PUBLIC WORKS ACTIVITY.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18230, 14 November 1924, Page 9

PUBLIC WORKS ACTIVITY.

Seven thousand men wore employed on public works during September. This is ,a record in the history of the Department. In addition, there were many men engaged on contracts under tlie Department—the construction the Arapuni "works and of a section, of the East Coast railway. . The following summary shows now tlie number has been expanded ui recent months-

In September, 2550 men were employed on railway construction anu 1212 on roads in the North Island, with 377 and 323 respectively in the South Island. Hydro-electric vorka occupied 811, public buildings only 453 and other works 1262.

"When I left Lincolnshire over 52 years ago," snid Mr J. V. CSkjatterton, an old identity of Canterbury who has just returned to New Zealand from an eight months,' tour of the' Old Country, to a representative of '"The Press" yesterday, "the paddocks were full of golden corn. But when I returned there this year in the summer. they were full of white and variegated lilies which were picked • and sent -daily to the London marktets. I was told that as much as ten tons of lilies left tho station in one day."

Railways. Roads. Total. April ... 271-J May ... 9637 June ... 2621 1762 . . GST7 • 1836 6520 1681 6529 July ... 2681 August ... 2738 1S5G 6614 1479 6658 •September 2927 1540 .6898