THE KING’S BIRTHDAY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2233, 9 November 1907, Page 2

THE KING’S BIRTHDAY.

MONDAY’S HOLIDAY. With good weather on Monday ,a pleasant- holiday to celebratethe King’s birthday should ‘results, as there is an extensive programme of amusements for the day. Two picnics will bo held—one in connection with St. Andrew’s Sunday School, and the other under the auspices of the Salvation Army. The ltifle Association will hold a, meeting at .tlio Kaiti -range, a good 'programme of matches having been arranged. ' A whole day’s outing will ho indulged in liv the members of the Turanganiii Dishing Club, who will be 'taken out to the fishing grounds on the Tun-tea. On the Gisborne Club’s green a match will be played between tlie Gisborne and Turanganui Clubs. At Victoria Domain an all-day cricket- match, Married <v. Single, will be played, ainl it is expected that- a similar match will be arranged for the Taruheru ground. Good entries have so far been received for tlio cycle road race, to be run over the Makauri course, and -a good finish is anticipated. A good finish for the day’s amusement is provided in the performance -at His -Majesty’;-: Theatre of “The Ticket-of-Leave Man” by the I! ice Dramatic Company. Itedstoue’.s ’-buses >"an to the Wainui beach on Mond iv, at hours to suit -picnickers.

The Hon. J. McGowan, ActingMinistor for Public Works, delivered the Public Works Statement in the llouso this evening. Alter a feeling reference to tlio illness of the lion. 1-inlL-Jones, whose place ho was falling, and expressing tlio 'hope that tlio English trip would speedily restore their colleague to health, Mr. McGowan continued: —

MARKED PROGRESS, “Tlio year "that* X liavo to review lus been one of marked progress. The total expenditure on all public works and services borne upon tlio Public Works Estimates amounted to no less than £2,205,605. If we exclude siiocial accounts having then own ways and means and take into consideration only actual charges against the Public Works Funds, the total amounted to £2,040,319. Total Expenditure from the Inauguration of the Public Works 1 olicy to December 31st, 1890: —■ • Railways, new construeHon , 11,9 i 0,098 Additions to open lines 2,092,002 Utilisation of water-power _ i ?nar i s 3,0/5,804 Public works, buildings Immigration ... ••• Purchase of Native lands 1,191,10/ Lighthouses, harbor works, and harbor defences ®,OJo Tourist and health resorts 113,020 Telegraph extension' ... °OU,B4J Development of goldfields LA’inn Defence works, general ... 434,/20 Departmental ... .... 34J,/89 Minor works and services dUO,bSJ Cost and discount raising loans, etc. ... ... 1,142,4/2 Total £26,898,451 Total Expenditure Between January Ist, 1891, and March 31st-, 1907. £ Railways, new construetion ... **• / jGlOj JUo Additions to open lines 1,436,453 Roads 3,961,922 Public works, buildings 1,802,559 Immigration ... ... 33,195 Purchase of Native lands 842,421 Lighthouses, harbor works, and harbor defences 137,562 Telegraph extension ... 723,395 Development of goldfields 216,924 Defence works, general 439,874 Departmental ... ... 200,378 Minor works and services 26,368 Cost and discount raising loans, etc. ... ... 222,656 Gross Total Expenditure to March 31st, 1907. £ Railways, new construction, " 19,591,003 Additions to open lines 3,528,455 Utilisation of water-power 8,033 Roads * ... 7,537,726 Public works, buildings 3,578,562 Immigration ... ... 2,177,581 Purchase of Native lands 2,033,558 Lighthouses, harbor works, and harbor defences 1,017,657 Tourist and health resorts 113,520 Telegraph extension ... 1,324,244 Development of goldfields 778,025 Defence works, general 869,594 Departmental ... ... 550,167

Payment to Midland railway bondholders ... 150,000 Minor works 'and services 326,757 Total ... ... £45,829,010. Expenditure for the Late Financial year. £ Railways, new construction ' ... ■ 919,730 Additions to open lines 308,150 Utilisation of water-power 4,664 Roads ... 347,470 Public works, buildings 227,025 Immigration • 14,353 Purchase of Native lands 9,135 Lighthouses, harbor works, and harbor defences 4,504 'Tourist and health resorts 42,272 Telegraph extension ... 114,068 Development of goldfields 110,064 Dofenco works, general 14,874 Departmental ... ... ' 16,710 Payment to Midland railway bondholders ... 15,300 Minor works and services 5,300 Total £2,035,145 WAYS AND MEANS. At 31st March, 1906, the available balance of wasy and means far public works purposes was £492,298, and further funds were received as follows: Balance of £1,000,000 raised under the Loan Act of 1905, £182,086; amount raised under the similar. Act of 1906, £943,600; premiums received on sales and renewals of debentures, £15,834; transferred from

’revenue, £775,000; miscellaneous receipts, £1560; making a gross total of £2,410,378.

Tho ordinary expenditure of the year amounted to £2,040,319, and charges and expenses in connection with financing amounted to £10,659, thus bringing tho total disbursements up to £2,050,978, leaving a credit balance at the end of the vear of £359,400.

For the current year it is proposed to provide additional funds as under - : Balance of 1906 loan £56,400, new loan of 1907 £1,000,00, transfer from Consolidated Fund £BOO,OOO. This will give a. total available for ways and means of £2,218.000. Tho estimated expenditure for public works for the current year, excluding separate' accounts having their own ways and means, amounts to £2,106,951, thus leaving a balance of £108,849 to be carried forward to

next year. RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION. j The liate financial year w-as the most active as regards railway works of any year during .tho last quarter oi a century. Now construction works amounted to £190,730 expended. In addition tho Railway Department’s outlay on improvement works I amounted to £426,065. Additions to I open lines cost £305,100, tho Hutt railway and road improvement account £35,028, Railways Improve- I meut Authorisation Act account £Bl,957, thus bringing up the gross total expenditure'on railway works for the year to the very-large'sum of £1,345,- I

Numerous requests, have-been made during; the-jirfcseut session for now works to bo started or for works in

band to be proceeded with at accelerated speed, but in view of our present largo disbursement the Government lias been compelled to adopt a cautious policy of expenditure. Tho North Island Main Trunk Railway during the year including value of the permanent way material issued for the lino amounted to over‘£4oo,090. For the current year a vote of £330,000 is proposed, and next, year will «ce tho completion of this great

work. Since tho last Public Works Statement was brought down 50 miles of railway have been completed and opened for traffic, whilst- rails are laid and ballast trains running on an additional 80 miles. I will now refer more in detail lo the several lines that have been in band and the proposals of the Government in regard to each for the current year.

Kawakawa-G rahamstown work.— This is a desirable work. The expenditure on the line last year amounted to £10,624, amt tlie vote proposed for the current year is £15,000. Helensville Northwards.—The work done last year constituted quite a record. The expenditure including permanent way materials amounted to £46,004. The section between Kaipara flats and Tauhoa was completed.

The next section to Wabay is already in use. As the central route js the

WELLINGTON, Nov. 8. most direct and best it has been finally decided to adopt that route. The vote proposed for the current year is £4.0.000. Mamalcu-Tauranga.—A trial survey has been in hand during tlio year, and the field work between Mama'ku and To Puke has been/completed. As soon as tlio plans are prepared the survey will bo extended to Tauranga as promised. Strong representations have been made to the Government regarding an alternative line to Tauranga from Waihi. I have decided that a trial survey be made so that, comparisons can ho drawn. Gisborne-RiOtorua section —Between TVKaraka and Pulia, about two miles length, was opened for traffic in May last A further section in Waikohu is well m hand, A tender for the Waikohu bridges has been accepted. The permanent survey of the line is finished for another mile and a hall or as far as the 27tli mile peg. From, that point to the summit at Rakauroa, a distance of 14 miles, the location is not free from difficulty. Two trial lines have been run over this distance, the first with gradients’not steeper than 1 in 50 has had to be abandoned on the ground of expense, and the second with grades up to 1 in 35 in places 'is now under consideration. It is probable that a practicable line at a moderate cost will be obtained on tlio steeper gradients. From Rakauroa to Motu township, a further distance of 14 miles, the country is of a much easier character. The expenditure on this railway last year amounted to £18,428, and for the current year a vote of £20,000 is proposed. New Plymouth Sentry Hill deviation.—This line is to reduce grades and avoid level crossings, the length being about a mile and tlireequarters. Tlic expenditure last year amounted to £24,243, and the vote proposed for the present year is £15,000. Stratford-Ongarue.—This section a: far as Huiroa, nearly 16 miles from Stratford, will shortly be available for traffic, and a commencement lias been made with the Tewera section, which will bring the line into touch with the main road from Whangamomona, A petition to commence from the Chigarue end lias been received. Tlio expenditure during the year was £12,881, and a vote of £20,000 is proposed. Mount Egmont branch. —It is expected a portion of the line will be handed over to the Department and the regular crushing of stone commenced by Christmas next. Expenditure for year £17,258; proposed vote £15,000.

NORTH ISLAND MAIN TRUNK A very large amount of work has hen carried out on this railway during the year, the expenditure having greatly exceeded that of the previous year. Since the works commenced at the north end the rail-liead has advanced to the top of tli# spiral two miles and a half beyond Raurimu, and 201 miles from Auckland. Rail-lay-ing is now in hand southwards from tha point, and formation works beyond the spiral are well advanced, so that rail-laying as far as Waimairina and Makatote will probably proceed without interruption. A great ileal of work has been done at the Makatote viaduct, but the T'nAr.VM l.i-si ■•/. iiiiio expired oil the loth June last, but it is unlikely the viaduct will be ready for the rails to be laid -over it until March: next. The contract for this work is held by Messrs J. and A. Anderson, Christchurch, who are also contractors for the superstructures at Manganuioteao and Mangaturuturu viaducts further along the line. The concrete piers abuttments of the latter viaducts are already constructed, and the Department is awaiting the erection of the superstMetures. Messrs Anderson’s contract time for these works expires ill February next, but it seems unlikely at present that they will be completed by that date. The .rails will easily reach Makatote in March, that is if the viaduct is completed. Then rail-laying can be carried on to Manganuioteao. As soon as the latter viaduct is ready it can be continued to Mangaturuturu. At the south end of the line the section from Tailiape to Maaroa, sis miles long, was handed over to the Railway Department for regular working in June last. Section Mataroa and Waiouru. 18,} miles, is nearly completed. A ballast train has been running oil it for some time, and it will be ready to hand over to the Department by Christmas. The section from Waiouru "to Ran-

. | gataua lias been used for goods traffic I siiico May last. The rails now exI tend to Oliakune, 3 miles further. I and as far as Hapuawhenua viaduct, I and another* 2 miles is now-laying, j Altogether, tlio advance of the position of the rail-head at the south end of the line during the year was 26 I r^le first three miles beyond I \\ aiouru, however, is only a tempor-1

ary line. The permanent line along j tins section embraces some heavy j earthworks, tl is well in band and expected to be ready for plate-laying | in the course of a few months. When I if, la ’. s are on this section and ballasting completed, the whole line to Ohakuno will be handed over for tegular traffic. Tho ballast trains between Taumarunui and Raurimu, and I between Miataroa and Rangataua have been carrying passengers for some time, and running at tlie southern end has now been extended to uliakune.

It 'IS also proposed to shortly com- ! } n ® 11C0 tlle , issue of through tickets between Auckland and Wellington, ■the gap between the rail-heads is now only 24 miles, and over this engtli a coach service has been established on_ la good metalled road" constructed by the Department in conjunction with raihvav ivories By Christinas I expect to be able to arrange to carry passengers at the north end as far as Waimarina, which will reduce the coach service to miles, and by March, 1908, to I JUakatote, which will further reduce I the gap to 11 miles. The last- link an tho chain will still take some- little tune to complete, as the eleven miles section embraces 2 viaducts, 4 large bridges, and one tunnel, besides other

heavy .works. Two of these viaducts aro being carried out by the Department’s own workmen. That over Toanui is nearly completed, and Hapiiawhenua (which is tho longest viaduct on tlie line) is well ’in hand, but at present is only in the foundation stages, though much of the steel ivork is already manufactured at the Department's workshops at Manganiolio, and a start with its erection "'ill probably bo made (luring the present month.

All work is progressing satis factorwith favorable weather conilitions I confidently expect the rails will be connected between Auckland and Wellington not later than Christmas 1098 as previously predicted.

The expenditure on the railway last year, exclusive of permanent wav [ materials was £362,101, and for the current year an appropriation of £330,000 is proposed. Blenheim-Waijiarao work.—At the northern end this line has been proceeded with throughout the year, and fair progress made at the southern end. Tho section between Ethelton and Tormore was opened for traffic in November, 1906, and a further section at Domett in March last. As considerable difference of opinion ex-1 istls as to the location of the line be- I yond Domett is it. inadvisable to Xiro-1 ceed with further construction work I

at present. Expenditure on the line last year amounted to £46,036, and Ihfa current year’s appropriation £40,000 is proposed. Midland line.—On the Otira section Goat Crock land Rolleston bridges liavo been completed, some protective groins constructed, and a good deal of earthwork done. Operations were discontinued for a time pending the receipt of tenders for Arthur’s Bass tunnel, but now a. contract for that work has been entered into operations on the Otira section will at once be resumed, so as to complete the lino to the tunnel mouth. The tender of Messrs John McLean and Sons for Arthur’s Pass tunnel, 5 miles 25 chains in length was accepted in August hast, and the work is to ho completed by August, 1912. The amount of the accepted tender, which

was the lowest of three received,- is £599,794. The contract includes not only the tunnel but the completion of the formation of the railway thence as far as Arthur’s Pass station, 595 miles from Greymouth. The section between Staircase Gully and Broken river was duly completed in time for the New Zealand exhibition season as promised ill last year’s Statement. The formation work beyond Broken river, which for two or three miles is of a very heavy character, is well in hand. On this length there are six tunnels and headings are driven all through them. Two are in process of enlargement and. one is completed. The expenditure on the Midland railway during the late financial year amounted to £129,659. The amount was especially largo in consequence of the report made to complete the lino to Broken river. For the current year a vote of £60,000 will he needed. NEW LINES. It is not intended to -introduce a

Bill this session to. authorise the construction of any new railways, but a Railways Authorisation Bill will be brought down to authorise one or-two small extensions of existing , works which have been found to be necessary. Otago central section, between Chatto Creek and Alexandra, Jtvas opened for .public traffic in December, and a further section .to Clyde in April last. On completion of the line to Clyde construction works were discontinued, and it is not proposed to take any further section of this line in hand at present.’ Expenditure on the Otago Central railway last year amounted to £38,274, which with the value of permanent way materials issued brings the gross total expenditure on the line up to £1,270,918. For the current year a vot G of £IO,OOO is required to meet expenditure. TOTAL APPROPRIATION FOR RAILWAYS CONSTRUCTION. " In addition to the amounts already mentioned a vote of £70,000 is proposed for permanent way material, £2OOO for surveys of new lines, ana £IOOO for land claims and’other old liabilities on construction account. These items bring the totaT'proposed appropri ition for railways construction -purxioses (exclusive of .the Waikaka branch railway account) up to £775,000. This is less than, last year’s vote, but is still a very substantial sum, and its expenditure will add materially .to our fl xisting railwav facilities. OTHER RAILWAY WORKS. The amount expended in addition to open lines during the year was £308,150. The bulk of this expenditure was on rolling-stock and, the remainder of essential works to enable the Railway Department to deal efficiently with its business. For the current year a vote of £350,000 is required under this head. Considerable progress has ibeen made in connection with the Hutt railway and road improvement. The line has already been duplicated for about four miles, extending from Lower Hutt- to Paiiarangi Point; a ; further extension of the duxilication i to Ng.ihauranga will probably be opIllation of rthe mam road will be completed and the metalling of same put in hand. The vote proposed for the current year is £70,000, Under the Railways Improvements Authorisation Act, 1904. Work has been carried out between Auckland and Penrose, Addington, and Rolleston, and Dunedin and -Ylosgiel, in duplicating existing lines. In .connection with the firstnamed work provision has been made tor file substitution of bridges in place of level crossings over all public roads, and also for the reconsttuction of .the Parnell bridge, which had been designed to cross the road in one siian instead of three as former-

I Other amounts exnended'last vear I a lid proposed votes,‘are: £ £ Westport -Inangahua .. 8,575—10,000 1 aparoa Coal Co 7,596—15,000 | Hokitika-Ross 21,628—20,000 Laurence-Roxburgh ...15,959— 20",000 Latims-n armaliaka ...15,145—40,000 Riversdale-Swi,tzers .... 3",551 8,000-Orepuku-Yamu 9,955—20.000 llie total expenditure of the Railways Improvements Authorisation cal i?- C o olmt 1: ? st year amounted to £51,902, and for the current year provision has been made nono nno Stmiat , es to tlle extent of £ro°nno°’ , n i\ n . lel - v ’ Auckland-Penrose ' , Dunediu-Mosgiel £IOO,OOO. W-.li: 1 3

I ... Wellington r Manawatu railway.—As t’iio North Island Main Trunk line is I expected to be completed by the end I ol next year, it is desirable that the j question of the purchase of the WelI iingtou-Manawatu railway, should I again receive attention, as, if it is decided to purchase in terms of the l xtailways Construction and Land I Act, 1881, it will b© necessary to give twelve months’ notice to the company. Such notice should therefore be given at an early date if it is to mature before the Main Trunk line is mushed. Having given the matter very careful consideration the Government has decided to at once give notice to the company of its intention to take over the railway in twelve months’ time.

UTILISATION OF WATER POWER w oA st tly ° or three Public I Statements considerable atI tention -has been devoted to this mafcI if’ some valuable reports by the ate Engmeer-in-Cliief and others have been presented to Parliament. I A 1 ’ ’ importance of tlie proposals outI lined in these reports is undoubted, I as is also the practicability of the maI jont.y of tlie schemes outlined. Whether j they would all ho remunerative is, however, more open to question, tliough X think there is not much doubt that some of them would bo payable | Loin tho start. All of the schemes unfortunately involve very considerable expenditure, the total*of tlie proposals running into several millions. Ihc Government considers that the time for embarking on these undertakings, which would almost amount to a fresh public Works policy, has perhaps hardly yet arrived. As soon, however, as the expenditure on the ' Aoith Island Main Trunk railway ceases and the demands oil tho Public \\ orks Fund generally are less pressmg, it would doubtless be advantageous to tako action in tho matter of developing olio or more of the most promising of the schemes outlined. In the meantime it is proposed to lease some of llie water-power available for actual use by private enterprise. The amount of £4664 was expended out of last year’s vote, and for the current year lan appropriation of £2OOO is proposed.

IRRIGATION. Oil tlio Estimates provision is made I for a vote of £3OOO on account of £IOO,OOO proposed to be provided for the purpose of irrigation and watersupply m agricultural and miningdistricts. Tho vote is primarily for the purpose of assisting in opening up and developing fresh lands, for settlement in arid territory. The appropriation is included in the “Lands Improvement” class, and tho work wilL bo under the control of the Minister of Lands. Some preliminary lyork in the shape of explorations and surveys lias already been done, but. during the approaching summer season it is hoped to proceed with actual construction operations^

PUBLIC) BUILDINGS. Tlio total expenditure on P uV)1 ° buildings out of votes oontaoUg by tlio Minister for Public W orbs amounted during tlio lust fin®* l ®*, year to £259,031, namely .£32,<03 under the Consolidated Fund and £226,913 under tho Publio \\oiws Puml. This is an excess by over £70,000 of tlio previous yoar s figures, and by over £IOO,OOO of tho figures .for 190-1-5. For tho current year votes totalling.. £39,00 t under the Consolidatod Fluid and nndor tho Public Works Fund are proposed. This is in (addition to substantial provision for school buildings under tho Consolidated Fund in the votes under tho control ot the Minister of Education. GENERAL. . Tlio buildings under this bead are increasing. During l 9o **'® V'Vvf pendifnro amounted to about.L-.L----033 only, whereas last year £lo,-bd was expended and for the current vear a vote of £30,000 is proposed. Tho principal items provided for in the proposed veto iaro the additions to the Parliamentary Buildings and to the Departmental buildings in Auckland and Wellington Offices for the Geological and Health Departments in Wellington and for other Departments at At cstpoi t, Groymouth, etc. SCHOOL BUILDINGS. Tho total expenditure on school buildings during last year was £90,535, of which £86,376 was debited to revenue and £109,459 to the 1 üblic Works fund. , ~ In addition to the vote under .the consolidated fund an appropriation of . £IOO,OOO is asked for out- ot the public works fund to provide for school buildings generally, also buddings for native and industrial schools, reformatories, home for defectives, the Jubilee Institute for the Blind, Auckland, and the School for Deal M Und’or the head of general hospitals there was an expenditure of £10,209 for new buildings and improvements. Tho vote for the current year is to a ]urge extent a re-vote of the unexpended balances on last year’s appropriations. But it provides also for further additions at llawene, Coromandel, Hokitika, also for St. Helen’s Hospital at Wellington, and the purchase* of a property for a similar hospital at Dunedin, and for a small new hospital for emergency, ■also for wards for special cases at each o‘f four centres. AGRICULTURE.

Tho work done under this head last year was small. Tli e expenditure was principally in connection with the buildings at the Pathological Laboratory at Wallaceville and .a residence at Hamilton for the Inspector of Stock, a fruit fumigating shed at Wellington. An office at Balclutha and dairy produce grading store at the Bluff were also erected. For the current year a vote of £3OOO is proposed to’provide additional buildings at experimental f irms at Ruakura. Oarataki, and Weraroa; accommodation for cadets at Ruakura; also some further buildings at- Wallaceville. Provision is also made for residences for the inspectors of stock at Te Kuiti, Te-pura," Gisborne, Waipukurau, and Seddon. and for offices at Gisborne, Wairoa, New Plymouth, and Palmerston North, and additions to offices in Auckland. • PUBLIC HEALTH.

The principal work carried out during the year was the commencement of til® new wharf at the quarantine station at Wellington. Payments were also made to local authorities at Auckland and Christchurch for provision of an infectious diseases hospital and a sanatorium for consumptives respectively. The vote for th e current year provides for a new wharf at the quarantine station at Auckland, and for completing the wharf at a similar station at Wellington, and for some other necessary work at tlio qu.iran-. tine stations at Lyttelton and the Bluff. A considerable vote is also proposed under the head of subsidies to local authorities on the cost of erecting infectious diseases hospitals and sanatorium and annexes for consumptives. ROADS. BRIDGES, etc.

Now, (to refer to the important question of rords, including bridges and other works essential to proper construction and maintenance, I may perhaps he .pardoned for occupying a little of your time with a few general Temarks, for unquestionably roads .are one of the most important factors. concerned in the settlement of new lands, and their maintenance and improvement in districts where settlement has already taken place is also of .great moment to the persons concerned. It is true that the construction of railways has rendered immense areas of land available for settlement in .comparatively small holdings, which otherwise could only have been profitably occupied in large areas as stook or sheep runs; hut for closer .settlement, which is what should he aimed .at, roads must bo supplied. As closer settlement involves a denser population and a (greater output per acre, it means not only more miles of road, hut also to carry the greater traffic a hotter class of road is necessary than when the land was held in larger areas. Most of the land now available for settlement is of :a more or less broken or hilly nature, which entails more circuitous roads owing to gullies and ridges which 'have to be crossed or along the sides of which the roadE must bo taken to obtain reasonable grades in hilly country. There is also usually, more hard material to excavate "and more--culverts are required-, than on comparatively flat land. All the foregoing circumstances tend to increase the cost per acre of roading the land. In view of the great necessity For roads and their maintenance,, both in new and .re l cently settled-lands, it is proposed to provide , as large a*. sum. as -possible this year for their construction and maintenance. The total nett expenditure for the lat e year by the Roads Department upon road works, etc., was £4X5,037. The work was somewhat restricted owing to labor being scarce and to most of it being in places remote from supplies and civilisation, which •renders the life of laborers more -arduous than on similar work more conveniently situated. Therefore, ns other work was plentiful it was very difficult to obtain labor for the hack-blocks. The work dono during the year was as under: ■ Dray-roads made, 637 miles. ■■ Dray roads maintained, 2722 miles. Bridle roads made, 512 miles. Bridle .roads maintained, IS9I miles. Engineering surveys made, 612-;-miles. Dray bridges built over 30ft span, 7800 lineal feet. The average number of men employed during the year oh roads work was 2392. The appropriations proposed for the current year are as follows: Roads Department, £20,850. Roads generally, £390,238. Tourist roads, £27,463. Loans to local bodies account, £50,000. Total, £488,551. This admits .of the us e of £25,000 voted for maintenance of roads on the Consolidated Fund Estimates... ROADS ON GOLDFIELDS. The precious metals and other minerals are very widely distributed in New Zealand, and owing to the ruggedness of much of the back country large areas still remain comparatively unexplored. The development of our mineral resources must always he regarded as a paramount consideration by the State, and the Government recognises that the best way ol aiding the prospector, miner, and the mail who provides the capital is_ by cutting tracks and making roads into inaccessible tracts of country where mineral discoveries have been or are likely to be made. Included in the year’s votes will bo considerable amounts for roads and tracks to places such as Mount Radiant in the Karamea mining district, where what appears to be a valuable but undeveloped discovery of copper has been made, to the Wilbcrforce, near Browning Pass, where several quartz claims have been taken up, to Upper Blackjvatcr, where a State-aided party dis-

covored auriferous quartz roofs about two years ago and wlioro important development works are now boing carried on, to Parapara wliero largo deposits of hematite iron exist-, and for tho working of which a company is now boing formed. Votes will also bo -taken for roads and tracks tor opoiling. up tho back blocks of Capo Colvillo Peninsula, where mining has bon carried on for many years past under exceptional difficulties owing to the lack of transport facilities. Tho expenditure last year under this head was £38,970, and tho sum proposed to bo authorised for the current yoar is £77,621, on account ol which a vote of £41,000 is proposed. It would, perhaps, bo as well to summarise tho total proposed appropriations for roads works: Roads Department- under Public Works Estimate, £455,551; Ronds Department under Consolidated Fund £25,000; Mines Department_£4l,ooo; gross total proposed £554,551. TOURIST AND HEALTH RESORTS.

Tho expenditure last year was £42,271, the now bath buildings at Rotorua absorbed £10,565, and the water supply works at tho same place £14,776. During tho year the installation of electric light in tho Department’s premises, baths, and domain at To Arolin. was completed, and a start was made with bringing in a now water supply at Hanmer. Tlio accommodation house, land, etc., at tho foot of Lake To Anau wore purchased during tho year. Additional sleeping room at. tho Hermitage at Mount Cook was finished in time for last- season’s traffic, and in consequence the receipts increased by 50 per cent over tho previous year. I lie main building is rapidly lulling to pieces, and it- is proposed to erect- it in stone, the latter material boing very plentiful at a cost of between £SOOO and £9OOO, and you arc being asked for a- voto on tlqit account-. Tho electric light plant at Rotorua has been taken over for some tune and tenders are being called for necessary additions. Estimates for tho current yoar include £20,000 for a new bath building at Rotorua, £4OOO for Rotorua drainage, and £9OOO for Rotorua waterworks, which sums ‘should complete these undertakings. Provision is being made for needed improvements at Te Aroha, Wliakarowarewa, Hanmer, and Mount Cook, and for tho cost of To Puia hot springs accommodation house, which was -recently acquired. The gross sum asked for is £61,233, on account of which a vote of £32,000 is proposed. TELEGRAPH EXTENSION.

During the financial year £114,06S was expended on telegraph and telephone extension. New lines erected and under erection totalled no less than 251 miles. Telegraph offices wore opened at 146 townships, while 2070 new subscribers to the telephone exchange system were added. It will thus bo seen that town and city alike received considerable benefit from the expenditure. Tho sum asked for this year is £105,000. This includes £75,110 on liabilities principally for material under order. LIGHTHOUSES, HARBOR WORKS AND HARBOR DEFENCES. Considerable repairs to Ponau Passage lighthouso tower have been carried out, and a new flagstaff lias been erected at Cape Campbell. Tho cost of these works has been defrayed out of the Consolidated Fund. For the current year a voto of £2,100 is proposed under tho Public Works Fund. This includes provision for a lighthouse on Tualiino Point, near Gisborne, for fog signals which have been ordered for God ley Head and Cuvier Island for connection of some of the lighthouses with tho telegraph system, and for a new dwelling house at Nugget Point. The expenditure last- year on harbor works amounts to £2,963. For the current year it is proposed to renew several of last year’s votes which were unexoended, and to provide for the following additional: Wharves at fangitiroa (Kaipara), Whangamata Uretara (Bay of Plenty), Matata, Omokoroa, and Okarito, improvements to Waipu river. Under the head of Harbor Defences the expenditure is small, having amounted to £lsll only. A vote of £SOOO is proposed for the current yeaI GENERAL EXPENDITURE.. The Estimates include the following charges:—Public AVorks Department £21,000, immigration £IO,OOO, purchase of Native lands £7OOO, rates on Native lands £IOOO. contingent defence £IO,OOO. lands improvement £17,500, thus bringing the total amount of the proposed appropriations up to £2,106,951, against £2,352,889 last year. I should perhaps mention as regards the vote for contingent) defence that certain items which were previously charged against capital account have been removed from the Public AVorks Fund with a view to being provided for on the Supplementary Estimates of tlie Consolidated Fund. It was mentioned m lastyear’s statement that Mr. W. H. Hales had. retired from the position of Engineer-in-Chief and Marine Itnginecr, and that Mr. Peter Seton Hay, M.A.M. Irist. C.E., had been appointed to succeed him in both positions. It is now my painful duty to record the fact that Air. Hay passed away on the 19bh March last. His place has been taken b.y Mr. Robt. West Holmes, M. Inst. C.E., who has been in the service of tlie Government for over 35 years, and who for several vea-rs past has very worthily filled the nosition, first of• Inspecting Engnieei and latterly of Superintending En"ineer of tlio Department. Mr. C. R Vickerman, for many years District Engineer at Auckland, has been unpointed Superintending Engmeei in succession to Air. Holmes. I have also to .record tho death ot Mr.' \\ . A. Shain, one of tho oldest officers of the Department, who at the time of his decease held tho position of Resident Engineer at Nelson. PUBLIC AVORKS ACT. Experienc'p -has disclosed quite numbexv of points on which the’ Public AVorks Act requires amendmont, and tho necessary Bill, has accordingly been prepared, but its consideration will be held over till next session. CONCLUSION. The present rate of our public works expenditure is undoubtedly high, but the continued and well-es-tablished prosperity of the Dominion fully justifies it. There are indeed many persons, and some members of Parliament amongst) them, who would approve even a- higher rate, but if our borrowing for public works purposes is te bo limited to_ one. million per annum it is impossible to do more than wo aro doing. I claim tliat the proposals submitted f'o tho House are those of a thoroughly progressive nature, and at tho same time are lair and equitable as regards their distribution. The needs of each and every part of the country have been carefully considered, aiid it will, I think, bo conceded that an honest effort has been made to apportion the funds available with even-handed justice and in the best interest of the people-as a whole.