PUBLIC' WORKS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2582, 2 October 1915, Page 3

PUBLIC' WORKS

.TP ANNUAL STATEMENT NEED FOR ECONOMY UNNECESSARY WORKS POSTPONED.

- "Tie annual: Public Works ■ Statement was, presented to tho Houso of Represents tivea yesterday afternoon by the Hon. W. l Fraser (Minister of Publio -Works). ,- - Following was the text of the Statement (abridged)— • ■ i- .• .. v ! ■ A Warning to Workers.' -"Whea l delivered the Publio Works ■ Statement .last -year the' general , impression was * that the'. war-would not- last i much more - than' one year.' -At v present .who will :,vonture :to predict when' the ■ ,war : ; ,Trill.' terminate? It- is a," ■ somewhat extraordinary fact that, notwithstanding the thousands of workers who have joined the' Expeditionary Forces.., some 5000,.men etill require to be' engaged ■ on. public works to prevent the cry of ujieniploymeasure is explainable 'during the winter: months, but not so during summer and autumn when shearing, harvesting, and other operatiVns .'incidental to "the. primary, industries: ~will-require a considerable amount . of .labour. These; primary industries must v; be ; ctfnsidered,! or the country i as: a. whole * ;will ■suffer.' - That;: this •. labour..' may) have ..• to be-provided-for by slackening of. works in railways,'roads, 'and bridges' during - summer ~ and, autumn .is very: probable; There is do intention to exploit labour en . behalf ,of those carrying on such in•jdpstries, but. employment on public works - dantiot be.-found" for those to :< whom work at fair rates is offered elsewhere. . It is wise: during, the | continuance ,df the war ■< to expend more borrowed : money that is ■tbsolufely necessary. '

. ////v' : ///V V'■: ',////.; l: ;-/;'/:/: : '//:/: ■Expenditure :./vV The' expeaditure/during " the .' financial • year ended March' 31, 1914—£2,949,992— constituted a record, but tho similar expsnditura for 1914-15 was actually larger—, m,. £2,953,3G8—mad0 up of. .£2,835,092 undor tho Public Works.(Fond and allied special and £117,676 under tho .;• Consolidated Fund. .-- •/■ '/•' ■ -'.;, 4: ••'• •/ '/The following tablo shows vthe brief par- .. : ticulars of .the. expenditure/ of the; year," ,wd also' thof total-under each-class of: ~)rork from , the inauguration of tho public,'works policy up to March 31 last:'— Railways— • £ £ -■ Class.of iWork'.;, ■ :,Year, 1915. Total. New.-construction.' 646,878 *24,187,621 Additions to open lines 499,875 8,851,741 , ' Eoads 514,430 10,615,759 / Public: buildings ......... t-132,000 ' 0,258,791 Immigration 33,219 ■ 2,321,739 Purchase of Native lands. rr '- -V 2,063,803 . • lighthouses, harbour ' " / • , -works, and harbour' ' .' defences 17,131 1,122,635 • JEcurist, .and ..health - j:, resorts 8,232 252,748 ■ Telegraph Extension" \288,395 / 2,958,168 ■:> Developinent of goldfields 2,384 884,820 Defence works (general) 15,222 ■ 989,616 '! Departmental ............. 100,719 :■' 951,464 ' -Development of water* .: • '-v poner r-> 18,451 Irrigation - and water- A • supply... — 4,355 - 'Payment ..to .Midland . ' > . .Railway bondholders •!— • _ 150,000 § |! 'Lands improvement--13,810 -■ ">-131,565 Minor works and services ■ 312,607 . Cost and discount, rais- v v ing loans, etc. 35,495 f 1,253,030

, - 2,607,790 63,361,914 . '...iWeUingtofl-Hutfc Bail-. , . 5 '.'/way.improvement......i:—' <■■>%228,373 . 'New Hurt Eoad . S6S 101,516 ..KMlways'. Improvement i\ - Account. ■ ' 9,024 ■' 8il;605 . Opening up Crown r : . . . 'Lands for Settlement < Account ....' 92,975 788,373 Ivatioiial Endowment (Account. ....: 9,151 - 33,271 iWaihou and Ohinemuri . . llivers Account : 10,001 32,960 !Aid to AVator-power- •.. "Works Account ... 74,291- ■'<■ 252;129 Irrigation and Watersupply Account 32,089 V-' 80,380

Totals' .5..;.-...;.;...... 2,835,692 ■ 65,520,521 . expenditure under/ Welling-ton-Manawata Railway Pturchase' Account! flncludes £15,000 expended under Section 104 of the Reserves and; Other Lands Disposal and: Public Bodies Empowering 'ict, 1914. • Ways and Means. 'fi ' On.April 1, 1914, the available : ' ways and means for public ■'';; works.'purposes,/were; -1,178,584 (And further fnnds were, received /:/• • - ■ as under:—. . ' ..' ■■ • (Under the Aid to Publio ■ , / Works and, Land Settlement.. Act, 1913 217,778 : iTJnder'r'the.: Aid -/..to Public '/ , Works and. Land Settlement ■ ./ ' Act, 1914'.... 1,525,004 v .Under tho Nisw Zealand' Loans : Act, 1908 <26,114 'Premium' 'on sale of 4 per • cpnt. debentures ....'. 8,750 ' Transfer/from revenue '.....'...j, 350,000 Othor receipts: 9,422

' Making a gross total,of ...£3,315,648 The. ordinary expenditure''of tho yeai\ 'amounted to .£2,557,295, charges and expenses in respect of raising loans -£35,195, redemption of debentures Xll.SOO,and .'oliery expenditure': .£15,296, thus bringing :the/total-disbursements up to £1,619,886, ■ tad leaving a credit balance -at'the end cf'fhe year of ,£695,762. , Tor'the Current year it is proposed- to provideadditional funds as under:— •. • '' : - Balance of • authorised loan -. f ' .money .■ ......: . 1,476,100 Proposed new loan ' 2,000,000 'The above, Trith.The ;balance--bronsht ' forward, gives a gross total' of .£4,171,862.' The" estimated expenditure for - public worla for the current year (excluding j. separate accounts having their: own ways end means)'amounts to 2,803,550,' leav- > estimated balance of i£1,368,312 to b» carried, forward to next year (19J6-17). : In addition, to the above we liave authority to Taise,' ' outside the - Public .Works Fund, the undermentioned sums: ' '•- -.2

.Under the Aid to Wator-power - • Works Act, 1910 ' :245,000 •Under the Irrigation and Water : ; I . /' .Supply Act, 1913;29,900 .Under the Waihou and Ohine- ' muri Eivers Improvement;. Act, 1910 ' - 50,000

Railway Construction. 'The' following sections of railway 'were tompleted. and opened for traffic during the lost financial year:—Otiria;. to . ICaikohe; 16 miles 25' chains, May, 1911; Kaita to Tarawhati,,2im]es 35 chains, June, 1914; ,Cronadun to Inaagahua, 13 miles, 'June, 1914; Cass to Arthur's Pass, ■: 14 miles 65' chains, July, 1914;; PohoKUra to .Whangamomona, 6 miles '13 chains; July, ■1914 ; Kaiwaka. to Otamatea, 2 miles iS chains, August, -1914; Otoko to Matawai, 12' miles 50 chains, November, 1914; Big Hill to Beaumont, 5 miles 36 chains, December, 1914; Houipapa to Tahakopa, 17 miles 56''chains, Fetapary, 1915; total, 91 miles.s chains. The following lengths- are practically, completed, but have not yet been handed over to tho railway authorities for traffic:—Otamatea to Maungaturoto, 4 mile 3 ■10 chains; Maunganui' to To I'uke, 13 miles 4 chains; Mount Egmont branchy 2 miles 77 chains; Whangamomona. to Koliiiratahi, 4 miles, 54 chains; Ward to Mills, 7 miles 76 chains. . • 'The'' total' expenditure, on .'railway construction and improvement work during last financial year amounted to .£1,155,776, as under:— Construction of new lines 046,878 Additions to. open lines ■ 499,875 Railways Improvement Account,- 9,023

Stratford-Main Trunk. Since the opening of .the line to . Whangamomona construction', work has been ■ in progress over nine miles and a half between the terminus and -Tahora. The work comprises , two .tunnels, road and stream ' diversions, and r several small bridges, besides usual earthworks and culverts. One 1 tunnel/ 23 chains long isfinished, the other is being widened out, most of the bridges are built, and tho minor works are well in hand over the whole length/ ; Bails have been laid, and - the line' partly. ballasted as : far as Kohuratahi, four miles and a'halt Irom the terminus of . the open line, and a.tramway hais' been 1 laid., from that point- to. tho 'seconds tunnel . 'to . transport. plant, material,' and stores to, the works, in preference "to. hauling, over- the longer and steeper route by road. Ballast material for-: this. section of! tho line is brought by train•from ; Mount v Egmont.'. i At the eastern end tno contractor : for the Okalni Tunnel was unable to carry ' on the work owing to financial. difficulties; and. in" April /last j the oontract, .with the 'Department's' consent, ..was. assigned . to Messrs. Dillon, Limited, a company in which, most of the parties to the, original contract retain an interest... The new contractors have'experienced, much, bad weather 'since 'they, took over the work,-but. there is, every prospect of (better progress beimj-inade during the spring and .summer.' : The contract covers two miles and a half of formation; -including' the: tunnel, 75 chains long. A-contract has just-been let for tie erection of the Bteel - superstructure. of a combined road, -and'railwiay bridge -over the', Ongarue . River-where the/ railway leaves the Main Trunk line at. Ofcahukura. The, piers will- be built by the Department.. Six small contracts for-formation beyond tie : tunnel; are approaching' completion, and the--work is well in hand up to 'Matiere Township, ten - miles from the junctionpoint.l :• A tramway three miles in-length-is '.being ■ 'laid ? into Matiere to • facilitate tho transport of construction material and to keep heavy traffio off the Ohura Road; Settlers' stores will bo hauled over the tram-line.

' : Mount. Egmont Branch. \Owiagio, alterations in design of incline and' in .proposed methods of operating the quarry ontne mountain,, construction work on this line has been suspended during the greater part of the past year, ,i Opunake Branch.- . Tho line has been located from Te Eoti to Opunake, twenty-three,' miles distant, and cons tract ionvrork- is in hand by conr ,tract :iiad; co-operative l parties -.- over- the first.- 7:. iniles to Kapuiii Station. / Bridges of substantial design will- be required to carry tho line over tho Waingongoro and Mangatoki. Bivers '.on , the : first, section. Materials'for concrete, piers are being brought to tho. bridge 6ites.,: .. ./

. .Ohakune-Raetihi Branch. . Forihation ,work is completed' far.seven, iniles, and is.in lia.nd over tho remaining 1 mile 50 chains.. All the/onlyerts are in place,- ahd : piers; for .most: of-the bridges: built./.. .Steelwork/for.. bridge i.snperstruc-; ture .is toihand.oiri Elated, laying-is in' progress, and ballasting will follow in a month or two, .

Rangitike! River Branch... :/ -In; s the .Bailways. ■ Authorisation, 'Act of last year was included a new branch line from. 'Greatfo'rd.- to/a/point in. the. Eangi-. tikei Eiver-bed, from', which a supply of metal, could .be, obtained for -use by the Government and by local bodies in • South Taranaki. Since: the passing, of the Act negotiations have been in progress between the. Government and the Rangitikei County Council, who have', a somewhat ;similar scheme' contemplation; .as/ to the mannerin 'which ,the; metal:- deposit could be worked to the greatest advantage.: / Pending a definite arrangement of terms and. conditions/of supply- no construction work- has been done on the' line.

Featherston-Martinborough. .- No.- was undertaken on this line during, the year, and only ; '£7o:,on account of survey, .work came to chargo against the vote.

South. Island Main Trunk. Platelaying and ballasting over a length of miles terminating at'; Mills Station ;is, approaching.completion under contract, and with a little trimming and finishing_ work this section - will be ready for .opening. Formation .work, mostly of ft light nature, ' is proceeding at a moderate , rate :on the■ section :beyond Mills. The /country traversed here is bare - and sandy, and extensive. plantations of. marramgrass have to be made to protect the railway banks and cuttings from drifting sand. A-further length of thirteen miles, from Kekerangu to tho Clarenco River, will be included in this year's Railways Authorisation Bill,

Midland, ' .At the Nekon end- ronstruction work beyond Glenhope was resumed in November last, and is, well advanced for two out - of three / miles, " which ' will carry . /the lino, to Kawatiri. ;; The works ; on'th's length are fairly - heavy,, and'"sapid progress cannot be expected. Tho only other section of the Midland line on. which , construction work was in progress' during the year was the Arthur's Pass Tunnel, the excavation'of which was continued steadily; at both the Otira and Bealey ends under the .direction of the Department's engineers. At the Otira end' the'work is.carried.:on' by- day tliree shifts' per day, with an average ot thirty-seven workmen per shift. - During tho ■ twelve months ended June last the bottom heading at tho Otira end advanced 23.19 chains, and the excavation and lining 24.17 chains. The. face !.is: now 2 miles 50 chains from the Otira portal. 'At tho Bealey; end tho work is being carried on by co-operative contract, with an average of seventeen men'per "shift; the heading during the twelve months advanced 16.19 chains, and the excavation and lining 19.82 chains. The reispectivo faces are now dis. tant. from tho. tunnel portals at either l end—Otira, 2 miles 50 -chains; Bealey, 54 chains. The distance between the two headings is 1 mile 64.45! chains, and between the limits of fully excavated and lined tunnel, 2 .miles-17.06 chains. The Tock encountered at the headings lias mostly been very wet, requiring heavy timbering practically all tho way. -No works have been in progress on tho ,Reef-ton-Inaiigahua • section' since'- June, 1914, but a''; considerable amount of the expenditure on this section came to charge during the late financial year.

Total Appropriations for Railway#, In addition to the votes already _ mentioned,' an appropriation of .£IOOO is required to provide for old land claims and other liabilities on Construction Account, ,£sooo'for surveys of ■ projected-new lines of railway, and .£IOO,OOO for permanent v/ay materials, The total vote proposed this year for railway construction, amounta to ,£700,000. .

' Other Railway Works, The expenditure during the financial year out of the vote for additions to open lines amounted to and out of this sum . ;£307,385 was spent on rollingstock, workshops,- machinery, Wcstinghouse-brake equipment, and P e trol electric car. Tho balance of -E217,00G covered expenditure on improvements to wharves, water-services, station accommodation, and yards, ongiffe depots, a'arnell tunnel duplication, installation of tablet, telegraph, and telephone facilities, also signalling and interlocking plant, trade improvement .works on. the North j Jlaia £ruak line involved an expenditure

of ,£29,851, and the Mechanics Bay reclamation accounted for iE37,999. This latter work forms ail integral part of tho newAuckland station arrangements aiid railway scheme, 'l'he Dunedin-Mosgiel duplicated lino was opened for traffic on June 1, 1914, and tho expenditure incurred in tliis work during tho year wa? '.£5273. The volo proposed . for the current year amounts to 41500,000.

Roads and Bridges, • Tho total amount provided on last financial year's "appropriations under all votes and accounts (including the Consolidated Fund Veto for Maintenance, but excluding the Land ...for . Settlement" Account— loading)'wiis 411,070,300. The amount authorised for expenditure under tho same votes and acoounts during tlio,year, added to tho unexpended balance of authorities at March 31, 1911, totalled -£1,197,101; The expenditure for the twelve months amounted to £666,237, leaving an unexpended- balance at March 31 last of 43531,164. In regard to expenditure on road, etc., works under the Lan<l for Settlement Account, the money is, of course, provided by special loan raised on the security <-f eaclj, block of: land, and is not' shown on tlio appropriations. Under this head the amount placed at the disposal of'this Department by the Minister, of 'Lands for expenditure during' the ' year ' (inclffiSng ' the unspent balance' at March 31, 19H) amounted to : >£17,360, V ■ whilst the , expenditure for twelve months amounted to .£8536. For- the current year' the provision made' for roads and bridges has not been limited ,on account of prevailing conditions, but it must, of course, bo understood that tho authorisation of expenditure will be dependent upon. the Government's ability to raiso the necessary loan for public works purposes. Moreover, it is not intended that the ways and means provided shall be expended by March 31, 1916, but they are expected to suffice till December 31, 191G, or even, if necessary, to March. 31,' 1917. ■ Roads on Gold-fields. The total allocation under this head last year amounted to .£72,409, on-account of which a vote of .£53,300 was taken;. The expenditure during'the year was 4530,065. The surn proposed to be authorised for the current year is 4563,511, on account of wiich a vote of 4!40,000:is asked for.

Total Appropriations: for Roads. Tho appropriations last year /were'as under:—Roads, / etc., =£557,700; backblock i oads, etc.,. £201,000; goldfields roads,' etc., .£53,300; improved farm settlement roads,: ■£10,000; opening up Crown Lands for Set-; tlement Account, <£173,300; National Endowment. Account, £40,000;, maintenance of roads (Consolidated Fund),'- . £45,000. Total, ,£1,08(1,300; ./, ; Tho provision for the current year is as under:— '/• S ■ Roads,,.etc. ..;... ; 300,000 Backblock roads, etc., 160,000 Eoads on goldfields 40,000 Improved farm settlements ...... 5,610 Land. for Settlements; Account... 1301000 National. Endowment Account 40,000 New Hutt Eoad , 250 Maintenance of roads (Consolidated Fund) . 50,000 Total .£725,860 ■ ' ' Development of Mining. The'value of he mineral output for the year amounted/to £2,752,730,. being a decrease : • as' compared • with the output of the previous'year." ' .This was only to. be expected, however, in view of the prohibition of the-esport of. certain minerals during the .term of the war. ' The output of coal was the Highest yet recorded; being 2,275,593 tons, an increase ,of 387,588 tons over, the output -ofi the previous year.' Splendid inarble is beijig produced from ffie. -Nelson district,- and to aid in the development,.-of this industry assistance is being'granted by way of loan to CE: able the-stone to be economically transported to' the poTt of shipment. • Tho expenditure under the heading of mining development,during last year was £2384," arid. a vote of £10,000 is proposed to -be taken this year. '/■■' •'

Public Buildings. The total expenditure on public buildings' during, the last; financial, year, amounted to ■ £590,562,/ made 'up as fol-' lows;— New Buildings (Class:.-XXIII, Public Works Fund), ,'£417,,000; sites, for, (Government stores, etc., Wellington', >£15,000;; maintenance works (Class V, Consolidated Fund); . '£65,387; /■ maintenance works,' schools <(Class , XV,. Consolidated Funa), ,£99,175; total, -£590,562. '."/ For the current year the following appropriations are .proposed:—. : : £,' . New buildings (Public Works v ; Fund) '. 427,050 Maintenance works'(Consolidated. Fund) 70,350 Maintenance works, schools (Con- - : solidated Fund) '102,150 Total .' The 'new -Parliament; Building's again absorbed the largest item of expenditure, under this heading, but the .work, has been delayed owing to .'difficulty, in obtaining suitable marble. This difficulty has now been overcome, and as the marble will 600n be in Wellington, it is hoped that the work will then' be carried on with more expedition than lias hitherto been possible. The new Departmental Buildings at Gisbome were completed and occupied; during the year'.' One substantial addition was made/to the; Government' Printing- Office, 1 and.another one.is in progress. The proposed vote for . the current' year includes- items for the Parliament Buildings'and Printing Office additions. Judicial. ■ Courthouses.—During the past year buildings were erected at Wyndham and Motueka,'.and additions were made to the. Lawrence Courthouse, and the extensions to the Wellington Supreme Court.were completed. Gaols—The principal expenditure last year, was in connection with buildings at Waikeria, Invercargill, Aucklahd, -Ten* pletoh, ajid Picton. The erection. of a prison at Waikeria will be continued.. Police Stations.I—New1 —New stations were erected at'Aiarua, Charleston, Coaleate, Kaitangata, Martinborough, Ngaruawahia. Northcote, Patutahi, Raurimu, Tokomaru Bay, and Whangamomona, Properties/were also purchased at Mount Eden, Hamilton, and Mount Eoskill, and police residences were built at Dunedin, and. Opotiki. New police headquarters and police stations .in Wellington are in progress. .' Post and Telegraph, The 'expenditure on buildings for Post and Telegraph purposes last year amount-, ed to £72,861, being £60,838 for new buildings and ,i£12,023 for maintenance of existing ones.'

Mental Hospitals, The erection of' one "unit at Tokanui to accommodate: forty patients was completed early in the year, and a second .unit of approximately the same ' 1 size is now well in hand. Male and female auxiliary buildings at ,'Avondiilo wero completed under contract. Day. rooms ivere ndded at Porirua, and a receiving ward at the same place is approaching completion. A similar ward is oeing added to Sunnyside, and a cottage for men is being built at Seacliff. The current year's estimates, include substantial votes i'or continuing the works at each of tho principal institutions mentioned.

Hospitals. Att expenditure of i 979 out of last year's vote was inculred in providing accommodation for special cases at various general'hospitals.' On ..the current year's, estimates a vote- appears for the same purpose. Agriculture. : On- account of the conditions existing as a result of the war some works of importance, i but not urgent,. were lield over. It however, been decided to provide additional accommodation for learners at both the Moumahaki and Wereroa Experimental Farms, to install a water, supply at Moumahaki, and to' provide additional buildings at the Moumahaki and Tauranga Experimental Farms; also to continue the'land drainage operations at Kuaktira Farm of Instruction.

School Buildings. The expenditure' out of tho Public Works Fund on school buildings during i'/le year was hC122,940, of which about <£117,500 was paid in grants to education boards and other governing bodies for public Schools, teachers' residences, training colleges, technical and secondary schools, audi university colleges. . Tho ■ works • represented by the balance, over XSOAO, were for services directly under the control of tho Education Department; .and comprised buildings and allied work at Native, industrial, and special schools. The exteusion of tho buildings ut Otokaiko pouicctcd svjth tin teawatiwi to;

feeble-minded boys, involving expenditure of about ,£2245, is. approaching completion. All instalment of a similar institution at Richmond' for feeble-minded girls is also Hearing completion. Demands for school accommodation must necessarily bo met without delay as they arise, and consequently there is always a largo outstanding liability on this account which must bo provided for iu tlio estimates of tlio year. The total amount of this liability fluctuates according to tho time occupied ini tlio prosecution of tho various works authorised, and to meet this liability it is proposed to veto 43120,000 for tho curront year. 1 • .

Workers' Dwellings. The expenditure authorised last yeai, for some two hundred dwellings, was ililoo,ooo. Of this amount .£68,275 was paid during the yuar. and the balance of tho expenditure appears in this year's 'accounts. Jn response to further applications, the erection of,an additional hundred dwellings has been decided upon, for which the ektimated expenditure is .£50,000. Hydro Electric Works, In November last the plant for the development at Lako Coleridge of electrical energy on a large scale was formally opened, but it was not until March of this year that tho continuous service started, since when it has been in full operation. The plant has worked smoothly and efficiently without' serious interruption, aJid tho country will learn with satisfaction that this important commercial venture on tho part of tho Government shows every promise of becoming a financial, as well as an engineering, success. The three units of generating plant now installed are capable of an output equal to GOOO horse-power; and the present (rimaiid, - added to that in prospect, for which contracts have already beon arranged, calls for the immediate installation of a fourth unit of 2000 horse-power, and there are indications that two - further units of generating plant will have, to be provided in tho n4t-distant future. The tunnel' and headworks already constructed are,sufficient to provide for probablo expansion, during the next six or seven, years, when it is expected that tho outpus will adequately supply the district which oan be economically, served from the Lake .' Coleridge scheme. The existing pipe-lines are of sufficient capacity to drive the fourth units of machinery low on order, and the power-house , can accommodate this unit without additions. , .. Feeder lines have been extended to Lyttclton, Sunnyside, and' ai- apu districts, and further. extensions are.under consideration. Negotiations, are .proceeding with different ■ borough . authorities in South. Canterbury, as far as- Tiniaru, and, provided satisfactory, arrangements' aro made, a transmission line, will be erected between the .powor-House at Lake ..Coleridge and Timani, from which the whole of South Canterbury will be supplied. The demand for electrical energy, by power . users, throughout, Canterbury is most encouraging, ranging from the electric tramways', .local bodies,' and larger ■industrial-, concerns, to 6tnall farmeits,who find that by utilising a local organisation such as a dairy factory company they can with advantage bring the current on to every farm for. lighting and machine-driving,-purposes. ''• •, The total expenditure on this scheme from its inception to March 31 last was .£202,031, and the installation , of the fourth unit is expected to ,place the bu6i-' riess on a footing where interest on capital, maintenance, depreciation, and working expenses will all be defrayed out ,of revenue. Subsequent additions of plant tx> . satisfy ,'a. growing deiiiand; should increase the margin of profit. .. . ! ..The - rapid . 'developments at Lake .Coleridgo have, monopolised, the . efforts of the Government's electrical engineers during the past, yoar;'.;but ,now ,that this scheme has .Tcached . a practical stage, attention will be directed ;to fo decide the, best'means, of providing an adequate. supply of electrical •' energy to serve tho North, Island. Numerous : licenses have been . granted.,-' during the, year to local authorities . wishing :to develop local sources;of power.

Irrigation. ■ At the Otekaike Settlement' the construction of six ' miles of 1 distributing race to serve settlers on- the eastern side of the sti , eain''w'as?coinpletcd, under .contract ao4:-' additional; raow'.'of a- total length of two miles and a half , were laid out. The settlers will bo able to take advantage, of the. supply, during;the coming summer. The development of tho'important. schemfNa irrigate the Ida Valley, in Central Otafeo, was appreciably advanced during the shimmer months. The large concrete • dam at Manorburn was almost finished when work was stopped by heavy frosts in April, and this part of the schemo will be completed during the ensuing spring. The excavation of the main races'along either 6ido of the valley •proceeded steadily while weather condi-, tions permitted, and it is hoped that these races will be out of hand before the cud of next summer. The construction of; the Poolburn dam and some concrete work at the' Moa Creek weir, remains to bo done, also some .widening and lining of tho old Bonanza race, which is to bo incorporated in the scheme. Water was supplied to settlers in the valley during a limited period in the middle of last summer, and a temporary 'supply on the same conditions 'will be available next summer. Contracts,' were; prepared . for part of the work of bringing _in the Ifanuherikia Eiver • water to irrigate the lands lying between Clyde, Alexandra, and Chatto Creek. -After some delay, owing to unsatisfactory tenders, two sections wero let. The intake., of this race from the Manuherikia Eiver requiring particular attention in construction, it was decided to employ day labour, but it was found to be almost impossible to obtain men suitable for this class of work, and more especially'was difficulty found in securing the services of a competent ■ overseer, owing to so many having gone to the wax-. A gang has, however, now been put; on to do. the necessary rock excavation, .'and as soon as the weather permits the concrete work .will' ba undertaken.

/ ; .Tourist and Health Resorts, Tho expenditure .under . this heading amounted to .68:232, compared with ;£14,989 for tho previous, year. The .sum 0f',£2971 was spent in'completing and .furnishing the new hostel at: the' Hermitage," where the chief guide's' cottage was also completed. Improvements at Helensville and to electrical works at . Eotorua, accounted for and i£s7o 'respectively. Additions to the Eotorua Sanatorium cost ,£671, and improvements at Waitomo Caves '.£588.' . The expenditure on the proposed new Sanatorium ■ at.. Hanmer and drainago .works at-Eotorua was held over, .

Telegraph Extension. The expenditure 011 telegraph, and telephone extension during the year amounted to £288,395. Among the larger works undertaken, may be mentioned the construction . of the following land lines, viz.Opotiki-Capo Runaway, CambridgeUotorua, Taumarunui-Ohura metallic circuit, Pahiatua-Palmereton North metallis circuit, Palmerston North-Waipawa telephone line, Waitara-Stratford, WaitaraNew Plymouth, New Plymouth telephone cuit, Pahiatua-Palmerston North metallic circuit, Waikaia-Waiau, and SockburnChristohurch . underground. No . fewer than twelve new exchanges were opened, and the number of exchange connections increased by 484 G. Three hundred and ninety miles of pole line and 2136 miles of wire were added to the telegraph and inter-urban telephone system, and 515 miles of pole-line and- 31,325 miles of, wire to the telephone exchange local systems. One thousand 6ix hundred and thirty-seven miles of telegraph, and interr urban telephone lines were overhauled awl reconstructed. During the year 46 coin-in-slot telephones were installed, making, a total of 139 slot telephones open for. public use. Motor-lorries,: suitably fitted up, were obtained and are now being used for general construction work. The substitution of ■ underground cable for serial cablo and the conversion of earthworking exchanges for the metallic circuit system are proceeding steadily. On account of- the abnormal'conditions caused by the war somo delay has been experienefcd in obtaining. equipment for automatic telephone exchanges, hut the provision of suitable building accommodation and underground cable equipment has been steadily proceeded'.with. The necessary apparatus and material for tho reerection, of the .wireless station at Samoa were sent forward with the first Expeditionary Force. This station has been reconstructed, aiul is now' being operated l>y officers of the Department who accompanied tho Forccs. _ The proposed vote, for tlie current year ftmounts to ,£327,000, made \ip as muter: i Automatic tntjUltatioas 'mmM'M»» H?*®?

Now lines .....' 30,000 New exchanges; and connecting new subscribers 50,000 Material 136,000 ■ Total ...... 41327,000

Lighthouses. Tho works undertaken during tho year were:—Completion of lighthouse on Channel Islot, Hauraki Gulf; the new. Marine Department store at Pipitea Point;. the continuation, of/the-erection of the tower for the automatic light on Karon Rock, which is now almost finished; and tho improvement of tho road to Godley Head lighthouse. The estimated amount required for tho carrying out and completion of tho works "already authorised is 4!25?5, including an additional amount for tlio construction of an automatic light on Flat Rock, and the cost of a heavy crano for the Marine' Department store.

Harbour, Works. The principal works undertaken during the year were The construction of a retaining wall at Ivohukoliu, Hokianga; improving navigation, of Talieke River (Hokianga), Waipapakauri River, Wade River, and Waikato River; construction of wharves at Dargaville (extension). Tokatoka, Silverdale, Marakopa, and Lake Wanaka; reclamation at Mangonui Wharf; harbour improvements at Wairau and Karainea; sea protective works at Hokitika; and improvements to the landing for fishing-boats at Nugget Bay. ( Conclusion. In conclusion, the ability to give effect to tho proposals set forth in the Statement will depend on the resnonse of the publio to the loan proposals of the Minister of Finance. The great importance of developing tho resources of tlio Dominion by constructing-roads, bridges, and Tailways will' certainly not be lost eight of, but it is necessary to emphasise the fact that some reduction in the rate of expenditure on such works must be expected under the very trying conditions consequent on the war.