D.—l

X

Workers' Dwellings. There was an expenditure of £7,293 in connection with dwellings in. the course of erection and other works. During the current year it is anticipated that £.150,000 will be required. Lighthouses. The construction of the tower for an automatic light on Flat Rock, in Auckland Harbour, has been completed, and the light is now exhibited and has proved a great benefit to navigation. It is proposed to make provision during the current financial year for automatic lights near Gable End Foreland, Ohina Island, near Mercury Islands, and the Ninepins (Chetwode Islands, Cook Strait). HARBOUR-WORKS. Owing to the need for economy and to the high cost of materials very little has been done in the way of works in the harbours under the control of the Government, but it is probable that the carrying-out of works of which plans have been approved will be authorized in the near future. The construction of wharves at Raglan, Te Akau, Mahurangi Heads, and Tutukaka has been gone on with, during the year, and a commencement made with the clearing of certain rocks which formed a danger to navigation in the Waikato River near Cambridge. TOURIST AND HEALTH RESORTS. Very little expenditure lias been, incurred during the past year. The total amount expended was £1,620, against £931 for the previous year; but provision will be made this year for a considerable number of improvements and new works at the different resorts. ROADS. CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE. General. —The activities under this class have been carried on partly by the Department itself and partly by local bodies under departmental supervision. The amount placed at my disposal for this very important work under all heads was £535,630. Of this, £55,050 was provided under the Consolidated Fund for maintenance. In addition there was a vote for " roads and other works on goldfields," which was administered by my colleague the Hon. Minister of Mines, and the Land for Settlement Account, under the control of the Hon. Minister of Lands. Unfortunately the expenditure did. not reach anticipations, owing to the difficulty of obtaining labour as well as material. Steel for bridges was unprocurable, and owing to shortage of shipping-space hardwood could not be imported. ROADS AND OTHER WORKS ON GOLDFIELDS. The total vote under this head amounted to £10,375. The actual expenditure, however, amounted to £4,186 only, as it was decided by the Minister of Mines to hold over the expenditure of all votes except those for urgent works. TELEGRAPH-EXTENSION. Owing to the difficulties in obtaining regular supplies of material, the completion of certain lines was delayed and in other instances works authorized could not be commenced. Among the principal land lines completed or under construction during the year .1918-19 are the following: Greymouth-Otira metallic circuit; WaikariHawarden metallic circuit; Palmerston-Naseby metallic circuit; Dunedin-Manio-toto telephone circuit; Omararna-Broken Hut telephone-line; Omarama-Ben-