p.—l

VI

South Island Main Trunk. The present terminus is at Wharanui Station. ; rails are laid over a further length of 3| miles, but work is suspended because of the impossibility of obtaining material for two small steel bridges on the section. CULVERDEN WaIAU. Formation is completed and rails laid over the whole 13 miles of this line. Only a little ballasting and minor finishing-work, remains to be done, on. completion of which the section can be opened for regular traffic. A daily goods service is now in operation over the whole length. Otago Central. Construction of the section from Clyde to Cromwell, about miles in length, and mostly in a narrow river-gorge, s practically completed, and. for some time past a train service has been in operation tight up to the Cromwell Station site. The damage caused by the phenomenal thunderstorm in November, .1.916, has been repaired, and only a couple of small, concrete bridges, besides work in Cromwell Station yard, require completion before this section can be opened for regular traffic, Toi'AL APPROPRIATIONS FOR RAILWAY-CONSTRUCTION. In addition to the votes lor construction of specific; lines of railway an. appropriation of £500 is required to provide for old land claims and other liabilities on Construction Account, £1,000 for surveys of projected new ines of railway, and £80,000 for permanent-way material. The total vote proposed this year for railway-construction amounts to £485,000. Othb ii Rail way- works. The expenditure out of the Public Works Fund under the heading " Additions to Open Lines " amounted to £200,162. Of this sum, £149,081 was expended in the provision of additional rolling-stock, Westinghouse-brake equipment, steam-heating gear, and workshops machinery. The balance covered expenditure upon improvements to station accommodation and yards ; additions to workshops, tablet, telegraph, and telephone facilities, interlocking, improvements to wharves and bridges, and purchase of land. ROADS ON GOLDFIELDS (MINES DEPARTMENT). The total allocations under this head last year amounted to £28,458, on account of which a vote of £20,200 was taken. The actual expenditure during the year, however, amounted to £6,912 only, as it was decided to hold over the expenditure of all votes except those for urgent work's. DEVELOPMENT OP MINING. The expenditure under this head was quite; small—viz., £72 —and against, this there was a credit of £45, thus leaving the net amount at £27 only. A vote of £1,450 is proposed to be taken this year. pubug buildings. The total amount voted and expended on construction of public buildings during the last financial year amounted to— New buildings ' (Class XVIII, Public Works Fund)—Voted, £316,940; expended, £229,288. For the current year an appropriation, of £648,500 for new buildings is proposed. General. Slow but- steady progress is being made by the contractors with the erection of the new Parliament Buildings, parts of which have been prepared lor occupation during the present session.