PUBLIC WORKS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 695, 21 December 1909, Page 9

PUBLIC WORKS.

■i^'-^St-- 1 ■>' *«S;!?$& ?}; '.-;A' * ■ *- : ?v?v;.K"'. •■■:'•■";.' : ;>, , ;?^l^he ; J^Hbuiiq^of'EppreiwntfttiTes'last; • Hpii<ißl' for ' fJj//l-Si;TemindeK^^ ' ;! ; -W;*?>r; : :!S f ■'"■iH;KScatiy'':tho>-whblof ; f;:;;;||^Wre|^thV^D^inmnV;3:ho;leng^ '■- '■*¥■■& .-w'aya r ':opon<4^ ; k^l : public; -works " ;:;^-'-?*'i'^?ie^ ■ ":■;': j'Jhatea'quetter'ot.a cen ■iiSXJj'i ;:^ent;!bn:-rbad^'S'F n J?y? lV '^ ( ! I 'S : ' a '^ : ' ; : *i;;-">;'vy»rdSi«1;»};S'-v":' ■Jj-asi] •■;, .0;'? J's?&? ! tfi v>; v ~.'■"'■ Y- ; i f^r?i?^in^he''coMse^Who:'^taier^n, ::/;v'N'V:further:Eaid' r that?the.:totaliekpenditilre;on t alL ■y<:t;&-.'u jv-dr'Rsi:/ah(l'i;sefTices;iborne ::public !'.V ,; V-',-''.wbiks/v'e'stima'tesvomo.unted ,'to :no riess'/tUan ■■:i'yu :>ie2,145i324, br,-ibxclnding hav-; '.-iS'tf-viing '■• ana;; WKing. against; i ti*';;;;r:-::.:i»d-:T 3 to , ft^£2ii69 > 27Biy?wlii(!h j:^as;f the;; largest■■ '•■fii'/^reiponditure f ; ;.years 'Xi^i-vpastr^ThJ^ekpenaiture-:for:tho .fintacial: year , :•. ■'' ! fr&**Mffi&i^& : h?' :: ": ;;; ■■;■■-■. <:> s mw'7sOTfi%iromi State;* Colliery,:; /:3;:Vt^^reyaouth)^;;S;^i;ftv.:^>v;:.;;.;:..; ? .;. 751,406; ',';?<■ .'V^:Additibns : 'to -.openf Hnes'.;i.S"«..><»w-'» , I >*g<'«3: V-I'ii Buildings^S' ; -^M : -W-y^lmmig^tibn^'^::^:;^^^^-^-""-"--,: 1^/ , i.^'il?urcha?e'4f.iNativ l oUandS^.^;v.v»i»v.^ : '.; I- .«.ligEthbtiscs,);:l:hnrbourv;y:w.orl!S,:;.and :LHti:pi harbour ' defence^a;^w.;,:;ii..'..iv.»....«.;ylO.2l7 ;:H :v-;,;Tburist;'auaiheMthl'reiorts >;.^.,..../CJ4.286 iv;V-;s^Tolegraph',«hnsion^;Uw..>;...».»v""'"'■, 1ra.033 >S:,feH-DeVaoprtiphis o f^oldne i lds;:J r .vv.i.i.-»r- ?; : ■~10,70^ iC ; ; ; :V.-/MDepattnlental ; :-V,:.;;^^v.i V ■ pW W^/Kp.riymont/^pgffi^ :''' -,:>;:>^;h*pTder9j:;;^i^^».Vi".^v^^'i>"'-v;'«/i-v-"''v - v -77^ ;i;^;;->.Ov;'La'ndii>imprpvement 1 , «:.:y...i'..;^.iv ■;"• "irM. r /.? t 27: S^^jKf^bs^ila'ridtdfslpur^, 1 / raising; loans,. ;etc Vi ..;--r;;,575 r | ; ?:SK^?Tot^'i;S^i;;Mv^;»u^ 0$ pipes''-! inoiuded; 0r, s ;-';Xthc 4M4nawatu" r :;lWlw4y:': : &urchaso£ and+ ;eii; S/^v^'ii'^Ude'dVthp'bxpehditurton.;^ vffitZ '£ii , ; /'avaifabie 1 :biiian(»'' : oi; T''-V--">"V-:- : ''«rßMT--Md > riieniisvfpr ■£.&&& was :furtheri;f undsj.were;.,receiyed &;S i ?;';;:-V^'^ n^0^~V^':::i- :^Y'-ij!^'j''i ;:t^U:' 'il.OOOiddDi-;'raised jiaii'dPf thfcv'. w'^ , '- 'i'.V's ■'""■;■ Ainbutititaisedvundef.•:the .siitiilar;Actr;-.■ ■- •:-.-■■:;".'..' !ahd ■£■;. w \r; ■■ \''. : : Jsales ;.">■.- ■!■»., %!'; gv;i;s'^^alsli;'6fi;'lebentu , res-; ; 'i* ; '^ :V JPrbyisiotfi fbrAdebentures':maturing'K;;:Y-;7,500: ;{j : ;^S%MiscelJaHeous; i :reMipts;'¥;& &'-.: i S-y'v^!ri^^b'rdiriary-. :j espeh^iture":?'?pr ■■i^c\^; ! amounted! tbi f^2,l6?,27B,;Und!;phlirgfi3;;and<ex-| ''^■'.■'-'.'■'pens'es'iint^ ;i":'-vfiVUb- : iES2Bo;'thn's "-britieitigr ] th«' V total: disbursements 'r?^i^itip"'TtoVil2jl74;Ssßi : :;leaving's;a J dredit;b^ v'^"-;;;^^th^;«Hd^:df(the';/ear\o'f:^3j7o9;"-^4;'^% i '';^ t-.ff.'.vyiv '"''U'oS-theWui'reW C- ';i ■?;-? V:^7i2e;;"aaditjonal'"<funds;;"asi ; undcr!7-S,i& ; -'!?'. :y'';::V:-v:" / :r ii^W';';fe:v* A '-:' :, ;ii- > H<^M-"'^-fW^.\:^i:'i;/-: ; Ki--'-^ vr-'^v;iVßattncetbi'd9o3-loaiA;;j'S;ii.i:;;:;;;..:.vV;:;'50,000: ifK. : rrfelA-Nete^o&^Si!.; ; l^^.ijv^Ji:^ p. ■;■' -. ;-'V: ; . .'-This ;?ivltn/ the 'bilanoe' broiieiit.fer.ward.woni.d- ---";■-,■; ; ; pf; :;:-:'■• V;;:' -i' ;penditur*;^^forTpublid".;wprksofpr-^'the;-burrent] ■;■;:: •separ;at(i v accputite.havir,g:thcir' '• -!'"" ? >;:-* : :° w iiy}Tpys'"o(nd,imcans)' s tnnbuh'tea ;t0'j£3;190i624,• .■•'■>.-.•.'•i : :.':: : ..th^;re"iyiriz;a;balan^e.bf:'il4?3,oßs.tpbe 1 :c .',.'; $■■ &:' ■•■! f s{o;. iiei t.? jiit . ; "/::"-?vWfe : '>;ft: ■;%>■£'!'■*; "^^ sSfeS^ss^A!. L ;^^l :^^l|H^W N .' •« v;'The;;tbtai , : iin' '<■'■'; ; <;V. -vypar amounted■ tb'^lj^llO/'whlbh : fc ; '\:L^:;->n-^c*iisV,ofi^he:;p>evlouswye6r's;iotal; ; S-The l( ; -■•pftttioularp: arenas ;,vshdor i~^:M!^i^ : . :> v , :, l^-.';-0 : f•' CoMftuctiqn (fbf ? ; BD*&if 'i:<J?f; 'A' '•' r: : £ "; : SH''.;.; \ ! r : ; "JpS'l , :JVdrfcs- - ITtiiva. : Ji;;y> ; "713121' i '<■■■ v/&;;;- ; W,aikiilta/Braneh v, Ehi{w!iy:Acopimt^:- 13,331 5:? V 54,93.1 ■■•■..■;:\ -. V.v'AdoiWoii3;;4o;iopen:i. | lih«(Ki , .;:-.i.Y,-.i?.;."iV.'. -''389:672 :; : p' : --^' : iMat WJtt ■■-k^^^^-^!-'""^ i J ; C6,«S 5!'.;.,',: ''■ ■ Bail trays ;ampravemente'iAuthorisatioa:s. :; i- A , - :• .•;H;-;;;;v-V^aK^*ks,^ho:vi^is^6.ta^d ? ,thatSthe:efc; )Vy■.<"' '.:; ; -P 6 ™ I^^-.on'tlW'vKawakawa'-ifilrahamtbTO-line-■V '■• <f<S?¥bJmWismVM i>nd"fpf v'the-i-'curTonl, :y .■■ ;•■;;, year^-vlote",of ; * a s,/prbp O sed.:-JA , shorf '■ : ;,;; -:}U :?K m .\ th ,at;i!ne,:_at Scpria^Flat ■i.'to.a-'Eiod^baUas't; ,;;:,-,, ;l :.-.-,;pitMnathe7|Vjcitiity,' A and*if.' was: ( propofiod" t6 ■ ■ &!■ — A^o&:« - -V : J placed cmjthe,Es«mates;-tbSmak*: i; : "- fe 'AMiim ;il te-?^ th ;; Al iSl?lnndvlih6v(formerly- .-:.. v:;-;.,,called.s.the.!'H«lensvillo.^Northwards)^-amoniited-r'--;:-";t SKji , Cthel current; *" : impresKd/' : ,i.;: -';:;;/ for ! v:: ™ of ? I<s ?tyi'^s -i:"^-' :^ft^t"fc^Sq^!»if!io;?aud^hbnrho^ ■ : v sv" ?&f-ii^ 3^ t^flt:, '^ dl ' (l insiders' v -:v./o<;that :i ;,;thp ft ;.tiiiie;.hK3^no.tfv'arrlved"to s 'iiiako :-'KV;^:^Mmniencisnieali;-^ith::?th^^^ ■■:■■,;; ■!«■'f mm. ftWdulß; ft -theVl(ai^^thM«otffiilof' ye--. :"V^-«»? 'eurien .-year:v;lf:tne,Bill: ij^Wy^ska -K.-;':^'';;rßrhament,Harra«gdhient|'wilp;:bovSo':t 0 ; h Ay^riuirfation;:of, 'theii-sbssibn^ ■ : '-'■ - p '^ h i;fe|? r : --- '^'m^^^ ■ ,; V : '■■ v secX '.;:: !':V .'■:* tiStt was;alsp.itth ! mdSth«',il Il ,t/; 'section. '■"■ '•' ; '■ ■ iVw°n t !Mo,-.-''also; ; beejv,;coiiinieri C ed.>!' ■>* V*::■'-,' -.;-. ■<'■■' ■"•''■■■: ; "4'r O ?%U It -.^nJ-Drtii-. i! p.ropos'>d.Sfe- , «teiid^Hi , 6' - :: : .-^^i^^^^h^siteof^Mrmai^ ' f;; " r / fe < " l -? f a Furl :>'•'■■ "--^ Wtmwfc jHad,, -however, : •>■' ■'" ; ' : '^ -io'te ■- :to/.:bi-:ob- ■■■?■ ' d -! tfiver, < . :■--, ,;i ; . j;'-althqS!?teto-WProaelit fe'latter*, imf inhllhe! ;. ■ .v: i;- rtr ?m)Wy-^ w W!<!che.iKn«ded;i :'-The"-'ricces«ary •:^:;^:y.^Wt«nn f e»-^ 1 as' they ;i ::-;_■ ■ v : :be,:.pr cmW .With,. e v;stone;-crushing plant 'advantage' v;r:i; J!" t J 1 ;; £1 "P e e n solid, stone -had ,;, : .; V -;,;,,,.tee^,opsned;,up r:S ,pnly;va;:cbmphrativeiy-small. = ;: - : '- ;: i w * s .\ ; H:r: ;;■:/'^ 2 '?Be-,A:;vote.:;of.;>fisopo,;was.'proVided for tho : ;';;;•'.;.;-.;.;.:■ currentvj'^ar?'^?;,,?^JW;j^i'iv;JV-■■ ; ; "i'• -:''■•'-■'' ! :C :;-^ { P;^$fly^^ S :■: : : ■; r :I !ne'r nS^n#diiibgian i: :and>Auckiaiid : ;- ■ ■'-. r-■::^M^ : :^m^§^^nMiiiei■: oyeri :; : -;:.:^?; 'ana!-regular; ; ' "sincp • -February - ■'.A -■ ■■?ilo.|!.as{>;-=:?rhe , :vtpte-:ot"se2iS,ooo-Vtak«ii-'O«l last .;:-i?;-;> : -r::y6aps,;Si)prpi)riati6nS;!-pro;ved : "tb be-'in: excess' -coine' to charge ;.v::^;::;:i;:^dfldl^μho;year j^b;at?as'a : "■lillmW.of:;liabilitks ft;f dWremainod;:pn;jMafch"j3l 'last;::a ;vofe of-■ ,£20,000 .•■.•;3-rf#&"tf«s-jP.r;oM^^

Blonhelm-Waipnrn, Thii section botwcon Scddon and Blind Rnor hud boon 6onipleted, and goods traffic was being Cftulod over it bj the Public Works Dcpait n\M\t for the convenience of settlors Tho tin thor <oction to Ward *as aUo npnroaohmi; COinplotion It would bo necessorj to obtnin authority to take another section in hand, nnd juovMon itould according bo mado in tho Kftilw ays. Authorisation Bill for ft further length of three miles and a quartor At tho south end the formation had bcoil completed to Mina ihtion, near Mackonno township, and roil laying had been started. A contiaot had nls,o boon lot for tho important combined rond and railwa) bridge over tho Waiau finer, to bo completed by November 19 nett It was d 6 sirablo that the extension of thib lino, nt a\\v rote as far as the bridge, and to a comeinont shtion sito bojond it, should bo authoribcd, tii.d provision for thi? would bo made in tliL Railways Authorisation Bill 'iho espondituio on tho whole lailway last joai , amounted to ■£30,701, and for the current year a veto of .£15,000 is proposed

<•;■■ :;'■':■^:;;>-:vifMidland ßailway/:-/ .";-\/:i':.';;•, ■. Oclerting ;tb : ;the : Otira tunnel- coiitraot, Mr M'KonrJo ' said it ,:,was , evident that' progress in.' tho future triiist bo much ■ /greator ■ than hitherto; if the' contract'was , io bo complotod by'tho datb stipulated—namely, August 1, IDJ2. Tho oxppndituro'on-the whole of tho Midland railway:-,last; j'Car; amounted to MHi.idi, and for the ourront year.'a,vote of is asked forj ;Vuiad6 up ■'■'■ as 'under:—Nolson-Inancalvua section, ; jS2s,ooOj' Heofton-Inangahua section, .815,000; Otirri. station to tunnel section, XSOOO i Arthur a. Pass - tunnel'seiti on, .£05,000; Broken; Kiver/to':Bealby: section,- <£C0,00O..; : ■■■;■■

''■\.".'h.',;i--\-i'''yiti\'[ Coast:; Lines.'-. ;*. * '*■'',':.,•.'-•. ; : ,Qn the/.Westport-Inangahua. line; last year's expoiidi.ture ■ was X 8567, but. a vote 6f JE20.000 wftS'.nbwvpfoposed."'On the BliiOkbill-Ngahere "line>\£33,Bol : was spent..last ; year'...;'■ For. the .cUrr6nt..yoar a'ivote ef ■ was proposed, which, \fould provide for -the, completion of all remaining; work. . :'.,'.;: '■'■■'...':.. ■"■:■■"■'. ■:■-':■ ■;-In. reference to the extension of the.Grey. mouth-Point Elizabeth'- railway to "the proposed N6;'2,State',collicry, the .''Minister said:—'"i'ho expenditurefon this -railway last year, .was. charged- to •■ the State Coal-lAiiles, -Avcuuii.t, •but -it /is"■■considered; inadvisabld, to allow tne .amount to. reniain at. the'debit', of -,that account,-; and, :it' is" therefore *>proposed ; to provide in this year's ■Appropriation;. Bill.for tho ; transfer of. Inst year's expenditure from the State .CoaliMinSsfAcciJUnt'toithe Public Works; Fund, 1 and 'also .-to.*■: makei special -.',provision>for ,-tlio'■ esti'niated txpenditure\6f thorpurrent' yeav* wliich ■ will, probably- I .amount;-.to nearly 'JMfipH"'] '■■ "'•■' Qn tho -Hokitika-Hoss railway the "expenditure ' during ; tho year, amounted -.•■• to.. Sundry, lriinor : finishing' works remained to bo : executed. after-" the; line was -." handed over,; howe'vorl.;.nn(l::a:.voto; of JEIOOO appeared! oh :.the. .Estimator to cover thosb.-■ : .-"', '■,;. :■ : "■'■■'.'■ , ''•

';■'■• 4 : ;1 'i-. i v', : :, ;. ; ;--'.;;Fiurthor.- South.;-': ■;■ ; ".; • i.-v^'.V.; ; r 'Tottiihiug... the'•' Lawrence-Eoxburgh■.lailway/ ,thP .Minister: said: .''lt - is/proposed to ] complete ;tho' 'Bectioh'■■ to. Big ; : ; Hill, "■■-. and ■ to,•' open' it ! . 'for triiffic: ds.i soon; as it is ready... The;.question :of r 'oarryjnj,' tho; wPrk on beyond, ; that • ,ppiiit,; 'howoyorv i; is : one ; r that : . requires \careful- -con ; -'sideration.;. : ,w.'l'hb,; Government-..is;,at, present unable 'to:see .its ■• way.-tp •;. take ; ;any..' lurthef .steps ;in ;tb6 .matterUialess an adequate .guaran : teo.:ig;fqrtlicqmirig.;that reasoiiable interest oii • thoi-capital';invested/will;,bo >otnfne'd.;; Last year's:., expenditure;- on tho railway amounted •tit .ifill,07(),:; and'.for-tho '.current year', a: vote ; ,of i812,500;;ig '.provided." ~iv '.-.;-:;, ■{■'',::■''■: V ,i v. Last, , year's 1 eSpenditure and • this: year's 'proposed Votes ■for: other., lines wereVsiated by \ tho . Minis)e'r.. lii- ■'■ foilow J- Gpro-zVaikaku ■ jl29,fiW,. j:■ Catlins-Waimaheka" U335.091,' A ; •ltiveKdalo-Switzers ;i20,478, - OrepukiWdiari'. r£it>,M, ,-.:;.;;^'.-.• ■;:^ '^'._ -•; ■■.■■;,:::>: ' : .;Lnst ;.yoaf'fl expenditure 1 on .surveys, of : hew lineiramountpd: to-\£5162, and for- tlio current year; %, vote <6t';£ZmHs -asked. l'tmiy.y -yii..;. i -Total - AjiprtipriatiorisV for; Railway Works, ' ■)■■ ln ■ addition:" to-the ' amounts .already" , ra'en'tione.it,.; a; Vote>pf ;JBIOO,OOO ..was proposed;"for p'ermiinent-way.■ materials,■ iind iIOOO ..for '■ old land ;claiin3. and 'other old contingent payments on coiis'truction account.;: :l'heso : i.toms;brought the;/total, proposed -v6te for. :;railway-cou.struc-tiwi,.purposes.,up";to .:,. '■'.'■„'■::";;■. ! '■:■'.■.. -.--,

7-,..[';:;- ,; /:;,;;otlierßailway;iWqrks.;i; ; ;; ; v'v-;''' ': The;- siiEft ' : of-ie260j731 vVas: spent -in providing ;rolling-stock : ond'.workshops'.macHinery'for,the worWng; vaHwuysj , ByaiiA'jjyJli^i9.4i, ! ..'.()Pi> l ad.(.liti!)i« to 1 stahbriv.nccbßimodationi signalling: appliances; ■ 1 ■'graphg, , ;; anditelephoßcs,.- making, the; total vex.. jlohditare'-under.'tho :heading* of^"Additions to Open 5L1ne5'.C.&89,672.-,'.-,,-Tlie jtependiture; ;dur-. Jug'tho'Jast; financial year' ,ob .'tho, diinliuatiuii 'works: Was fas follows:— . ;r ; -."' j' : : ' x:'-. : .=/ •'-.'•. v\ ■■"': ! :' ; '.-'■. Wpll'ingtbn^utt.'dui?Hcation : ; ; wcrks ! :''i,'. v ;.53,051' 'Hiiw'.' Huu' Road,' including ; lacd 'for' -■'.'.'■"•'-. ■ ■Auckland-Venrose'duplicotioD. wprks '..;•!31,005 '-A'ddih'gtpn-RplWsto'n .duplication-works' ;.:.37,51fl DuriPdin-MoßgioU' duplication, and "do-- --' : ■:. 'i ■■; ;;.-Ofiation;-0f.v1ine ?.+.^..«..^...u.,....^-^ "3,010 ,^/For. .the;curtent,year; provision- had■-■-.been iriade.-on i-the-- Estimates'' - td V -the:,. : extent 'of £180,002,' namelyr-V ±.U r «-P.- '-',;-;■■•■;■■ ■ -:■"■:* .;:.;>. rC./,.;-'y:;:..--rv---;V-;: ; v;.'-;; :; :- ■:/:(' '■■'.):■ ■.■'!■■'''£'■■"::-!. ;1..^'..;.:.. , ; ':'5,000 ■Wel)ingtpn-Hiifctr ; diiplication'.: w........;..;.:; 74,602 Addiilgton-lipllo'stda' duplication'..;...;;. ''■■;.-11,000 liuuediu-Mosgiof.i'duplication":'.,..;;.;„;.... '90,000 ; : ;>'Th_d^'Bmo'unt'' : . pVopbsdd, : topbe' tvoted '= ;for "-the. to"Opon-Lines". ( was : 'i£3so^oo Vpf .'whidh .>250,000 -was';for;new. rolling-stock'.arid-.additioual-.wtfrkshopa machi•nbry:,l;':;^.^:''!,.-.'; : ''r'^ i '- ir '''•'■;■- V:'-^-"' i/V^ii^/^UBUC^BUiifDINGSiv';:;.;;-;;?;;;. 1 ;:" : bn'..pubHc,-.'buiidings :durihg'the-'last '.financial year amounted ■ to unUkl. Fund:- 1 and -under f :the ;-Publio .'Worfat-I''und, : ' both;,amounts: .being''-in ; excess' ; ; of , tho :: - ; prenous;:yiar's.\figUrbs.; :I'or Uho-.cur-;; "writ--year'-Vvotes totallingVto ,£80,115 'Under the: : Consolidated 'Turid: andy.£3q6,93o;;under' .;: the 'Public .Works Fund ;were.proposed. ■■' . :..f; 'k\ : "'^i : ;:;v''Qn 'Mr.. jHpgg's.' resignation in Ja'nej-last,'!-. said;the Slini^tbr, : ."it';waa deci/ied to amalga-'uiate-the.roods'and.bridges WorK with.the gen- ; oral ,work';of.; tile.; Public :VVorks ; yDepartiil«nt,. and.'tHo:'administration, of. , theep.niatters then control. I; fbuhd,that:: ythe operations;bf \ttte;Roadsrpepattnlerit were be-; iug.cai'Hod;:out bh'd'scaldprcoilsidei'ablo-inag-. i(itudo, ; 'tlie.!.total;expenditure 'during' the ;last. nniiioial- year having ainpunted' to no less than ■JtliiJSSi.-.. A ''. -Very;iarge:.amount?of work' is' niprcsintbdjby.. , the; above .expenditure.", The. iliuistei 1 also; mentioned (that the, expenditure ■'fin road works during the Quarter'ending June': ■30.lost.; aiiiounted. to; or'.at the rato.of 'nearly jthree.-fluartersof'aDiilliou'piir un-; rhuhi.' 'Aβ it was impossible to continue,at this r rato';steps -wore■'■taken-; .to ';lesseh the ..outlay, ■and' the -disbursements had now. been brought : ■;(lbu'il l to ;a more reasonable limit, althdugh they ,'wero ' still -'large. > Mr..: ; M'Kenzie;; : pr6.deeded Work of .opening up , new' country-.and the/.location:b£ settlers thereon ;S4'-;.proceeding''.';>norgetically;,' , --,: i we.','''.innst,. : i--iof-■po'nrw,'-;ba". ,pi-coared for V considerable", e'xpen-;. ;dituro'oii.road-constriiotion works,;'and in-the year: .literal ■provision; has been made in : this dirootfiini:"->''J*lit> ■' construction ■•: of new roads to opcii' up backWocks Iμ a duty that' may/be■ .pi'O]iev.ly-.;rc[tarded as devolving upon, the gen-orftf-Government, and-.,the improvement and metalling of i roads- that wore Originally.' constructed /AS bridle-tracks, or were , left., .'.uri.lnetailed.'is,also;a work in which tbe;general-' 'Oibveriiment\iuay. reasonably be asked as-' "sistj but the, mere-maintenance o£ Toads andexcept ..in/.sp&cial; casps,'.is "a .work tliat.should devolve upon the local -authority of the ■■ distriot." r'-'.The:', Government.: maintained dufing- last- year,' 110 fewer than.33s2' miles of dr>y, ; rpatl'and .-2017- rniles-of bridle'.'road, or.'a gr'osj;total-:of;s3(i9 : ;tniles' of■rpadi; ~ , . '->.'. ■J/-vv c i^ ; ::Total.''yoU3-for ; 'Road»,v ; ;'•,;; ■~;■'■' /'The'iappfiipriafione.'.proposed for road works in tho Estimatetf now, 'submitted aro as . un-' \der':-;-.>•';.-;";-■ '*'■■' ■•':-'^--"V : ..^-'^v:,;'••'-••- i :-'"V ■:">-•- . ; :- ; /' r >- ; /'■;.-. ■-■•■"-:' ■ : ; ■ £\s Roads,: etc.-:.L..M..i.;.....».i.........:...:..;.... 200,000 Hdckblocksroads; etc. ;........................ 210,000 l{oads>.under;,Loans to.ldeal/. Bodies '.■..".';.'.' ' : Account 50,000 National"•. -Endowment.- • y':' ':'Account 17,151 Roads ; 6n' Goldfi6lds .;:.v,.... : ,.'...V.;..:........ ;• • SO.OOO Maintenance ot'Roads- (Consolidated ' •V]?uiid);/i..;...;..;.;........«....;...;..........; ; : ; 25,000. \;i'-$<M ■'•-;''^': : vi'>v' : l^.MiiM^V*^EPl^".'/. ; i-:.^''^^ '. , Tlib; amputlt expended last financial year ori: .works for. tho;'development -of the goldfields - .Was ■ iC32,859,v and i t - : v/tm' - proposed ■'■ to . take ? a ' ■yoto;pf fPrthdeufrentyear.'.'- ■//'.' ;: -;For \ toiiriftt. : and health. ■ resorts,. the' , : total .authorisation asked for.wasi .£21,545, 0r.£23,37(1 ■ less than/last,-year, 1 on, account-/of ;whloh ■vote: of -.^17,550-;was ;proposed. •■. ; :.';.'' .'',.. .-:;• Dnring ; the year'/;*ei63,038. w'ds'-* expended 'oii telegraph iand telephone.: oxtpn'siorie;- .Thovotb ;aslccd ■<for ihis>year: ; is; This ..'.in-,'oli.desVJ6GßiS37-jof.;. liabilities, '■■• prinplpally'-.!for '.n>a.torial...under order at iho.oommonceiaeht : of ~.*ie fliiahcial.yeaii. ■.;.:. '■ ■'.;■':■ -y. .;■':;.-;■••■?:;;.■

■On lighthouses tho. total expenditure for the firianoinl year was' .£7-181. Provision for £6300 was made in the new Estimates. Last gear's ■expenditure on, harbour works amounted to .C-113.5). Tho expenditure likely' to coine to ohiirgeduring this year would probably amount :to' about .£SOOO, -and '• a- vote for .this amount was; .'provided. Under the head of Harbour Dofonoes aii,' expenditure of J!7297. took place, ■principally; for", tho purpose of .strengthening the. fortifications. ■ Some further works of. a similar character, and also the construction of an additonal battery were now in. hand, and for those works, including tw6. new sii-irich guns,, a, vote of .£BOOO was proposed. , ; '■'■.■••'-.••■•■o.totaL'Appr.opriAtions.';--'. In addition to the. votes-specifically, referred* fo. the*. Estimates included 'provision for the :undornot«d> 'servicen:—Departmental, £13,500; lands improvement, ,£3'J,741; contingent : defonco,;. <£10,00 d;. immigration, .£IO,OOO, thus bringing the total amount of the proposed apv prnpriations, including •special accounts, up to ~■£2,178,303, against voted and .€2,445,-32-J aotually expended, lost year. -.-' ._'■..' ;.:■■ '..'.„-. "I' ■■■; :: . ■'.-;■■;', DEPARTMENTAL,':.; :',.'-, .':\ -,': Tho- gross;total', saving•■: by tho rearrdpue-' uient and retrenchment effcoted, including estimated savings in travelling allowances and expenses/':'would ;amount to per ■ ■/ annum. Whilo effecting this large economy .in expenditure,.every care: had been taken to seo that' 'the'efficiency of the. Departmental administration and tho oversight ot works'were 'in no wise impaired. It was intended, howovbr, to take greater, advantage .*-' of . Ideal authorities in tho carrying-out of minor road wbrks' in the future than had- b«in' the case iri-the'■past, , -us small votes for local, roads opiild :be : imuch more .'.economically'.expended ' lindtr the supervision of persons resident in tho locality than/would' bo 'tho "case if the work was controlled by officers of the Government located in; the "principal centres.. ■ .'. .■•; *;; : J r CONCLUSION."//./■;/ ;';;' * The Minister concluded: .'.T : have, now' briefly detailed tho.work of the past year and giv«n ; an equally, briof forecast, of .the opera- ' tions . in ■'hand and,.proposed , for th 6 current year;;. The gross total cxpendituro/prpposed during.' the-current year is, hot quite equal ;to last ycar'e appropriations,, but still amounts co-tt Very considerable sum,..and .tho carrying-'-out of the .various, works provided for -.trill; I. ard ■ sure,' ! result- sin very great good, to. our' settlers'by.i greatly improving their means _ oftransit" and -.communication,. : besides increasing their .conveniences.. With tho large amount of .settlement that is going: on throughout tho Dominion,' especially in , the North Island, nnd more, particularly in the districts opened up by' the North. Island: Main. Trunk, railway, .and ..■with" the tlEvelopmonts which art taking place '-.in- the. districts that' will be-.'affected % the North Auckland and-East*CoasOtnin Trunk railways, a . vigorous pnblio-'.vorks policy' is: called for, and "I trust that the .proposals-,which X have.' ontliried" .will .be: considered by the (Souse and bj-'the country to. be 'of - a suffi-> ;oiont Jand satisfactory pharacter."*; *':•■■ .-' '.''■■