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made wherever I have seen them to be possible, and I believe that still further economies can be effected, even with the considerable addition to our business which I confidently look forward to, as I am assured that we may expect a largely increased grain-tonnage this season. It may be well, however, to remind honourable members, that economy can very often be effected, by reducing conveniences which have been previously enjoyed, but which are in some cases too liberal for the small population, and the business which requires to be done. All such endeavours to economise are, however, generally stoutly resisted in the particular districts where the necessary economies are attempted to be carried out. Under ordinary circumstances there would be many other matters which I should properly be expected to deal with; but, as circumstances at present stand, I shall not attempt to indicate in detail the directions in which I may think that the management might be improved, the revenue increased, and the expenditure reduced, because the Government has already stated, that m its opinion, the groundwork of the system is defective, and that it is essential for the proper administration of this valuable property that Commissioners should be appointed who can act independently, and who will deal with the railways, and conduct their business, unfettered by political control. For this purpose I have prepared a Bill which is now before the House; and, I believe, that great as are the benefits which the colony has already derived from its railway system, much better results may be reasonably expected, if the proposals now before Parliament are assented to. Before leaving this branch of my subject, however, I would wish to repeat what has already been said by my colleague the Colonial Treasurer, namely that I have no fault to find with the officers of the Eailway Department. While the groundwork of the system, however, involves continual change, and want of finality in any principle of action, no good can come of it; but I expect to learn that under the Commissioners, officers who have served the colony faithfully for many years, will do much more useful work in the future, than the surrounding circumstances have admitted of their doing in the past. EOADS. The next subject which I have to treat upon is that of roads of all classes; and before going into the details of this subject, it maybe interesting to honourable' members, that I should give them the results of a return recently prepared, showino- the length of roads constructed and improved in the colony generally, out of Public Works Fund, from the commencement of the Public Works policy. These I find to be as follows :— Dray roads, North Island 3,234 miles. Middle Island 1,108 „ I. ■_ Total dray roads .... .... 4,342 miles. Horse roads, North Island 2,452 miles. „ Middle Island.... .... .... 1,126 „ Total horse roads .... .... 3,578 miles. Grand total of roads of all classes .... 7,920 miles. Mostly in connection with these road-works, but in some cases as separate undertakings, a number of large bridges have also been constructed not to mention smaller bridges and culverts which have been taken no special account of and I find that the number of these large bridges is, m the North Island 611 bridges having a total length of 48,239 ft.; and in the South Island 154 bridges, having a total length of 32,750 ft: total for both Islands 765 bridges, having a total length of 80,989 ft. .2—D. 1.

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