57

D.—l

GENEEAL EEMAEKS. Departmental. —Although the expenditure on works during the past year has been below the average, the departmental work has not decreased. About seventy ordinary and one hundred petty contracts have been let, and some fifteen more of the former have been prepared. The surveys and lan work have been considerable, and, as already stated, the administration of the Eoads and Bridges Act takes up a great deal of time. Prices and Labour. —The price of materials and work is much the same as last year. In the northern and western districts labour is, if anything, scarce, but in Canterbury and Otago there is a surplus, particularly of the artisan classes. The county works have absorbed a considerable amount of the unskilled labour, but they are now getting well through, so there will possibly be a number of men out of employment before the winter is over. Number of Men on Works. —The following table gives the average number of men directly employed on public works in the various districts of the Middle Island during the past year, contractors' men being shown separately from those employed directly by Government: —

In addition to the above, 137 men were employed on public buildings, and the numbers do not include contractors' men employed off the works, in shops or otherwise, or men employed by the Working Eailway Department on construction-works. Map.—The usual railway map of the Middle Island is hereto appended (Enclosure No. 3). It shows in distinctive lines tho authorized railways made, in. progress, and not commenced. Enclosures. —This report is accompanied by the following enclosures: — No. 1. —Statement of Depth of Water on Buller and Grey Bars. ~ 2. —Lengths of Eailways authorized, constructed, surveyed, &c, Middle Island. ~ 3. —Map of Middle Island. I have, &c, W. N. Blaie, Engineer in Charge, Middle Island.

District. Employed by Contract. Government Labour, including Surveys. Total Number employed, 1883-84. Telson and Marlborough .. Vestland Janterbury )tago iouthland 91 106 169 157 140 7 93 84 132 27 98 199 253 289 167 Totals 663 343 1,006