whilst agreeing with the Author that it would have been of incalculable advantage t o the colonies in general to have had a uniform gauge of 4 feet 84 inches, remarked, that it might be interesting to inquire why Queensland adopted the 3 feet 6 inches gauge,notwithstanding the fact that in the adjoining colony of New South Wales the established gauge was 4 feet €3 inches ? The answer was, that Queensland could not afford the wider gauge on account of the difficulties presented by the Main

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... over which the line had to be carried to the table land of the Darling Downs.' The length of the Main Range incline was 15 miles 69 chains, in which distance there was a rise of 1,196 feet, with an average gradient of 1 in 70. On the incline, only 3 miles 48 chains were straight, and there were one hundred and twenty-seven curves, of which forty-five were of 5 chains radius. The total length of the 1 in 50 gradient was 4 miles 14 chains, on which, however, no sharper curves than of 6-chains radius were admitted. The section of the line presented a series of short, abrupt, and often precipitous gorges that had to be crossed. On such sidelong ground as generally prevailed embankments would have been impossible ; consequently, out of the 15 miles, 9 miles 65 chains, or nearly two-thirds ofthe line, were in cutting. Of the other third of the line only about a quarter was in embankment, the remaining one-twelfth being made up of either tunnels or bridges. There were one hundred and fifty. three cuttings, the greatest depth being 57 feet, the greatest length 28 chains, and the greatest height of bank 43 feet ; there were forty-six .bridges, or an average of about three to the mile, but on one distance of 3 mile there were eight. The longest bridge was 535 feet in length ; the greatest height of rail above the surface of the ground was 73 feet. The total length of bridging was 5,136 feet, or nearly 1 mile; and there were also one hundred and seventy-five culverts. On the incline there were nine tunnels, the longest being 8 t chains, and the shortest 3 chains in length; the total length of tunnels was rather more than mile. Had the 4 feet 8& inches gauge been adopted, curves of 5-chains radius would have been inadmissible. (they were bad enough on the narrower gauge), and bridges of enormous cost would have been required, which the existing line, in a considerable measure, avoided, by following as closely as possible the contour of the mountain spurs. He was indebted for the particulars of the Main Range to Mr. R. D. Stephens, who was in charge of this section when constructed, under the Engineer-in-Chief, Mr. A. Fitzgibbon, M. Inst. C.E.