PUBLIC WORKS.

Minister's Annual Statement £1,655,000 FOR RAILWAYS. Relief of Unemployment. WELLINGTON, October 26. The Annual Public Works Statement, with Estimates, was presented to the House of Representatives this evening by the Minister for Public Works, the Hon, Mr Ransom.

"Oa aMßaiag the portftU* Pnbt'fas Works, I realised from U» outset that It waa ■acrasary for me to bacom# folly personally acqoaiated with the special coalitions concerning the various works already In hand, and to ba€«sm familiar w-.th the ©fleers of the f>s|MM limit ia order that I could more readily grasp the multifarious operatlottS is whi'h they were Involved," said tfca Stataawnt of the Minister. **l tbmfor* devoted practically all the period ef Che recess to travelling and ta visits of inspection ta »h« largar works which the Departs rat had in hand.

"I fee* tkst the personal toueh which I lan been able to establish with both the officers tad the men, has been for ete good o/ all parties aad for the ■MKMbf of that harmoay which is so essential if tho best progress la to b# mute. The personal knowledge gained has beoa of benefit to myself, aad I trust will be of benefit to the country u a whole, for I have aot confined my iaiptctiOM to tho Depart meat 'a operation* only, but I have endeavoured to ascertain, through my own ob««T ratios*, aad through conferences with those moot directly concerned, just what ware tho moat pressing requirements of tho different districts.

"The baekblock district.*, 1a particular, received ay earneet attention, aad it ia vy confirmed opinion that considerably more nut be done thaa has boea done ia the past ia regard to the peavfaion of improved access to those nreaa, 1 have accordingly arranged chat the tc*o ©a the- Public Works Estimates for this year for acres* to outlying districts is to be materially in- | creased in order that not only access to those districts already settled may I be Improved aad extended but that the** areas suitable for settlement may be roaded as aa inducement to further J settlement. Ia this direct I may say the .Public Works Department aad the Lands Depart moat will operate conjointly, aad increased settlement of many of those arasa of land at present uaoceupied aad reverting to second growth may confidently be expected. "Members ha*e already received the Goveronieat 'a proposals regardiag landsettlement, sad It to the Government'a d>sir*. a* far as possible, to employ on the development of unsettled aad owprodoetfve lands coder the provisions of the Land Laws Amendment Bill of this session,. many of the more experienced Public Works employees who by their long aad faithful service have shown that they possess many of tho necessary • jiialities that go to make successful settlers, aad it is hoped that they will avail themselves of the opportunities of obtaining farms that are being offered under that legislation. Bv this means the way will be opened for employment o* standard works of n.y Department of more of the ordinary unemployed. Bsrvtew of *aiiwayi- •* Cn fortunately, during last re-ess available time would not permit of my visiting some of the more northern parts of tie cobbtry, bat it is my intention and desire to devote as much time aa possible to travelling in those loeal 1 ties as soon as can conveniently be arranged after the, session. "In connexion with railway construction daring the year, 106 miles SO chain* of lines have been completed and handed over to the Working Ball wav s Department foe ordinary operations. In additioa to the liaea handed o% or for incorporation in the railway system traffic has been earned on by my Department oa 09 milee «f railway which are either aot abeolutely complete or the control "of which by my Department is essential ia the interests of economy of construction of other portions aot yet completed, but which are so Interconnected with the completed portions as to indicate that the control should still be retained in the hands of the Public Works Department.

"The Government, after full consideration, decided that the railway which was being built from Botorua to Reporoa—a distance of a boat twenty-eight miles—should be discontinued, and also rhat the deviatioa of the Main Trunk tin# at Paimerston North which had N«en pat in hand by the previous Government was not justified at present. Accordingly these works were stopped, and the men, plant, aad material which had employed on these works were transferred to the Gisborne-Napier railway, on which it was deeided to ac•'»l»m.t* progress.

"The extension of the North Auckland Main Trunk railway is aot proposed beyond Baagiakaa, where the railway will stake contact with the Hokiaaga water*. The difficulties of railway con"traction in the North Auckland district ire phenomenal, the instability of the ;maad rendering either road or railway ■ onstra-rt;on particularly expeasive. However, it is eoasidared that so much money has already been spent oa the final section,, aad also oa the link which Trill bring the Dargavill*-Kaih u Valley railway in connexion with the Northern Main Trunk line, that it is advisable to

• napletc these portions ia order that fha districts to be served may have the advantage of railway convenience.

•The results obtained from the working of the East Coast Main Trunk railway, *a<i the benefit which' it is confernag upon the population up to and even beyond its preseat terminus at Taae*tua, are sneh that I hope it will b« found justifiable to proeeed with the extxasioa of this railway towards Opotiki »ht* tome of the other works aow neari«g completion are out of hand. The If aptor■qisfcorae Ltak. Thaor to ay aranaiag office, the •juestioo of the mate of the NapierCrifkocne railway between Walroa aad Qmbmnm had been the subjeet of a deal of eoat*»Ttt»y, aad assj nTerte lad heea made ea the subject. I "•viewed the whole position aad with ■tjr colleague* gave the Batter close atwe result that it was dethat what has cane to be known aa. Its coastal nmti should he adopted. T%m rwrte, ia addition to saving about - • aa* miles ia actual dirtaaee, reduces

the amount of saw line to be constructed by 26 miles, aad therefore very greatly reduce* the time which must be spent ia construction before a through connexion caa be made. Work on this line is bow being prosecuted vigorously, there being approximately 1200 men engaged, as web as numerous steam ■hovel*, locomotives, and other meehaai eal plant. "The construction is being attacked in three main directions—northwards from the presaat railhead near Waikare, northwards from Waikokopu, and south wards from Gisborne.. In view of the ate which the Department is making of the port of Waikokopu, both in connexion with the railway construction and the Waikaremoana hydro-electric development, a considerable amount of tnoaey has been spent on facilities there, and a small breakwater is under construction, the whole being ia accord aoce with an arrangement made with the Wairoa Harbour Board under which they will later on repay to the Government a great proportion of the cost of the works. At the Gisborne end a fur ther survey is being made to ascertain whether the distance cannot be materially shortened, it being realised that ia order that the railways may effectively eon*pete with road transport, directness between largo centres of population is essentia], even though this may involve some extra expense. A considerable portion of the line between Waikokopu and Mnriwai will be remote from the main road, aad it has been found necessary to do a gTeat deal of development work in the nature of access roads, trams, and jig-lines before the railway proper can be commenced. These aecesa facilities, which are directed to the early commencement of the crucial points on the line, are now well advanced.

| "The Stratford Main Trunk railway ! is also being vigorously prosecuted, and i is manned on a maximum scale, three [ shifts and all available plant being I worked on the governing points, which I are mainly the tunnels, there being no less thaa four miles of tunnel between j the present railheads. A coal mine has been opened in the Tangarakan Gorge, aad others are ia contemplation in the I same formation. Special coal-loading sidings are nnder consideration at Baekohua Statioa, so that heavy traffle fen this line will soon materialise.

* Work to Soatfc Island. a T* has also been decided that the construction of the last link in the Pic ton Bluff railway—namely, the part JtetwMn Parnassus and Wbaranui should be resumed ss soon as the route bad been deeided upon aad the necessary survevs completed. At the northera end there is a considerable distance on which only one route is avail able; sufficient of this has been pegged out. aad a commencement with construction has been made. Oa the remaining length surveys are in hand, and the route is being pegged. "Work on the railway designed to . connect Westport and Nelson with the rest of the railways of the South Island ! by a junction with the present West Coast lines at Inaagahua Junction, is being vigorously pushed forward. Unfortunately, the disastrous earthquake, | which so badly damaged the northern lead of the South Island on June 17th, 1929, interrupted this work, it being necessary to transfer almost the whole of the men from the railway-works to open up road communications in the adjoining districts. The dislocation of the ground throughout the whole length to be followed by this railway has resulted in a great number of enormous allpe, in addition to rendering unstable the ground which has not yet slipped. The result of this will be a great increase in the cost of this railway, Over and above what it would have been estimated at prior to the earthquake. The line has not yet beten surveyed in detail throughout, but as soon as It Is possible to open up a pack-track to al low engineering surveyors to penetrate the country, the survey will be resumed. "The total vote proposed for railwayconstruction this year is £1,655,000, this being a very considerable Increase on the £1,003,872 spent last year. The rate of progress oa railway-construction has been geaerally expedited in accordance with the Prim* Minister's policy of bringing tit* railways nnder construction to a paying-point a* early as possible. The reason for this is obvious, particularly aa this policy also enabled Che employment of additional men on reproductive work rather than on relief works, which,. although useful works aad eventually necessary, ware not so urgently reqaired by tha country. "In additioa to the railways being constructed from the ordinary Ptoblic Works Fund, my Department has been carrying out two very large works with funds derived from what is known ss the Railways Improvement Account. These deviations are in the vicinity of Auckland aad Wellington. What is known as the Westfield deviation, which is being constructed in order to obviate the steep grades which, combined with heavy suburban traffic, cause congestion between Auckland and Penrose, is now nearing completion. Goods traffic to a limited extent is now in operation over one of the tracks (this being a double-track deviation). It will not be possible to open the deviation to traffic of all classes until the new. Auckland railway statioa and the yards which form part of it are ready for use. This latter work is being carried out nnder a contract let by the Minister for Railways. "The Tawa Flat deviation, Chich will cut out the heavy grades and circuitous lines between Wellington and Tnwm Flat, is aow being energetically poshed. Every available face in the tunnels is manned. The very latest tunnelling machinery has been installed, wiU> the aid of which it is hoped to considerably further increase the number of men eagaged. Hydro-Electric Development. "During my term of offloe two notable forward movement* have been made in connexion with hydro-electric power development in that the first unit from Waikarcmoaaa, of 20,000 kilowatts capacity, was put on load at the end of January, 1929, thereby relieving the severe stress which for some time had been thrown on the Mangahso Station,

mm A at tha beginning of Jose, 1929, the flrat unit at Arapuni, of 15,000 kilowatts, commenced to deliver power on a commercial scaK and has i«ince then been running practically fully loaded. Tl»e second unit is now ready, »nd commenced carrying '""ad at the end of S<-p Umber. It is anticipated that the third anit 'trill be operating before the end of the year. "It is a source of satisfaction to the Government that its officers have been able to d«tr,onstraV that the claim made by the contractors that it was impossible to erect a power house en its present cite had no foundation in fact. In connexion with this development, however, I regTet to say a very extensive erosion—much more rapid that was anticipated—has manifested itself in the old bed of the Waikato river below the •pillway over which the surplus water escape*. The position has been aggravated by the fact that owing to the contractors abandoning the contract, the channel has been subjected since the end of lf>27 to flows of water which were not anticipated, and which would have been considerably mitigated had the power house been in full operation taking a large amount of water which otherwise has had to go over the spillway. As a consequence protective measures must be taken, and this work is being energetically handled. The driving is proceeding of two additional penstock tunnels, which are part of the subsequent development of the scheme, and which will be available when, through growth of load, the time arrives for the installation of additional generating machinery. It is estimated that these two tunnels, together with the other four of the present development, will be capable of taking the normal flow of the river, and any additional flow, in all but extreme floods, can be diverted through the existing bypass toon el round the dam.

"Work on the Waikato river, where a large development is being made about four miles above Knrow, is proceeding satisfactorily. A coffer-dam of Interlocked steel-sheet piling has been completed, enclosing a section in the centre of the river, and the rock hns been laid bare in the bottom. When this section is concreted the dewatermg and concreting of the remaining sections in the main stream will be greatly facilitated. So far the work has been quite successful, although, in common with all work carried out in rivers sub ject to flood, there must be considerable anxiety so long as the works are in a condition which renders them vulnerable to the attacks of a large flood. However, every precaution which can economically he taken is being taken.

"For some time it has been suggested that it will be to the advantage of both parties if an agreement can be arrived at whereby the Government purchases the City of Dunedin's Waipori development, at least so far as the main generation and transformation is concerned, and negotiations have been in progress. Whether these will be. finalised or not has not yet been decided, as quite a number of considerations other than strictly commercial factors BurTounding this transaction must be considered.

"Detailed investigations have been in hand in regard to what is known as the Gowan hydro electric scheme in the Nelson district. The damage resulting from the recent earthquake has affected the position, and it is not possible to give any definite indication in regard to this scheme pending further investigations which are now in hand.

Dominion's Boad Mileage. "The roading operation of the Department, particularly the provision of communication facilities for the people in the backblocks, as previously stated, has been one of my closest studies. The ultimate goal to which I aspire is that of providing every landowner with such access as will enable him to transport his produce from the farm to the seaboard with celerity and economy at all times in the year, and which will foxnish to him and his household the convenience of easy aecess to their ordinary markets and to their fellow-citi-zens of the Dominion. The steady increase in the cost of roading, which has been manifest in the 10 years prior to my taking office is maintained. The ever-increasing number of motor-ve-hicles using the roads precludes the possibility of any decrease in reading expenditure if the present high standard is to be maintained. When considered in proportion to the population and the number of motor-vehicles, New Zealand is in the forefront amongst the nations in its mileage of roads available for traffic in all states of the weather—in other words, hard-surfaced roads.

"In preparing the public works roads estimates for this financial year, I have amended to iome extent the system of allocation of the roads vote to the different districts. A careful review of the operation of this system indicated quite conclusively that it was not applying as equitably as could be wished, and it was qu'te apparent that while some districts were receiving unduly liberal treatment others were being penalised. The governing factor responsible for this position appeared to be that known as "paper roads." A perusal of any standard county lithograph will show the great number of legalised but unformed roads, a great many of which there will be no necessity to construct for very many years. Under the old system of allocation of funds these wero all taken into consideration in allotting the roads vote, and the greater the mileage of unformed roads the greater the amoint of money the district would receive, even rhougn perhaps many of the roads would never be formed. This appeared to be hardly reasonable or fair, and the incidence of this factor to a great extent appeared to upset the balance of the other factors.

"I therefore amended the system in this respect and took into consideration only those legal unformed roads which a careful review indicated might be expected in the course of development to receive attention in the next few yearß. Other'amendments to the automatic system of a more or less minor nature have also bean made, and, although a certain amount of criticism has been received as a result of the alterations from those districts whose allocations have been reduced, it is felt that so far as the whole Dominion is concerned the system will now operate in a much more equitable manner than formerly, and those districts most in need of development will get the assistance from the roads vote to which, when all factors are considered, they are justly entitled.

10,403 Miles of Highways. "The Main Highways Board has continued the excellent work which it has done in the past, and I find that it enjoys the confidence of the local bodies with whom it is in such close touch, and that the local authorities and motorists generally are not stinting in their appreciation of the great improvement that has taken place in the roading of New Zealand since the Highways Board was constituted.

"During the year the main highway system was extended to include 3733 miles of secondary highway, while the general maintenance subsidy for the whole system, which now comprises 10,403 miles of main highway, was increased from £.l 10s for £1 'to £2 for £l. The Board, in its report, shows that. mainly in consequence of the increase in the rate of maintenance subsidy, local authorities were able considerably to reduce the amount which they paid towards the cost of maintenance of the primary highways system. The amount of this redaction, however, does not approach

the amount of the increase in local authority rates which has taken place during the last few years. Between 1924-25 and >027-23 the rural rates increased by £.173,000 per annum, and a large percentage of this increase was accounted for by the additional expenditure which local authorities had to face in the maintenance of primary highways. lf>2S 2l> rural rating figures are not yet available, but in view of the increased operations of the Board it is reasonable to expect that the rise of rural rating has been arrested. "Since I assumed office numerous local authorities have made representations to me for payment towards the cost of construction of roads put down iu what arc generally referred to as 'permanent materials,' and towards the cost of which the local authorities concerned did not receive a subsidy, or received a subsidy which in their opinion was insufficient in comparison with the subsidies which are now being paid. The matter is one to which I have given a good deal of consideration, as I ftilly appreciate the local authority point of vie*. I have, however, been forced to the conclusion that the finances which are available for road construction and maintenance purposes will not permit o? such payments being made. The finances which are at present available are such as will meet present and future requirements only, and if retrospective subsidies in any form were to be paid, either as a direct payment to local authorities or as an annual grant towards the payment of interest and sinking fund charges, it would be necessary to either increase taxation or reduce the present rate of subsidies, and I cannot recommend the adoption of either of such courses.

Irrigation In Otago. "In regard to irrigation in Central Otago, the late Government set up a committee, consisting partly of Government officers and partly of settlers in Central Otago, to investigate matters relating to the irrigation schemes in operation in that locality. The settlers had contended for some time that the rates they had agreed to pay for water were too high, and that the amount of water which the Government had contracted to supply to them was insufficient. As the quantity of water and the price to be paid for it was the fundamental basis on which the schemes had been established, it became a matter of very serious consideration. When I took office I found a report already brought down. The investigating committee found in a number of cases the settlers had been too optimistic and had contracted to carry out more than their land could support, at any rate until the same was fully developed, and its full development could not be brought about for a period of years. The committee recommended certain modifications to the agreements made with the settlers; and after visiting the districts and interviewing a great many interested persons I found that the whole subject bristled with difficulties, but that nevertheless, the practical result to New Zealand in the way of increased produce, thereby inducing increased traffic on the railways, and increased revenue of public utilities, was so great that considerable sacrifice by the Government in the early stages, would undoubtedly be offset by the benefit to the Dominion as a whole. I therefore agreed to grant for a period of five years, the concessions recommended by the investigating committee, being confidently of the opinion that by that time the settlers would all be firmly established on their holdings and would be well able to pay the charges which they originally contracted to do.

Name of Account. | Electric Supply Account Waihon snd Ohinemuri Rivers Improvement Account Railway Improvement Authorisation Act, 1914, Account .. .. •• Main Highway* Conatruction Fund Totals for thee* special account* Attacking Unemployment Problem. "The position regarding unemployment has, since my assumption of office, given me canse for grave concern, and much thought has been devoted to how I the problem could best be handled. On | assuming office I found that 2935 men ! were engaged on relief works by my Department, at a wage of 9s per day for single men and 12s . per day for married men, the standard rate of wages being 14s per day. The Government eonj sidered the matter and decided that ; the wages of relief workers were to . be raised to the standard rate of 14s, and this was immediately done. While endeavouring to arrive at a permanent solution of the unemployment problem, I have not lost sight of the fact that ] J immediate relief was urgently neces- ( I sary, and my Department has nsed ] I every effort to absorb the maximum < [ number of men possible on its various ] ! works. i

"The placing of large numbers of men on public works is, however, not a permanent means of overcoming the difficulty. The Government, realising this fact, has given very fall consideration to various schemes which would mean the permanent removal of considerable numbers from the ranks of the unemployed, and it is anticipated that during the present summer several of these schemes will be finalised and put into operation, thus materially relieving the position so far as next winter is concerned.

"As honourable members are aware, the Government has given an undertaking that all unemployed capable of employment, will be placed in work at a certain date. A sub-committee of Cabinet has the matter in hand, and proposals in this direction are at the present time receiving that committee's attention. EXPENDITURE. "The total net expenditure under all votes and accounts appearing on the Public Works Estimates for the financial year ended March 31st, 1929, was £8,331,884. Of this sum £3,777,006 was expended out of General Purposes Account, and the balance, £4,554,878, out of special accounts. "A brief summary of this expenditure, as well as the total expenditure since the inception of the Public Works policy to March 31st last, follows in tabular form:— Railways—

Expenditure for year Total ended Exp. to Mar. 31, Mar. 31, Class ol woxk 1929. 1929. £ £ Jfew construction 1,002,872 36,166,445 Addition to open lines . . 213,405 16,003,639 Payment to Midland railway bondholders . . Boads . . 833,577 17,799^274* Public buildings .. 213,505 10,341,786 Immigration . . 50,266 3,234,549 Purchase of Native lands . . Lighthouses. har-bour-works, and harbour defences 17,063 1,266,276 Tourist and health resorts .. 39,534 499,580 Telegraph extension 624,414 9,916,361 Development of min- I ing Defence work (general) 67,652 1,347,920 Departmental . . 143,253 2,544,318 Irrigat on and water supply .. 55,197 836,472 Lands improvement 85,361 512,381 Minor works and services . Plant, material, and stores . . 4,594 881,770 Quarries (acqui*ition and operating) . Cr. 6,030 8,114 Timber supply and sawmill* for Public Works Department .. Cr. 5,116 990

Motor transport services - - ' 83,635 Cost and discount, rsising loans, e:< -. . . 488.238 5,081.051 Tn(»J Ocr.rrs! Purposes Ac ron nt 3,777.006+ 107.296.300 Aid "o water-power works and electric supply account • • 1. I 8 j,103J 5.395.910? Waihcn an(l Obinemuri Rivers Improvement Account - ■ 52.510J 680,C99t Total Public Works Fund 5.012,419 116.352,500 \Tp'.'.:n=ton-Hntt Railway, etc — Railway Rosd • • Railways Improvement Account Railways Improverae'r.; Authorisation Act, 1914 Account . . 2,007,917 8,428.284 Lea" 3 to Local Bodies Account —roads to open up Crown lands • ■ Opening up Crown lands for settlement Account -—roads to open a up Crown lands LantH for Settlement Account — roads to open up Crown lands National Endowment Account . - Education Loans Account . - 875,352 f! 3,747,4332 Main Highways Account Construction Fund 936,496 2,681,924 8,331,884 131,782,917 "Includes £4,500 expended under Section 16, sub-section (1), Native Land Amendment and Native Land Claims Adjustment Act, 1y23. tDoes cot include expenditure under the EUesmere Land Drainape Act, 1905. JExclndes interest during construction. proportionate cost of loan raised under thefe accounts. Ways and Means. t On April Ist, 1928, the available ways and means for Public Works purposes were .. 1,328,808 Additional funds were received as follows: — fa) Under Finance Act. 19?6, Section 2 (Public Works) 1,622,864 (b) Under Finance Act, 1927, Section 2 (Public Works) 3,393,828 («> Under Finance Act, 1923, Section 2 (Public Works) 1,416,771 (d) Recoveries on account of expenditure of previous vears - • ■ • 10-,618 (e) EUesmere and Forsyth Reclamation and Akaroa Railway Trust Account receipts 1,730

£7,866,614 The net expenditure on works and service* against the General Purposes Account for the (a) Under appropriations . . 3,538,768 (b) Under Lake EUesmere Land Drainage Act, 1905 .. (c) Under Lake EUesmere and Akaroa Railway Trust Account • ■ 89 (d) Charges and expenses of raising loans 438,238 Making a total of • • £3,977,531 This left a credit balance in the account for general purposes at March 31st, 1929, of . . 3,889,083 Balance of £7,000,000 loan (1929) outstanding at March 31st, ' 1929 • • • * l,3lfc»fcD» Legislative authority exists for raising a further . . 1,061,050 It Is proposed to ask for further legislative authority to borrow, when required • . 4,000,000 Thus making available for Public Works, general purposes, a total of • • • ■ 10,262,397 The estimated expenditure under the account for the current financial year is -■ 5,001,339

In addition to the requirements (or general purposes, there are a number of special accounts for public works with separate ways and means. The most important of these are:— Balance of Unexhausted £7,000,000 Balance Borrowing loan (1929) Total available authority outstanding available at 31st at,3lst at 31st Ways and Mar., 1929. Mar., 1929. Alar., 1929. Means. £ £ £ £ 697,088" 1,243,990 291, 614 2,282,692 11,907 39,000 1,174*318 1,515,000 437,421 3,127,237 8,090 2,120,000 1,891,901 4,908,990 729,025 7,529,926 £ From the foregoing figures it will be observed that at the end of last financial year the unexpended balance of the Public Works Fund for general purposes, pins existing and proposed authorities for raisine further moneys, amounted to • • • • 10,263,397 While the balance at the same date in respect to some of the more important Publie Works, under special accounts, plus existing and proposed legislative authority to raise additional loans, amounted to . . • • 7,529,926 Or a total of . . • • 17,792,323 RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION.

"The expenditure has been much heavier than that of the previous year, and constitutes a record. The total length of all lines under construction over which goods and passenger traffic has been run during the year is 69 miles, and these services have been of great service and benefit to the settlers who could take advantage of the railway. This is in accordance with the Department's policy of making works earn revenue at the earliest possible moment, and giving the public the advantage of the facilities as soon as can safely be done. "The work for the year on l*nes in course of construction is fully set out in the Engineer-in-Chief's report, and may be summarised as follows: — "East Coast Main Trunk Eailway: Waihi Eastwards. —The Tauranga to Taneatua section of the railway, 59 miles, was handed over to the Railway Department on September 2nd, 1928. "The centre span of the Whakatane bridge was widened to make a passingplace for motor traffic. The cattleyards at Awakeri were extended for stock.

"Eotorua-Taupo Eailway.—On the completion of the East Coast Main Trunk Eailway to Taneatua men and materials were transferred to Eotorua and a start made on the construction of the railway. Two miles of formation was completed, hutments and stores erected. On March 18th last it was decided to discontinue the work and transfer the men and plant to the Gis-borne-Wairoa Eailway works. "Gisbome-Napier Eailway.—The work on this railway was vigorously pushed ahead, and the rails were laid to Matahoura Station. Goods and passenger services were run from Eskdale to Matahoura. The formation of the Putorino section is practically complete, and will be handed over to the Eailway Department in a few months. "The distance from Eskdale to Putorino is 26 miles 50 chains. "The principal works completed during the year were as follows:—Sandy Creek bridge, consisting of three 60ft spans on steel trestles and concrete foundations; and Matahoura viaduct, of two 60ft, two 40ft, and one 250 ft span on steel trestles with concrete foundations and abutments. The latter structure is 213 ft above the gorge. "On the Wairoa section formation has proceeded satisfactorily. Tunnel-con-struction and bridge-erection are in hand. The formation is heavy, and ten steam-shovels have been employed during the year. Six and three-quarter chains of the bottom heading of the Kotemaori tunnel have been driven, and the north portal completed. "Chimney Creek tunnels, Nos. 1 and 2 and Waihua tunnel, were completed, gad conditions have been met with in the Mohaka tunnel, in which 16J chains have been completed. "Stratford Main Trunk Eailway.—On the eastern end the daily goods and passenger service between Okahukura and Ohura (a distance of 19 miles) has been maintained throughout the year, and has been a great benefit to the district.

"The construction work on the length of the Tokirima section is n fairly well advanced. The or heavr, and includes sis tu " ne . gating just over 1} miles. Two tunnels been complct-d: the .tod « lined; in the fourth the bottom fading has been driven; and in the < yards long) the bottom h ? adin .S been driven 149 yards: the sixth is no* being manned. ~ „ , 4 'On the Heao section a.l work being rapidlv opened up. "On the western end the work mainly devoted to the tunne s, being the factors governing »e . pletion of the line, and the early estab lishment of through traffic. - o. nel (55 chains long) is neanng pletion, No. 3 tnnnel (64 chains long) is well in hand, and the ®PP r ° ach A e9 t £ No. 4 tunnel are being forme . weeklv passenger and goods serw maintained between Tangarakau and Tahora, which connected with t : Zealand railway service. Large q ties of coal have been carried. 1 workmen's accommodation as well maintained. ti „. "Palmerston North railway deviat • -Four steam-shovels, seven tion locomotives, and two caterpillar tractors were employed on o The main-line formation was completed to within 42 chains of the northern junction with the Main Trunk railway "On April 18th last, the work was closed down, and most of the men and plant were transferred to other works Wellington-Tawa Flat deviation.— Tht railway-bridge across the Hutt road, and the bridge over Ngahanranga Gorge are complete. No. 1 tiinne as pierced; 40 chains of heading have been dona during the year This exceptionally wet, and fo^l n neces six hours each per day e pl . neceasary throughout the work. Plant nec sary for the most rapid progress P tieable in this tunnel has now been installed. At No. 2 tnnnel the ap proach cutting was completed. The heading has been driven or nor th at south end and 18 chains at the north end. This tunnel is also being .. from a shaft 53 chains from the north end, the heading J )e i^® h _^ elloUthchains northward and 1 re ady ward. The necessary plant is now re y for enlarging and greater speed should be made with these sections of the work. v . . "Midland railway—The formation o this railway has now been completed to Gowan station-yard, a distanceot proximately 4 miles, and the line ha been laid and ballasted. All the sta tion buildings at Gowan have been erected. Settlements and movements due to the earthquake of June 17th, will necessitate further ballasting work. "Formation is now m hand for five miles beyond Gowan. An additional 250 men were engaged on this railway during the last six months. "Westport to Inangahua railway. On the Cascade and Hawk's Crag section of this railway, the formation is complete for a distance of v ® and is in hand over a further three miles. Two large fillings and two tunnels on this portion are in hand. "South Island Main Trunk railway. —A start has been made with the formation at Wharanni, on the north end, cleaning up the portion that was formed thirteen years ag'd. The erection of workers' accommodation is in nana.

Additions to Open Lines. "The net expenditure out of the Public Works Fund for the year ended March 31st, 1929, amounted to £213,405 2s 3d. This sum covered the provision of new rolling-stock, motor-vehicles for road service, improvements and additions to station buildings, water-ser-vices, cranes, weighbridges, and other operating plant, train-control lines, and instruments, additional dwellings, and purchase of land. "The expenditure under the Bail ways Improvement Authorisation Act, 1914, amounted to £2,007,617, including the sum of £97,791, proportion of the cost of raising the loan. The works included in this expenditure were new stations and yards, goods-sheds, and terminal facilities at Auckland and Wellington; duplication, Horotiu-Frankton; new lines, Hntt Valley and Auckland-West-field; new locomotive depots at Auckland and Greymouth; deviations between Ravensbourne and Burke's, at Palmerston North and Tawa Flat; locomotive workshops and equipment; bridge-strengthen-ing; electrification of railway between Lyttelton and Christchurch, including electric locomotives; interlocking, automatic, and power signalling, telegraph and telephones, safety appliances, and electric lighting.

HYDRO-ELECTRIC DEVELOPMENT. "The present policy of electric supply development may be considered as having been actively commenced when work was first started at Lake Coleridge in 1910 on the first of the main Government generating stations. That station came into operation about the end of 1914, so that the year just completed is the fourteenth year during which Government supply has been in operation. During the past year progress has been well maintained. The annual expenditure was £943,807, increasing the total capital spent on hydro-electric works from £7,523,928 to £8,467,735. A large portion of this—about £2,000,000 is represented by works, mainly at Arapuni, which had not at the end of the year come into operation, but which will gradually come in during the present year. "The first unit of the Waikaremoana station came into operation shortly before the end of the year, but was not in for a sufficient time to give any very considerable increase in revenue. Nevertheless, the total revenue for the year shows an increase of 12.8 per cent, over that for last year, being now £516,137, as against £457,363 for the previous year. The peak load supplied amounts to 62,404 kilowatts, as compared with 54,502 kilowatts last year. As for the previous year, a large amount of power had to be purchased from outside sources before Waikaremoana came into operation to supply all load offering on the Mangahao system, and, similarly, large amounts of power had to be purchased or generated by fuel plants m the Auckland district owing to the overloaded condition of the Horahora plant, brought about by the failure of the contractors to complete their work at Arapuni. The percentage return on the whole of the capital in operation has increased from 4.99 to 5.62. The total capital invested, the annual revenue, and the percentage earned over a period are shown on the three aceoini panying graphs. Lake Coleridge.

"The vear just past has again been fairly successful. The results can be summarised as follows:

Capital investment .. 1,581,262 Revenue .. •• Wg Operating expenses .. jU » lrfU Balance .. •• £156,833 "The balance has been used in paying interest charges and a 2 per cent, depreciation charge, leaving a profit o the year's working of £00,374. has been paid into the sinking fund, scheme now has a depreciation reserve of £192,359, and a sinking fund ° f £112,334. The water level m the laKe has been well maintained during t e year, and there has been only one interruption to supply of a serious nature. This was of one hour fifteen minutes duration to the Christchurch supply, and war eaused by flash overs on a ' tors daring misty rain following a dry dusty spell. Inconvenience was . mised to some extent by the fact that the interruption waa at half past five tn

the morning. It is pleasing to record that supply to the South Canterbury area has been much improved. '•The main items of construction have been in the direction of providing a further "500 k.w. unit, which will bring the capacity of the station up to 34,500 k.w. This will bo ready for operation at an early date. During the year the electrification of the Lyttelton-Christ-chnrch railway was completed in conjunction with the Railway Department, and electrical operation of trafiie was commenced in February last.

Horahora. "This plant has not been so successful during the year. The financial position is summarised as follows: £ Capital investment .. 1,142,346 Bevenue .. 135.511 Operating expenses .. 76,231 Balance .. £ 53,280 "The balance has been used in paying interest and 2 two per cent, depreciation, and the net result has been a loss on the year's operations of £15,2i>1. The scheme now has a depreciation reserve of £103,187, a sinking fund «.f £52,164, and a reserve fund of £32.415, the last-mentioned having been depleted by the necessity for making good the loss mentioned above and the replacement of assets destroyed by tire. "The capital shown above and on which capital charges have to be paid, includes £524,621 which has been spent on lines and sub-stations which ultimately will be supplied by the Arapuni scheme, but which at present are supplied from Horahora and the other operating stations connected to tho svstem. "The year has been a very difficult one from an operating point of view, as the plant has had to be kept running under heavy overload conditions. There has been heavy wear on the machines consequent on the large amount of silt travelling in the river, following the Arapuni diversion. A serious fire at the Horahora transformer and switch-house on September Ist put the plant practically out of commission for some hours, but very strenuous efforts on repairs by the staff, together with assistance afforded by other supply authorities, enabled the Department to keep all consumers supplied on the following day and thereafter, except for occasional short periods of overload causing low voltage in places. "The steam generating plant at Waihi and the Diesel generating plant at Penrose were both operated, as required, throughout the year.

Waikaremoana. "Supply from the small plant which was installed in 1923 for local supply and for construction purposes, was continued during the year, while the maiu plant was being completed. Operating costs, including interest and depreciation on the plant in operation, amounted to £11,374; tbe revenue was £6941, showing a loss of £4433 on the year's operations. This makes a total accumulated loss of £23,190 on this plant, against which there is a depreciation reserve of £11,869. "Although there was considerable delay in the delivery of certain items of the main plant from England construction work was pushed ahead at a fast rate, and the first unit of the main plant was supplying power at the end of January of this year. The second unit was completed and put on load early in July. The completion of these units should very materially assist the area which has previously been supplied by Mangahao, and eliminate the purchase of power from outside sources which has been "necessary to meet all the demands made on the Department in this area. "Surveys have been in hand during the year to enable designs to be completed for a further stage of this development, a portion of which must be put in hand before the two units now installed can be utilised to full advantage. Surveys are also in progress on a transmission line to interconnect Waikaremoana with Arapuni. Mangahao. "Although the rainfall on the Mangahao area was considerably better than in the previous year, Jhe continued growth of lead made the past year a difficult one, and considerable amounts of power had to be purchased to meet the demand. On this account the financial position is not as good as it might otherwise be. It . can be summarised as follows:

Capital .. 2,416,713 Bevenue • • 186,712 Operating expenses 106,907 Balance . - £.79,805 "The balance has been sufficient to pay only 3 per cent, towards the interest charges for the year. £72,563 was spent on the purchase of power daring the year, and is included in the operating expenses shown above. Now that this station is interconnected with Waikaremoana it is expected that purchase of power will be unnecessary in future. Arapuni. "There was an expenditure of £431,981 in connexion with this scheme during the year, of which £.163,148 is in connexion with the headworks and power-station, £86,669 in connexion with substations in various places, and £143,469 represents interest and miscellaneous capital charges on portions of the scheme not in operation. Of the total of £431,981, £160,676 has been transferred' to the Horahora operating account.

"Work on the power-station, the erection of which was taken over from the contractors at the end of 1927, has been pushed on, and power was made available from the first 15,000 kw. unit on June 4th, about seventeen months after the work was taken over. A second unit has just recently been completed, and it is hoped to hjve the third unit in operation before the end of the year.

"Certain grave allegations as to the safety of the dam were made and given much publicity just prior to my taking over the portfolio of Public Works. I had most careful enquiries made into all the points raised, and found that there was no cause for apprehension whatever. The programme provided in the original contract called for completion of the power-station at'practically the same time as the dam. Owing* to the delay in completion of the powerhouse, which has been mentioned in this and former Statements, the full flow of the river has been "Tunning over the spillway-weir and the channel between that structure and the original river course for a period of over eighteen months. Considerable eroßion ha 9 taken place in the old ehannel some 15 to 20 chains below the overflow-weir, and has been causing some concern. This tendency to erode will, of course, be considerably reduced as more and more water is taken through the powerhouse for pom er-generatmg purposes. Meanwhile, and as an emergency measure to reduce the flow passing over the waterfall where the damage has been occurring, the Department has arranged to put in two of the future penstock tunnels in advance of normal requirements, and to use them-£o bypass sufficient water to enable protective works to be put in on the overflow channel. Contracts have been let for the necessary pipes and nozzles and the excavation of the tunnels is in hand. Three shifts are being worked in order to have the work completed at the earliest possible date. Waitaki. "Work on construction of this new scheme has been pushed on during the year. As is inevitable on a work of this magnitude, a vast amount of preparation

work on housing workmaa plant and machinery, has to w£?S fore anything show# M permanent asset. A branch »».!: J* been built from Ivurow to to, "* and is being used to tr att|port to the sue. A section in £ bed has been enclosed in * Jaw?* and at time of writing the *hx lying the wrk,» this exeaxated, and a start U *hom tT? made in pouring the first of ( b , 1?> in the mam dam. The the site of the mai n « :n and a start will k made on the first section, of u/L* building. Tenders have \mm for practically the whole of UmTS* ating plant, and portions of |t JR* gm to arrive on the site darli, 'coming summer. ™ "*•

Walport "During the year negotiatl«u It. been proceeding between th# meat and the officials of the d3Z Uty Council with a view to hT-T chase of the Council's pow« pwf* nipori. The city is face* t$7 x * expenditure of very large sums j* !? next few years to provide nMuJ? power, wltiist on completion of tten? ernment station at Waitaki the ment will have power to sell »i3rT is felt might be used to ianrtftk? edin and so obviate the neeeaafty Jr considerable portion of th« 1 capital at WaiporL There wert tlJs* siderable advantages in the OmmT of two plants by one eoitoS? authority.

Local Electric Supply Atstfewtu* "The Department is to a eonii4*|,|k extent a partner with many of th« W supply authorities in making nZj available to the actual oonsamwa, Mm. of the supply authorities aetufy tribute the power generated by tblfc partment, and all of them operate late licenses and regulations the Department, The Oowrnuat % self now has an investment of £|fg> 735 in its hydro electric dmlo|NMgk and local authorities obtainiag power wholly or in part from *k» fa eminent have an InvestatAt ri £11,534,318, whilst the othen, wfe a, independent of Government wpßb.w an investment of £ 6,088,484. J

"On the whole, the supply estiwrt#* buying their power is balk frw % Department arc in a bettor geasrit fo ancial position than are thoae opaetfo on their own account. Of the tW«|K seven Power Boards purchasing Wee from the Government, only tkw to resort to rates to augment DmH b comes and raised a total of £tOM W that means. Of the eleven Board* m using Government supply, flte eeOiHil rates to a total value of £m,nito ing the yoar. Representotiou In been made to me at various tUp lg the Department should rednee tie pit charged for current, partlcuJtrly te |fc smaller Power Boards operating it country areas. An examination «f % accounts of the various Bosrfe nl also of the accounts of the Departa* indicates that as a general rate tin foil authorities' accounts are in « toft* financial position than Is the Stfrm ment electric-supply account. Thwtb* question, also, hut that the rate «t ent charged the country Power Bar* gives a considerable smaller retWft kilowatt to the Department tktt tut the somewhat lower rate ekwp4 ttt larger cities and Power Boards WMt larger amounts of power.

HARBOURS. "At West port during the put fts the Department has been eottMsnNr concerned over the persistent sbttfof which took place on tIM tw isHsf Jk»| earlier portion of the yean Tkil fat been dealt with by adapting is untie rated dredging programme, t|m being in constant opera ties. Antig* i merits are now in hand, howsttt^» extend the breakwaters, and UfeflHfat patcd that this will lessen ttolM of dredging required; The ttflp works at Organs Island haw mlft* pleted, and tbe harbour faaiHtliiJpfr I ally have been well maintaiaw !b ; recent earthquake did a eeatttNh amount of damage to the this is well under repair. "At Karamea the reoosstrMte 4 the training-wall is being itWflT fft> ceeded with. All preliminary Wis Mi completed, and a start has bett ittfc with the depositing of stone. Til HMS earthquake has considerably dliipl the staging ana some of th* WS> tire ad y done, but efforts are Mlf Mfe to repair this and push ahsad tl IJW* ily as possible. 4 . "At Waikokopu a eontrflst Wt M for the construction of a state)** water, and tho contractor to good progress, two miles and aUU i tramway having been built, QMf? opened up. and a quantity ft dm placed in position. "A number of wharves fcwi frw erected, and small harbonr carried out in various parts of Hi minion, for which funds hat* kW Jl* vided either in whole or part, tfr* Government.

IRRIGATION AND WAI» SUPPLY. "During the year the ex]ttiaf«bw were maintained in good OtHfc lands requiring water were wfllll "The total area irrigated ia&t ** Government schemes 8b the number of irrigators *bdfcfJ®* "Investigations on several tjjmjf* posed schemes have been KUkt surveys and foundation tests lljjj made at throe possible dam-dttK** Upper Poolburn stream, whew * * servoir is required to supple»WtHi* Valley scheme. The best sits toH** been selected and a start witk til f* liminary work authorised. ROAD CONSTRUCTION "During the last financial * construction and improvement #1 throughout the Dominion *«** prosecuted, with the result settlers who have been the past for want of_ ' '* access have now had t . moved, and vast imp»«■«• "J* been effected to the alrea 7 completed roads, by way and surfacing. . mj#* "The expenditure on Zp tion of roads and main ed the very large »a® JJS which is considerably previous record. This fig"" » high, but I thinlk j at wh« ation is given to the abso for good roads id tu® pr ment of the t will be found to be portion of the «P« nd,t " r i3i* was incurred on roads * in hand during the . vear / pose of easing the uneffip ation, a very large workers having been e»g"g«> works. Although in ord ' *7 stances, some of the roa p would not have been '"J* several years, care has m«» in selecting only those roa _' * be of bcnsflt to existing those likely to promote new " at an early date. In short. has been marie to ntnls® #o* of relief workers as muw> ■ I" o:i reproductive works. f * i Good us** wfts slso set aside in the "Access to owgfc* tricts" vote, considerable y having been given during

,{ far back setters who bav» "jS-d from »•*«'"*'* difiealties for some The <un*tit'iMnn of the stpeeial _!» fw ha* be# a * f*-! justified in puilunr.-'a; in.*rpaj»« it for !£*•«»« y ir * ••With * f > ,f) * : * atom* tie allo#f faa-ii 'in.f—r the road* vote, M» a wis '" > l the a!te"at»om k»» iTSSi w--..: V-, a . - t-T e,r.t.; "L;.fn« * j*f ; amount of gentyeeiai ,-2tV'«, pt'f ; total of road* '-a ' IS * apart from met* «urfac"<l t«, * p.-r rent..; '[J*" rn»'.*> ■" *"'"Br.; estimated to to tcp !>''■: •"» I :»• metalled zZ, 3?i per o , :-t.; and rata® of uaCrown "i t Native UnU, 37| ZgyenL Tl# ;»''eordai»ee wh factors :--"3 operation for M%i yean, 'oa* it *u f-It that . r . got r^nir^menf« »!tst ut that >t "i» d» - finit»*ly known *rrrm r«—«»iving a vj-fr of s:; '' fthan th<*tr TZrawm<s*t* otff a period of years inm necessary, and ai a remit nr« !«<«.* "i»a they woald, tho question was yon# into with a vjn-w to a»wtiltiWitf whether an alteration in th»» wold result is a fairer distritie vc'.». careful investigation it was l« M'cl the system by delet>iW' as 1 ' population,' and addUm psresntages from th#*« factors If (or total mileage of roads in m gfot from m'?a!>i! or surfaced naJl' gad Moans fur road.*,' thereby inthe i;.o»ir. for those two (ytpi to 15 F" r ■' "''t- "i ea.-h ease. tie third factor was altered lidb* tor general rates oa.lv, in lieu if Maral and special, an<i unformed iJjllda (Le., p*p«r ia) were deygg tnm eomputatioa in mm factor. allowiincc* being made aftiV tho9«; roa<ia agon which tome fgoobm vrk had i-arri<*d out, eeHA will soon be brought into ose. WQe tmtors ta the new seheae are, *aionnt of ffca* r sU rates, live m urt; totai mileage of road* ta ose flgt flr™ Mtalled or surfaced roads, lip* cart.; loans for roads, 10 per BfLi Wtteatvd atiioant to complete * Mil («p*t from legal unformed ■db) * ■•tailed roads, 37•§ per cent.; ■i i allM of undeveloped Craw a and Mm hud, 3? f per tent. **ffcna alterations had tb» desired efui tk( amended system has bees mg Iria operatioo this /ear, it being sa.tieip«t«d the year's - ■hilhmm, wiU pn»ir« the soundness of, for, the alteration. f "Om op«aditar« on the renewal of hUpw w al%hUj more daring the I |Mr HMHb it was ui 19-J7-28, with the MBit that Ma? more old wnrn-oot ■tlaiw la parts of the DoaWm «m nplaced. "1W daasage eaaoed to roads geaer(By If flMda waa eoasiderab'.y leas, bat, ■rariittlMS, s fairly large snm was ex (■Hiad, stefly on minor re pairs. |

f PUBLIC BUILDINGS. HpiWt BOLDtNGS AND WORKS •Wttl* of eTtensiom Mafrd aft tKVRCUftII to m«*t _th« depgmiag eeouaitted fw Borstal tx»atMtt, tie 'ptM—i tatiUfof programme tftfta Prim* DqportMßt is Bearing flplw. «!• spproaeMag eempktioa of Mart Crawford Priaoa at Wellington 111 PiyfM Prim* at Chrwteharch jMtkaQj maAiag s ha.it is th« a««d of ■pi jmn foe mm»m4 aceawaodatimtf tB MDtcocad p*n« Vithia tfttUt *■» rvmen th« policy of drafting M fe» ynssa farm# baa umt«i to r«Imtia •oagesfeon of city prison*, and til OMbtad -tic capita! coat of ar«omaaMMui to b« k«f« il • anoint on. Wmm iniag tita laat few jean the deaprflM P*Mk Works Fttud for prisoa Mttagfi kaa b««a KdseiiifC, and for M» thm •xpaaditnre waj relatively >»»*« t LSySTI.

: wm mat Y*ia«rapfc Building* Mad «t£D sadats at many places If w m additional accommodation fcf i* wndtact of pott and telngraph Mmm to, the jear, however, piMMlary progress was made with feMHfalf programme. Notable works *■» Ik*' erection of a post office build*tf Vkitriif, the making of ex•it* ><iHticiaa to the post office buildjtoespeeeis sad Waipokurau, aad WmhHm «f a large garage at Dun-

•it Sapier the erection of a chief P* bailding is well under way, •I *» U eoapietcd in 1930. . '*> Tf—ili u the old chief post office ■lhf tav ben demolished, and the tan excavated ia readiaess for Vl Williiiim of the new building. tteajmenth extensive alterations age being made to the |*at cflee building. teng other .Departmental baildNl®* Metioa of which is to be prowith ia the near future are 9** Place ('Wellington), High (Christehareh), and Upper #l* street (Auckland). Large HP*— will shortly be made to the beildiags at Nelson, Newton, 5PMw> aad WhaagareL During the **y * anther of sites hare been aeVttk a riew to erecting there*jm Mbe buildings when required. . lW>lapsaae in the number of aiotoraaa ia the Department has aMjpfcii the provision of farther HKMonoiodation. The practice is (mages a* places at which suitfor renting is not at which the reatiag of acSppttioa would be unprofitable. In keep the expenditure on SPMI tew as possible, and to proSi!—Modation for motor-vehicles at which tradesmen are not far the erection of garages, gpt and Tekgraoh Department is, at trial, having small, movable •aaatructed at a centre awl SSNhi ia sections to the places at ; are required, "j^anal>iit«Maca of post office bnildIttiags involves considerable Control of this expeadi2*»««wnaed by the Post and Tele 5J* "Apartment from the beginning F®»iWaeial r ß ar 1925-29. Predion*s'?*«*seaditßre was controlled by Works Department.year buildings were njjj' •• foiotw*"lag* l * «<lce buildings:-—'Herekiao, ffjj 1 * Ak.vi, Tokoroa, Waikaia, TVs huildiag at Tokoroa was the local settlers, half the borne by the Post and TeleiMP *S«itae»t.' —Dunedin. Fcatherston. (awvahje type •. Loawden converted). Papakura (addiWBgt Takamam Bay < garage and („ui stable converted*. (garag» and store), Waveror improved arco««noda/25J5' partm«» nt* 1 purposes has been at the following places: —AahAuckland (central exchaage, W> l i es ley street), Gun», llaaaicr Springs* Mataaata, Ohiaewai, Papakura, Papa-

n»a, Pembroke, Te Teko, Waikaaae. Walton, W aip«karaa. Wellington isavings Bank Branch. Chief Post Office?, W- .- liagtoa (Rail i#>). **The following works arr in projjre««: —-Greymouth Addition and alteration*; Mereer—n«»w post offlre ha:!.tint:; Napier—new chief post office ImiMLnc; Ohaknne—garage and store, nr. ! a> - eommodatioa for earrier-f orrent fi*"phoae equipment; Rotarua —addi?i->n an«l alterations; Shirley—new post office bttildtng. *"The cret-ti"»n of new post office l.uiM>ng3 at tha following places he*~o aathori.*»|;—Coartt-nay Place (Wellington), Cast, New Lynn, Northeote, Punedta. High street < '.'hristchorch,, Palmeratoa hoa'h •. "Additions and alterations at the f' !- lowing have Keen aothorneH ''romwfil, lavcrtargill, Masterton, Nelson. Wairoa, Whangarct. " "On June 17th last a severe ear*. «" t nake orcorred in the Nelson, Wdtpor. and (ireymouth diftricts. raasiag cxtenstTe damage to the Nelson, Or* *"• month, and Po»t Offi«•<•». J»o extensile »a< the damage at that the boildsng has had to be d"-mr>li»h.-«i. the Pos'al Department now earrymg on "its hasincM at the Public Works otTke natil a new building is erc>- t#r|. '"The u»t 'ipstat expTditur'-- < n Postal ami Tfl«*graph cfi<.e« last year was £^.','••••;.

Mental Hospitals. **A\ondalr; Extensive alterations and additions have b» en made to various buildings during the year, and renovations carried out as required. " Poriroa: The new Nurses* Home, containing over a hundred rooms, was completed, furniture and furnishings installed, ar.d the laying-out of the grounds commenced. An incinerator and two garages were erected, additions have b*vn made to a number of buildings, aad renovations carried out as required. A new system of ventilation j has been installed in the women's portion of the main building, similar to that recently installed in the men's por- | tiou. The water-supply has been ini- ! proved by raising the level of the lower dam, and all fire-hydrants have been overhauled and put in good order. "Nelson and Stoke: Three large | villas in brick and concrete are in ! course of erection; also a new bakery, meat-shop, etc. "Sonnyside: Extensive additions to the boiler-house are under construction, new boilers, etc., being provided together, with new chimney-stack, etc. "Templeton: Villa No. 2, on the same lines as Villa No. 1, is in course of erection, very satisfactory progress having been made. " SeaclifT: A new laundry and kitchen block has been erected, and is ready for the installation of machinery and equipment. Additions to the Nurses' home and a new assistant medical officer's bouse are nearing completion. New piggeries have been erected, and extensive alterations, additions, and renovations ha vt> been carried out. "The expenditure on mental hospitals last year amounted to £96,782. Health and Hospital Institutions. "At Queen Mary Hospital, Ilanmcr, the contract for the erection of a new Nurses' Home is making good progress. A new brick boiler-house has been erected, and lavatory block No. 2 has been renovated.

"Extensive addition# were made to the hospitals at Napier, Greymouth, and Gore, aad the erection of a maternity hoepital «t Paeroa is well advanced. A new hospital in concrete was erected at Te Araroa.

"The capital expenditure on health and hospital institutions daring last year was £19,637. "The proposals this year provide for the erection of a new St. Helens Hospital at Christehurth, and the purchase of land at Auckland for extensions to St. Helens Hospital; also the parchase of land at Donedia for » new maternity hoapltal, which it is propose-! to erect to provide increased facilities for the teaching of obatetrie*. *' Provision is made for completion of the massage block and Nurses' Home at Hanmer.

"Provision is mad* l for an antenatal elittle at St. Helens Hospital, Wangaaui, which is now nearing completion, and various additions to staff quarters at St. Helens Hospital* at Gubome, Wangaaui, and lavercargill. "Extra accommodation is arranged for at the Otaki Sanatorium, owing to the separation of the hospital from the sanatorium.

Agrienttnral Building*. "The amount expended last year on capital work* was £2BOB, being practically the fame as the previous year. The principal works carried out were new piggeries at Motuihi Island erected, electric tight and power installed at Te Kauwhata farm and Wallaeeville laboratory, and an implement-shed and hothouse erected for the seed-testing branches at Palmerston North.

Education. "Tor the year ended March 31st, 1929, the sum of £373,352 was spent on new school buildings, additions, sites, and teachers' residences. Of this amount. £247,348 was expended in connexion with primary schools, the larger works including a new infant department at Meadowbaak (Auckland), a new school at Awsponi (Gisbome), and separate secondary departments at To Karaka and Wairoa (Hawke's Bay), and at Fairlie (Canterbory). Model schools were established in connexion with the Auckland Training College. Additions to schools have been provided at Tau marnnui, New Lynn, Papatoetoe, Ellerslie, Hikurangi, Morrinsville, and Otorohanga, in the Auckland Education District; at Mahora, Hawke's Bay; and at Elmwood, Canterbury. The erection of numerous small schools in newly settled districts, and additions to existing schools, hare also been undertaken, especially in those localities where two teachers were compelled to teach in oae room.

"While many of the old schools have been remodelled to provide up-to-date conditions, the Department, owing to Isck of funds, has not been able during Inst year to carry out its intention to rebuild some of the obsolete city schools, aad it is hoped that something in this direction can be done this year. "A considerable building programme is being undertaken to provide accommodation for secondary school pupils. Daring last year additions were erected at the Moaat Albert Boys' Grammar School, the Hutt High School, and at the Wairarapa High School. A workshop bailding was completed at Marlborough High School, and additional dormitories at the Dannerirke High School Hostel. At the close of the year j further additioas were in coarse of ereci lion at Mount Albert, Auckland, and at t Danaevirke. **A large sum was expended in the erection of buildings for the Massey Agricultural College, and further expenditure will be required in order to complete this institution. "Additional accommodation and workshops have been added to several technical schools, and additions are in eoarse of erection at Auckland, Hamilton, Palmerston North, and Christchurch. „ t . . . *• Applications are sttil being received for grants for the erection of open-air classrooms, and these are being erected where the localities are considered suitable. Certain information is being collected regarding the children attending these schools, with a view to ascertaining whether this type of build-

ing is more suitable to Xew Zealand conditions than the standard fresh-air class-room. "The following table shows for the vrur ended March Gist, ll»29, the atr.f.unt <-\p« r.d*-d by the Department on 1..-T addition*. «ites. and ?• i,<. r*' residences: .£ Primary *-'bonis .. 247.41 S i r.dary schools .. .. 44,3-«-_' T- • >.n:a 1 shoots .. .. "^.2*l Training c<">liegeß .. .. "2£2" j T'r.ivrrsiticj .. .. 1„>>1 N l'; '• •* 8' hool« .. M ' >p»'<-:al « -ho'-U .. 12.277 Fr.'e fcindergartens .. .. I»«r NTAgricultural College .. 32.54«J Cj:."- r! ury Agricultural Od-i-k-e .. .. 4/-.V) T -t.-il .. .. i. •■7Z>,ZZ2 TOURIST AND HEALTH RESORTS. '-!!.<• expenditure was £ 3D.254, as .ifjaict £ ».673 for the previous year. The ert?c?ion of a hostel at Milford S-.und to accommodate sixty guests was «• Tnt !--?fd. and wa« in u«e daring last toari*t season. It is provided with electric light and every modern con■lenience, and tourist'! will now spend longer visits to this beautiful scenic r>' "A new engine for the steamer on Lake Tc Anau was purchased and installed, and extensions to the Rotorua electrical systrra were completed. "The large additions to the hostel at Waitomo were also finished. This building will now accommodate one hundred tourists.

; TELEGRAPHS. | "The expenditure for the last finan- ' cial year in extending and improving the telephone, telegraph, and wireless facilities throughout the Dominion amounted to £624,414. Of the works upon which capital expenditure was incurred during the year, the following were the more important: The installation of two carrier-current-telephone channels between Auckland and Hamilton; the erection of new metallic circuits between Palmerston North and Wanganui, Tc Aroha and Hamilton, Rotorua and Atiamnri, Gisbornc and Morcre, Carterton and Greytown, Blenheim and Seddon, Darfield and C'oalgate, Christchurch and Leeston, Rangiora and Oxford, Tokarahi and Duntroon; the laying of a submarine cable between Maraetai and Awaroa; the installation of direct-dialling circuits between Wellington and Blenheim, Wellington and Masterton, Paekakariki and Wellington, and Palmerston North and Dannevirke, and the improvement and extension generally of toll facilities; the installation of "a universal battery system in Palmerston North Telegraph Office; the opening of new exchanges at Wellsford, Towai, Waimamakn, Mangapai, Kirikopuni, and Tokanui; the installation in thirty-seven exchanges of additional switching equipment for 3940 exclusive lines and 200 party lines; the establishment of sixty-six new public call offices (coin-in-the-slot telephones); the laying of 2772 chains of underground telephone ducts and 10,160 chains of underground cable; the erection of 5260 chains of overhead cable; the erection of 850 miles of pole line and 8270 miles of open wire; and the connexion of 12,119 new subscribers' stations. "Some idea of the extensive network of lines interconnecting t... varioas exchanges and telegraph offices throughout the Dominion may be gauged from the faet that on March 31st last there were approximately 380,000 poles :n use, carrying over 62,602 miles of open wire. In addition, approximately 400,000 poles and over 495,000 miles of wire of all classes were in existence in telephone exchange subscribers' lines. "Notwithstanding the many important extensions that have been made to the system of electrieal communications daring the last few years, the necessity for additional facilities, particularly in the. matter of telephone-lines, is just as real and just as urgent to day as it was ten years ago. This condition is not peculiar to New Zealand —it is world-wide. In all the foremost telephone countries the difficulty is not to obtain the traffic, but to keep pace with it in the matter of providing additional circuits. Telephone service is now so intimately connected with the business and social life of the community that no sooner is telephone communication provided between cities and towns widely separated (and not previously interconnected) than there is a demand for additional circuits to relieve the traffic congestion. A striking example in that respect is the inter-Island telephone service. Two years ago telephonic communication between Wellington and Christchurch was impossible. To-day as a result of providing an efficient means of communication between the two Cities, it is necessary double the capacity of the South Island land-line section of the Wellington-Christchurch circuit in order to relieve the congestion of traffic.

"The Christchurch Telephone Exchange, to which over 11,000 stations are connected, is one of the largest in New Zealand to be converted to full automatic operation, and will increase by approximately 14 per cent, the number of automatic telephones in use in the Dominion. The conversion to automatic working would hare taken place many months ago had not there been some unfortunate delays in the delivery of the equipment. Notwithstanding these delays, however, the actual time occupied in the work of installation compares favourably with that for similar exchanges of Tike capacity in this and other countries where machine switching methods have been introduced. With practically all the essential equipment now in sight, an intensive effort is being made to hasten completion of the work, additional skilled labour from other parts of the Dominion having been concentrated at Christchurch to assist in the construction of the internal switching system, as well as in the installation of subscribers' telephones and subsidiary apparatus. If the outstanding items of equipment for subscribers' stations come to hand according to schedule time, as is confidently expected, the whole of the Christchurch metropolitan area will be completed and converted to automatic working in a few months. One indirect advantage arising from the delay that has occurred is that the Christchurch area, being the last of the large centres to receive full automatic treatment, will have the benefit of a number of the very latest developments in machine switching equipment. As soon as the cat-over takes place attention will l.»g directed to the installation of a further 2000-line extension, so that no unnecessary delay will arise in meeting the growth that i« expected to follow the introduction of automatic methods."

THE ESTIMATES.

:b* ar» tb» more ins«r< »t.sit •<" : <>L * *r.d u«-m* "f P -.l.tic Works l.s' ifflstcs. PUBLIC WORKS FUND. SUMMARY.

_> <*ar. Pi' ' W urka m-n: 130. 112.1T6 liai'.wjvs— Construr'ion 1,655-00'J i.oc: 8"Additions to own 21 3,4 n o ! ■ r. <• • . . ;.;»4>39 PiAlic b-iildincs 413. jsj') nl 5'5 Timber and •aumilU for Public Cr. 5.115 \V. rk- Peparfra 7 ULU Acqmsit on and operation oi <juarries - . 15,000 Cr. 6 030 Lifhthous-es and lurbour v/ork* . . .i.Ov :> 17,0'J" Development of touri't :;9.254 r»-«ort> JA.ftCO Immigrat ion . . jo 001" 00.266 Construction, miinteiianrr. and supervision oi roads, bridzc. ir.'l other pubht »o3.5TT worVs 999.0(>U T<!f trar': extension tjOO.OOO 624,414 Contingent defence .. Gfl.OOO f.7,652 Lands improvement 115,000 fc5,S61 Irrisalion, wa».-r sup55,191 pi r. and draiDacc ec.ooo Plant, material, a ad 4 591 .store? 30,000 Transfer to Main Bicliwtiyi Account Corftruition Fund i:t ttrms of section Hi (h) Main Highv.ays .Act, 192'J .. £00,0r>0 200,000

Total—General Pur3,538,691 poses Account 5,001,839 Electric supply ac1,183,103 count 1,124,000 Waihou and Ohinemuri rivers improvement 52.510 account 25,000 Tot.il—Public Works Fund 6,150,389 4,774,104 SEPARATE ACCOUNTS. Main hichways: Construction fund 1,200 000 936,490 Railways Improvement Authorisation Aot, 1914, account 1,015,183 1,981,442 Education loans account 427,000 375,352 Hauraki Plains settlement account 34,500 17,989 Rangitaiki land drainage account 5,500 15,133 Swamp land drainage account 57,000 42,412 Railway construction— Kawatiri-Inangahua 96,000 28.896 Wostport-Inangahua 108,000 67,035 South Island Alain Trunk— Wharanui-Parnassua 45.000 Lawrence-Roxburgh — 3,953 PUBLIC BUILDINGS Courthouses— Blenheim (on account of £20,000) 2,000 _ Prison Buildings and Works— C'hristchurch, Addington (new laundry and machinery) — 159 Paparua, Templeton (main buildings) 350 1,156 Paparua (cottages) 60 — Paparua (quarryplant and equip- - ment) 350 933 Paparua (garage and workshop) 500 _ Paparua (farm shel-ter-belts and piggery ■— 23 Paparua (formation of road entrances) 100 Paparua (purchase of farm land) .. 700 — Police-Stat ions— Addineton (additions. ) 85 95 Culverden .. 1,800 — bittie Kiver .. 1,800 Sumner — 1,003 Reef ton (police-sta-tion and sergeant's residence) 1,000 — Postal and Telegraph— Blenheim (additional land) — 912 Blenheim (store and garage) 3,600 ... Ciiristchurch, Central (automatic telephone exchange), (installing electric light and power) 1,830 — Christchurch, High street (on account of .£15,000) 10,000 — Christchurch, Shirley 850 — Cum 1,840 Greymouth (additions. store and garage) 8,500 1,262 Hanmer Spring* (additions, etc.) —— 130 Westport (on account) 5.000 Hental Hospital Buildings— Hokitika 12.000 401 Nelson and Stoke 42,500 956 Sunnyside (land and buildings . . 24.000 Health and Hospital Institutions— 7,825 Christchurch, St. Helens (site and new buildings) (on account of 150.500) 10.000 — Earthquake damage (restoration)— Buller Hospital Board (grant) 3,000 _ Grey Hospital Board (grant) 350 —— Other works 3,650 — Hanmer. Queen Mary Hospital. . . o © 13,405 Lighthouses— Godley Head (conversion to automatic light), (on account of £2,000) 1,000 12 Godley Head (cottage-) 750 — Godley Head (fog signal) 150 _ Kaikoura Peninsula (automatic light) — 144 Lyttelton (radiodirection finding beacon), (on account of £1500) 500 — Harbour Works— Kaikoura (wharf) 600 _ Development of Tourist Resorts— Copland Pass (hut) aoo —» Fox Glacier— Chancellor Hut 400 — Road to Lake Matheson 800 — Track and suspension bridge 1,350 30 Franz Josef Glacier— Aimer hut 230 194 Tourist tracks . . 1,000 — Tatare river suspension bridge 300 — Glade House: Additions to hostel 3,500 _ Glade House: Installation of wireless telephone ; . 200 974 Glade House snd Milford Track: Erection of jetty. additions to huts, bridges, etc. 500 3 Haast Tracks: Htrts and improvements 350 34 Lake Hahinapna: Clearing creek and erecting landing stage 175 •— It a r u i a Hot Springs: Buildings and improvement* 1,000 _ Milford Sound: Acr nmmodat ion-hou «e (furniture, etc.) 2,500 15,961 Milford Sound: Electric lighting •.•heme at hostel and Quintin 140 huts 7,000 Milford Track: Bridges 500 251 3ir>ant Cook Hermitage: Electric lighting 200 — Mount Cook Hermitage: Erection of Malte Brun hut 1,750 — Mount Cook Hermitage: Provision if Diesel plant |recoverable) 2.500 — Mount Cook Hermitage: Water 23 suppiy Nelson: Erection nf huti at Salisbury Open, and improvements t.> shelter shed. *tr.. at Lake Rotoiti 50 130

ROADS AND BRIDGES. Halson Koad District. A«-»tere County— i*>wr» ri*er bride* approaches Lim«>tone ford), (£ 1 or £> — CT. j>86 Blind river bride* ' Dy*art'»), f2 fnr il) &67 — Herrifield » road (£ *oc i) _ >6

>'«*dles cretk brid£« U2 for £1), (on account) 5v0 _ Sea View read (i for £) — 42 Starborough creek motor-bridge a? Marathon >, (i for £ V 500 Co'IiBgwood County— Earthquake damage <±'50, £ for £ i . . 55'> Jam<*g' byroad (Baiaham)." < £C5 f'T £) _ 9? Pjkiwau to P iI>onira — Ta-:p»ta rrfcV bridge (£j f ur 4 > > Pataran road 4"t> Pack's Point road (i'2 for £1* 57 200 Te Hapu road (12 for £1) 4'M) _ Tcllow Pine crept bridge i£3 for £2) — 54 Marlborough Co-acty— Avon Valley road »<• Aroa Bush), for £) 200 —- ( Bart!ett's creek road (deviation), (£ for £) •0 — Sianheim to Strojivar £ for £ > — Canis'er r-reek v bridge (£ for 207 Netherwood to AroTvhenua (£3 for £1) sort — Blenheim to Hope Junction, via Tollhouse (Marlborough County section) 9*0 057 Blenheim to Hope Junction— Branth river to The Wash 500 179 Branch river bridge protective trorks 600 — Six Mile creek bridge (lower 542 crossing) 138 Wairau river bridge 1,376 (upper) — Branch - LeathaM bridge (Branch river road) (£ for ■£> 100 Erma road (2 for £> 100 Havelock to Grove— Cullen'a creek bridge (£ for 808 £) — Mahakipav.'a to £50 Grove (£ for £) 350 Mauncatapu road (£75, £ for £) 175 — North Bank road (w idening at Bart- - lett's creek (£ 100 for £) — Omaka river bridge (Tentesfield) (£ for £) (on ac100 count) — Picton to Waikawa Native Settlement 100 road 100 Picton to Grove , road 2,400 — Ronga Valley to Croixelles — Eai River bridge to Robertson's Mill (£1 for 100 £1) —" Tinline road (£200, 300 £1 for £1) —' Waikakaho Valley road (deviation) 450 (£200, £1 for £1) —— Murchison County— Baigent'a road 200 —— Blenheim to Hope Junction, via Tophouse (Tophouse to Hope Junction Section) (on account) 11,500 27,429 Blenheim to Hope Junction, via Tophouse — 776 Black Valley bridge — Buller River bridge (Har1,015 ley's rock) — Homestead Creek 628 52 bridge Howard River 292 bridge 2,508 Speargrass Creek 2,200 bridge — Upper Buller 1,418 bridge 160 Braeburn Settlement' — Grassy road bridge (£3 for £1) 50 Tutaki road — Buller River road (right bank) (Station Creek 250 deviation) — Earthquake damage 17,000 — Gowan River road 197 (right bank) .. _ Howard road 750 Jjake Rotoiti accesB 375 (St. Arnaud) Maruia River road (left bank) (Nalder's to Roerts's) (£3 for 101 £1) — Matiri River road (left bank) (£3 316 191 for £1) Matiri River road (right bank) (£3 SOO 100 for £1) O'Brien's deviation 75 75 (£3 for £1 Owen River foot246 bridge (Thomas') — Owen River road — Maggie's Creek to 887 Brewery Creek — Station Creek bridge (Burts) (Buller River road) (right 150 bank) Sounds County— Ronga Valley to Croixelles (on 100 account) •• — Takaka Couaty— Awaroa to Camp 50 140 Creek Awaroa to Totaranui 50 -— Dry River track .. 100 — Earthquake damage 724 (£2 for £1) 98 Edmonson road . • — Flora 8urvey District, access Sec100 tion 2, Block III. Little River Bridge (Awaroa to Big River road) 185 — Longford road bridge 350 Manson's to Mc300 Shane's —~ Rameka Creek road 100 (£1 for £1) — Riordan'a road 50 —• Takaka Hill to Canaan (on ac200 count) _ - • Terakohe to Wainui (Ligar Bay to (Wainui) on ac400 count) Terakohe wharf (approaches) (£2 for £1) 1,800 Waituhi river bridge 200 (Flora track) .. "— Waimea Comity— Best's road (£1 50 for £1) —■ , Blenheim to Hope Junction, via Tophouse (Waimea 5,693 County Section) 6,700 Canaan road (on 400 account) — - Clark river bridge (Clark river road) (£1 fpr £1) Earthquake damage #244 (£2 for £1) Gardiner's Valley road (£1 for £X) 175 — Gordon Creek road (near Golden 28 Downs) — Gordon S.D., Block VIII. (access to 100 - sections) — Harvey's road (£1 45 for £1) — In wood's culvert (Rocky river — Shaggery Creek 200 road) (£2 for £1) — Kereru to Tophotue road (Bluffs), 53 (£2 for £1) .. — Little Pokororo Valley) 294 — Lyons bridge (Kelling road) (on account of £540, £1 10s for £1) 240 — Mahana District 249 roads (£1 for £1 125 Maitai Valley (£2 101 for £1) 100 Maongatapu track 100 — ifotupiko river bridge and approaches (Rainy 2,386 river) — Staiorf to Dovedale (£1 for £1) 50 — Old Motneka road 200 (£50, £1 for £1) — Old Motneka road (Main Highway to Mahana), £3 200 for £1) — Pearse to Baton road 400 — Pokororo river bridge (£1 for£l) 506 Pomona road (SI for £1) 50 —-■ Riwaka to Sandy Bay road (on account) 1,000 —~ Rocky River to 300 Shaggery Creek — Rodiug River bridge 148 (Johnston's) . . — Serpentine Valley road - 100

Skerry Valley %r. Tui railway ttatiea Wairoa Oorsre road <i"2 for £1) Wanrapeka to Bato:i (i'l for ill W&nespeka River bridjre tFaulkTier's) (il for ±1 ■ \Yar.s*peka ■ RlT *" bridge iM* Car:hy s) •.; ; for £1) Genera!— Survey, acquit ior, ar.d legalisation of roads. drain>. protective work?, gravel tramW3\s, horse dock«. et<*. . . S'.ipervi# ion ilisrellaneons work'«nd services, u.cludir.g assistance towards :h» < instruction of roads. f'rids?>. track?, et- . *SS 542 350 ;•••■ l.sov SI 1.352 a Total—Xi--.on Greymouth Road Bul!er CVar.tv— Blackvater br" Kongahu . Beat !. . road) Blue road . , Colligan's road . . Corrie's road (i ur 70.975 43.2W District. 1.000 — 14» Karthquake dsma;p 14,750 Ferris bridge (Umere roadi. (i tor £) . . —■ Giles Creek bridge for £1) .. — Hargroaves bridge 300 Kirby's road . . 15u Little Vanganui bridce (on account) . . 450 Little Wanganui flood protective works . . 4,700 Little Wanganui to Kongahu .. 4,430 Little Wanganui to Wangapeka . . 130 Mokihinui bridge to Llewellyn's . . — Mokihinui rivrr blockage .. 800 New Creek road to Section IT, Block XVI., Onkaka . . 250 ICile rivet erosion (£ for £) . , 100 Oparara river to Simpson's .. 1,079 Qninlan's bridge . . 5,000 Tauranga Bay to Okari ... 600 Tauranga Bay to roadway . . — tmere road ., 130 Utopia road bridge 250 Warne's road (.£ for £) . . 125 "Welch's road . . — Vestport to Greymouth (Coast Charleston to county boundary . . 8,500 Fox's river bridge 8,856 Fox's river groyne erection) . . ■— Pororari stream bridge . . 3,140 Punakaiki stream bridge . • 2,084 Grey County— Ahaura river footbridge, off Ahaura-Haupiri rd. 500 Arnold river bridge, Lake Brunner (on account) . . 100 Backwater Creek bridge (Brunner _ to Blackball rd.) 600 Big river footbridge (Big river road) (£2for£l) 170 Big river to Rough river . . 300 Brunner to Blackball . . 2,300 Brunner to Kokiri road • . -- Cameron's road (£100, £ for £) 250 Clear creek bridge (Taramakau settlement) . . 96 Duggan road (£75, (£ for £) . . 175 Earthquake damage _ 1,500 Grey Valley to Manila — Upper Grey track (£130, ■ £ for £) .. 930 Grey Valley to Taramakau — Camp creek bridge (on account) . . 750 Crooked river bridge .. 220 Orooked river bridge approaches -. 1°1 Deep c r e e k bridge (on »c* count) .. ISO. Dry creefc bridge (on account) 750 Bough and Tumble Creek bridge (on • account) 7o0 Hodgkinson's road 250 Inchbonnie road .. 1"" Killeen Island rd. (£75, £ for £) . . 175 Kotaku to Bell Hill —_ Lake' Brunner to , Inchbonnie road 1,000 Moonlight creek bridge (Grey Valley road), (£2 for £1) .- 550 Punakaiki road (£50, £ for £) . . *2® Ruru to Te Kinga 2o0 Upper Grey track (Newcombe's) . . Waiwhero road (£50, £1 for £1) lo ° Warren road (£40, £ for £) .. 110 Inangahua CountyAccess to Waiuta Post Office • • 50 Boatman's creek bridge (CronadunCapleston) . - 600 Boundary road (£2 for £1) ■ • 100 Brown creek bridge (Harvey's road), on aecount • • 400 Coal creek bridge Creighton's bridge (Boundary road) Hunter's road, Maruia (£ for £) I 50 Inangahua river protective works (Rosstown), (£2 for £1) •• 200 Inangahua suspension bridge (Heath's), (Reef-ton-Maruia road) 200 Maimai creek bridge (Maimai road) „ 6 -° Mair's bridge, off Murchison to Mania Hot Springs • road Mawhera-iti to Burton* Creek road 1=0 Mawhera-iti to Stoney creek (access to Byrne Bros, and Somerville) •• 800 Mirfin's bridge (Little Qrey river) — Mnrchison-Marma Hot Spring* Matakitaki to Sprin gl a n d b Junction .. zou Springlands Junction to Hot Springs - - 0 200 Pascoe s road Reefton-Maruia road to Grey county boundary -- 10J Rough and Tumble creek bridge (Ma-wheri-iti to Burton's creek road) Snowy creek bridge Snowy creek rd.), (£2 for £1) -- - 0O Upper Grey track (£ for £) Waiau to Maruia road, via Lewis Pass) -- ■Warring' 8 road .. 15() Winstanley road .• Westland County— __ Adamson road •• Arthnrstown road (£ for £) •• 150 Bruce Bay Inland road • - . Docherty creek rd. ■ Dorothy Falls track 1,JEvans' road (£ for £) • ■ ~" Graham's road (on account) .- Haast Pass track ~ ou Knmara Junction to Kapitea (£2 for £1) . . «°° Vahinapua creek bridge (£ for £) — Main South Road— Arawata to Cascade . . Clearwater river bridge . . 66® Cooks to Earangarua .. 150 Docherty 'g creek bridge .. '3,225 Haast to Okuru .. 100 Manakaianu River erosion . . 5') Omoeroa River bridge . . 2,100 Paringa to Haasr --- Waiho to Cook's River .. '"'• T5 50 1 997 596 S5 100 50 500 100 150 road) — 7,598 116 55 732 • 667 1,455 161 201 1,929 249 137 1,450 210 300 215 77 148 1,589 2,721 231 150 et>3 * 1,344 50 463 2«3 704

__ Waiho River bridge 150 — Malfroy's bridge protective works. off Arahnra Val38 ley road 360 McArthur road — 400 Municipal road 71 bridge (£ for i) 104 Okarito road (£ 200 for £ 200 One Mile road (£ for £) 100 — Petersen road 500 181 Richardson road bridge (£ for £) 100 — Ruatapu road (£ for £) 150 — Ruatapu to Mahina400 pua (£ for £) soo Station road 1,600 513 Upper Kokatahi rd. ISO <£ for £) — Wsiho to Cook's Trark 250 — Waitaha Lagoon bridge (Beach ISO road) —- Waiiangi Rfver tro- • ion (£1 for 148 £.1) MM Walsh road .. — 100 General — Survey, acquisition. and legalisation of ronds, drains, protective works. gravel-pita, tramways, horse-pad-docks, etc. 200 T4 Supervision, .. 1,500 1,204 Miscellaneous work* and services, including atsistan^e towa.'ds the construction of ruada. bridges, tracks. etc. .. .. too 18 Total, Greymoutb 87,476 29,841 Christchurdi Its d District. Akaroa County— Craw's road (£ for £) .. S50 Fisherman 'a road and Paua Bay road (£ for £) .. 580 Cough's Bay road (£ for £) soo Jubilee road (£ for £> aa Long Bay road (£ for £) 220 _ MorPhail's road (£60, £ for £) . . 90 •— Men lies Bay road (£ for £) ieo _ Pigeon Bay-Little Pigeon Bay (£ for £) 100 _ Waikerakikari road (£ for £) 400 _ Amuri County— Glen Wye road . . 713 1,164 Hanmer township improvements . . 500 _ Jollie's Pass to Clarence accom-modation-house 350 _ Lyndon Pass road (£ for £) 80 _ Rogerxon road protection ■ 208 Stock route over Jollie's Pass 250 Tekoa road .. 1,000 _ Ashburton CountyAccommodation road (£ for £) . . 118 _ Alford Forest road (£ for £) 450 _ Ashburton River rd. (£ for £) 107 mm Barker's road (£ for £) Baxter's road (£ 85 MM for £) — 60 Beach road (Lowcliffe), (£ for £) 78 Bell's road (£ for £) 145 _ Bonndary road (Hinds), (£ for £) 76 — Braemar road (£ for £) 215 Brothers-Peters rd. (£ for £) — T5 Bucklev's road (£ for £) — 215 Cookeries road (£ for £) mm165 Cracroft road (£ for £) 800 Duff's road (£ for £) *76 — Fountains road (it for £) ISO MM Fraser's road (£ for £) Gardiner's road (4 75 mm— for £) MM •° Graham's road (£

for £) .. 75 _ Green road (£ for £) M _ Hakatere to Mesopotamia road (£ lor £) . . «■m T5 Jackson's road (£ for £) .. «■» 79 Jones's road (£ for £) eoo — Marr's road (£ for £) so — Middle Park road (£ for £) 940 — Murdoch's road (£ for £) 100 — O'Brien'i road (£ for £) 78 •— Orr's road (£ for £) 79 — River road (£ for £) 209 Sargent's road (£ for £) 120 — Tank'a road (£ for £) 990 Tramway Reserve road (£ for £) 800 •— Tramway road bridge (£ for £), (on account) 9S0 •— Trevor'* road (£ for £) 004 148 Windermere road (£ for £) 66 Ashley County— Kama bridge, near White Bock (Quarry road). 200 <£ for £) «*» Karetu Hat Creek bridge (Dobson's 60 road), (£ for £) —• Chatham Islands County-" Chatham Islands road* (£ for £) 990 Te Awsinanga bridge (£2 for £1), (on account) 350 —• Ttiku bridge 900 Cheviot County— Brnphy's bridge (Lowry Peaks S.D., Block XII.. Section 5), (£ foi £) 250 Lenmington to Spotawood (£ for 80 £) McFarlane'a acces* 1,499 TOO road (£ for £) McMillan's road ITS bridge (£ for £) Parnassus to Waiaa 14,489 (£500, £ for £) 9,091 Byre County-— Eyre River bridge (£1 for £2), (on eoo account) Geraldine CountyCrow's Hill Defla1,000 tion Gapes Valley road 1,000 Hilton School Creek 990 bridge (£ for £) Kakahu road (£ 400 for £) Maxwell road bridfO 176 (£ for £) Ohape Creek brtdgo 125 (£ for £) Orari river protective works (£ for 40 £) Ranpitata Island bridge, Rangitatft 995 river (£ for £) — m Rangitata road (de3,964 viation) Rangitairi Valley road (£ for £) 90 —• Reid's catting 900 —— Walsh's Creek bride* (£ for Jt) 150 Halswell County— Burke's Bush road (£ for £) 100 —— Summit road — 0,568 Tai Tapu Park (access bridge), 498 (contribution) .. W Heathcote County-— New Brighton (protective work*). (£500. £ for £; $65 £200, £4 for £8) TOO Summit road (Kiwi to Kennedy's Bulk) .. 1.600 —» Kalkoura County— Beach road to lighthouse (arcea* to S.G.R. 105B. Kaltarau S.D.). (£3 for £1) 900 _ Blue Duck road (£133.. £2 for £1; £300, £ for £) 094 440 Conway river bridge to Claverley 920 780 Gray'a road •0 Hapuka river erosion (Mackle'i), (£3 for £1) too — Kowai river (protective works). (£150. £ for £; £500. £1 for £2) 790 Million's road ,. 100 _ Percy'• road (£400, £3 for £1; £50, £ for 5) 490 —

Puhipnhi Valley ex829 tension — pfchipuhi Valley (» idening) 2,500 — S trail grazing 124 (Clarence), (access) 184 — Spey road (£ tor £) 125 75 VVaipapa road Walter's Creek 200 —— bridge (£ for £) 250 — Kowai County— Bam Paddo«k road 800 2,060 Levels County — Armstrong's road (Ciaremont), (£ for £) 200 —» BriRg's. Zig Zag road 50 200 brother'* road (Fenwick'a), (£ for £) — 150 Ciaremont Settlement roads (£ for £) 150 250 C!e Hand's road (£ for £) 175 Daniel't road (£ for £•> 100 Level's Valley road (£ for £) 300 mmm MeGarthland's road (£ for £) 300 — Porter'aroad (Rosewill Settlement) (£ for £) 250 «— Puhuka (Puxe) Settlement road 150 — Bother.and'a road (£ for £) 180 Teugawai river bridge (Pleasant Point), £1 for £2) on ae't) .. 1,500 Tengawai river bridge (Cave), (£120, £ for £; £350, £1 for £3) 470 Waipopo Block road ISO (£ for £) Mackenzie County— Ball Hut road 6,000 1,034 Braemar road (£2 for £1) soo mmm Claycliffe bridge (.£ for £) 100 •MP Clayton road (£ for £) .. 214 36 Praser river bridge £ for £) 200 — , God ley Peaks road (£2 for £1) — 200 Haldoo road (£ for 100 £) Meikleburn road (£ for £) — 150 Mount Gerald to Lilybank road .. 600 —— Opuha river track (south branch), (£ for £) 50 — Pareora Bush road

(£200, £ for £) 745 1,705 Pareora river bridge (£2 for £1) .. 400 «— Malvern County— Hawkin's river bridge (Halliday's cross•ng), (£ for £) 250 South Malvern Hills road (£ for £) 100 — Mount Herbert CountyPort Levy Native Settlement road _ 100 Summit road (Kennedy's Bush-Gob-bies' Pass) 11,000 •— Rangiora County— Tull's road (£ for £) 59 Seiwyn County— Kakaia tern-ace road (£ for £) 240 — Steele's road (£ for £) 350 — West Boundary road (£ for £) 740 «•— Tawera County— Rubicon road (£ for £) 199 Waimairi County— Heyder's road (2 for £) .. 300 —. Waimate County— Dunbar bridge (£ for £) 50 Farm road (£ for £) 75 •» Ford's bridge (£ for £) 300 — Gorman's road (£ for £) _ 67 Grampian creek bridge and protective works (£2 for £1) 400 •aHart's Crossing bridge (£ for £) 75 — Hook Swamp road (£ for £) 100 — Kaiwarua road (£ for £) 100 — Meehan's bridge (£ for £) Menzie's road (£ 175 ■— for £) — 60 Morven Township bridges (£ for £) 850 — Parker's Bush road (£ for £) 100 — Redcliff stormwater channel (£ for £) SOO — 8eanneH'a road (£ for £) .. 150 — Stanley road (£ for 85 £) — Stanley's, Robinson's, and Crosses' crossings (Otaio Riding), (£ for 150 £) — Te Akatarewa road 258 (£2 for £1) 200 Waihao river (protective works) (£ 116 for £) — Waipara County— Beach road (£ for 278 £) 411 Gorge road (£ for £) 80 — Home ereek bridges (G'enmark road) 178 (£ for *) 307 Lake Sumner pastoral runs (ac4,141 cess) ■ 1,203 Lankey's cutting (Waitohi Valley) 200 o 6 (£2 for £1) .. Motunau river bridge (£ for £) 500 — Slip road 2,000 — Wainara river bridge (Edwards' ford) (£ for £ 1,000 (on account) Waitohi river bridge (Lankey's cutting (£2 for 1,600 £1) Wairewa County— Barwick and Feathers road (KinItoch Settlement) 175 (£ for £) Kinloeh Settlement roads (£2 for 980 £1) 1,830 McPhail and Waghorn's road (£2 500 for £1) . . Peraki (£3 for £1) - 500 General — Survey, acquisition. and legalisation of roads, drains, protective works, gravel pits, tramways, horse pad250 dock*. etc. Supervision 700 493 Miscellaneous works and services, including assistance towards the constriction of roads, bridges, tracks, etc. 300 1,904

Total, Christchnreh 70,021 44,964 CROWN LANDS ROADS. Nelaon —■ Lamb Valley St. Aroaud St. Arnaud Extension No. 2 •. Blackwater South Horse Terrace .. Howard • • Greymoutb— Education Reserve 121B Oinetamatea Town of Punakaiki Town of Waiho Gorg« Poerua Kun Town of Rapahoe (on account of £2000) Christchurch — Town of Hanwcr Extension No. 5 Nelson — Access to Buller Gold Mining Co.'s Claim at Glenr oy road Access to coal seam, Katanga Anatoki bridge approaches • • West Coast — Bowling-green tracK Denniston Township Burnett's Face to Cascade Mine .. Burnett's Face road (widening) for £1) • • Chasm Creek bridge Denniston bridge* (Denniston Township) f° r Millerton streets Ngakawau to Stock* ton track Recreation Reserve bridge (£lfor£l) Stwkton *tre»"t» (fl for •• Seddonville bridge a t Bins Seddonville Co-op-erative Mine# track • • Stockton to Darlington road (on account) •• gtockton to Ola Township . • VTestportm»ip Mine track (£3 for £1} 42 COO IflO 35 1,800 200 200 453 *2,950 760 235 ioa 100 50 80 390 ~*7«3 50 500 50 50 250 4<K> 100 SO# III 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 II II 1 1 1 1 1 1 111 140 10 239 47 50 i 50 120

Brown Creek to Alexander Mine* via Snowy river Cror.adun-Capleston (£1 for £1) .. Devil's Creek bridge at Progress Junction (Reefton-Big River rosd) Lankv's Creek road (£i for £1) Reofton to Big K ver (£1 for £1) Snowy Creek road. Hukawai (£1 for £1) S39 800 50 100 100 50 >19 CONTINGENT defence. Barnham Rifle ranges (including purchases of land Aerodromes 10,000 8.000 90,000 842 441 44,703 LANDS IMPROVEMENT Estimated Amount required to E*' be voted, pendea £ £ Lands, Miscellaneous — Ash.ey River Trust (protective works) (£250. £ for £) Avon river (Horseshoe Lake floodgates), (contribution) Cam river (improvements (£1 t° r £2) Clarence Valley road* Jed Drainage Board Jed Drainage Board (on account of £1000) (10s for *1) Kaituna river improvements (£26, £2 for £1) Kaituna rivsr improvements (£ for £) Orari river (protective works) £1 for £2) Pastoral Run, No. 124, Christcburch (river erosion) Waimakariri-Ash ley (water supply) (£1 for £3) Waimakariri riv« (Eyre and Oust • rivers protective works) (£1 for £4) Waimakariri River Trust (protective works) (£1 tor £2) (on account of £30.000) Wairaatuku River Board (drainage) 58 200 100 ~~ 800 250 112 88 2,026 888 100 235 816 108 25,000 834 5,542 750

ELECTRIC SUPPLY ACCOUNT. Lake Coleridge scheme Waitaki river Bobeme 109,000 488,000 64.485 91,858 main highways. No. 11 Highway District (Nelson)— Appleby - Motueka (via Tasman) (£2 for £1) Blenheim - Christchurch (free, £10,000; £3 for £1, £311 ) .. Blenheim-Picton (£1 for. £1) Collingwood • Bainham (£1 for £1) Lindsay's-Clifton (£1 for £1) Murehison Reefton (free) Nelson • Blenheim (free, £2778; £3 for £1, £1700; £2 for £1, £2708) Nelson ■ Westport (free. £8567; £3 for £1, - £4803; £2 for £1, £3846) Renwiektown Brailch River (£3 for £1) Richmond - Colling* wood (£3 for £1« £824; £2 for £1. £1269; £1 for £1, £450) .- Wakefield-Woodstock S 2 for £1) .. Engineering surveys (free) Works not specified (£1 for £1) .. No. 12 Highway District (West Coast) — Inangahua JonetionWaihao (free, £21,236; £1 for £1. £262) Kumara - Arthur's Pass (free) Lake Kanlerl road (£1 for £1) .. Reefton-Maruia (£2 for £1) Wahnangaroa • Burnett's Pace (£1 for £1) Westport • Grey432 10,811 887 100 800 7,186 11,718 484 8,543 1,307 80 250 21.488 78 898 847 70 10 8,505 0,508 4,867 807 4,578 482 9fl 880

mouth (Coast road) (fwe) ,, Westporfc - Kaj-amea (free, £850; £1 for £1, £250) . . Westport - Nelson (free) Engineering surveys Work* not specified (£1 for £1) No. 13 Highway District (Canterbury North) — Christchureh - Blenheim (via Parn#»sus) (free, £28,186*; £2 for £1, £2984) Leader • Mendip (£2 ler £1) Waiau • Lyndon (£1 for £1 Waikari - Motunau (£3 for £1) •• Waipara • Kaikour* (via Culverden) (free, £1762; £2 for £1, £1300; £1 for £1, £24) Engineering survey# free) • • Worki not specified (£1 for H) .. No. J 4 Highway Distriet (Canterbury Central)— Ashley Gorge road (£1 for £1) -t Christehurch Akaroa (free. £44*; £3 for £1. £1000; £2 for £1. £527) .. Christchuroh Blenheim (via Parnasnus) (free, £56,» 700*; £8 for £I, £7500) Christehurch • Cheney's (via Marshland) (fl for £1) Christehurch - Dunedin (free)* Christehurch - Governor's Bay (via Dver's Pass) (£8 for £1) Christehurch - Motukarara (via Sumner and Lyttalton) (£1 for £1) Christehurch - Nevr Brighton (via Page's road) (free) * • • DarfleM-Rakaia (via Glentnnnel) (free, £2300; £2 for £1, £1934) '• Raiapo- - Wadd'ngton (via Rangiora and Bennett's), (£3 for £Ji £250: £1 for £1, £"2> •• Rang! ora - Oxford (v'fi Loburn (£2 for £1) Rangiora - Woodentf (free)* .. Soekburn • Southbridge (£2 for £1) Upper RiccartonArthur's Pass (free) Engineering surveys (free) •• Works not specified (£] for £1) No. 15 Hi'hway District (Conterbory South) — Ashburton-Methven (£2 for £1) Christehurch - Dunedin (free £67,300: £2 for £1, £2167) Geraldine • Fairlie (via Cattle * a '" lev) (£2 for £1) Pleasant PointFairlie (via Middle Valley (£1 for £1) • ■ Pukeuri-Kurow (*2 for £1> Sheffield - Arundel (via Upper Rakaia Gorge bridge) (free, £1000; £2 for £1. £184) . • Surveyors road (£2 for £1) Terauka - Pleasant Point (£1 for £1) Temuka-Queenstown (via Tekapo and Lfnd : » Ps«*> ('4 for £i. £«40; fa for £3 v:SOO-£2 for £1. .8334; SI for £1. 415) . . Tinwald-Longbeaeh (£2 for £1) engineering surveys Works not specified (£1 for £1) 9.988 1,100 8,011 800 960 81,170 800 688 1,000 8,086 SOO 100 1,571 64,900 88,518 1,873 885 0,000 4,334 863 100 18,000 160 9,000 150 500 288 69,467 167 1,973 1,184 188 195 1,688 188 100 9,47ft 641 Ml 80 18,068 1,000 718 • 31 16,114 13,879 186 80,810 884 4 864 403 64 68 7.697 378 1,117 18ft 1 500 —

RAILWAYS IMPROVEMENT. Middleton: Marshalling yard 20,000 2,277 Titnarn: Additional siding accommodation 2,100 — Level crossing elimination 20,000 6,431 Lyttelton tunnel electrification 30,000 97.871 EDUCATION LOANS. Public Schools 238,300 280.759 Training Colleges 3,000 2.223 Technical School* .. 60 000 30.124 Secondary Schools .. 100,000 48.281 : Un'versities > 200 1,561 Vati»« Schools * *. 8.000 6.074 School (or the Deal .. 277 8 hoo'« for Feeble* minded Institutions under the 9,800 8,014 ; Child Welfare Aet 8.000 0 nss Kindergarten Schools 1,000 967 Mftiiey Agricultural College , , Oanterbory Agrlenl90,000 **.640 ' | tnral College .. 6,000 4,650 j