PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14833, 26 November 1913, Page 12

PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT.

(Per favour of the Government.)

In the House of Representatives last* .nijtht the Public Work* Statement w presented by Jhe Minister (the Hon. W. Fr&wr). Tho Tolbwing i* a fairly full summary of its contents :-— Owing to tho financial position obtaining at the close of last session, and in view of tho heavy commitments already entered into, I did not feel justified in making available for immediateexpenditure the whole of the new items appearing on the Public Works Estimates. AH authorities issued and offers made in pursuance of previous years' appropriations w«re, however, duly honoured. New votes urgently requiring attention were also authorised on application. As soon as the success of the flotation of the new loan was assured all restrictions regarding expenditure of new votes were removed. Notwithfctanding these precautionary measures the. total expenditure of the past year on Public Works was not only in <;x----<f«,s of that of tho previous year, but was actually' tho largest in any single rear for over thirty years, and amounted in the very large sura of £2,711.008 —rir,., £2,503,365 out of tho Public Works Fund and allied special accounts, and £117.703 out of the Consolidated Fund. Tho following table shows the brief particulars of lh<> expenditure of the rear, and also thfi total under each class of work from the inauguration of tho Public Works policy up to tho 31st JJarch last :— TOTAL KXPEXDFraUK. KxnciKliture. Cl*«i of Work. .jnn £2 es S -n« ■a ■rS* a-*"" a H E»ilwjj» £ £ Xcv construction .. 654,190 21/M5.502 A&iitioag to «p*n line* 4(54,636 8,853,417 Ttoade .. .. 37M16 r».7-2n,R63 • Public buildings .. iio,lsJ 5,<e7.5!5 Immigration .. .. 14.601 i,2JJ,GOiI Purchase of Xativf lands .. ... — a,ofv.7-20 Lighthouses, h&rbcinTtvorks, and harbourdcfenc« .. .. IC.TS'i I.OSf.iOI Tonrial and health resorts - .. .. liOfrti 220,339 Te|esrr*ph extension .. 251,37S 2,277,125 Development of Goldfields "* 10,644 \ 877,80-2 Dcfence-wrorka (general) ' 'J. 1,790 ' 9<J,209 Departmental '.. 764,035 Development. o{ waterpower .. .. — 18,431 Irrigation 1 and ■water- ' supply .. .. — 4,350 Payment to Midland H»ilw*y bondholders .. — 150,000 Latule-iujprovemciit .. Ui.jSO 104,713 Minor works aud service .. -• ..' — ' 312,607 C&st and discount, rai»- - . injr loans,, etc. .. 72,050 1,i>13.002 ToisLU .. .. -3,(51,499 59,375,131 Wellington-Hutt Railway Improvement .. yoi ±J9,381 New.Hutt road .. 1,738 !»,S2i Railways Improvement Account .. .. ,20/254 ' VJ&,f(» Opening up Crown Lands . for Settlement Account 47,951 G32.153 National Endowment Ac_count ■-. .. ' ... 2.CBD 19,838 Waihon and Ohinoimiri . . ■ Rivera Account ._ 9,555 -13,324 Aid to Water-power Woiks Account ~ 33,000 35,003 Jmgntibn and Water- • . - »upply Account ..-., 14,089 U,m Totals ..■■■:' ... 3,693,365 W,d14,415 WAYS AND MEANS. At the 31st March, 1912, the nvailablo ways and'means for Public Works purposes wore £82,580 and further funds were received as under:— ✓ •'••-.-' x Under the Aid to Public Worjcs aad Land Settlement Act, 1911.. 050,000 Under the Aid to Publio Works and I/and Settlement-Act, 1313 .. 655,226 Lnder the New Zealand Loans Act 103S 1.. .. - 7JOTJ, Transfer from Consolidafed'Fund .. 750,000 AlJseeilMWioiui meipts ~ .. 119,909 Making'» grooe total of .. 2,823,451 . Tho ordinary expenditure of the yearamounted to £2,378,539, charges and expenses in respect of raising loan* £<2,900, and redemption of debentures £1,000. thus bringing the total disbursements up to £2,452,469, . and leaving a credit balanco at tho ond of tho year of £370,965 (exclusive of £249,776 proceeds of 4 per cent, stock loan to "pay off debenture* duo 15th April, 1913). For the current year it is proposed to provide additional funds as under :— ■•.•■' - ' ' £ Balance ofloßH of 1911 .. ... 100.000 Balance of loan of 1312 ... ' .. goi 774 Transfer from Consolidated Fund .. 67o'<>00 PrarxMed new loaa' .. .. 1,750,000 The abovo, with the balanco brought forward, gives a gross totol of £3,796,739. The estimated eipontlituro for publio works for tho current year (oxdudinc separate accounts having their own ways and means) amounts to £2 1 095.575, . Icaring an ostiniated balance of £801. }& ito bo carried forward to next year. In addition to the ab<jv<? «o have authority to raise, outside' the Public Works Fund, tho undermentioned '.sums: — £ Tndcr the Aid to Wai»?r-pow*r "Worka Act, 1010 .. ... 450.000 lor irri!tatUm T iworks l under the Itand Watcr-«upply Act, T . , 1913 . ;...... 100.000 Lndcr th* Waihou and Oliinwniiri TJi'jDsa Improremcnt Act, 1910 (balance .. _■_ 50,000 .RAILWAY. CONSTRUCTION. The following soetion* of railway wore completed nnd opened for traffic during tlio-last .ananpiol year, or sinceits close :-— Wejktibu to Olokn .. 7 T.i April i»i n U'Mtport to Te Kuha 5 74". ApWl; ml T« Were *c Puhokura S 5S August 1312 Kiwj ,to--Gl«»hep« .. J2 3!> !?->ptcmb«, 1913 Wina to Paniawu* .. s 4.-J.-geptombcr. JDI2 To liana to Kaiwaka S C 5. Ifarch. 3913. Total c '..• ..••52-51, ThA foHowinx lengths are nracticallv ,connplo't«i; bnt have not-*yct been handrel t-hft railway authorities for trnffic:-— • " \f Cli Haucstnui to T« Pofc* .. 13 0 Peboknr& to TVhfkncaieosion* , ' G 1!I Otoko to Ralcauroa" G 50 Coal Creek Extension ,' !.' . 3 se In addition to th«> above the follow* mc sections are approaohiiij: completion, ana aro expected to b* rrady to open for -traffic during the current financial year:— ~ ■ _ , . M.Ch. Ks:nu Exlnnsien .. ~ . 2 ■iHira to Kaikoli* .1 Jβ 2S KajVska, 10 Otarn»t«a . . 2ia Xrbunt Eghiont- Braneli '■ <» jg to Inansahua Junction .. 12 70 Case io B«aJey .. \ v c Bic Ha? U> Ath«niettai FJat " n 6 Hcuipapa to Papatowai .. !! 12 73 The total oxpenditurc on railway construction aud improvement work durs" ear ««J«»intod to" i-i.lij'.yi 1, as und«r-:-r . K«>inayf Improwiuent 'Aceonat '.. 23 251 : KAIHU EXTENSION. proposed. '

KAWAKAWA-HOKIANGA. ! It is expected that -the eection to j lvaikohe will he ready for opening i about the onil of January next. The j expenditure -during the last financial I year wn* £30.078, and for the current year a voto of £-10.000 is proposed. ] NORTH AUCKLAND MAIN TRUNK. The expenditure daring the past financial yenr amounted w> £73,93*5, and for the current year a vote- of £00,000 is proposed. WHANGAREI-NORTH AUCKLAND MAIN TRUNK. The North Auckland Trunk Railway has now reached a point which renders j it necessary to decide by what route j a connexion can best be inado between I tlxi main lino and the isolated system which has iu> southern terminus at Gra-haniiOK-u "Wharf, close to Whangarci. I It has boon decided to locate tho line j on a route starting near Whangarei, ! linssinK through Mang'apai. after ekirting tlie harbour, going close to Maungakararaea, and continuing by way of the Tauraroa Valioy to a suitable junc-tion-point with the North Auc&lantl Trunk lino. The route adopted is not quite the shortest available, but tho cost of constructing the line on this ! location will not exceed that of the more direct lines which were examined, and the chosen route has the advantages of serving Mangapai, and permitting of a branch line being taken to Wuipu later on at moderate cost. A vote of £15,000 to permit of the construction of this railway being commenced is proposed. H UNTLY-A WAROA. I The expenditure during last financial year amounted to £11,732, and for tho current year a vote of £25,000 is proposed. WAIUKU BRANCH RAILWAY. The small expenditure during the past year was charged to the vote for surveys of new lines, but for the current year a special vote of £10,000 is proposed to permit of construction-work being begun. EAST GOAST MAIN TRUNK. From tho Gisborno end construction work has been pushed on vigorously during the year, and the advance parties are now at work within three miles of Motu Township, or forty-eight miles from Gisborne. At the Napier end construction was suspended in October, 1912. Negotiations have- been proceeding for some time between the Public Works Department on the oue hand and the Napier Harbour Board and the Hawke's Bay County Council on the other in regard to tho construction of a combined railway and roatl embankment and bridge across tho Inner Harbour. There is no reason now why a satisfactory sottloment of all difficulties should not be arrived at, and the sum of £10,000 has accordingly been placed on the estimates towards pying effect thereto. The expenditure during last financial year on the different sections of the East Coast railway was as follows: — £ Wuihi fa Taurauga .. .. •• 5,368 Tauranga to Taneatua .. .. 28,462 GUborne to Motu .. -• .. 57,548 Gisborno to Napier, north end .. 15,677 Gisborne to Kajiicr, south end .. 11,438 For the current year votes are proposed as under: — Wailii to Tuuxangs. .. .. .'. 10,000 Tβ Maunga Xorthnards .. .. 2,000 Tauranga to Taneatu* .. .. 50,000 Gisborne to Motu .. .. /.. 60,000 Giflborno to Napier, north cad .. 33,000 Giaborne to Nfcpier, south end .. 10,000 STRATFORD—MAIN TRUNK. The expenditure on this line during the "past financial year amounted to £72,843 at tho western end, and £22,448 at the eastern end. For the current year a total voto of £85,000 is proposed. - MOUNT EGMONT BRANCH. Expenditure during . last financial year amounted to £4657, and for the current year a vote of £15,000 is proposed. OPUNAKE BRANCH. ' Since April last surveys to determine the most favourable route for the recently authorised branch line to Opunake have been in progress, and the line has been located for a distance of about ten miles. The expenditure on this survey was debited to the vote for surveys of new lines, but for the current year a special voto of £15,000 is proposed, to permit of construction-work being commenced. OHAKUNE-RAETIHI BRANCH. Twelve small contracts are now being let, vrhich will carry the line about half-way to Raetihi, and if the results are satisfactory further contracts of tho sanie nature will be arranged. The expenditure during last financial year was -only £2022, but for the current year a vote of #20,000 is proposed. FEATHERSTOX-MARTINBOROUGH. This lino was included in last year's Railways Authorisation Act, to servo the -large_area of settlement land of which Martinborough is the centre, and it I has been decided to <jommenoe its construction this year. A vote of £5000 is icoordingly provided. SOUTH ISLAND MAIN TRUNK. At tho ■ northern end the line is open to Ward. From there to Mills, eight miles farther south, the formation is no* constructed and ready for platelaying, with tho exception of some light earthwork near Mills Station. Thie section includes some heavy cuttings and fillings, a tunnel 8J chains long and % a, combined railway and road bridge over the Ure River which janow nearly completed. To the south of the Uro bridge, where tho formation is through sandhills, marram-grass has proved entirely successful for heavy sandy batters, banks, and sand-drifts, but experiments with other bindingnlants resulted in comparative failure. No rails have yet been laid beyond Ward, but large supplies of rails, sleepers, and other permnnent-tvay mhterial nro being forwarded to the rail-head, almost the whole quantity required for tho eight miles to Mill's having already been received there aud stacked ready for use. The section from Minn to Parnassus, eight miles and a naif in length at the. southern end of the line was com-, wleted and opened for traffic by the Railway Department in September, 1912. Formation-work, which had extended over tho next four miles, has boon suspended, and is not likely to be resumed during tho current year. Iho expenditure during last financial year amounted to £21,877 at the north oml. and £23.904 at tlie south <md. *°r tj"> current year a total vote of £-0.000 will be required. MIDLAND. At tho Nelson cud, since the opening of the section to Glenhopo on the 2\id tbeotomber, 1912. construction-work was earned on with a reduced number of men qver about two miles of the route towards Murchison until "April last when,tho work was suspended. It is not proposed to resume the construction of this section of the line durmcr the enrre-u ,-> r . but the road between Glonhope and Murehison will I>e made more suitable for motor traffic. On the Roefton-Inangnhua section the formation-work to the proposed station near the lnangahun Junction' has been completed, rails laid, and tho bnllajtincr is well under way. This.station will ho the terminus of the line for the present,- as it is not proposed to undertake any work beyond the Inancahun River this year. On the Canterbury side of the dividincr range formation has been practically completed between the Case and Bsrtley Flat, and a trnin service to the temporary station at Halpin Creek has been inaugurated. Floods in the Wnimakariri caused considerable damage to the formation during the year, which i has been repaired, and measures taken j for the future protection of the rail- i wnv. . ' ■ ' ] Messrs John McLean and Sous. con- t tractors for the construction of the' Arthur's Pass tunnel, -were relieved of their contract and the work taken over

by the Government on the 28th December. 1912, in pursuance of a recommendation of a Parliamentary Select Committee, since which it has been carried on, principally by day labour, from tho Otira end, under tho direct supervision of Public Works engineors. At the Benley end excavation by coopcrativo contract was tried, bnt was not successful, and tho experiment was not persevered with. From tho Otira portal the bottom heading is now in two miles twelve chains, and the tiinnol fully oxcavntcd and lined for 20 chains less. At the Bealey end tho figures are:—Bottom heading, 45 chains; excavation to full size and lining, 38 chains. Thus ihero remains two miles 48 chains between the" headings., and three miles between the points to which tho enlargement and lining have been parried on either side. A larger number of canable men could be employed to advantage on this work, but the best men are not obtainable in large numbers. The exoenditure on the different sections of "the Midland railway during last financial year was as follows:—r £ Kelson «d 23.36? Reef ton «nd J0.073 Otira-Bealey ".*» Bealey-Case 786 For the current year appropriations are proposed as follows: — Kelson «nd 5,000 Reef ton «ml I°.*» Otira-Bealey 70,000 B«al«y-Ottee 50,000 WESTPORT-IXANGAHUA. Tho formation work, principally rockcutting, which was in progress under contracts at tho commencement of the year, has continued steadily and ie still in hand. In all, eighteen contracts Ivavo been let, practically to small parties, who carry out tho work themselves. Six contracts have been satisfactorily completed, most of tho others are making good progress, while one which was abandoned has been re-let to a fresh party. The work in hand will carry the line to a point ten miles from Westport, and bushfelling and clearing is in progress over a further length of two milee. Beyond this point it is not proposed to undertake the construction work for the present. During last financial year the expenditure on this line amounted to £18,711, and to meet liabilities during the current year a vote of £20,000 fe proposed. GREYMOUTH-POINT ELIZABETH. The extension of this railway to serve the now State coalmine lias been completed, and the Hue, which has a third rail in the centre on tho incline from Dunollie to the new terminus, is now in operation. The country being very eteep and rough, there has been much trouble from slips, but protective works have been put in where necessary, and the extension is now ready to hand over to the Railway Department for regular traffio. Tho expenditure daring lost financial year on this line was £9980, and for tho current year a vote of £20,000 is asked for. CULVERDEN-WAIAU. An extension of tho existing railway from Culverden to the south bank of the "Waiau river opposite the township of the same name was authorised laei so&sion. The lino will be fourteen mileS long, inexpensive to construct, will traverse a closely-settled area, and servo a largo productive district beyond, the output of which has hitherto been restricted, on account of its distance from the railway. A vote of £5000 for making a commencement with this extension is provided on the current year's estimates. WAIMATE BRANCH EXTENSION. There was no expenditure out of hist year's vote of £5000 for the extension of the railway front Waih.no Downs to "Waihaorunga. as it was not found practicable during tho year to detach a suitable engineer to carry out the necessary survey of the route. The vote- of £5000 is, however, repeated on tho current year's estimates. OTAGO CENTRAL: : Recent examination by engineers of the route between Clyde and Cromwell proves that, provided the rate of speed is restricted, a line of tho standard gaugo with sharper curves, occasional slightly increased grades, and generally lighter formation can be taken for most of the way alongside the present road and constructed at far less cost than the original estimates indicated. Such a line would admirably serve tho purposes of the.settlers in the Upper Clutha Valley and enable large quantities of grain of tho highest quality, and also fat stock and fruit, to bo conveyed to the coast. At present this is impossible, as it coats Is per bushel to cart grain from Hawea to Clyde, and fat lambs would become store's by the time they reached the present terminus. A vote of £7000 is. included in the estimates to permit of construction work being commenced as soon as the necessary re-survey is completed. LAWRENCE-ROXBURGH. Very little more iv tho way of construction work will be required to permit of rails bcinc laid to Beaumont Station, so tiiat the completion of the line to that point may be looked for at a fairly early date. The expenditure on this line during the last financial year amounted to £17,392, and for the current year a vote of £10,000 is proposed. CATLINS-W AIM AHAK A. The expenditure on this line 'during i last financial year amounted to £29.291, and for the current year a vote ot £30,000 is proposed.-WINTOX-HEDDON BUSH. There was uo expenditure out of last year's vote for the nroposod branch I line from Winton to serve tho productive agricultural district of which Heddon Bush is a convenient working cen- ' tro. There were local differences of opinion as to whether the district could not be more effectively served by a branch from the Riverton line, but the difference has now been settled in favour of the Winton connexion, thirteen miles in length, and the vote of £8000 to commence the construction of this lino is renewed on the current year's estimates! TOTAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION. In addition to the votes already mentioned, an appropriation of £1000 is required to provide for liabilities on account of the Kawakawa-Grahamtown ' railway that did not come to charge against last year's vote; £1000 will also be needed for old land claims damages, and other similar charges; £5000 for surveys of new lines; and J £90,000 for permanent way materials; I thus bringing the total appropriations i for railway construction purposes un to J £52.5,000. OTHER RAILWAY WORKS. i During the year under review the ! sum of £300,05,9 was spent by the Railwar Department on rolling stock, tarpaulins, pneumatic coaling cranes, Westinehouse brake, steam heating gear, workshops' machinery, and steamer for Lake Wakatipu. The sum of £164,577 was spent on I extension of station yards, purchase of land, additions to workshops, cranes, bridge work and subways, fire prevention services, wharves, gasworks, and extension of sjgnal and interlocking system, tablet installation, telegraph and telephone factlitive, duplication of line, reduction in grades, and improvement of curves. The expenditure last year on railway duplication and contingent- works was £30,240, principally on the Dunedinline. The cost of grade imorovernents' on the North Island Main Trunk lino was £33.031. The amount proposed to ho voted for the current year on account of "addi-

iions to open lines" is £500,000, of which fium £300.000 is for new rolling stock and workshops' machinery? and £ ,J OOOOO for various new worksA vote of £40,000 ie asked for on account of the Dunodin-Mosgiel deviation. ROADS AND BRIDGES. The provision made on last year's appropriations for road and bridge works under all votes and accounts (including the Consolidated Fund volo for maintenance) amounted to £746,950. The total amount authorised for expenditure during the financial year, including the unexpended balance of authorities brought forward at tho 31st Starch, 1912, amounted to £845,248. Tho total expenditure for the year amounted, however, to only £468,972, leaving; an unexpended balance o: authorities amounting to £376,276 at 31st March last. Between the Ist April and 30th September a further £337,378 was authorised, nnd expenditure to the extent of £231,605 was brought to charge. The large amount of money which has been standing as authorised for expenditure, compared with the actual disbursements, indicates that the temporary restriction placed upon tho authorisation of new votes after the close of last session had but little effect on tho expenditure. In my last Statement 1 expressed the opinion that it was almost impossible, under the existing conditions, to expend within any year the amount of money voted for that year for road and bridge works. The experience gained during tho past twelve months has confirmed mc in this opinion. Last year I referred to the disinclination of local bodies to make satisfactory provision for tho maintenance of main roads. In localities where the main road passes, through unoccupied Crown lands, sparsely settled districts, or Native lands, whence little or no revenue in tho way of rates can be collected, such a feeling is to a great extent justified. All main roads, however, do not come under the above category, nor will it be an easy matter to define what constitutes a main road. I hope, however, during the recess to find a satisfactory solution of this problem, as also to tho equally abstruse one of improving tho present method of distributing grants tor roads and bridges. ROADS ON GOLDFIELDS (MINES DEPARTMENT.) The total authorisations under this head last year amounted to £74,416, on account of which a vote of £50;600 was taken. The expenditure during the year was £36,761The cum proposed to be authorised for the current year is £65.743. on account of which n vote of £50,000 is asked for. TOTAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR ROAD WORKS. Last year's appropriations were as under; — £ Roads, etc •• 325,275 Backblock roads 201,5 < 5 Roads on goldftelds ■• •• 50,600 Opening up Crown Lauda for Settle- - went Account .. • • ■ • 100,000 National Kndowment Account ... 19,200 New Hutt xoad *. • • • ■ • 5,300 Maintenance ol roads (Consolidated Fund) <2,000 Total .£746,350 Tho provision for the current year is as under:— £ Roada, etc. 330,000 Backblock reads .. .. •• '200,000 Roads on goldfielde .. .. 50,000 Opening up Crown Luanda for Settlement Account .. • • • • 100,000 National Endowment Account .. :.'2,750 New Hutt roed 4,000 Maintenance of roads (Consolidated Fund) :. •• ■- 45,000 Tot»l .. .. ' .. 751,750 GOLDFIELDS. The value of the mineral output for the year amounted to £3,042,224, being a decrease as compared with tho output of tho previous year. Expenditure under the heading of. Development of Goldfields during tho year wa-s £10,644, and a vote of £9300 is proposed to be taken this year. PUBLIC BUILDINGS. The total expenditure on public buildings during the Lost financial year amounted \o £611,041, made up as follows :— £ Hevr buildings (Public Work* Fund) 445|102 Maintenance - works (Consolidated Fund) .. .. .. .. 73,030 Maintenance-works, schools (Consolidated 'Fund) .. .. •.. 92,819 £611,041 For the current year the following appropriations are proposed :— £ New buildings (Public Works Fund) 466,000 Maintenance - works (Consolidtted Fund) 68,669 Maintenance-works, schools (Consolidated Fund) .. .. .. 102,200 Contribution to fund for renewal or .reinstatement of buildings damaged or destroyed by flr« .. 10,000 £6(8,889 GENERAL. The total expenditure on the new Parliament building and grounds during the fhuincial year. amounted to £15,841," and £2944 was spent on widening and altering the grades of adjacent streots. jr The most important departmental building completed during the year was the new offices facing Cathedral square and Worcester street, Christchurch, which will accommodate most of the officials now located in the old Provincial Buildings, as well as an appreciable number occupying rented offices in various parts of "the city. A largo vote is provided on the estimates for this building, principally to cover liabilities existing at the cud of the financial year. The current year's vote provides also •for the new departmental buildings at Gisborno and Stratford, additions at Blenheim, tho completion of similar buildings at Hamilton, New Plymouth, and Hokitika, and for the erection of new publfc works and marine etores on tho reclaimed land at Pipitea, Wellington, necessary owing to the sites of the present buildings beinp; required for railway purposes. Provision is also made for additions to the Government Printing Office, already in progress tinder contract. JUDICIAL. Courthouses —The currcut year's vote provides for new Courthouses at Kaitaia, Waipu. To Puke, Wairoa, Martinborough, Raetihi. Motueka. Amberley, Balclutha. Wyndham, and Chatham Islands. Gaols—Provision is made on the current year's estimates for commencing the erection of/buildings at tho Waikeria Reformatory Farm, in the Waikato district; for work in progress at Auckland and Invercargill ; for new buildings at Palmer&ton North and Pic-t-on. aid for warders' cottages at Wellintrton. Lyttelton, and Invercargill. Police-stations—On the current year's estimates provision is made for -new buildinps at Houhora, Northeote. Takaritma, Mount Eden, Mount Epsom. Ponsonby, Devonport. Herekino, Panakura, Hamilton, Ncaruawahia. Huntly, R-aurimu. Tokaanu, Whangainomona. Tokomaru Bay. Motu, Patutahi, Pornngahau.. Masterton, Brooklyn. Eastbourne, Island Bay, Karori. Charleston, Ahaura, Stafford, Ross, Fendalton. Coaltrate, Dnrfield, Ashburtnn, Waitati. Clyde. Middlemarch Cavorsham. Mornington. Northeast Valley. Kaitansata, Tapantii, Matnura. Xiirhteaps, North Tnvercar<jill, and Gladstone.

Masterton, Wellington, Blenheim, bamarn, and Punedin. MENTAL HOSriTALS. Since the close of the financial year two contracts have been lot for auxiliary buildings at Auckland Mental Hospital, for which a vote of £29,000 is provided, and items "to cover necessary works at Porinia, Sunnysido, Wa'itati, Seacliff, and Nelson also appear on tho estimates. AGRICULTURE. Further expondituro is contemplated this year to provide up-to-date buildings and equipment for the experimental farms, to make these institutions object-lessons in all that makes for effective working and economy. When the farms wero etarted there was an almost entire absence o.f modern equipment, and improvements are being effected gonerally, the expenditure boing spread over a number of years. An experimental farm is being established at Mamaku, on which investigations into the cause of bush sickness in cattle may be continued, A noteworthy increase- 1 in the numbers of purebred live-stock imported involves extensions of the accommodation at some of the quarantine stations. HOSPITALS. Under the heading "Public Health, Hospitals, and Charitable Institutions," thoro war an expenditure last year of £9,126 out of tho Puhlio Works Fund. On tho current year's estimates provision is made for £25.530, of which it is anticipated that £10,000 will come to charge before tho 31st March nest, last year's expenditure included hospital accommodation at Rotorua, and an up-to-date Maternity Hospital at Wellington. It is proposed to provide similar institutions at Auckland and Christchurch, and the largest item? on the estimates relate to these respective proposals. SCHOOL BUILDINGS. The expenditure during the past year was £105,000, of which nearly £83,000 woe paid to the respective governing bodies for the erection of schools, additions to existing buildings, equipment and sites for public schools, teachers' residences, technical and secondary schools, and University colleges. The vole proposed for the current year includes a substantial grant for a new site and building for the Auckland University College, as well as the usual grants for buildings and sites to the several Education Boards, Technical and Secondary Schools and University Colleges, and also provision for further buildings required in connexion with the School for the Deaf, the Otckaike Home, and the different Native and Industrial Schools. WORKERS' DWELLINGS. The expenditure under this head during the past year amounted to £46,455 an appreciable increase over that of the preceding year. The demand for workers' dwellings under the conditions provided in the Act is increasing, and for tho current year an authorisation of £75,000 is proposed for the acquisition of land, .roadformation on sites, and ei'ection of buildings. On account of this sum a vote of £6.5,000 ie asked for for the requirements of the current year. DEVELOPMENT OF WATERPOWER. Satisfactory progress has been made with tho Lake Coleridge power works. Tho works now under construction provide for headworks and buildings for .supplying 10,000 horse power, whilst the piant on order is capable ot supplying 4001) horse power after allowing ifor one spare unit. Transmission linos 'will be erected in duplicate between Lake Coleridge and Christchurch, where a sub-station will be built, containing the necessary transforming plant, also in duplicate. In connexion with this substation a stand-by plant consisting of oil engines driving three-phase generators, will be installed so as to maintain the'supply to Christrhurch and district in the event of failure of the .transmission line. From the sub-sta-tion, which is situated jn Aldington, power will be supplied to Christchurch and to the surrounding district for a radius of twenty miles or thereabouts. In connexion with these works a total of forty-two contracts have been entered into, th© contract sums amounting to £167,686, in addition to which the Department is carrying out, by direct labour or on the co-operative principle, inlet works at the lake entrance of the tunnei and outlet works at the connexion between the tunnel and the pipe lines, foundations to pipe lines, excavations for power houso foundations and for tail race, maintenance of roads between Coalgate and Coleridge, and transportation and erection of plant. The total expenditure to date is £82.897, whilst the liability amounts to £121,236, and it is estimated that a sum of £48.484 is required to complete the works now under construction, making a gross total of £252,617. A contract has been entered into with the Christchurch City Council to supply them with power as from May Ist next at varying rates according to the load. At present there is a prospect that the works will be completed in time, the determining feature being the nine line, the contract for which is much behindhand. , Negotiations for a supply of power to the Christchurcli Tramway Board nre proceeding, and similar negotiations will shortly bo opened with other power users and local authorities within the area of supply from the sub-station. Lnst year's expenditure in connexion with the development of water-power amounted to £35,009, and for the current year a vote of £200,000 is provided, i LICENSES FOR ELTCTIUC LIGHT ANT> POWER. Numerous licenses have, been issued to local authorities and companies to enable them to distribute electricity for light and. power purposes, also sundry water-power licenses. IRRIGATION. Steady nrcgress was made during the year with the development of the scheme to irrigate the Ida Valley from reservoirs constructed in the Manorburn and Poolburn Valleys. Tho expenditure out of last year's vote^amounted to £14,689, but a much larger sum will be required this year, and a vote of £3-3.000 is accordingly provided on the estimates. WATHOU AND OHTNFjMURI RIVERS. Last year's expenditure in connexion with these river improvement works amounted to £9500. For the current year a vote of £30,000 is asked for. TOURIST-AND HEALTH RESORTS. The expenditure under this heading for the -car amounted to £12,906. the principal part being in connexion with the erection of the new hostel at the Hermitage. It is stated that a practicable track can be made from Milford Sound to the head of Lake Wakatipu via the Cleddau Valley. • In the event of this turning out to be correct, steps will at once be taken to snrvey and for-n the track. For the current year a vote of £16,000 is provided, with which it is intended to complete and equip tho new hostel at the Hermitage, make nuich-needod extension to" Waitomo Caves hostel, and further develop and imnrove other scenic districts and resorts. TELEGRAPH EXTENSION. The expenditure on telegraph and telephone extension during the year amounted to £251.375. The vote' for the current year amounts to £376.000, made up as nnder:— £ Z«w telegraph and telephone !in« 75,000 >>«w telephone-exchange oonnexwns 200,000 Wiretess install at ioue .. .. 30,000 Submarine cables .. .. 10.000 Automatic-telephone iastalktions .. 41,000 376,000

LIGHTHOUSES \SD HARBOL R WORKS- . , Tho sum of £7375 wi« *»' required for lighthouse works during the current financial year. "' ~ . An authorisation of £15.811 is required for harbour works, on account of» which a vote of £11,000 is proposed lor the current financial year. Tlie expenditure on-harbour defence* last year was very email, but ft vote of £3000 is asked for the current yearGROSS TOTAL APPROPRIATION'SIn addition to the votes already specially mentioned, the estimates make provision for the undermentioned services :— Departmental .. .. •• &i:2W Immigration .. .. •• 000 Contingent defence .. •• 50 - 000 Lande improvement • •• •■ W.TOO thxis-bringing the total amount of the proposed apitropriations. including special accounts, up to £3,427,323, as against £3,143,111 voted and £2,520,799 actually expended last year. CONCLUSION". The rapid increase of settlement necessitates, year by year, a corresponding increase of road and bridge construction, and the end thereof is not yet in sight. There are still far toe many settlers who have had for years past either no access," or quite inadequate access, to their properties, but tho number of these I am pleased to say is diininishmg. Once these arrears have boon overtaken it will bo a. much easier task to provide only for the needs of new ;-et tiers.