an enormous outlay of capital. This line has also the disadvantage of [For continuation see fourth page.

[Continued from our third page. being unconnected with the located parts of Cumberland, from which a large por-tion of the revenue of a railway may be expected to arise. The western line, on the contrary, carries a main trunk into the centre of the County of Cumberland — from whence diverge short branches to Windsor, Pen-rith, Vermont, and Ellerslie. The Vermont branch I propose extend-ing through the fine country of the Oaks, Bong Bong, and the valley of the Wol-londily to Goulburn, and the Windsor branch to Bathurst, if practicable ; thereby distributing the advantages attending a railway equally throughout the three counties, and collecting all the intercourse in them. This line, starting fron the head of Darling Harbour, in Sydney, will cross the Ultimo estate, leaving the house a few rods to the northward, then over Black-wattle Swamp, on a viaduct, and across Parramatta-street on a skew bridge ; enter Grose Farm at the round watch-house that stands at the junction of the Cook's River Road ; then pass up a fall immediately to the right of the Cook's River Road, skirt the northern extremity of O'Connell Town, leaving Mr. Gray's cottage to the southward ; then through Holt's land, along the fence of Mr. Wilford's garden, and again through Holt's land, crossing Jones's Valley on a viaduct, under which will pass the road to Petersham : it then passes to the base of the high hill in the Petersham estate, where two slight cuttings and embank-ments will be required, leaving the house and cleared paddocks to the northward ; then across Long Cove Creek, where a viaduct will be required, and along the ridge in the Canterbury estate, which divides the waters that fall into Cook's River, from those into Parramatta River, crossing the road leading to the Sugar Company's establishment, then down a fall immediately to the southward of the village of Ashfield, and across the Liver-pool Road, at the eastern extremity of the Seven-Mile Hollow, entering the Burwood estate at the southern corner of a grant to the late S. Terry, and passing through it, leaving Mr. Rowley's garden about 10 chains to the northward, crossing Powell's Creek at the brick kilns, about twenty chains from the Parramatta Road ; then through the Underwood's and Pott's land, to Mrs. Conolly's cottage, passing about ten rods to the southward of it ; then crossing the Parramalla Road, in a hol-low about 60 rods further on ; it will then pass down a fall in the Homebush estate, cross Haslam's Creek about 40 rods to the northward of the bridge, then in a direct line towards Parramatta, through Mr. Blaxland's and Mrs. Macarthur's estates, crossing Duck River on a wooden viaduct. On Clay Cliff Creek, immediately adjoining the Messrs Byrnes's mills, ap-pears to be the best position for the station, as fresh water is here convenient, and it is near the town, without interfering with its buildings ; at the head of the naviga-tion ; and as on leaving Parramatta, the line will pass to the southward of the hill on which the flag-staff stands, this spot is in the most direct line. The station would be 12½ miles from the terminus at Sydney. On leaving it the line would pass through the garden attached to the cottage in which Dr. Anderson lives, leaving the house to the left ; it would then cross the head of Clay Cliff Creek, pass through Mr. Harris's land, leaving his house to the left ; then across the main road to Sydney, skirting the eastern extremity of the Race Course, it will pass into the valley immediately to the eastward of the hills extending from Prospect to Parra-matta, up this valley, and between the head of Prospect Creek and the hills, which leaves the hill to the northward ; then through Lawson's and Terry's lands, crossing Eastern Creek to the left of Terry's old stockyard ; then through a hollow in Hayes' land, passing close to the left of his house, and crossing a small creek there to Rope's Creek, at the north-west corner of a grant to Kable, now in possession of Mr. Robert Johnston. At this place a station may be formed with advantage, twenty-five miles from the terminus at Sydney : from this station the Penrith and Windsor branches would take off. The Penrith branch runs through Erskine Park, passing by the north-west corner-pin of the same, crosses the South Creek into Marsden's land, leaving his house about 50 rods to the southward ; then across the corner of Capt. O'Connell 's land, over a ridge, where some slight cutting will be required through the corner of Gandall's 200 acre grant ; then through Forster's, now Smith's, land, crossing the North Road in a hollow about fifty rods to the southward of where it crosses the Western Road; then down a fall through Tindal's land, leaving his house, the church, and town of Penrith, about sixty rods to the northward, passing on to the Hawkesbury River, to where the punt crosses. This branch would be 8½ miles long. The direction the Windsor Branch ought to take I am not quite decided about. It appears that the present road to Ba- thurst is very mountainous, and that it is likely a much better line may be found more to the northward, one even applica-ble to railway purposes. Should this be the case, the direction of this branch should be governed by that leading on to Bathurst, which, I am told by a surveyor, would cross the Hawkesbury River near to Richmond ; but not having examined that country, I cannot give an opinion ; therefore, although I have traced the line between Rope's Creek and Windsor, I will

let the subject rest till further information, has been obtained. Leaving Hope's Creek station, the main line passes through Mr. Allan's farm into the road to Fleurs, after crossing a creekthere, along that road till it encounters the Mulgoa Road, which it crosses, thenthrough Driver's land to the South Creek at Howlett's house on Cox's land. Here a branch line to Ellerslie will take off, —this branch will pass up the right bank of the South Creek, through Captain King's land, then through Mr. Bell's, and a small piece of government land, crosses the Bringelly Road near the South Creek bridge on that road, still following up the right bank of the creek to Nonorrab, where it crosses it, and passes between Nonorrah House and the Creek, then across the Tea-tree Creek, within forty rods of Blackmail's dairy station, passing up its bed to the ridge, which divides the waters of the South Creek from Narellan Creek, crossing the Cobity Road at the junction of the North Road, and passing through a corner of Orielton estate, and also a corner of the Wivenhoe estate, into Kirkharm ; descend-ing through it, the line crosses the road leading from the Cowpastures to Cobity, and passes within about twenty chains of the cottage and farm establishment, crosses Narellan Creek, then close past an angle of it, runs into the village of Ellerslie at the Cowpasture bridge. This branch is 10½ miles long. The main line, after crossing South Creek, will proceed through Captain King's land, passing along Mr. Kenner-ley's fence, and by his south-west corner pin, through William Brown's cleared paddock, then gently ascend to the gap in the western extremity of the cut hills through Hutchinson's land, crossing the North Road about one hundred rods to the eastward of a newly cleaned avenue opened to the Retreat Farm ; then through Liddington's land, leaving the dwelling house to the left, crossing the Cobbity Road on the top of the ridge, then descends a fall through the Vermont Estate, leading to the Bringelly Creek, passing between Wallace's and Thompson's huts, then parallel to the creek, leaving it about half a mile to the westward, and crossing the Nepean River, opposite Cusacks house on the old government cattle station, by a stone bridge, the span of which would be about 70 feet, the foundation here is of rock, with plenty of stone on the spot for the erection, the banks are high out of the reach of floods, the line then ascends along the face of the Eurethe range, by a side cutting of nearly a mile long ; it then gains the ridge, along which it passes through T. Hughes's land, till it reaches the level of the Oaks country. This ascent is about six miles in length, and is the heaviest and longest gradient on the line, but one that I think locomotives can overcome, but should it be found on further examination to be too steep, a more gentle one may be obtained by fol-lowing the ranges further to the north-ward, and connecting the Goulburn line with the Penrith branch, or by following up Timbester range, near to Brownlow Hills, neither of which, however, is so applicable as the first, provided the ascent can be easily overcome. The line then runs along the level of the Oaks, leaving the Hardwich estate to the left, and crosses the Werriberri Creek, at Mrs. Hancock's land, where a wooden viaductwould be required, as the creek is deep and wide. It then crosses Major Russell's farm, through Mr. Wild's, leaving his dwelling house to the right about 100 rods; then along Werriberri Creek, through Messrs. Wilkinson's, Inglis's, and West's farms, leaving West's house 50 rods to the left, over Monkey Creek, in Carmody and Partell's land, where it crosses a ridge, which divides the waters running into Werriberri Creek from those into Stonequarry Creek through Blackwell's into government land, where it crosses Cedar Creek, then along a level to the eastern extremity of the lagoons, leaving several small farms at the head of the Myrtle Creek, about two miles to the eastward from the northern lagoon. The line passes along the ridge that divides Bargo River from the Natai River for about ten miles ; it then heads the falls in Bargo River, and passing over a level country, crosses two gullies that form the head of the Bargo River ; here two wooden viaducts similar to that over Werriberri Creek will be required. The line then passes within a quarter of a mile of the base of the Black ranges, and leaves a small conical hill, called the Sugar-loaf, about 15 chains to the left ; it then descends a short way, and crosses the head of the Natai River, which is here but a small creek, then along the flat to Mrs. Cutter's Inn, where it crosses the Goulburn road, and imme-diately begins to ascend along the face of Gibraltar, where some side cutting will be required. It then passes through the gap in Mittagong range, where about ten or twelve feet deep of cutting will be re-quired; it then descends through the Bendooly estate, leaving Mr. Oxley's station to the right; along the bank of Oxley's Creek, crossing the Wingecaribee River immediately below the junction of the Creek ; then through Hutchinson's and Waite's land, leaving Waite's house a few rods to the right ; then through Nichol- son's land, crossing the midway rivulet, and passing close to his dwelling house, crossing the Bong Bong road, into a small farm adjoining the township of Sutton Forest, then by the township unto Underwood's and Bagdery's land, leaving Ivy Hall about twenty chains to the right, crossing the road to Barber's through Moore's land into Gray's, crossing the back line of the latter's grant about ten rods front his south-east corner pin-between two hills on Gray's land, and crossing the Goulburn road in a hollow

immediately to the southward of Gray's inn ; it will then descend behind the inn, passing through a gap in the range, where some cutting will be required ; then along the edge of two deep gullies, which from the head of the Long Swamp, gradually descending into the swamp along the side of the Hanging Rock range, where some side cutting will be required, then along the edge of the swamp about three miles, crossing an arm of it of about 50 yards wide on poles, and another arm 400 yards wide also on poles, then through a gravelly scrub nearly level to Paddy's River, which it crosses at a small farm of Mr. Robert Campbell's, on a bridge of about 60 feet span ; it then ascends along the side of a hill, and passes through a gap on the range, where some cutting will be necessary, and the stuff thrown into a hollow ; it then descends a slight gradient to the level of the Woollondilly River, passing up its right bank, about 5½ miles through Peters' and Wilmot's land, also the Limestone Reserve, then close past the lower fence of Mr. Stuckey's garden, leaving his house to the left, and round the base of Stuckey's Hill, where some side cutting, will be required, in order to skirt the hill and avoid a sharp turn in the Wollondilly River ; it will then continue up the right bank 2½ miles further, when it will cross the river in Major Lockyer's land, where some rocks lie very conveniently to erect piers to support three arches ; it will then pass up the left bank of the river about five miles, through government land, and recross it about a mile above the Towrang Stockade, by a stone bridge, the main span of which will be about 60 feet, with three smaller arches, two on the south side and one on the north, to carry off the floods, but a wooden viaduct may be applied on each side of the main arch. It will also cross a hollow on the banks of the river, 70 yards wide, and 12 feet deep, on a wooden viaduct, and over a creek where a small wooden viaduct will be required ; it then runs up the right bank of the river, passing through Pasmore's, Cole's, Lock-yer's, and government land, along the face of the hill adjoining Mr. Stewart's house, where some side cutting will be required ; leaving Mr. Stewart's house on the right, it crosses the Mulwarry Ponds on a wooden viaduct, and terminates on the government land between the old and new townships of Goulburn, from whence the line may be convenienly carried on to Yass at some future period. By this line the distance from Sydney to the Clay Cliff Station, at Parramatta, is 12½ miles, and from thence to Rope's Creek Station is 11½ miles, making the distance from Sydney to Rope's Creek 25 miles ; from thence to Windsor is 13½ miles, making the whole distance from Sydney to Windsor 38½ miles ; from Rope's Creek to the Punt, at Penrith, is 8½ miles, making the whole distance from Sydney, to the Punt at Penrith, 33½ miles ; the distance from Rope's Creek to Ellerslie, is 16 miles, making the whole distance from Sydney to Ellerslie, 41 miles ; the distance from Rope's Creek to Vermont is 15½ miles, making the whole distance from Sydney to Vermont, 40½ miles ; from Sydney to Bong Bong, 81 miles ; and from Sydney to Goulburn, 122 miles. In adding these together, it will be found as follows:— Sydney to Goulburn .... 122 miles Windsor branch ............ 13½ " Ellerslie ditto .............. 10½ " Penrith ditto ....... .. 8½ " Total...........................154½ " Of railway to connect Windsor, Penrith, Ellerslie, Vermont, the Oaks and Stone-quarry districts, Bong Bong, and Goul-burn, with Sydney. Whereas the distances by the present lines of road are — From Sydney to Parramatta .. 14 „ Windsor..... 39 „ Penrith .. 33 „ Goulburn .. 125 „ Bong Bong.. 80 „ Camden. . .... 39 Of these 154½ miles of railway 52 miles run through government land, and 102½ miles through private property. Twenty miles is already cleared of timber, and 134½ miles to be cleared. Supposing the line to be three chains wide, or 198 feet, and 154½ miles long, it would contain 3708 acres, 2460 of which would be through private property, and 1248 acres through government property. In the course of the line, with the ex-ception of the Windsor branch, there are besides the formation of the road, eight deep cuttings, and seven side cuttings. The erectious are, five termini, seven stations, two brick or stone viaducts, four first class wooden viaducts, ten second class wooden viaducts, eight first-class bridges, twenty-three second class bridges, eighty-three third-class bridges, seventy four culverts, and about eighty accommo-dation bridges. The termini are at Sydney, Goulburn,Penrith, Ellerslie, and Windsor. The stations at Parramatta, Rope's Creek, Vermont, the Oaks, Bong Bong, Gray's Inn, Goulburn Road, Wolonidilly River, about Peter's land. The brick or stone Viaducts are to be at the head of Darling Harbour, and across. Blackwattle Swamp. The first-class wooden viaducts are to be over Jones's Valley, near Petersham, the Werriberi Creek, and two over the heads of Bargo River. The first-class bridges are, the skew bridge, over Parramatta-street, over the Parramatta road, at Homebush ; over the Parramatta road, at Parramatta ; over the Nepean, at Vermont ; over the Wolon- dilly, at Lockyer's ; over the Wolondilly , at Towrang ; over Liverpool Road, at Seven-mile Hollow.

The other bridges, culverts, and via-ducts, are dispersed over the line. GRADIENTS. Now having run over the direction of the line, I will endeavour to give a de-scription of the gradients on it, although in the absence of the application of instru-ments to ascertain the levels ; and instru-ments as I have before said, it is impos-sible to use, until a pathway is cleared along the line, (my description cannot be very definite). However, I trust I shall be able to show that on comparison with the most level lines in England, gradients that may be worked by locomotives with facility are to be obtained on this line at comparatively a trifling expense ; in fact, that we shall be able to use the natural gradients of the country, without cuttings or embankments, excepting a few, instances, these gradients may not be capable of affording the extreme velocity that is acquired in England, but I have no doubt they will admirably answer the purposes of this colony, where I do not think that extreme velocity is desirable. The amount of velocity we shall acquire, and the expense of forming and working the line, are only to be obtained by a careful survey of the gradients. The line on leaving the terminus at the head of Darling Harbour, will descend through Grose Farm, nearly parallel to the Newtown Road, till it gains the ridge near O'Connell Town ; it will then run on nearly a level to the Canterbury estate, when it will descend into the Seven Mile Hollow, near Ashfield, and again ascend the ridge into the Burwood Estate, through which it passes on a level, till it approaches Homebush, when it again descends to the banks of the Parramatta River, at which point it is on a level as where it started from. These four gradients I consider nearly alike, and as you are all familiar with the ascent on Grose Farm, you can judge of it as well as myself. Those who have travelled on railroads in England, must recollect that of late years there has been a vast improvement in the power of lo-comotives, and by the adaptation of wooden rails, steep ascents are now travelled that were thought to be impracticable a few years back. I am of opinion that these gradients may be easily worked. After leaving the station at Clay Cliff Creek, there is an imperceptible ascent for a distance of twenty-five miles, with the exception of the slight rise at the Race Course at Parramatta, which may be altogether avoided if necessary. Throughout this distance, there is not the slightest cutting required, and the soil is of that firm nature, that I apprehend little will be required but to clear the line, and lay the sleepers and rails on it. In the neighbourhood of Vermont, the line must pass over a low part in the cut hills, consequently there will be an ascent and descent there, which I think will be again similar to that at Grose Farm ; here some side cutting will be required to form the road. The line then passes over a level of about two miles to the Nepean River, and immediately after crossing it, begins the ascent of the Eurethe Range, first by a side cutting along its face of nearly a mile, then on the top of the ridge for about five miles, in all six miles, when it will reach the level of the Oaks country. This is the heaviest gradient upon the line, but what the extent of it is I will not pretend to say, as my eye is not sufficiently prac-tised to approximate the truth ; however, I am strongly inclined to think that it may be worked with locomotives to advantage ; but in the absence of knowledge of the gradient, and of the exact power in the improved locomotive engines travelling on wooden rails, it is impossible to come to a correct opinion on the subject ; but should this ascent be found to be too steep, there are other means at hand of gaining the height, the value of which can only be obtained by minute examina-tion. Having gained the level of the Oaks country, the line here lightly ascends seven miles up the banks of the Wer-riberri Creek, at the head of which it must cross a ridge that divides these waters from the Stonequarry ; on this ridge, a slight cutting may be required. Then, after lightly ascending the ridge about two miles, it commences an almost imperceptible ascent which extends for 10 miles, when it rather increases for 6 miles ; then along a level for 6 miles further ; in all this distance (22 miles) there is not an obstacle in the way, with the exception of two gulleys, the heads of Bargo River, and these may be easily crossed on wooden viaducts. The country is so firm and level, that there will be little required but to clear the line, and lay the sleepers and rails upon it. The line will then descend about half-a-mile, on which some side cuttings will be required, and pass over the flat oppo-site Chalker's inn, on the Goulburn Road, to Mrs. Cutter's inn ; behind this it will begin to ascend along the face of Gibraltar, till it reaches the gap in Mittagong Range, through which it goes and descends through Mr. Oxley's land to the Wingecaribee River. The ascent to this gap is, I think, the next heaviest gradient on the line, but not much more than that at Grose Farm, if it is any ; the descent through Bendoola is less ; the heaviest cutting will be in the gap, say 12 feet deep, but of short length. The line again imperceptibly ascends 6½ miles to Sutton Forest Church, then rather increases to Ivy Hall two miles, descending half-a-mile from thence, it passes along a level to Gray's inn on the Goulburn Road, four miles. After leaving Gray's, it descends rather a steep gradient something similar to that at Gibraltar, to the Long Swamp, then passing along the edge of it, and over a

level country to Paddy's River, of three miles. After crossing Paddy's River it must ascend over a low part in the hills, and then descend to the banks of the Wolon-dilly River, up which it very gradually ascends through a distance of 25 miles to Goulburn. By this sketch it will be seen that there is but one heavy gradient on the line — that at the Eurethe Range— which has been already described ; two others — that at Gibraltar, and that descending to the Long Swamp, not so steep— and only ten others of any importance ; the remainder of the line is a light but a continual ascent. This line differs from all that has been executed in England, from the circum-stance of one of the termini being situated about 200 feet above the other, to gain this height with the greatest ease, I have endeavoured in selecting the coun-try through which the line passes, to keep continually ascending through the whole, so as to spread the perpendicular height over as great a space as possible. The branch to Penrith is quite level, with the exception of one ridge to be got over, which is not of any amount ; a slight cutting will be required there ; the greater portion of the line need only be cleared and the rails laid down. The branch to Ellerslie is somewhat similar, only one rise to be got over, the remainder being level. The Windsor branch I shall say nothing of until I obtain further information. Throughout the line, timber of all descriptions is plentiful. Coal may be obtained with facility at Black Bob's Creek, near Bong Bong, and I believe at Brownlow Hill. ROUGH ESTIMATE— RAILS OF WOOD. Purchase of land for terminus and via-ducts in Sydney................................ £5,000 Clearing 3228 acres, being 134½ miles, 198 feet wide, at 20s. per acre .......... 3,228 Making 8 cuttings, £2000 each ........ 16,000 „ 7 side cuttings, £1500 each... 10,500 „ 154½ miles of road, at £300 per mile .................................... 46,350 Draining ditto, £50 per mile ............ 7,725 Building 8 first class bridges, £2000 each ..................................... 16,000 Building 24 second class ditto, £800 each .................................... 19,200 Building 83 third class ditto, ^£300 each ................................... 24,900 Building 80 accommodation ditto, £200 each .................................... 16,000 Building 74 culverts, £30 each...... 2,220 Building 2 first class viaducts ........ 10,000 Building 4 second class ditto, £400 each 1,600 Building 10 third class ditto, £100 each 1,000 Building 7 stations, £800 each ........... 5,600 Building 5 termini, £2000 each ...... 10,000 275,000 sleepers, 9 feet long (rough squared) being for 2 lines on 154½ miles, each 6 feet from centre to centre, 5s. each ........................... 68,000 6,270,000 feet of scantling, 8 x 4, at 12s. per 100 .............................. 19,629 Laying sleepers and rails, £200 per mile ...................................... 30,900 309 miles of fencing, at 2s. 3d. per rod, 5,560 Locomotives, carriages, turntables, &c. 50,000 Unforeseen expenses ...................... 50,000 419,403 or £2714 per mile.