The trip up might really be considered the trial trip of the locomotive, as she had not before been over much of the line, and it Avas a subject of conversation as Ave travelled along lioav evenly and smoothly she Avended her Avay, especially consider ing that only a small portion of the line has been ballasted, and part of it only laid about a week ago upon a very soft formation. The power she is reckoned at is eight horse nominal, but can be Avorked considerably over it, and she could travel over ten miles an hour, pro vided it Avas safe upon the Avooden rails. The pace Ave came from the starting point varied between four and six miles an hour. The only difficulty experienced AA 7 as at the curves, which are only of five chain radius, Avhich is hardly sufficient for any except a bogie engine. It is hoped, hoAvever, that the Avooden rails Avill be replaced by iron ones, at any rate round these curves, at once ; and it becomes a matter for serious consideration Avhether the remaining por tion of the line had not better be laid Avith contractors’ rails, as they are called, Aveighing from 301 b to 351 b, and replace the Avooden ones already laid as soon as Avorn out, or upon some really branch line, as the line Ave are iioav speaking of promises to become the main line of a very large district; and as the contractors have had the courage to commence A\ r ith a locomotive, Avhen it Avas only anticipated that horses Avould be used, it certainly slioavs that the experience of the district they have had whilst upon the contract is of a most hopeful kind, and Avould justify a divergence from the original character of the line. Besides, I have been given to understand that the first cost Avould be considerably cheaper in the end, and that the cost of three years’ Avear and tear and repair of the Avooden rails Avould pay for iron ones, Avhich Avould be good for a lengthened period. 