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South Canterbury Times, Issue 2904, 29 September 1900, Page 4

expectation is realised, nothing more of course can be expected, but I have already warned the contractors that if it is not realised the liquidated damages for delay provided for in the contract will be rigidly enforced. If the bridge is completed within the contract time the railway ought to be ready for traffic to Seddon before next session. At the southern end of the line work is abso being energetically proceeded with, and has made good progress. A considerable length of formation will be ready for the rails early in the new year. The survey of the hitherto unsurveyed portion of the intermediate distance has recently been completed, but the final reports and plans have not yet come to hand. The total vote for this railway last year amounted to £21,000. This year a vote of £50,000 is proposed. OTAGO CENTRAL. The section of this railway between Ranfurly and Wedderburn was opened for traffic on the Ist June last. The formation work on the Wedderbnrn-Ida Valhy strnon has been' vigorously pushed forward during the year, three relays of workmen being, employed in one important cutting, and two in others, and such good progress has been made that rail-laying can be begun in the course of a few weeks. The rails and many of the sleepers are already provided, and tenders for the supply of the remainder have recently been invited locally, but unfortunately with unsatisfactory results. Arrangements will now have to be made to supply them from elsewhere. The formation has been undertiiken on the Poolburn section, and the works as far as Blackstone Hill station are approaching completion, and will be finished ready for raillaying by the end of the year. In the Poolburn Gorge, where the work is of a heavy character, every available cutting is being worked, and the masonry culverts (which could not be commenced until the frosts were over! have been begun. The tunnels have also been started, and work upon them is being pushed along as rapidly as possible. A tender for the iron and steel girders for the Poolburn and Manuherikia (first crossing) bridges has recently been accepted. The line is expected to be ready for traffic to Ida Valley early nert year, and to Blackstone Hill by the end of June, and the further sections to Alexandra will, I hope, be completed within three years. Owing largely to the great development of the dredging industry, the traffic upon the completed portion of this railway has greatly increased, thus emphasising the importance of opening the line as far as Alexandra as early as possible. The vote obtained for this railway last year was £60,000. This year we ask for £IOO,OOO. HERIOT EXTENSION. When the Government projected ibis extension it was intended that it should not be proceeded with until a suitable area of land in the district had been obtained for the purposes of close settlement. It is now, however, considered advisable to proceed with the work without insisting on this. Last year’s vote was not expended, but this year an appropriation of £SOOO is proposed, and if the vote is duly passed by Parliament, operations will be commenced shortly after the close of the session. GATLIN’S RIVER-SEAWARD BUSH. Work on the Gatlin’s River end of this railway was resumed in June last, and is now well in hand. At the Seaward Bush end of the line the survey to Tokonui is in progress and nearly completed, and construction work will be resumed shortly. Last year’s vote was £12,000, and a vote for a similar amount is proposed for the current year. RIVERSDALE-SWITZERS.

The branch line from Riversdale to Switzers was authoriseed by Parliament many years ago and partly constructed, but the bridge over the Mataura river was never built, and it is proposed to take it in hand. As, however, this bridge would provide for both road and railway traffic, the local bodies interested will be asked to contribute a fair amount towards its cost. A vote of £IOOO is asked for on account of this work. FOREST HILL.

Work on this branch railway, which was approaching completion when my last Statement was delivered, has since been finished, and the line handed over to the Railway Department. OREPUKI-WAIAU. The survey of this extension was started as early as possible after the line was authorised last year, and construction work followed as soon as a sufficient length of survey was finished. The work is now well in hand and proceeding very satisfactorily. Last year’s vote of £6OOO proved to be ein excess of requirements, but this year a vote of £12,000 is asked for. MIDLAND. The long-standing disputes with the New Zealand Midland Railway Company and their debenture-holders w r ere brought to a satisfactory conclusion before Her Majesty’s Privy Council in London in February last, a unanimous verdict, entirely upholding the contentions of the Crown, having been obtained. Both the Company and the de-benture-holders have since presented petitions to Parliament, appealing for consideration. These petitions are now under investigation by the Public Accounts Committee. The successful result of the protracted litigation that has taken place over this matter affords me an opportunity of congratulating Parliament and the colony upon the manner in which the action of the Government throughout has been sustained. I also desire to express my appreciation of the action of the different Government counsel, the Crown Solicitor, and the officers of the Department, who have taken a prominent part in the matter, and who have so clearly set forth and upheld the Government’s view. The construction works at the Greymouth end oi the line, between Jacksons and Otira, have been practically completed for some months ; and goods trains have been run since December last. There has been no inducement to open the line for passenger traffic during the winter. It is, however, proposed to hand the section over to the Railway Department for regular working next month. Between Paterson’s Creek and Staircase Gully, a distance of a little more than four miles, at the Springfield end of the line, work has been proceeded with vigorously throughout the year. Plans for the Paterson’s Creek viaduct have been completed, and plans for the Staircase Gully viaduct are in hand. For a long time past the Government has felt very dissatisfied with the Company’s plans for the section of the line between Otira- and the Bealey, involving as they do the crnstruction of over miles of line on the three-rail system on various steep gradients, ranging up to 1 in 15. Our experience with the Rimutaka incline has been such as to lead us to look upon the construction of a much longer section of similar railway with great disfavour. During the late recess a committee of engineers was accordingly appointed to inquire into this matter, and to report whether it was not possible to obtain a reasonably flat grade line at a moderate cost. The engineers have recently sent in their report, in which they advise the instruction of a. line on a ruling gradient 1 1 1 in 37. t ’l jh a line would involve a turn el 6 miles j '' chains long under the main range, but notwithstanding this, the cost of the line between the Otira and the Bealey, taking into consideration the annual cost of working, is estimated to be actually less than the cost of a steep grade incline line, while the tunnel line would shorten the distance by over a mile and a. half, and would reduce the running time by at least an hour. The great advantages of a 1 in 37 grade over a 1 in 15 grade are too obvious for me to dwell upon them, and the Government have therefore decided to act upon the advice of their engineers. The report of the engineers will be found attached to this Statement. The desirability of constructing an extension of the Bel-

grove-Motupeko section at the Nelson end of this railway as far as a convenient station site in the Tadmor Valley, has been strongly impressed upon the Government for some time past, but in the taen enisling pcsition of the Midland Railway vte, it was m.c considered advisable to take ary further steps in the matter beyond the making of the requisite surveys. It is now proposed to take the work in hand. The necessary Bill to authorise the extension will be introduced. An extension from Reefton to Inangahua Junction has likewise been repeatedly asked for, but for similar reasons could not be entertained hitherto. It is now -proposed to include this work also in the Authorisation Bill, and to hare a full detailed survey of the line made. The vote for the construction of the Midland Railway last year was £60,000, but this year a larger vote will be necessary. An amount of £IOO,OOO has accordingly been provided on the Estimates for the works reT'idnL t0 ’ ™ mely ’ at Otira, ladmor and survey from Reefton to Inangahua Junction. The construction of t a heßruL P ln p f T the Ngahere Nation on tde Brunner-Reefton section of the Midland asS‘T tO / le Black . ball col,ier ies has been asked for for several years, but until the dispute with the Midland Railway Com pany was settled, it was quite out of the question to proceed with it. This difficulty is now happily out of the way, and although we are not prepared at present to commit the colony to the construction of tins line of railway, it is felt that the time has arrived for providing better means of access to the railway system to meet this requirement. It is proposed to ! proceed with the erection of a bridge over the Grey River, and a, vote of £2OO appears on the Estimates to make a start j; with the work. TOTAL APPROPRIATION FOR RAILWAYS. In addition to the appropriation already mentioned, a rote of £2OOO is provided to meet old land claims and other liabilities on the railways, in respect of which no specified votes are taken; £3500 for surveys of new lines, and £76,000 for permanent way and other materials, thus making the total appropriation proposed for railway construction purposes £559,500. WELLINGTON-MANAWATU RAILWAY.

During this and the preceding sessions deep interest has been taken in this railway, and many questions have been asked respecting it. The reply has invariably been that whilst admitting its importance to the company and the colony, and recognising thef anomaly of having a private line to which a good deal of Government traffic is brought, Ministers did not see their way to interfere, nor had the company approached the Government with a view, of the colony acquiring the _ line. As members are probably aware, if the colony were to take over the railway under the original agreement, they could only do so by paying an additional 10 per cent, on the cost of construction. There would also be a certainty of difficulties arising in the assessment of what the cost of construction really was, and this would ultimately lead to the question being referred to arbitration; and, then, after all, the company would simply hand over the railway and would retain its other assets, including the unsold balance of the lands which were given to it by the colony as an inducement to construct the line, and which are of considerable value. Some time ago Mr Wethered, a representative of a large number of shareholders, was in the colony, and he interviewed my colleague the Premier and Colonial Treasurer in reference to the intentions of the Government, and particularly as to whether it was intended to take over the railway. At this interview the Premier made it clear that the possibility of the Government taking over the line under the original agreement was very remote, but that Ministers were prepared to consider any proposals which would give a fair rate of interest upon the capital subscribed by shareholders from, the inception of the company to the present tune; amount received by way of dividends to be taken into consideration, and the company’s debentures to be taken over. Under such an arrangement the company would hand over to the colony the fully equipped railway, thel lands and all its other assets. 1 reposals on the basis suggested by the 1 render have recently been received from Mr Wethered, on behalf of the large body of. shareholders in London, and the directors subsequently submitted proposals on the same basis, such proposals being subject to confirmation by shareholders. Tins is the situation at the present time. The proposals are now under consideration, ana require to be gone into very carefully. It is intended to introduce a measure empowering the Government to enter into necotiaaons on the lines hereinbe,ore mentioned, and to take the necessary powers to enable the negotiations for the purchase of the railway to be proceeded with, such purchase not to be completed until the terms! and conditions have been settled in and finally approved by Ihirimmentne. session. The proposals' submitted _by the shareholders and the Erectors will be found annexed to this Statement. roads and other works.

Roads and other works under the control of the Minister of Lands durmgthepast year, executed out of votes placed at the disposal of the Minister of Lands, include the construction of 681 miles of dr and 349 miles of pioneer tracks; 85 miles of dray roads and 44 miles of bridle tracks widened and otherwise made passable for traffic; and 2833 miles of road maintained and kept in good order for ordinary tiaffic. There have been built 137 road bridges over 30 feet span each, besides over 3000 culverts of all sizes under 30 feet span. The distribution of the expenditure was largely in favour of the North Island, the amount drawn for North Island being £200,809, and for the Middle Island and for Stewart Island £67,906. The great number of different roads or works to be operated on required extensive arrangements for laving and controlling them, and could not ali be done in the few remaining months of the financial year. The number of works entrusted to local authorities was 542, the Departmental control consisting of revising plans and specifications, and inspecting the works while in progress and on completion in order to certify to payments ; while 786 works were entrusted to Government officers. The principal operations of the year have been in Auckland, (he reading of the country between Te Awaniutu and Kawhai. se’ected during the past year ; the completion of the formation of the Awakio-To Kuiti road; the further prosecution of works ior draining and lighting Rotorua, and the embellishment of the recreation grounds ; the road through (he Uriivera Country via Rnatihnne and Waikaremoana lias been further advanced, and the road to the lake from Gisborne finished. A large number of short roads north of Auckland have received contributions in assistance to settlement, and the main north road from Auckland by the East Coast has been practically wholly maintained by the Government. In the fLiwkes Bay district, the new road from Napier to Wairoa via Mihaka to Gisborne has been advanced so far that Avhen three or four bridges are built the ivhole distance will be fit for wheeled traffic; the entensive area of forest land disposed of near Dannevirke has also required a large expenditure to make it accessible to settlers. In Wellington the principal expenditure was in forming new roads and tracks, widening and metalling those already existing in the ncAvly settled belt of country extending from the Puketois to the Wanganui river ; the great extent of country and numerous settlors to whom the roads are a necessity has made this work a most arduous one ; settlement has taken place in country so difficult to construct and maintain roads that progress has beeen much sloAvev than the needs of settlers require. In Taranaki the Ohura road, to open for settlement the country betAveeu Stratford and Waikato, has been

advanced so far that there is hope that a passable track may be completed this year; the close settlements east and west of it have also been further developed by improving or extending the roads or subsidising loans raised by local authorities. In the Nelson, Marlborough, Westland, and Canterbury provinces, small votes have been expended on local roads, but the chief work has been maintenance of main roads. In Otago and Southland the Tautuku forest, contrary the Seaward forest and Longwood forest, where settlers are located, have had roads extended and improved, although they are capable of much further improvement. The tourist routes to the picturesque West Coast Sounds have been further explored, and made more passable, comfortable an.d efficient. Government steamers now run on Lakes Te Anau and Manapouri, and the track from Te Anau to Milford Sound has been so far advanced that it may be completed this season, and good accommodation is provided wherever it is required. The necessity for Government aid in the maintenance of main roads in thinlypeopled districts still exists, and it is also evident that many of the main roads which are not strictly arterial, especially those in the bush districts, must be greatly assisted, if they are to continue fit to carry the traffic which must pass over them. In order to provide for the needs of settlement for the present year, the demands of settlement require a greater sum than even last year.. Including a vote for roads on goldfields, an amount of nearly £500,000 will be required for new works, and to meet present engagements. The works contemplated embrace, first, the maintenance of main lines of road throughout the two islands. This alone will require £IOO,OOO, for such roads must be maintained. They are from the far north at Awanui by Kaeo, Kawakawa, Whangarei, and Waiwera to Auckland; the road from Rotorua, Whakatane and Opotiki to Gisborne; the road from Rotorua, Whakatanc and Opotiki to Gisborne; the road through Te Kuiti and Awakino to New Plymouth; from Tauranga via Rotorua and Taupo to Napier; from Taupo to Hunterville ; from Waiouru to Pipiriki; from Gisborne via Wairoa to Napier; from Dannevirke via Weber, Pongaroa and Alfredton to Eketahuna; from Pongara to Pahiatua; from Masterton to the East Coast; from Feilding via Rangiwahia to Mangaweka. In the Middle Island assistance must be given to maintain the main roads from Nelson to Blenheim; Blenheim, via Kaikoura to Culverdcn; Blenheim via Awatere and Haraner to Culverden; Nelson via Belgrove to Westport; Westport to Beeftton; Hokitika to Christchurch and Hokitika via Haast to Wanaka; also the roads through Tautuku from Owaka via Waikawa to Fortrose; through the Seaward forest from Orepuki westward as far as settlement goes, and northward up Waiau to Lake Te Anau; from Te Anau to Lumsden; from Queenstown to Wanaka, and from Wanaka via Hawea and Lindes and Pukaki to Mount Cook; and Pukaki to Fairlie. All these are roads near to which there is no railway. Hie settlement roads to be provided for are, as will be seen by the Estimates, numerous, and in every instance necessary. There are many local roads which greatly require assistance. These are partially provided for on the Estimates. In the southern part of Auckland many new settlers immediately require means of access to their lands, principally between Kawhia and Te Kuiti in that part of what is known as the King Country. New settlement in Taranaki demands more and better roads, especiallj in the east. In Wellington the AwaruaWaimarino and Rangiwahia country on the east, are all pressing for an outlet for their produce; while the older settled districts on the East Coast insist on their roads also being improved. In Nelson and Westland the determination of the Midland Railway contract restores to settlement thousands of acres of fairly good land, much of which will be at once settled on, and settlers will require roads. In Otago and Southland much has yet to be done to make fit for traffic, the main roads in humid forest country on the coast and the interior roads in older settled districts, some of which must be further assisted. ROADS ON GOLDFIELDS—MINES DEPARTMENT The vote last year under this head, amounted to £72,700; the expenditure being £48,039, with liabilities at the end of the year amounting to £46,821. The sum proposed to be authorised for the current year is £107,262, on account of which a vote of £BO,OOO is asked for. ROADS TO BACK BLOCKS.

In that Financial Statement the Colonial Treasurer mentioned that of the £1,000,000 loan, £150,000 rvould be the construction of roads in the back blocks. The amount mentioned was not the totul sum required for this work, and as will be seen from the Estimates, the ijcvpjiiment recognise that Avhile increased provision is necessary for raihvays, increased amount is also essential for roads to the back blocks and CroAvn lands, so as to enable deserving and struggling settlers to get their produces to the main roads and raihvays, thus ensuring to them advantages which have been given to the settlers in more favoured parts of the colony. These roads are as the life-blood to the settlers. In the past complaints have been made that the construction of such rvorks has been left OA r er during the summer months, so that AAffien the Avork has ultimately been put in hand it has cost a great deal more than it othenvise Avould have done; also, some cases, oAving to bad weather and other causes, the moneys Avere not expended during the year in Avhich the vote Avas obtained. This Avill not occur an future, and after the session the Minister of Lands Avill make it his special business to visit the back blocks and to personally look into the requirements of the settlers.

DEVELOPMENT O' THE GOLD- i FIELDS. I The value of the gn.d en'cevecl for \ . port for the year life. was £ESL. ~ . being the greatest for sue past d> yv ■ and it is expected iii: . owing to D.: ...- crease in the number o. uredges atthe yield will be man '■ med for ih>. , sesd.'yeur. The quaiiCy of gold mm 1 : ver entered at the b diniis for c- > • (,t■ ing the year enclc 31st Decern. 1893.° was 389,5580zs ■ ' gold, value - at . £1.515,173, and of Diver 349,3-re - . ; v dued at £40,838, ; - compared J' ; ’ | 280.1750zs of gold, vowed at £1.080.1 Id. • and of silver 293,8510:-v. valued at £- m | 107, being an increase of 109,383ir.r j onid. valued at £433, :82. and of s-. -v j 55,4870z5, valued at ;I .731. o\vm : . the great increase in t r -' number ol t | taken up on the river ID.s, the conlm e interests of the miners -rid the freeho • • • - , res aired consideration. A Koyaf ' , j nr-sion has been is-- r;d with a_■ - j to the adjustment • f these _ - cm-s. At present the duties thr. Commission h:>\ been xou ■ to the rivers in OP-, mid PonDIr.ierim renorts on n o, the n\. ; - th -e districts have ah -y been suoun .. t.-i Parliament, and hiv» JI f.-, >ii)le been given to *: c rceommenv m. ie therein. It is n-<• posed to cm.the Commission, and e :.cnd its open ■■■■ to ether parts of the > olony. - um.se, however, be admmed, that K i; . . ing on the alluvial DPs is to com: -y-. large sums will have to be proMuo-. compensation for dam .' to land itn<of riparian rights. ,: »c Ewebaiv. vn'r at Naseby, refc ed to in pro. Statements, is now completed in a sat. - ytovv manner, the tola' cost of the ■ being £15,689.. FurDt.-v amounts w-.- ,tc required for fencing -I planting D■serve and also for clea Eg out amir,. ving the carrying capat’ yof the wtuc. .-■ When these works are r miipleted, tue. - - 1,1 be an ample supply N water botn miring and irrigation purposes in the. '■ n-.r-i----\i vof Naseby. Sub.--::lies have as;.; u- a paid towards the cosv o. water suppy-■ Ka.rangahake and Wanm.-auri, ana it •- ;y paced to also assist oti or townships i -J-m .-•f.-struetion of works Pa domes!ic sup: l y•• [i; is proposed to com nine to acqui a ;u-----oi-mation as to suitable sites for dan- .-nci storage reservoirs for 'water on the p-m-Molds. As advantage has not yet u taken cf the vote of £-'. 0,000 for the ‘. - . c onment of the power a : Li vial drifts a; .yss Fiat, the vote will be :■: iln proposed «.-ryc Estimates for the cuuent year. h.e amount expended last financial yc ' ou works for the deveV merit of the -m<.field.s was £21,816, while the liaD -D-----mounted to £5376, :■ it is propc > ,; vdeo a vote of £'D.DjO for the c: ml ■ tl ' TELEGRAPH EXTENSION. The expenditure dr mg the year : mtu bend was £26.1. . which E - .1,842 for additions ■ existing exc . ’ ad new exchanges. L’he new cxD : -taed were at EIL m, Inglewood. .■ia, Marten, Wait a. Eeilding. I 7 • .rat-.ord, and Palm-; - on South •:<fc contieciing the ''owing es< >,ve been erected: veva and v lham and Rtratfo - Stratford a-. '■ : v • ymoatli, Waitara : -1 New Five E a-meiston South aml Dunedin. Tim m m uuiber o' subscribeto all excha- a. c end of the year, Z -t March, w;m. ;.:SC. ■<b most important c :tensions to r .Ds- : ■ ’cis were Whitiangr to Gumtow.i, -E.;; ; o-i.ui tc Feria, Tokalca, to Cabbage E y. Whakatane to Taneatua. Telxoro to PM V. • b-.nf.mueka to Moawh • tiga, Mihaka . Mo ere, Wrerengaokuri to Hangaroa, .Dv--e-e 5: Seddon. Dem-Ncpn to B - .’ t - ■ ace. Timaru to Gle■ -E •, Merrivale to ( hi•■£ll, D. uuimond to 8, ,mi Bush, Co : ’1 -y o Rouudhill. Orepuki o Tehia. Add'd ’re accommodation ro existing li:.-. 1 ■- ,e.i provided by the -,. action of wire- o.n then ton to Master. o a,- Eeilding t o Em jolton, Dunedin to Lawrence, Dune '. . i:o iJamaiu. Gyde to Alexandra. The -mm rsked for this year is £38,709, and ju E- • additions to exi .hig exchange, f.-rdianges, additional .'ire accomnim -ioa. mid extensions to new districts. PUBLIC B GILDINGS. The expenditureujmn our public br'' mey ■-r year.showed an i; ireuse upon U. c ~us year. The im. . ase is partly . a mud of settlement; .a the count..:cts rendering an it • case in the .v : post offices, com tin. uses, police m. am :: c., absolutely necesmay, and partly "an nproved type of ],-aidings havin ' I-.:-jr, ■opted in recent ye.-:a, all our mm im.iriant structures m. being at . i.. ■ :ck iiwead of woo i. The apprnp-- ; ■,- ■.rojiosed for the tv -cut year am/■ . u:

.'i1.9,933, namely-, £. , .035 under i ' ■•lidiiied Fund, and ~372,895 un-T I’.blic Works Fund. The principal -. : :iled out Just yea; or provided n ear are as follows •GENT.VIAL. The new library wi ’g of the ParT, >t building absorbed Tie bulk of ' "

-nditure under this hi-,d. The ouT on: ems w orthy of nieni : .n were the so., iteusive repairs and LitprovemiKs :■ T . ae. refurnishing of i ■ ; Government •c Auckland, and i. : restoration . ■ ‘i e •■•image, etc., at the Government : iVellington. The yo. for the..cuni provides for the ert< Ton of the i:c,-. y shelving in the new library, and 1' • • pletion of the funds .h-ng of the be. ,g. ..Iso for the renovation of the House •. l: ovesenlatives and tlu. Legislative (a y-.ul chambers, and other, o-d portions < the building, and alter! r; the present ;T looms to committee rooms, etc. La .nut end other improvenu its to the pi. \ • ■.-v.l > ail dings in Christchurch and ot’uc 1 ...mr works are also provided for. JUDICIAL CCullT-HOUSL,'. New court-houses nave been ere -i t.v :-e ill course of eu-.Hon at Eke, ' ■ •uuediti, and the Bln If. and new cusA d.-.a • carters at ChristcV-r cn. Extern-:■. >covations and impiv. • ments have Ik. ; e.ected at Auckland, \v a.uganui, and .hey,iouth. The princio .( works pr«v : - : iim .his year are the con in nation of ope; doi.-s ~.i the new law cocas at Dunedl.’ ivw Magistrates Court-hoc at Welliiigt- : :w ;ourt-houses at Wail'd Te Amatu, 0 , ho. ilangaweka, Colling...aid, Temuka, ! n;> .Jen, and Gore; also . Tuitions or e: .. die i-oaovations at Wind wane, Wain . T.i[her, Waipawa, A . aganui, Co, To, on, Aliaura, Hokitika, •■ ...aldine, La., .-ace, end Invercargill.

Only a comparatively small am ",r of work was done in cmmection with i .-ml buildings. The prim .pal work in h has c-en the erection of - Mount K - .1 i Auckland, repair-' 'ml drainage he Terrace gaol at Weilii. on. and son - ..- . ~ a(Kius and repairs at > hsborne. TV- . 'ictles this year pvovde for the race of the work at Auckland. for >• ■ 'os residences at Dunedin and Westport, new gaol at Invercargill, and sundry miaor works. POLICF STATIOXS. The principal wort under this he,- ’ last '.car was the completion of the new ■ don at Auckland, on which the total expo; has amounted to £7'.TO, of which .; 6~88 v, as expended during ho late liuamd rear, the other principal v, ks were new 1 a,I: Cambridge, Mokau Timbolton. h.aikoura. new quarters a the Thames, : •: additions or extensive ienovations a ho • '.ohe, Dannevirke, (Miunnke, Maiiah: r . i.-uinby, Marton, Woiho >gton. Ahauro. mouth, Kaia]>oi, Chr;--‘c!mreh. Sout 1 i’imaru and Faivlie. The princij)ai h.s provided for this yew are new sla at Hamilton West, (Ti ' --rue. Feihliia. Waikmiaiti, A, -ivlmvii, Ho h>, ' hilnim and Inverc. ill. new qua , ai: Waipiiwa, New Fly c-utli. Nelson. w- • •«>rt, Timavn, Queen own, and l!b- ; chase of additional ' ad at Kaiaj ■ ■ and additions or oxlensiv ■ • epairs at J)»r , viile. Arat-apu. Warkwm;' Auckland. X on.awaliia. Gisborne, Napier, Clive, Inglewood,

Ilawera, Waverley,Kimbolton, Upper Hutt, Lower Hutt, Blenheim, Lyell, Reefton, Hokitika, Cheviot, Rangiora, Southbrdge, Gieaar-y, Caversham, Lawrence, and Winton. POST AND TELEGRAPHS. ihe principal expenditure on post and telegraph buddings occurred in connection wild rhe following ;—New offices at Parnell, Mangaweka, Masterton, Petone, South Wellington, Rcnwlcktorrn, Wakapuaka, New Brighton, Mosgiel, Millers Flat, and Bluti', also additions or extensive renovation;-; at Te Aroha, Hamilton, Hokitika, i A.shburton, and Mataura. This year provision is made for new offices at Dargaville, Aratapu, Ponsonby, Onehunga, Karaiigaliape, Hamilton, Tara-wera, Gisborne, , Inglewood, Opunake, Wanganui, Feilding, ' Levin, Wereroa, Eketahuna, Takaka, Denniston, Kaikoura, Papanui, Sumner, Ashburton, lemuka. Shag Point, Caversham, Naseby and Gore, and for additions or ex-' I tensive repairs at Auckland, Otahuhu, Rotorua, Wairoa, New Plymouth, Hawera, Palmerston North, Nelson, Greymouth, Giuistcliurch, Lyttelton, Timaru, Oamaru. Dunedin, Clyde, Cromwell, Alexandra, Roxburgh and Kaitangata. LUNATIC ASYLUMS, j r - l ' ,!c expenditure on new works at our asylum buildings last year was almost exactly the same as during the previous year namely, £17,712, against £17,667. The principal expenditure was again in connection w:th the Porirua Asylum, which absorbed £11,096. The other items do not call for special mention. This year another substantial vote is provided towards completing the Porirua Asylum, and also substantial though smaller votes for additions, steam, electric light, and other appliances at Seacliff, additions at Auckland, Wellington and Nelson, and minor works elsewhere. SCHOOLS. The amount voted for school buildings hist year was £84,700. namely, £25,000 under the Consolidated Fund, and £59,700 under the Public Works Fund. The examounted to £74,237, namely, £25,000 under the former, and £49 257 umTv the latter fund. This year we ask mi- a total vote of £80,555, -namely, £25 - 000 under the Consolidated Fund and £55,05: under the Public Works Fund. As m mi" able members are aware, the duty e ''pendmg tins money is entrusted to tae several Education Boards, the only wo; I.s directly controlled by the Governmeiu being the Industrial and Native Ef ir . n ,e school for deaf mutes. Native schools were erected last year, or me now in course of ejection, at Paiengarenga, Tapuecharurr. Oromahoe, Touwai. Bek-manga Bnoram Waitapn. and Teharmp. also additions at Nidi,aka and Ivmomti, and the Maungalapu bV-hco 1 was removed to Papainoa. A new site for the wrmA for deaf mutes- was purcLmed. and Ere Rebuilding works at Caversham Indu'.fi'al School were completed. This ve,-.- Provision is madr fnr rUo v*

pinv'v;on is TTiidr for tlie biuldrng renifly fr nn TWiuf.-M g’dicol '. t ■ i V l,p an la-

11 lfl >,,,nr ' ,n -' ‘’f}.-, rt W eiJiijo'con, n -’ : ' a reformatory fo. gi-\ ?„ ;> : -'(Mc.-_rew hul’dmrs V- {’ne for r ' sr,; winles. and rdu' School building at Burnham. e’c.

LIGHTHOUSES FAPPOUR WORKS AND HARBOUR 1 DEFENCES.

_ The onVexpeudifure last rear in connection with new lighthouses was for land compensation at Cape Palliser, and for further 'vorks on the new building at East Cape. This jear provision is made for the comp etioo of the East Cape lighthouse, and for a new light at Kaiourangi Point, and for the conned ion of sundry lighthouses with the telegraph system of the colony. The expenditure on harbour works was trifling in amount, being only £365. This year a much larger expenditure is provided for, the principal items of which are as follows :

—New wharves at Maungaturoto, Manukau. (sand spit). Mokou, Karamea, Bruce Bay and Oknru. also for snagging the Motou. Manawatu and Little Wanganui rivers, for repairs to the wharf at Ofcurito, , and for harbour imprpvement works at Collingwood, etc. The vote for harbour defences last year was £IO,OOO, but owing to the military authorises being so much occupied with the despatch of the Contingents to Smith Africa and other matters, less attention was given to our hajbour defences than would otherwise have been the' case, so that the expenditure fell a good deal short of the vote. A large amount of work is required this year, including the construction of a new battery at W'eflington in a more advantageous position than any of the existing forts, i also some very necessary works of defence in connection with our chief coal ports. The vote proposed for the current year is £20,000.Last year’s vote for contingent defence was £40,000, which, however, was slightly exceeded, the total expenditure amounting to £42,810. This year a vote of £IOO,OOO is provided for. CONCLUSION. Honourable members may rest assured 1 that the allocat’ons of the money for the various works has received most careful consideration, and while there may be some disappointment with regard to' the amounts set down for particular works, I am confldent that it wdl be admitted that the allocation has been made upon a fair basis, and with a view to promoting the best interests of the colony.