D.—l.

apparatus was ordered from England to replace the Wigham oil-light on Jackson's Head, and this will be placed in position as soon as the weather is favourable. The total expenditure for the financial year was £7,481. The new works provided for this year are the erection of a fog-signal at Timaru and the connection of Cape Brett and Cape Palliser lighthouses with the telegraph system. For these works and the completion of the Cape Brett light a sum of £6,900 will be required, and provision for this amount is made in the estimates. Last year's expenditure on harbour-works amounted to £4,439, the principal items being wharves at Awanui, Horeke, Tangiterona, Huia (Manukau), Uretara (Bay of Plenty), Kaikoura, Golden Bay, and Half-Moon Bay (Stewart Island); removal of rocks at Kaipara, of snags in Waitotara River and Freshwater River (Stewart Island); improvements to the landing-place for fishermen at Nugget Bay, and. the purchase of a grab-dredge for use in harbour-works generally. In the current year's estimates, besides renewing the unexpended votes of last year, it is proposed to provide for the following new works : Wharves at Leigh, Mercury Bay (extension), Cabbage Bay, and Elaine Bay; improvement of Matakana B arbour; deepening Mahurangi River; boat-landing, Pounawea ; removal of rocks in Kaikoura Harbour ; purchase of an oil-engine for the fishermen's landing at Nugget Bay, and for the acquisition of the Tata Island in order to preserve the harbour of refuge there. The expenditure likely to come to charge during the year will probably amount to about £5,U00, and a vote for this amount is provided. Under the head of Harbour Defences an expenditure of £7,297 took place, principally for the purpose of strengthening the fortifications. Some further works of a similar character, and also the construction of an additional battery are now in hand, and for these works, including two new six-inch guns that are required, a vote of £8,000 is proposed. GBOSS TOTAL APPBOPBIATIONS. In addition to the votes specifically referred to the estimates include provision for the undernoted services : — £ Departmental .... .... .... .... 43,500 Lands improvement .... .... .... .... 32,744 Contingent defence .... .... .... .... 10,000 Immigration.... .... .... .... .... 10,000 thus bringing the total amount of the proposed appropriations, including special accounts, up to £2,478,368, against £2,895,897 voted and £2,445,324 actually expended last year. - DEPABTMENTAL. I have already mentioned that on my predecessor's retirement, it was decided to entrust the roads and bridges work to the Public Works Department. This necessitated an amalgamation of the staff, and at the same time rendered it practicable to effect considerable retrenchment. Mr. C. W. Hursthouse, who for many years filled the position of Chief Engineer of Roads, retired on superannuation, and a large number of other officers of the late Roads Department were similarly retired or dispensed with. Mr. W. S. Short, who held the position of Chief Clerk, Commissioner, and Solicitor in the Roads Department, was appointed Assistant Under-Secretary of Public Works, and Mr. A. B. Wright, previously District Road Engineer in Auckland, was made Inspecting Engineer of Roads. Numerous other minor alterations and amalgamations were also effected. The amalgamation also enabled a reduction to be made in the staff of the Public Works Department. The gross total saving by the rearrangement and retrenchment effected, including estimated savings in travelling allowances and expenses, will amount to £30,000 per annum. While effecting this large economy in expenditure every care has been taken to see that the efficiency of the departmental administration and the oversight of works are in no wise impaired.

XV