COUNTRY EDITION. The Daily Telegraph TUESDAY, AUGUST 10, 1881.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3157, 10 August 1881, Page 2

COUNTRY EDITION. The Daily Telegraph TUESDAY, AUGUST 10, 1881.

The Public Works Statement was delivered last nigbt by the Premier, and in contrast to the glowing proposals of former years is a very tame affair. Everything in it points to absence of money for any but tbe most practical of purposes. In our summary of the statement little more is mentioned than that which relates to this and the immediately adjoining districts, so that into the general apportionment of the funds no present enquiry can be made. At the outset the Premier stated that the votes passed last session had not been exhausted, but no explanation is made why such economy was practised in the face of the very general cry for work on the part of tbe unemployed. Extreme timidity has marked the whole ad minis tration of the Government. Ministers entered into office in a condition of fear of tbe present and dread of the future, and they have not yet acquired any degree of confidence in either themselves or the colony. They have been as frightened of spending money as they have been of making vigorous retrenchments. Frightened on the one hand of over-running tbe constable, they have been equally afraid on the other of making enemies by cutting down expenses. Whenever it has been possible they have shuffled off responsibility on to the shoulders of Commissioners, or have blamed Parliament for the course they have been constrained to take. Their policy of proceeding with the public works on tie "slow-a-bead " principle was no doubt the only possible one to adopt under the financial condition of the colony, but there was no occasion to stand still, which by the non-expendi-ture of moneys voted, seems to have been tbe case. The proposals for the current year aa regards this district are not of much consequence. We learn that the railway works towards Tahoraite will be carried on. For some months past between thirty and forty of the " unemployed " have been engaged in the formation of the roadway, but only about a mile and a-half has been constructed. If the works are to be carried on in no more vigorous manner it will be many years before the railway will reach Tahoraite. In the matter of roads the Government proposals are somewhat more liberal. A road is to be made from Gisborne to Wairoa, with branches to outlying Crown lands, and another road is to be made from Wairoa to Mohaka. We know of no more useful work than these two roads, the construction of which is absolutely demanded for the settlement of the country. It is proposed also to open up the Puketitiri bush by a road, and Crown lauds in the Seventymile Bush are also to be opened up, as settlement from time to time may demand.