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XVII

TOURIST AND HEALTH RESORTS. The expenditure on the Eotorua Electrical Works was chiefly for completing the power-house extension, which will enable the production of a higher power, and consequently admit of a greater number of connections. Some buildings works were also carried out at Kotorua, arid a bath-house has been erected at Tokaanu. Improvements have been carried out at various tourist resorts. For the current year a vote of .£ 15,000 is proposed, the principal works provided for being a sanatorium for workers and other buildings at Kotorua, purchase of Native-township land at Te Puia, and the new hostel at Mount Cook. TELEGRAPH-EXTENSION. The expenditure on telegraph and telephone extensions during the year amounted to £111,868. The number of miles of poles and wire erected and in course of construction were 427 and 2,457 respectively. Among the principal land-lines erected or under erection are the following: Auckland-Wellington, Hamilton-Paeroa, Gisborne-Te Karaka, Napier-Gis-borne, Napier-Waipawa, Wellingtou-Feathersfcon, Wanganui-Marton, Amberley -Cheviot, Springfield - Cass, Dunedin Oamaru, Dunedin-Middlemarch, and Invercargill-Winton. During the past year matters in connection with the installation of the wireless-telegraph system have been pushed forward with all expedition. A great deal of initial work has been undertaken in the selection of suitable sites A the acquiring of the necessary land, the formation of roads, clearing of sites, and the preparation of the plans and specifications for the buildings. Contracts have been let for the erection of two high-power stations, one at Awanui, north of Auckland, and the other at Awarua, near the Bluff. Both these stations will have a daylight range of 1,250 miles, and thus uninterrupted communication will be kept up with vessels to and from Australia. Medium|)ower stations, having a daylight range of 300 miles, are to be erected on Mount Etako, North Tinakori Range, near Wellington; at North New Brighton, near Christchurch; at Gisborne; and on the Government steamer " Tutanekai." The vote asked for this year, ,£175,000, includes liabilities amounting to £71,904 principally for telegraph and telephone material under order at the commencement of the financial year. LIGHTHOUSES, HARBOUR-WORKS, AND HARBOUR-DEFENCES. Lighthouses. The works undertaken during the year were —the completion' of the Jackson's Head beacon, the erection of an automatic explosive fog-signal at Patiti Point (Timaiu), and a track leading to the fog-signal at Godley Head. The new works to be provided for are —the erection of lights at Castlepoint, North Cape, and Chickens Islands ; the re-erection of the Tuahine Point Lighthouse, which had to be temporarily dismantled last year owing to serious land-slides; and the connection of another lighthouse with the telegraph system. For the works mentioned above a sum of ,£8,885 will be required, on account of which a vote of £4,500 is provided on the estimates. Harbour-woeks. The principal works carried out last year were—Wharf at Matata (Bay of Plenty); extensions of existing wharves at Mercury Bay, Omokoroa, and Karamea ; harbour-improvements at Matakana, Mokau, Havelock, Takaka, and Karamea; protective works at Westshore (Napier); alterations to the ponds at the Portobello fish-hatchery, and the installation of an oil-engine winch and protective works at Nugget Bay for the benefit of the fishermen at that place. For the current year, in addition to renewing the unexpended items on last year's appropriations, it is proposed to provide for the following: Wharves at Jtuakiwi (Whaingaroa), Marakopa, Needles (Manukau), Mahau (Pelorus Sound), lights at Shelly Beach and Beacon Point (Kaipara), wharf-extension at Little Wanganui, wharf and river improvements at Otaeo (Waiwawa), removal of looks (Kaipara Kiver), and increased grants or subsidies for—Lemon Point

iii—D. 1.