D.—l.

WAYS AND MEANS. On the Ist April, 1918, the available ways and means for public- £ works purposes were .. .. . . .. .. 295,540 Additional funds were received as follows : — Under Finance Act, 1917, section 77 .. .. .. 725,000 Under Finance Act, 1918 (No. 2), section 29 .. .. 360,000 Other receipts and recoveries .. .. .. .. 13,14.1 Making a gross total of .. .. .. £1,393,681 The net expenditure on all works and services chargeable against the Public Works Fund for the year 1918-19 amounted to .. .. £l ,207,482 This left a credit balance in the Ways and Means Account at 31st March, 1919, of .. .. .. .. .. .. 186,199 Authority exists, for providing further funds : — In terms of the Finance Act, 1918 (No. 2), to the extent of .. 2,140,000 Making a total of . . .. .. .. £2,326,199 In addition it is proposed to ask for authority to provide a further 750,000 Thus making available for expenditure during the current financial year ending 31st March, 1920, a sum of .. .. .. .. £3,076,199 The estimated expenditure on public works for the current year (exclusive of accounts which have their own ways and means) is £2,986,257, leaving an estimated credit balance of £89,942 to be carried forward to next year (1920-21). In addition to the amounts above described statutory authority exists for raising the balances under the following accounts, viz. : — £ Aid to Water-power Works Act, 1910 .. .. 51,000 Waihou and Ohinemuri Ilivers Improvement Act, 1910 50,000 101,000 Statutory authority is being asked for the hydroelectric development of Mangahao and Arapuni schemes, and further extensions of Lake Coleridge ; also for the purchase of Horahora, the extension thereof, and the erection of transmission-lines, amounting in all to .. .. .. .. .. 6,830,000 £6,931,000 RAILWAY-CONSTRUCTION. Construction and maintenance have been continued on twenty-nine sections of railway with all the available man-power that could be obtained at reasonable rates. No sections were handed over to the Working Railways Department, however, although I anticipate being in a position to do so during the ensuing twelve months. In all cases where the lines were in a forward state of completion goods have been carried for: the convenience of settlers, and in some cases passengers were also accommodated. The total expenditure on railway construction and improvements during the financial year amounted to £467,297, particulars of which are as follows : — £ Construction of new lines .. .. .. .. 296,019 Additions to open lines .. .. .. 91,904 Railways Improvement Authorization Act 1914 Account 79,375 The following is a brief summary of the works in progress during the year just closed, fuller details of which will be found in Appendix B.

III