PARLIAMENTARY

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 11586, 23 October 1901, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY

Per Press Assaciation.

WELLINGIbx, -OcSeber 22. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. The Council met at 2.30 .p-m-FfIMOXT NATIONAL I:AItK I>ILL. The National Jtork .-Bill was -read a second time. The Council rose at 2jO ,p.m.

HOUSE OF EEPKESENTATIVES. The House met at 2 oO p.m. THE COUNTIES BILL. The Committee on the uill reported that thev had resolved not to proceed anv further with that - measure. Mr Ell said that the city members reeretted very etch the .failure of the Committee to come to a .conclusioa on tcis Bill, and he advocated that-another Committee be set up immediately, tc-.-go on with Premier regretted that, .the Committee had not come to .a.-more favourable decision, but he must say that the Committee's report was the best thing tnat could have happened .to the. Bill in its marurled form. „ ~ M? Symes thought -.that the best thing was to blot he Bill out in its present

Mr Tanner could not see why the Committee could not have devised some simple measure to reduce the number oi local " bodies in the country- - Sir Herries said £ut :.tbe.-Cqinmittee, under pressure from the had had to put the spell local bodies back into the BUI, and consequently the_whole of knocked ■ oat. It would be fer-better to have some simple separate .measure than to have it throst-jnto this Bffl. This Committee found ?ihe:>Bai almost su--Derhmnan, and that there was no general desire for the abolition, of..the small local bodies. Mr Hogg said that -there- was no inclination on the part of the Committee to make any proper advance with regard to the Bffl- One stumbling-block that they had had to face was the question of the franchise. " , Mr Thomas Mackenzie did not think tnat the countrv would leeeive the report oi -the Committee with .many feelings of reglMr Flatman said that the Committee had not- reached the franchise clauses, and had not considered them. Mr W. Fraser pointed out that the Committee was hampered by the statement of the Governnrent-ihat no assured finance would be p«a*to these local Mr Buddo said that he did not see much hope an ■ the -. future for a Bill on the lines of the one which the i Committee had been considering. Small local bodies were required, -as large ones tended to become unwieldy. ' Mr Lang did not think ;.the work _of -the Committee was lost. .The information, which, they had received would enable the question to be better dealt ..with next session. Mr Monk said that- there was most strenuous opposition in district to the l' abolition of any of &e local bodies, but | what was desired was a form of governI jnent that would gise .these ibodies a sys-

tem of automatic financeMr McGnire said -that .tie Committee had had amply demonstrated-to it the opposition that was felt throughout the colorry towards any interference with many of the existing local hodies. Mr McGowan said that .the report of the Committee was not satisfactory. The Committee apparently -was not able to deal -with the question in .thevjnanner desired "by the House. It was evident that the Premier would have 4o .take, ihe Bill into 3d* own hands.

| Mr James Allen said 'that. that trtteri ance was not fair to the Mr l Martin, solicitor to the Municipal Association, had reported that-owing to the re-insertion of smaller local bodies the Bill would require redrafting, and there was not time to do that thisisession. The report of the Committee was or-r-dered to be laid on the .table, and the F-evidence to be printed. » p EXCESSIVE DRINKING BY TARAi'\ NAKINAUDPES. If'-. With regard to a pefition-.ihat fall enPtrniry be made into certain'allegations as Vto excessive drinking indulged in by the [Maoris in Taranaki district at> tangis, etc, Lthe Public Petitions Committee reported las follows:—" That the evidence given beI&re the Committee shows -that alcoholic

[liquors are largely consumed tangis and inis fay the natives in Taranaki district; that there appears to be no difficulty in shtainrng liquor in large quantities; that the orgies that sometimes occur at tangis snd huis are disgraceful, and that the general effects are physically and morally to the native people. 1 SChe comjnittee therefore recommends itfeat". legislation be introduced with a .view of .-restricting? .'the sale of alcoholic liquors, to the native race."

; ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS, . f tßeplying to questions, Ministers said -ihaV;they would be only too pleased to hear th& opinions- of small fanners col3ecferrtti.y or individually regarding the ■Commonwealth tariff, and the" iußest con-«£aeratii-n would be given -to their suggestions; <hat the Govenuaent intended to pot ithe -Public School Teachers Salaries Bui thrbngh all its stages this ; •fhst\the .Government had represented to ±he (Colonial Office that it -would,-. please -fhejpeople of the colony if Lord Ranfurly's -term of office as Governor could L he ex-

! -tended, but the Premier ■could, jwt sayyet rwfcether the request would >be granted, hat Hjebhoped it would bej that the Government does not intend to can-

cel -Use appointments of -members j «f "Parliament on the Land Boards, bnt "invTiew of the resdnriun -carried hy cthe House when the Estimates -were -being dealt with, the question,.of their reappointment would be considered wfaea of their present .appointments expired; that rc was not deemed .necessary ito introduce legislation defining *jrahlie poihioiis for which Ministers of the '; Crown andrmembers of Parliament arefeligi ible, Unit- :£fee Premier considered -that- the \ Disqaalifwsiion Act required alteration m ■ so far as ,'itr affected the payment of members of Parliament for public duties fulfilled ontaiae, of their ordinary Parliament-; , «ry vorkz; jfcbat no steps* would be taken 1 in regard to .the proposal to impose an t,«xport duty.on baufr timber, until after : the saireiiliezt' confertjee had considered:

the question:; -.that it was the intenfion -<sf the Goverißnent to submit proposals to the House forailia&of steamers to run between 2iew Zealand and South Africa, and jf : the House went-.as far as to subsidise tbe ; line to the extent of £30,000 a- year, the-, ' service worfd :be- worth it, the Govermaentj ■were in the meantime ascertaining what! could be done, ; vessels os the "tramp"! class were wanted, not fast passenger; I boats, and it wotiKl also be necessary to, iGoveroment -was not in a position at pre- • .sent to state •n'hat -steps they proposed i ■vto take to meet the altered position of'; ■«mall farmers as the outcome of the Com- ;

-soonwealth tariff; that 'by-laws were being' -passed by the Maori -Council to enable 'foem to put a stop to .-excessive drinking ,st tangis, but it might be necessary to • -pass an Act this -session giving Maori ! Councils more power in that respect, and Mr (Carroll would make -personal enquiries I into-the matter after the close of the sesl tnon, and discuss tie subject with the I latjcce. G£JS?ERAL SIR HECTOR MACDOSTALD. j "ITic Premier read the following telegram i ttMgh ;he had received from General Sir tHector"MacDonald :—"Your kind wire has ! given ate much pleasure, and I thank yon very -warmly for the hearty welcome of the" Gov«rnment and people of 2vew Zeal land, Vi'ich I fully appreciate and shall j ever treasure. MacDonsld."

The Hoete rose at 5.30 p.m. The Honse resnmed at 7.30 p.m. T.'EAVE OF ABSENCE. Sir MeLacnlan was panted one week's leave of absence on acconst of serious «11I ress in his foni!- .' THE PCRIfttTA NATIVE RESERVE BILL. The "Derrtrty-STJeaker r"led tbit the Po- , rrima Native Reserve Bill contained anaa- t vropriation clause, and therefore, be introduced by Governor's ■The third reading cf the Bill was ac- • cordinsrlv T>ostnorie<i. DESPATCH OF BUSINESS. The Deputy-Speaker announced that on [ tnd after to-morrow s>s allow Bills I to be taken throrgh dl their stages afc [ «ne sittisg. I SCHOOL TEACHER? SALARIES BILL. ■ The Premier moved the second reading »«f the Public School Teachers Salaries Bill. I He said that in the interests of the rising ) generation, it necessary thai- an imwovement should be effected in the salsr--3S paid to public school teachers, and in Us opinion the cwnfry was ripe for and larliansent wes to approve of a ntional scale of salaries for members of tie teaching profession. At the present

time the Government was .paying an equal capitation giiwt,'>but. tue uistriounon was not at all lair-or equitable. Xhat was not the fault of-tue Education Boards, but

was due to the- different conditions existing

in the various districts, and- tilings had drifted until no .system at all existeu. He went on to say that this Bill was an honest endeavour to meet the situation. Under

the Bill the salaries of women were raised to a standard that had never beioie been reached in the-history od the colony. The colony could -now ahord to pay toe increased capitaticn proposed, and tne- Bill would enable more considerate treatment to be given to both teachers and children in the outlying districts, it could not be denied that the children of *• our pioneers should receive every facility and encouragement to obtain proper education. The Bill would not interfere in the slightest with the general function of the Education Boards, but the Boards would haii with delight the fixing of salaries by Act of Parliament. He to the inequalities that existed in salaries in the various districts, and said that this state of things was due to the exigencies of the Boards. He paid a tribute to the work of the Royal Commission that had = recently considered, this question, and said that the Commission's report had placed the position in such a way thafc-the House with confidence could \ follow the lead it had given. He asked the i House to pass the Bill and allow defects tobe remedied afterwards. He had known, some female assistants to be equal to first. male assistants.

Mr Hornsby: Why not give them eqmal pay for equal work. The Premier replied that he had cited exceptional cases. Women were not physically equal to the work of male teachers. He briefly sketched the provisions of the Bill, and said the total of salaries under the first scale of allowance to Boards corresponded to a. capitation of £4 on ■, . the total arasrage attendance in all the schodis of the colony. The Government had been asked to .give a further increase and that recommendation would be given favourable: consideration. Under the second scale the. be £4 2s 6d per an-nom on the average attendance. He indicated, that the- seductions in salaries which would result in some cases would not come into effect for two years. The teachers affected would, therefore, have time to look around. He, with confidence, recommended the House the Bill and pass it thissession. It was his deliberate opinion that to postpone it till nest session would caase heartburningamong the teaching profession.: Mr Htjgg considered that under the Biu. the school teaching profession would be elevated .and made more attractive. The. Bill would not weaken the powers of Edu-. cation Boards, but would take a great deal of responsibility off their shoulders. • Mr G. .J. Smith said that though the majority-.of teachers wanted the Bill, these were obieetions coming to it from all pacts v of the xolony. He hoped that the prin-, ciple of *qual pay for equal work woula be given Effect to when the Bill was mcommittee. on , ~, Mr Buddo complained feoat the Bui cua. not fix a minimum salary for .teachers of. aided schools. The Premier had stated that, the Bill would improve the status of back, i Uock teachers, but he (Mr Buddo) contended that it would not have any such ef feet as the schools in the back blocks were" , invariably vsmall aided schools. ; Mr JaVnes Allen opposed any mm; mentof the powers of Education Boards; and School • Committees. He feared that the Bfli Tras only a first step to taking; away from the Boards something morethai what the Bill already took awayj The Bill might be a good one, oul.tS. should be deferred till nest session that, its effect might be enquired into. • Mr G W''Russell said that the effect oi • the Bill -would be to say to the Boards; " open as raanv new schools as you liKe, wherever you like." Under the Bill tfie; Government agreed to hand oyer to ieBoards the amount required for the sa-.f laries for any new school established, lhe, Boards' present responsibility, which hm-. ited the number of new schools, would be taken away, and the effect of the Bill, would be to .greatly increase the number, of new schools and the cost. He traced; in the Bill a future attempt to take away; the powers =of _the Boards and centrause j the administration. . •: Mr Mascsv considered tne proposed scale would "be grossly unfair to country ( schools under' 20. He would not oppose, the Bill, fcut would leave the responsi-1 bility with the Government, and endeavour) to improve the Bill in committee. . Air Laxrrensoß said the demand for a ; colonial scale'had been almost universal.; He w& not -surprised that the member for; Bruce should oppose it, for Otago was j the highest -paid district in the colony,., and if anv district in New Zealand was to be prejudicially affected by a uniform application of a colonial scale it would be Otago. BeOiMrT Laurenson) considered that the failure to recognise anything higher than a Dl certificate was one of the most serious blots in the report ot the ComnnsabHi. Mr Bollard thought it unfair that teachers in country districts should depend on the average attendance for their saPUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT. At this stage Mr Hall-Jones laid the Public Works Stateement on the table. There was, he said, a-probability that the Public Works Estimates would not be je-xlv to-night. The Stateass& upases follows : Mr Speaker,—lt is with feelings of pleasure that I lay before honourable members mv sixth statement, especially as it has not fallen to the lot of any one of my predecessors to deliver six consecutive Public Works -Statements. The work undertaken lastveair,-was-of a more extensive character than dnmng.any of the past few years, and the total -expenditure consequently reached a. fiigherr figure. A large amount of very bseM has been accomplished, ana "the .extent to which the improved conveniences: are appreciated by our settlers is weE levidenced by the demands made for further-roads, railways, and other facilities. Ind«ed,. had these demands been complied -with to anything like their full extent the of expenditure which I submit this ..evening would have been swelled to twice their present dimensions. In dealing iwith lhe question of public work, it is aajll-to remember that it is only just over sixty years since New Zealand became a British colony, and when honourable members bear lin >joind that at that time there were mo utrads, - railways, ! or bridges, no telegraphic .communication, no post offices or ottier public ; buildings, that education beyond that supplied by the missionaries was practically •unknown, and that the islands were only visited at rare intervals by sailing *hips, -it mustbe admitted that the progress-made since that time has been *nost satisfactory, and establishes a record oi -Thick we may justly be proud. Two thousand one 'hundred and twelve miles of railwj£- have been constructed and opened for'traffic, thousands of miles of roads have been formed, hundreds of bridges built, 7250 miles of telejrraph lines established, the neoessary public buildings (including schools) have been erected at great cost, and a large fleet, of ships are now engaged in r -arrying to j all parts of the world the produce of our i enterprising settlers. While this good; work has been done during past years we, ; -who for.the time being have the wel- ; "fare of the country entrusted to our charge,.; Htnat not ignore our responsibilities in seeing that steps are taken for the further development of our colony, and that every opportunity is €hus afforded for our settlers. to forward their-products to the markets of the world at the lowest possible cost- and in the shortest treasonable time. To enable this to be done, notwithstanding what pessimists may say, we must continue our policy of road and railway construction. We must further improve our existing lines of communication, which if done with due regard to economy -will result in platan? our country in a still more satisfactory position. Without proper means of communication our settlers are tampered and handicapped, and it is our <iuty to remove the disabilities under which they labour, bearing in mic-d that as the work progresses each mile of railway completed and each chain of road formed is so much towards the end we have in view. Whilst making provision for the urgent requirements _ oi ' the colonv, the Government are of opinion that it would be extremely inadvisable to enter upon a large borrowing policv for public works, and that- we should adhere to the- course followed in recent, years and make provision for a fair rate of progress beinjr maintained both in railway and road construction, and provide accommodation and conveniences necessitated by the development of the colony, including renewal with more permanent material of the old wooden buildings, many of which are past repairing. The rums provided in the Estimates will admit of the several works be ; i<r cr.ntinred at a reasonable speed, and if is" hoped that the following sections of railway will be open for traffic before the p-rA "o r the current financial year. Felensville northwards, section TahekeroaAhuroa. length. 4 miles 69 chains; Gis-borne-Karaka, Gisborn& wharf'Qrmond, 10

Bliles 43 .chains.; .-Stratford-Whangamo-mona, .Stratford-Toko, 6 miles 40 chains ; North Island .Main Trunk, Porootarao-On- '■ garue, 14 miles 21 chains; North Island '■ Alain Trunk, Mangaonho-Mangoweka, 9 . miles 24 chains ; - Blenheim- Waipara, Omaka Seddon, .12 miles 76 chains ; BlenhemvWaipara, Waipara-Skargill, 14 miles 40 chains ; Otago -Central, .Wedderburn - Blackstone Hill, 12-miles 23 chains. Total, 86 miles '■. 16 chains. progress was made with the more important of the works under construction, the principal details of which I will give later on. Before outlining my proposals.for expenditure, I will briefly state that the ways and means available lor public works purposes at the 31st March, 1900. The balance of the ways and means of the Public Works Fund amounted to £839,749, and iurther sums were provided last session as under : —New loan* £1,000,000; transferred from revenue, £500,000. There were also miscellaneous receipts to the amount of £1787, thus making a gross total of £2,340,536. The expenditure last year amounted to £1,309,021, -so that at the close of the year the balance of our ways and means was £1,032,515, and it is now proposed to provide the following additional funds : —New loan, £1,000,000; further transfer from revenue, £500,000; making altogether a gross total of available ways and means of £2,532,515. The estimates of expenditure for the current year total to £2,196,334 (in addition.to £46,577 under the Government Jioansto Local Bodies Act), thus leaving an unallocated balance of £335.181. TOTAL -PUBLIC WORKS EXPENDI-

TURE. The following table shows the total ex- '. ■ jenditure out of the Public Works Fund on all services throughout the : colony up to the. 31st December, 1890, and also up to the 31st March last, and in a : separate column the expenditure during the late financial year.. Class of Work. —Railways construction. Total expenditure to 31st December, 1890, £14,067,100; construction from Ist Janu- • ary, 1891, to 31st March, 1901, £2,025.391. Addition to open lines, £1,075,535. ' Total to 31st March, 1901, £17,168,026. • Year ended 31st March, 1901—construction, £329,691; additions to open lines, £325,- ' C 032. .Roads.—Total; to 31st December, 1890, £3,575,804; : Ist January, 1891, to 31st March, 1901, £1,988,145; total to 31st • March, 1901, £5,563,949. Year ended 31st March, 1901. £315,791. Public buildings, to 1890, £1,776,003; 1891 to 1901, £733,647; Ist January to 31st March, 1901, £2,509,650; year ended 1 31st March, 1901, £121,364. Immi<ration to 1890, £2,144,386; 1891 to 1901, £3333; January to March, 1901, £2,147,719; year ended 31st March, 1901, : £214. Purchase of native lands, 1890, £1,191,137; 1891 to 1901, £773,853: Ist January I to 31st March, 1901, £1,964,970; year ended 31st March, £28,688. Lighthouses, harbour works and harbour .defences,, to: 1890,:.£880,095; 1891 to 1901, £85,618 ; Ist January to 31sfr March, J. 901, £965.613; year ended 31st March, 1901, £6417. Telegraph extension, to 1890, £600,849; 1891 to 1901, £305,309; Ist January to 31st March, 1901, £906.158; year ended 31st March, 1901, £50,101. Development of goldfields, to 1890, £561101; 1891 to" 1901, £125,252; Ist January to 31st March, 1901, £686,353; .year-ended'.3lst March, 1901, £15,997. Defencevsrorks (general), to 1890, £429,720 • 1891 to 1901, £120.240 Ist January to 31st March, 1901, £549,960; year ended 31st March, 1901, £37,650. Departmental, to 1890, £349,789; 1891 to 1901/ £109,528; Ist January to 31st March, 1901, £459,317; year ended 31st March, 1901, £12,933. . Minor works and services, to l«yu, £300.689; 1891 to 1901, £7472; Ist January to 31st March, 1901, £308,161; year ended 31st March,'l9ol. £673. ( Cost and discount raising loans, etc., to i 1890 £1,021,472; 1891 to 1901, £36,299 ; Ist January to 31st March 1901 £1.057,771-: ..year ended-31st March, 1901, £1460. Totals, to 1890, £26,898,145; 1891 to 1901 £7,389,502; ." Ist January to 31st March 1901, £34-.287,647; year ended 31st ilarch,:i9ol, £1,309,021. ; RAILWAYS UNDER CONSTRUCTION. The railways under construction were the same as during the previous year, but with .two:additions, namely, the Stratford-Kawa-kawa.and the Heriot. extension lines. The -expenditure amounted to considerably more than in the previous year, namely, £392,691, against £199,580, the increase being £193,111. The improved progress on all the more ; important lines has been, maintained, especially in the case of the North Island Main Trunk Railway, so that for several of the principal lines substantial votes must be asked for. I will now briefly describe what has been done on each of the railway works in.hand during the late year, and also our proposals for the current vear. KAWAKAWA-GRAHAMSTOWN.

The work on the southern ex- ] tension of the northern portion of firis .railway has been continued, the operations now extending over the whole feight miles -authorised' in 1899. EailJaying .has not -yet been started, but < the Tails have ; been procured, so that the j work can 'be put -in hand as soon as a sufficient length of formation is available. No suitable-ballast has been discovered immediately adjacent:to the work in hand, but a deposit of -scoria ash exists at a, distance of a .mile and three-quarters from the line. It would "be necessary to construct :a hranch line to enable this to be utffised. It is expected that the first section of the line would be finished and available for traffic hy this time next year, j A further link in the northwards extension of the ■southern portion of the line was completed during-the-year, namely, a short f section'of 1 mile' 26 chains "between Waiotu and Hukerenui, which was opened for , traffic on Ist March. The'last survey of ' the intervening lengfh'between the northern and southern portion of this -railway has been proceeded with as opportunity offered, the line haying been definitely located for 6 miles, and a trial line run for 3 miles farther. The completion of this survey will be entrusted to an officer whose attention will be solely devoted to it, so as to ensure its heing 'finished at an early date. Preparations have been made to start work on the extension from Opau to Grahamstown. It was found that the original survey txrald 'be improved upon, and a new survey has 'been made, and plans of the bridge •over the Whangarei river have been prepared. The total expenditure on this railway last year amounted to £15,101, and for the current year an authorisation of £15,000 is asked for. " HELENSVILLE-NORTHWARDS. The Tahekeroa section of this railway, 3 miles 18 chains in length, was completed and handed over to; 1 the Railway Department for regular traffic on the 19th December last. Work on the Komokoriki section has heen ac- ! tively proceeded with, and the line as far i as the south end of the tunnel is completed, and the rails laid. More than three-fourths of the excavation in the tunnel is completed and the rails laid, and the rest of the formation to Ahuroa is well in hand, and should not take long to finish. A contract has been let for the •supply of bricks for lining the tunnel. I am hopeful of being able to open the section to Ahnroa by about the 31st March next. The final*location of the line beyond the end of the Komokoriki section is now necessary, in order to avoid any delay taking place on the completion of the works on that section, and the survey has accordingly been put in hand. The question has heen raised as to whether the Toute for this railway by the Hoteo valley is really the best that could be followed. Another route has been examined by a committee of the local settlers considered by them to be superior. In order to set this point at rest, instructions have been issued for the newly suggested route to be examined, and on the completion of such examination its merits will be carefully compared with those of the route previously proposed. The expenditure on this railway last year amounted to £11.933, and for the current year in appropriation of £15,000 i<! proposed. PAER O A-WA ..71.

Onlv preliminary work had beea< done on this line up till the close of the financial year 1899-1900. During last year, however, substantial progress was made, and the work now extends for a distance of 6 miles 15 chains. The excavation of the loam tunnel is well in hand, the position of the work at the end of September being as follows:—West end. 751 feet, the bottom bavins; 675 feet of brickincf; 359 feet east end, top bavins: 469 feet, bottom having 457 feet. An air shaft has also been sunk at the west end of the tunnel, about 600 feet from the mouth. Platelayinjr has been started from the junction sidinff at Paeroa. and is well in hand towards Karangahake. A contract has been let for the construction of a combined road and railway bridge over the? Ohinemuri _ river _ at Ka'rangahake, the contract price being | £8771. The expenditure on the line last J : year was £12,259, but this year it will be

larger, an authority for £20,000 bamg asked for. GISBORNE-KARAKA. In the. case of this railway also, the only work done prior to the commencement of the late financial year was of a. preliminary nature. During the late year, however, very substantial progress had been made, so that at the present time the formation is finished for about 12£ miles. All the bridges for the same distance have been erected, and the rails laid. A ballast train is busy widening the banks. Completing the station yards, and ballasting the station buildings are also actively in progress, and I expect to have the line .to Ormond ready for regular traffic by February next. The final location of tne balance of the line to Karaka will be taken in hand as soon as a suitable officer can be detailed for the work. The expenditure on this railway last year exceeded the vote by £3498, having amounted to £15,498. This year it will be even larger, and an authorisation of £20,000 will be required. • STRATFORD-KAWAKAWA.

This is one of the new railways authorisel last session. The survey was put in hand soon after Parliament rose, and construction -work started in ApriL Such good progress has been made that a large part of the first section to Toko, 6£ miles in length, is now ready for plate-laying, and the rails which have recently arrived' are now being sent up to the work. I have every confidence that this section of the railway will be opened for traffic by Christmas next. Survey work is in progress on the next section of the line, so that by the time the formation to Toko is completed we shall be in a position to de--termine the best route to be taken beyond that township. The vote taken for this railway last year was £IO,OOO, but scarcely any expenditure took place prior to March 31st. For the current year an authority for £12,000 will be necessary. Hon. members are aware that in my last year's Statement it was suggested that this railway should be constructed as a narrow gauge line, but an examination of the country shewed that this was inadvisable, and having in view the probable traffic as the line is extended, it was decided to construct it as a light railway, but without departing from the New Zealand standard gauge. NORTH ISLAND MAIN TRUNK RAILWAY.

A very large amount of work has been performed on this railway during the year, at the northern end especially. The engineering staff employed upon the line has fully realised the desire of the Government that the work should be pushed to completion with reasonable expedition, and every effort has been made, despite sundry adverse circumstances, to forward the work as rapidly as possible. Regular traffic is carried on by the Railway Department as far as the Porootarao tunnel, the water-shed between the Waikato and Wanganui river systems, and from that point to Kawakawa" or Ongarue the rails are already laid, and the ballasting and erection of station buildings is in progress. The plate-laying party is still at work extending its operations to Tuamaramii, to which point the formation of the work already extends, and bush-felling is in hand beyond the crossing of the Wanganui river. The railway at the northern end, therefore, has now commenced to tap the celebrated Waimarino forest. A contract was ' let in May last for a steel and timber bridge 465 feet long over the Wanganui. river at Tuamaranui, and contracts have also been let for steel girders for the three bridges ; over the Ongarue river. The majority of the piers of these latter bridges will be of timber, and a contract has been let for the supply of iron cylinders for the remaining piers. At the southern end of the line the earthworks now extend nearly to Turangarere, a distance of 39 miles from the terminus of the opened line at Mangaomoho, and 51 miles 'from the commencement of the TaHway at Marton. Considerable progress has been made with fhese works during the year, but still grtater progress would have resulted if the roads in the district had been in sufficiently good order to admit of heavy carting being done in the winter. As much carting as possible was done during the summer and autumn, but it was impossible for the whole of the plant and supplies required during the winter months to be carried up in advance. Advantage will be taken as the weather improves and the roads are again fit for carting, to send forward the necessary plant and material for the work. The Makohine viaduct is now nearing completion. A view of the structure appended ; to this Statement will show the position of ' the work at a tolerably recent date. Platelaying between Makohine and Mangaweka is about to he proceeded with- Practically all the Tails and sleepers required for this section, are now on the further side of the Makohine ravine. A locomotive and a train of ballast waggons have also been arranged for, and are now in process of being conveyed to Parerawera. I fully expect to have engines running over the Makohine viaduct by the 31st March next, and I hope to have tie whole section to Mangaweka ready for traffic about the same time. The Mangaweka viaduct is in hand, the concrete dor the foundations being in progress at the site, and the ironwork in course of manufacture at the Makohine workshop. This viaduct, though longer than Makohine. is not so high and not nearly as difficult or expensive a structure. With favourable weather its erection will probably not take more than four months from the time the finished materials can be railed through from the Makohine workshop, so that at a comparatively early date after the opening of the line to Mangaweka it will be possible to proceed with plate-laying beyond the township towards, Taihope. Contracts have been let for the steel superstructures of the bridges over the Toitoi Creek and Hautapu River, and all the steel and iron required for the remainder of the bridges up to Ohakune has been ordered from England- Instructions have also been issued for theiheavier por- | tions of the earthworks on the Munmutuand Raetihi sections to be taken in hand when the necessary plant and supplies can be conveyed thither. SHEWING THE NORTH ISLAND MAIN TRUNK RAILWAY AS A

WHOLE. The position of the works at the present time is as follows :—Total length of railway—Marton to Te Awamutu, 10 miles; length open ifor public traffic, 69i miles; additional length on which the rails are laid, 18| miles; further length on which formation is complete, 19£ miles; still further length on which work is in hand, 30i miles; making a total length finished, or in progress, of 133 miles. Of the remainder, a final survey has been made of l2 miles; total, 210 miles. Date of authorisation of railway—loth November, 1884; amount expended to 30th September, 1901, £871,667; estimated amount required to complete the line, £898,600; number of workmen now employed, 1166. I informed Parliament last session that if ways and means were provided from time to time as required, this railway could be completed ■and opened for traffic withim about four years from the end of last session, and I see no reason to suppose that that expectation is not still capable of realisation. The total expenditure on the line during the last financial year, exclusive of the cost -of rails, sleepers, and other permanent way material supplied, was £109,832. This year a larger amount will be required, and an -authorisation of £160,000 will accordinclv be proposed for it. RIMTJTAKA DEVIATION. . A detailed survey of this proposed deviation of the Rimutaka railway between the Upper H-uttand Woodsidevia theTauherinakau, has been completed, application having been made to have a trial line run for a route by way of the Wainuiomata Valley. Instructions have been issued to the Inspecting Engineer to make an examination of this route, so that a comparison may be made of its supposed advantages as | against those of the Tauherinakau route.

BLENHEIM- WAIPARA. The works at the northern end of this railway are approaching completion, and i the station buildings at Seddon are about to be erected. It is probable that the line will be ready to hand over to the Railway Department for ordinaiy traffic shortly before the ensuing Christmas holidays. Representations having been made as to the necessity of providing some protection to the trains while crossing the Awatere bridge ifrom the very strong winds whicn blow up and down the Awatere Valley, it has been decided to erect a suitable wind screen, the construction of which will be proceeded with immediately. At the southern end of the railway the work has made substantial progress. The earthworks on the first twelve miles are virtually complete, and the few small bridges on this length which are still incomplete, are likely to be finished within a month or so. The laying of the rails has already been completed, and the ballasting and erection of station buildings will follow in due course. I fully expect that the first section at this end of the line, 14£ miles in length and extending as far as Skargill, will be ready for traffic early in the new year. The earthworks have been started on the section between Skargill and the Hurunui river and are making sa-

tisfactory progress, and plans, etc., for the important bridge over the Hurunui river have been prepared and tenders invited for its construction. This bridge will be 378 ft long, and will include two spans of 100 ft each, supported on concrete piers. Plans are also being prepared tor the bridge ovir the Waiau river near 1 arnassus, but as this is beyond the point to which the construction of the rai way has been authorised, it will be necessary to make provision for a further section of the line before a contract for this bridge can be entered into. The total expenditure on the Waipawa railway last year was £33,280,whi1e liabilities to the amount of over £20,000 existed at the close of the year. This year an authorisation of £45,000 is proposed. OTAGO CENTRAL.

■ / Good progress was made with the works on this railway during the year. The section between Wedderburn and Blackstone Hill is rapidly approaching completion, and will be avai able for traffic early in December next. The heavy work in the Toolburn Gorge is well in hand, and much of it is nearing completion. All the masonry of the culvert is completed up to the Manuherikia river, and the work in the tunnels is about half done. The foundation for the piers and abutments of the j Poolburn viaduct are in progress, and a contract for the steel superstructures of ! both that viaduct and the Manuherikia bridge has been let, and the majority of the cylinders for the latter are being conveyed to the site. Work has recent y been undertaken on the Manuherikia part of this section, several parties now being employed on it. Altogether the work of this railway has been pushed along with vigour, and the progress made is satis- , factory. The expenditure on the line last year, according to the published accounts, was £61,347, but in reality it was in excess of this, as owing to an unfortunate accident in the Dunedin office accounts representing nearly two months' expenditure. on the railway were shut out at the close of the financial year. For the current year an authority for £IOO,OOO has been provided.

HERIOT EXTENSION. Work on the extension of the Heriot line towards Edie's was put in hand shorty before the close of the financial year. Some little time was lost through the severity of the weather in winter, and the work has also been delayed by a difference of opinion amongst the local residents as to the route which the line should take, which has rendered it advisable to restrict operations to the working of sections about which there is no division of opinion. As it will probably be to the best interests of the district to adhere to the route originally surveyed, and make the terminus of the line atEdievale as proposed originally, scarcely any expenditure was charged against the vote last year, and this year £SOOO has been provided on the Estimates for this railway. CATLIN'S RIVER-SEAWARD BUSH. At the Catlin's River end of this railway an extension of 3£ miles from Owaka has been in hand during the year, and former work's are well advanced and pro- J ceeding satisfactorily. At the Seawa.rd Bush end of the line, the survey to Tokonui, which was in progress last year, has been completed, but the result has not .been entirely satisfactory, and a further survey has therefore now been ordered, to ascertain definitely which of the routes proposed for this section of the railway presents the ' greater advantages. Owing to' its having been impossible to commence construction works on this section of the line pending a definite decision on the question of route, the expenditure last year fell considerably below . the amount of the vote. This year it will probably be larger, and an authorisation of £12,000 is therefore proposed. RIVERSDALE-SWITZERS.

A .contract for the proposed combined road and railway bridge over the Ma-' taura' river has been prepared, but as the cost will largely exceed the amount of last year's vote, I have not felt justified in inviting tenders until the matter could again be submitted to Parliament.

OREPUKI-WAIAU. . The formation works on the first four miles of this line are approaching completion, and similar work is now in hand beyond that mileage, the rails, etc., for the permanent way of the first section have "been provided, ana as soon as the formation is complete the plate-laying will be put in hand. The expenditure on the line last year amounted to £7764, and this year an authority for £12,000 is asked for. MIDLAND.

Hon. members are aware from the report of the Midland Railway Commission, which has already been presented, to Parliament, of the result of the inquiry into the cost and value of the railway works constructed by the Midland Company, and I of the contributions made thereto by the Crown. Coming to the question of construction, the section of the line between Jackson's and Otira, which was wholly constructed by the Government, was formally handed over to the Railway Departmentfor regular working at the end of November last, but goods trains had besn running over it- for nearly a year previously. At the Canterbury end of the railway, where the works are of the heaviest description, good progress has been made. The cut- I tings and banks on the first four miles | and a half are nearly completed, and the ] tunnels on the same side are approaching completion. Tenders were invited for the completion of the viaduct over Paterson's Creek, and that of Messrs Scott Bros., of Christchurch, accepted for the work. Plans for the larger viaduct over Staircase Gully are now being prepared.. The extension of ,-rhe Nelson, section of the line to Tadmor, authorised last session, has been commenced and the earthworks are making satisfactory progress. Plans were prepared for the largo combined road and railway bridge over the Motueka river, and tenders for th 3 erection have recently been received and declined. The Engineer-in-Chief is now considering the design of the bridge with the view of effecting some economy in its construction. The survey of the proposed extension from Reefton towards Inangahua Junction will be put in hand as soon as a suitable officer can be spared to take charge of the work. The line has been permanently pegged for a distance for about eight miles, and longitudinal and cross-sections completed for about five miles. We hope to be able to resume construction at the Reefton end of the line during present year. The first work to be put in hand will of course be the bridge over the Inaugahua river. Considerable work has been done during the year in making the necessary surveys in connection with the proposed long tunnel between Otira and the Bealey. Before I definitely undertaking the construction of ' a work of such great magnitude, however, the Government has considered it desirable to call in further expert advice, and m pursuance with this decision we are now in comumnication with railway authorities of the highest standing in America with a view of obtaining a report frbm an American or Canadian engineer of eminence and experience in the construction of mountain railways on different proposals that have been made in reference to the construction of this particular section of the railway. The total expenditure on the Midland Railway ln«t year amounted to £41,328. Tins year it will-doubtless be heavier, owm.s to work being in hand at the Nelson end and the probability of work being started between Reefton and Inangahua. and possibly between Otira and the Bealey. The proposed authorisation is therefore £IOO,-GREYMOUTH-HOKITIKA EXTENSION TO ROSS.

This extension originally formed part of the Grev, Hokitika, and Midland scheme, and a trial survey was made of it. It is about 15 miles in length, running through level country, and taps over 500,000 acres of the finest forest in the colony. Four sawmills are now in operation, and there is a vast quantity of silver pine timber suitable for railway sleepers available. The estimated output of sawn timber is 6,000,000 feet per annum. The main road from R-ss to the Waiho and the Francis Joseph Glacier is completed, and a creat tourist traffic would eventuate if the line were made, for the mountain, lake and forest scenery of South Westland is unsurpassed. The present population, consisting of settlors, miners, sawmillers, and bushmen, which woi-l'i be served by the railway, numbers 1000, and there' is a vast area of land suitable which would be. settled if this line were constructed, and the mineral deposits well known to exist were developed. The amount asked for the current year is £2OOO.

NGAHERE-BLACKBALL. The selection of a suitable site for the proposed bridge over the Grey river has proved to be a work of much difficulty, as great changes in the river-bed in the neighbourhood of the proposed bridge have taken place in recent years, and similar changes may take place in the future. A good site has now been selected, however, but it is evident that; the cost of a substantial structure will amount to a large

sum, and the question, seems to require further consideration before any definite understanding is entered into. TOTAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR RAIL-

WAYS. In. addition to the sums already mentioned, smaller authorisations "tallying to £7500 are proposed under various heads, and £76,000 for permanent way and other materials, thus making the total authorisations for railway construction purposes £601,500, on account of which a vote for the current year of £561,000 is asked. ROADS AND OTHER WORKS UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE MINISTER OF LANDS.

The amount authorised last year for ' roads and other works was £651,717, and the amount voted for expenditure £433,997. Of this sum there was actually spent during the year £310,660, for which amount 621 miles of dray roads and 323 miles of bridle roads were constructed ; 737 miles of dray roads and 175 miles of bridle roads were widened and improved, and 2272 miles of dray roads and 1032 miles of bridle roads were maintained. During the year the bridges constructed were 323, of a total length of 12,448 feet, and the culverts 3497, of a total length of 70,632 feet. Out of the sum of £310,600 expended, £85,244 was disbursed through local bodies and £225,416 by the staff of the Department. At the end of the year authorities remained with local bodies to the extent of £143.860. and with the staffto the extent of £292,386, a total liability of £436,246. The largest amount paid last year was in the Auckland district, tlje expenditure there amounting to £92,255. In the other districts it was as follows:—Hawkes Bay, £31,336; Taranaki, £33,083; Wellington, £72,039 ; Nelson, £9278; Marlborough, £13,933: Canterbury, £BOIS ; Westland, £11,450 ; Otago, £15,902; and Southland, £20,299. With the. general expenditure of £3065, the total iast -year was £29,535 more than in the previous year, being spent in the districts of Auckland, Taranaki, Wellington, Nelson, Westland, Canterbury, and Otago, and a little less in the other districts. The very large number of roads which had to be dealt with, namely 2067, involved great labour in administration and. arranging for the prosecution of the necessary works. The appropriations, were not printed until the 15th November. After that the new items had to be considered, authorised, and the carrying out of the works prepared. The first part of the season up to the new year was a wet one nearly all over New Zealand, and in consequence it was found impracticable to begin several very necessary works, such as road metalling, especially; indeed the summer season this year was been a short one for the execution of works which had to be done while the roads were dry, but it will be seen that the work executed was about equal to that done during the previous year. The expenditure was somewhat larger, which was partly due to the greater number of roads which had to be maintained, dray roads totalling to 2273 miles and 1033 miles of bridle road were kept in repair, as against 1896 miles of dray roads and 937 miles of bridle road, in the year 18991900. Out of the 2067 works 'for which money was voted, 1189 were begun or finished during the year. The others could not be prepared in time for any work being done before the 31st March, although instructions had been given, for the whole of the works in the Appropriations to be' proceeded with. Out of these 1189 works, 405 have been done by local bodies and 784 by the Department. The improvement of the navigation of the'Wangum ; river and its great" tributary the 'Tangarakau has been continued under the Wanganui Biver Trust.; The expenditure has mounted to £1250. This has enabled a light jdraft steamer to reach Putikituna, on the Tangarakau,and" goods can be conveyed to the Wahangamamana settlement by water within six miles of the middle of the valley. Two lines of steamers now navigate the river as far as Pipiriki, 56 miles from Wanganui, greatly to the advantage of settlers on its banks, and inland. Out of the Lands for Settlements Account there was expended £5y46 in construction of 13 miles of dray roads and bridges and 73 culverts, in addition 10i miles of dray roads were improved and 28 miles maintained. Owing to the extension of land settlement and the consequent increase in Departmental business, it was decided to sever from the Lands and Survey Department at the end of the last financial year the work of construction and administration of reads and similar works. In accordance with that decision, most of the officers of the Lands and Survey Department previously engaged on roads and office work appertaining thereto, are transferred to the new Department, called the Department of Roads. Under this Department is now'placed the responsibility of carrying out all the work for roads and kindred purposes formerly super-vised by the Lands and Survey Department, as well as the general administration of the laws relating to roads. It is yet too early to speak definitely, bu£ so far the change has worked satisfactorily, and every confidence is felt for the future success of- the arrangement. It is proposed to carry on tk/; road works with judicious expedition, and to endeavour to complete as soon as possible works already begun and those for which money has been voted in previous years without neglecting the equally important duty of keeping up with the ever advancing border of settlement with bridle tracks at least, if with nothing better.

ROADS ON GOLDFIELDS. MINES BEPARTMENT.

The vote last year under this head amounted to £83,650. the expenditure being £48,417 with liabilities at the end of the year amounting to £49,221.' The sum pro-posed-to be authorised for the current year is £115,989, on account of which a vote of £84,000 is asked for. DEVELOPMENT OP GOLDFIELDS AND MINING.

The value of gold entered for export during 1900 was £1,439,602, being somewhat less than during the previous year, but as stated by my colleague in his Mines Statement, notwithstanding this decrease, there was an actual increase in the value of the general mineral productions. The increase ic the value of gold entered for export during the nine months ended the 30th September last was £174,528 over the value for the similar period of 1900, and it is expected that the results for the whole year will equal, if they do not exceed those of 1899, -which were the highest for the previous 26 years. For the first time the output of coal and lignite has exceeded 1,000,000 tons, the actual output for 1900 being 1,093,000 tons. The quantity of gold entered for export < during 1900 was 373,6160z, valued at £1.439,602, and of silver 326,4570z, valued at £38,879, as compared with 389,5580z of gold valued at £1,514,173, and of silver 349,3380z, valued at £40,838, for 1899 being a decrease of 15,9420z of gold, valued at £76,571 and 22,8810z of silver, valued at £159 The Royal Commission appointed to enquire into the question of proclaimrivers in the Middle Island to be watercourses into which tailings and mining debris may be discharged under the provisions of the Mining Acts has completed its labours, and the report has been presented to Parliament. A settlement of the claims of the farmers is gradually being arrived at on the basis of the recommendations of the Commission, and it is expected that "before long most of them will be adjusted, and that many of the rivers which have been reported on will- be proclaimed. The amount-expended-last financial year on works for the development of the go dfields was £15.907, while the hab.lties amounted to. £2Oll. It is proposed to take n vote of £50,000 for the current year. * TELEGRAPH EXTENSION The expenditure under this bead was £SO 101, which includes £14,016 for new exchanges and additions to existing exchanges The new exchanges opened Wellington district Pahiatua and Woodvffle; Dunedm district, Eden- ; dale, Lumsden. Ngapara R.vertor,, Wai- , kouaiti, and Wyndham. Trunk wires con- , necting the following exchanges have been | erected: -Wellington district, Marton and Wan'anui, Pahiatua and Palmerston : South Canterbury district Tinuin. an* pVrlie: Dunedin district, Invercargill and Wyndham. Invercargill and Riverton, main lireTnd Waikonaiti. Winton and Lumsden. Wyndham and Edendale. The to, al rnimber of subscribers at the end of the finandal year was 8210 The most import extensions to new districts ™^ A ™?V district. to Tangitcrovia Hov, icl to MoHiihi Island, Kaukapakapa to Makarau Ohaonwai to Pakraka, fcai m. to AwW; Wellington district Strathmore to Whangamomono, Green Meadows to Taradale and Meanee, Alfredton toPon-p-aroa, Rongatea to Glenomaru: Nelson district, Westport to Mokihinui mine ferry, wires at Haasfc and Arawata rivers ; Canterbury district, Christcburch to Port Levy 'Christchurch to Gebbies Flat. Waimat'e to Waihao Downs ; Dunedin district, Dunedin to Marawhenua. Georgetown to Ikawai. Georgetown to Bortons, Ranfurly to Wedderburn. Heriot to Dunrobin. Invercargill to Waimahaka, Riverton to Gummies Bush. Additional accommodation to

existing lines Las been provided by the erection of wires in , Auckland district, Auckland to Mahoemui, Wangarei to Kawakawa; Wellington district, Wanganui. to Mahoemui, Wellington to Dannevirke; Nelson district, Nelson to Blenheim, Beefton to Greymouth j Dunedin district, Lawrence to Clyde, Invercargill to Gore. ' The vote asked for this year is £40,489, and for new exchanges, additions to existing exchanges, additional wire accommodation, and extension to new districts.

PUBLIC BUILDINGS.

The expenditure upon public buildings again shows an increase over the previous year, though the increase was not large, being only £11,306, namely, £5937 under f the Public Works Fund, and £5359 under Consolidated Fund. The appropriations proposed for the current year amount to £254.000, namely, £46,759 under the Consolidated Fund, "and £207,250 under the Public Works Fund. "The principal works carried out last year, or provided for this year, are the general fitting up of the new library wing of the Parliamentary buildings, altering the buildings at Mount Cook to adapt them to «. Defence Depot, and sundry interior renovations, and sanitary improvements at the general departments were carried out under this head last year. The vote for the current year provides for the Mines, Agriculture, "and Public Health Departments, the acquisition of the land for some necessary additions to the departmental buildings in Auckland, completing alterations at Mount Cook defence depot, partial rebuilding of. departmental office at Napier, completion of fitting of new and of renovation of the old portion of the Parliamentary Buildings, and sundry works.

JUDICIAL. Courthouses.—New courthouses are in hand at Te Awamutu, Mangaweka, Collingwcod. Temuka, Hampden, Dunedin and the Bluff, and extensive renovations havebeen effected at Auckland, Hikurangi, Whakatane, Taupo and Wanganui. The principal works provided for in the vote for the current year are the completion of the new law courts at Dunedin, new magistrate's court at Wellington, new courthouses at Waihi, Opunake, Outrani, Gore and Orepuki, and additions, renovations or improvements at Ngaruawhia, Wairoa, Napier, Waipawa, Patea, Feilding, Palmerston North, Carterton, Westport, Kumara, Hokitika, Christchurch, Waimate, Oamaru, Lawrence, and Invercargill. Gaols.—The total expenditure under this head last year only amounted' to £1258, the principal work "in hand was the continuation of operations at the new gaol at Mount Eden. Auckland; with minor works at Napier, Wellington, and Dunedin. Provision is made in the current year's vote for continuing operations in Auckland, for additions to gaol building and new gaoler's house at Wellington, gaolers' houses at Westport, Dunedin, new warders' cottages at Lyttelton, and for a new gaol on a new site at Invercargill. Police Stations.—A large number of small works under the heading of police stations have been in hand, during the year, the principal items being as follows: New station at Hamilton West, Gisborne, Feilding, Westport, Arrowtowu, and Invercargill ; new quarters at New Rlymouth, Nelson, Queenstown and Bluff; purchase of land at Kaiapoi, and additions or extensive renovations a,t- Ngaruawahia, Gisborne, Spit, Inglewood, Mauaia, Waverley, Marton, Lower Hutt, Blenheim, Lyeil, Greymouth, Bangiora, Christchurch, Timaru and Winton. The principal works provided for this year are new cells, watchhouse, and quarters, at Auckland; additions at Mount Cook, Wellington, new stations at; Onehunga, Tologa Bay, Ormondville, Patea. Taihape, Akaroa, Waikouaiti, Dunedin (King street), Outram and Roxburgh; new quarters at Waipawa, Denniston, Timarn, and Oamaru, and additious or extensive renovations at Aratapu, Kawhia, Clive, Waitara, Stratford, Opunake, Hawera, Wanganui, Kimbolton, Hokitika, Cheviot, Sonthbridge, Lytelton, Ashburton. Glenavy, St. Bathans, Cromwell, Ophir and Lawrence. POST AND TELEGRAPHS.

New post offices were erected at Karangahake, Wereroa, Hamilton, Eketahuna, Masterton, Petone, Wellington (Newtown), Tnkaka, Sumrier, and Bluff. Land and buildings were purchased at Ponsonby and at Papanui, a new site at Inglewood, custodian's quarters built at Auckland, and extensive alterations and additions at Auckland, Otahuhu, Rotorua, Waioanu, Christchurch (Telephone Exchange), Clyde, Cromwell, Alexandra, and Roxburgh, and contributions towards new offices in railway stations were made at Clinton and Morven. In the vote for the current year provision is made for the commencement of the new Pacific station at Doubtless Bay, for new post offices at Dargaville, Aratapn, Paparoa, Onehimga, Mercer. Kawhia, Tolaga Bay, Gisborne, Spit, Weber, New Plymouth, Toko, Inglewood, Opunake, Wanganui, Raetihi, Havelock, Bulls, Feilding, Levin, Pongaroa, Alfredton, Carterton, Motueka, Denniston, Brunnerton, Haniner Springs, Ashburton, Temuka, Caversham, and Gore, for new. quarters at Tarawera, Kaikoura and Tapanui, and for additions, alterations, or extensions ; also for new sites and buildings at Wellington and Timaru.

LUNATIC ASYLUMS. The expenditure on new works was slightly in excess of the previous year's figures. The principal expenditure was again in connection with the Porirua Asylum, which absorbed £10,587. An expenditure of over £3OOO also took place on additions to the Auckland Asylum, and smaller amounts were spent at Wellington (Mount View), Nelson, Seacliff, etc. For the current year provision is made for completing the additions and renovations at Auckland, Dannevirke, Woodville, Hawera, Foxton, Picton, Blenheim, Renwicktown, Nelson, Collingwood, Westport, Greymouth, Hokitika, Christchurch, Lyttelton, Timaru, Oamaru, Dunedin (both telegraph and post offices), South Dunedin, and Invercargill, and for compensation that will be payable for the land taken for the enlargement of the General Post Office. CUSTOM HOUSES.

Only £875 was expended under this head, last year, principally in connection with additions to the Wanganui Customhouse. This year provision is made for completing this work, and work now in hand at Auckland and Nelson, for some necessary enlargements, and the completion of the electric light installation at Seacliff, and for minor works at Wellington, Hokitika and Sunnyside. SCHOOLS.

The amount voted for school buildings last year was £90,655. namely, £25,000 under the Consolidated Fund and £65,655 under the Public Works Fund. The expenditure amounted to £58,681, namely £25,000 under the former, and £33,681 under the latter fund. As in former years, the bulk of this money was entrusted to the Education Boards for expenditure, the only works directly controlled by the Government being the Industrial and the Native Schools and the School for Deaf Mutes, etc. Native schools were last year, or are now, in course of erection at Oromahoe, Omarumutu, Whareponga, Parewera. Kerepihi, Whakarewarewa, Tapueharuru, Tamaraaui, and Teharoto, and additions or repairs have been effected at Teahuahu, Poroti, Kaikohe, and Koromiti. This year we ask for a total vote of £85.000, namely, £25,000 under the Consolidated Fund, and £60,000 under the Public Works Fund. Provision is made for a commencement with the new school for deaf mutes, also a. home for weak-minded and epileptic children, and for the following works under the head of Industrial Schools, namely, completion of the alterations at Mount Albert (Auckland), clearing, draining, fencing, etc., on the new site at Levin, and for a commencement with the new building and additions, al- I terations, and furnishings at Teoranga, Christchurch, additional buildings at burnham, ar.d sundry furnishings at CaverSham ' MISCELLANEOUS. Provision is also made under the public buildins-s vote for erections required by the 'Wieuitural Department at Huntervi'le* ° Palmerston- North,. Carterton, Palmerstoa South, Roxburgh, and Invercarrnfl. In addition to the new laboratories in Wellincton. already referred to, ako_ for the following works under the head rtf hospitals and other charitable institutions, grants in aid to the Waihi. Wairoa. Napier. Picton. and other charitable institutions, grants m aid to the Waihi, Wairoa, Napier, Picton, and Grevmouth hospitals, for a cottage hospital at Kaikoura. for special warns for the treatment of delirium tremens cases at the four principal centres of population, and for a commencement, with the pronosed- sanatorium for consumptives. LIGHTHOUSES. HARBOUR WORKS, AND HARBOUR DEFENCES. The expenditure on new lighthouse work last year was very light. This year provision is made for the new light at Kaiourangi Point, for a commencement- with a new tower and providing a new lantern at Cape Campbell, and for connecting the principal lighthouses with the telegraph system. The expenditure on harbour -works was also rather light, the principal

items being Napier Spit protection, snogging the Manawatu and Little Wanganui rivers, and a new wharf afc Karnme. This year provision is made for new wharves at; Maungaturoto, Manakau, Oruaßay, Mokau, Paerawau, Bruce Bay, and Okuru ; for repairing and extending 'the wharf at Okarito ; :.lso for other necessary works at Oahanga, Waiaroa, Moutero, Moteuka, and Collingwood, and for continuing the Spit protection works at Napier, and the Sticking Point reclamation, works at Lyttelton. The expenditure under the head of harbour defences was also less than usual last year, but this year a much larger expenditure has been provided for, the amount proposed' for the same being £25,000. In the case of the vote for Contingent Defence also the expenditure fell below the amount for the previous year, but this year a larger vote is provided for, principally to meet the payments for the field batteries, submarine mining vessels and material ordered, which is expected to conio to charge during the year. CONCLUSION.

In allocating the amounts proposed for the several purposes, due consideration/ has been given to what I believe to bo the wishes of hon.' members, that the works should be proceeded with at n, re:i----1 sonable speed, and especially that the formation of roads to the baefi-blocks should be pushed forward, the work being done at a time when the best results may be obtained. Every consideration has "been given to the urgent requirements of the colony, and 1 have confidence that the result at the end of the year will give general satisfaction.

DEBATE RESUMED

Mr Thomas Mackenzie, in resuming the debate on the Teachers' Bill, regrettecf that the Government had not accepted the £4 2s 6d scale. The £4 scale was inadequate.

Mr Meredith, Mr Witheford, Mr Bennett, Mr Fisher, Mr Ell, Mr Monk, Mr ' Pirani, Mr Collins, asad Mr Gilfedder, also spoke.

The Premier, in the course of his reply, expressed very great pleasure at the manner in which the Bill had been received by the House. The difference between scale No. 1 and scale No. 2 a sum of £IO,BOO. He believed that the colony could afford that amount, and when they had had an experience of the workinr of the Act they would be able to see how they could best expend the money. In the past, whenever an Education Board was m financial difficulty teachers had to suffer, and were the victims of the Board's mismanagement or extravagance. Tin* BilJ would prevent that sort "of thing. He d xr " ot think there was much in Mr G W. Russell's contention that the Bill would tend to the multiplication of smller schools, because the Government had the power of limiting the building grant. There was nothing in the Bill to prevent Boards requiring any certificates they thought fit for the various positions. The second reading was agreed to on the voices, and the Bill set down for committal next day. The House rose at 1.35 a.m.