D.—l.

A cable of about 5f knots was laid between Colac Bay and Centre Island, thus establishing telephonic communication between Centre Island lighthouse and the mainland. Also, a cable of 4§ knots was laid between Stephen Island and D'Urville Island, and If knots between D'Urville Island and the mainland, connecting Stephen Island lighthouse by telephone with Nelson. Among the principal lines erected were Tuatapere-Puysegur, BlenheimMolesworth, Hamilton-Te Kuiti, Tory Channel, Tekapo-Pukaki, Catlin's River -Tautuku, Bruce Bay-Okura, Mahitahi-Okura, Albert Town - Makarora, South Hillend-Awamanga-Pukepito, Havelock-Nydia Bay, Puriri-Nevesville-Hikuai, Taupo-Tokaanu, Makuri-Coonoor, Cust-Mount Thomas, and Stephen Island. The sum asked for this year is £125,000 ; this includes £103,550 of liabilities, principally for material under order. LIGHTHOUSES, HARBOUR-WORKS, AND HARBOUR DEFENCES. A dwelling for the Lightkeeper at Nugget Point has been erected, and considerable progress made with the fog-signalling apparatus at Godley Head, Lyttelton. The total expenditure amounted to £1,417. A larger vote —namely, £5,000 —is asked for this year, as it is intended to proceed with the proposed new lighthouses at Cape Brett and Tuahine Point, and also to provide a new light on the Jackson's Head beacon. Provision is also made for connecting lighthouses with the telegraph system, and for completing the Godley Head fog-signalling apparatus. Last year's expenditure on harbour-works amounted to £2,867, the principal items being as under : — Wharves at Horeke, Kaikoura, and Tautuku; river improvements at Waitotara, Waikouaiti, and Stewart Island; harbour light, Karamea ; boat-slip at Moeraki; and extensive engineering surveys at Point Elizabeth and Okarito in connection with projected harbour-works at those places. In the current year's estimates, besides renewing the unexpended votes of last year, provision is made for additional grants for the Horeke and Kaikoura wharves, Waipu River protection, and Waitotara River snagging; for grants for wharves at Tangihi, Elmslie Bay, Preservation Inlet, and Stewart Island; for extending the wharf-shed at Karamea ; for wharf and harbour improvements at Okuru; for snagging the Patea River; and for the purchase of a grab-dredge for use in harbour-improvement works generally. The total expenditure likely to come to charge within the year is estimated at £5,000, for which amount a vote is provided. The expenditure under the head of Harbour Defences was again small, having amounted to £2,579 only. For the current year a considerably larger outlay is anticipated, and a vote of £7,500 is asked for. GEOSS TOTAL APPROPRIATIONS. In addition to the votes already referred to, the estimates include provision for the under-noted services :— £ Public Works, departmental ... ... ... ... ... 23,800 Immigration ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 10,000 Purchase of Native lands ... ... ... ... ... 4,900 Kates on Native lands ... ... ... ... ... 850 Contingent defence ... ... ... ... ... ... 20,000 Lands improvement ... ... ... ... ... ... 21,950 thus bringing the total amount of the proposed appropriations, including special accounts, up to £2,721,450, against £2,521,210 voted and £2,106,362 actually expended last year. CONCLUSION. I have now placed before honourable members the proposals for carrying on the public-works requirements of the country for the year. With the expansion and development that is going on all around us, a fairly vigorous policy is called for, and I feel confident that the programme which I have submitted will commend itself to the favourable consideration of Parliament.

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