PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT.

19

B.—No. 2a,

On Immigration we have spent ... ... ... ... 46,656 of which £21,000 was paid to some of the Provinces on account of Immigration as voted by the Legislature, and the balance has been applied to the Immigration that has already taken place and on expenditure incidental thereto. Greymouth Protective Works, Water Supply, Development of Coal Mines, and Eefunds of Stamp Duties ... ... ... 6,511 Departmental, including £7,184 for the Salaries and Expenses of Engineers attached to the various lines of road and railway throughout the Colony ... ... 16,610 644,273 And on the 30th June we had an unexpended balance of ... ... ... 75, 684 I think these facts cannot fail to satisfy the House, and the more so as reports of so very different a state of things have been industriously circulated. I will at present trouble the House with but little, as regards the year we have now entered upon. Some amendments in the Eublic Works and Immigration Act, and Railways Act, are required, and will be submitted at an early date. The Government has no new works of any magnitude to propose; on the contrary, we are of opinion that the Railways, and other Services already authorized by the Legislature, are as much as can with advantage be prudently undertaken at the present time. We believe that the Colony, though fully acquiescing in the necessity of the works authorized, is not prepared to approve of any considerable extensions until what is sanctioned has been given effect to and the result ascertained. We propose, therefore, to devote ourselves to carrying out the Railways and other works authorized with as much despatch as a due regard to economical administration will allow. We believe those works are as extensive as the labour now in the Colony, and expected shortly to arrive, will be able to carry out during the present year without undue interference with the existing industries of the country; but we look forward to the growth and increasing prosperity of the Colony requiring, at no distant date, an extension of undertakings so well calculated to develop its great resources.