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The quantity of gold entered for export during 1901 was 455,561 oz., valued at £1,753,783, and of silver 571,134 oz., valued at £65,258; as compared with 373,616 oz. of gold, valued at £1,439,602, and of silver 326,457 oz., valued at £38,879, for 1900; being an increase of 81,945 oz. of gold, valued at £314,181, and 244,677 oz. of silver, valued at £26,379. The amount expended last financial year on works for the development of the goldfields was £15,325, while the liabilities amounted to £8,116. It is proposed to take a vote of £50,000 for the current year. TELEGRAPH EXTENSION. Under the head of telegraph extension the amount expended during the past year was £31,728. The following are the most important lines constructed during the year: Auckland to Doubtless Bay; Whangarei to Limestone Island; Auckland to Mahoenui; Auckland to Rotorua; Rotorua to Waiotapu; Strathmore to Huiakama; Kaponga to Awatuna; Wanganui to Mangamahu; Waipawa to Elsthorpe ; Rimu to Kokatahi; Kokatahi to Koiterangi; Yaldhurst to West iMelton; Christchurch to Akaroa; and Riverton to Orepuki. The vote asked for this year is £71,000, including £43,873 of liabilities on the 31st March last, to provide for additions to existing Exchanges, the completion of works now in hand, and also for sundry new works. PUBLIC BUILDINGS. The total expenditure on public buildings last year amounted to £193,452 —namely, £47,852 under the Consolidated Fund, and £145,600 under the Public Works Fund. The increased expenditure is due to two causes—first, the expansion of settlement; and, second, to the more permanent and better class of buildings now erected. Practically all our larger buildings are now erected in brick or stone, whereas in times past wooden buildings were generally provided. For the current year a total appropriation of £288,370 is proposed —namely, £47,900 under the Consolidated Fund, and £240,470 under the Public Works Fund. 1 General. Under this head the expenditure amounted to nearly £17,000, the works being of a somewhat miscellaneous character, extending over the whole colony. For the current year a vote of £19,550 is asked for. This includes the payment of the award of the Compensation Court for the land taken for the proposed additions to the departmental buildings at Auckland, and also for making a commencement with the proposed enlargement of these buildings; also instalments on account of the partial reconstruction of the departmental buildings at Napier, the proposed new offices and laboratory for the Mines Department in Wellington, &c. Judicial. Courthouses. —New Courthouses have been erected or are in hand at Waihi, Opunake, Wellington, Outram, Dunedin, and Gore; additions or extensive renovations have been effected at Napier and Hokitika ; and minor additions or improvements at Ngaruawahia, Wairoa, Waipawa, Pahnerston North, Kurnara, and Invercargill. The completion of the new law-courts at Dunedin is worthy of special mention. This fine pile, of which illustrations appear at the end of this Statement, has cost altogether £21,600, including £1,300 for furniture and fittings. The principal works provided for in the vote for the current year are: New Courthouses at Hamilton, Levin, Wellington, Brightwater, Westport., and Orepuki; and additions, renovations, or improvements at Auckland, New Plymouth, Manaia, Hawera, Patea, Carterton, Christchurch, and Ashburton. Gaols. —The total expenditure under this head last year amounted to £2,796. Operations were continued at the new gaol at Mount Eden, Auckland. The Gaolers' houses at Wellington and Westport were practically completed, and renovations and repairs were made at Wanganui and Wellington. In the present year's vote provision is made for the continuation of operations at Auckland,

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