E.—3

10

against the vote of £400,000. This has to be credited with the sum of £12,000, which has been expended for benefit of confiscated lands in various provinces. At the end of the year 1872-73 there were 1,141 miles of dray roads opened and in progress, and of horse roads a total length of 470 miles; and on 30th June last there were 1,188 miles of dray roads opened or in progress, and a total length of horse roads of 526 miles constructed at a total expenditure, including all liabilities, of £425,149 4s. 7d. On these roads, besides a very large number of culverts, there are completed 134 bridges, of spans exceeding 30 feet, of a total length of 11,358 feet, and 182 bridges of smaller spans of a total length of 2,874 feet, or 14,232 lineal feet in all. ROADS—NELSON SOUTH-WEST GOLD FIELDS AND WESTLAND. Last year I had to state that 33^ miles of metalled roads had been completed, and 9 miles made passable for heavy traffic. During the year ending 30th June, 1874, this mileage of metalled roads completed has been brought up to 66 miles, and horse roads to 36 miles. In Westland there are completed 50 miles of dray roads, and in course of construction 104 miles of horse roads. The bridges on the last two named roads number 36, and measure in all 2,318 lineal feet. The amount expended on these roads is £130,679 Bs. 3d., and the liabilities are £14,006 Is. 6d. GOLD FIELDS WATEE SUPPLY. I now come to the Water Supply on the Gold Fields. When alluding to this subject last year, I felt convinced that in some instances the amounts of the estimated cost of the works which the Government had undertaken were much under-estimated, and in almost every instance this has proved to be the case. The estimates for these works were for the most part based on information supplied by the Provincial authorities, and a reference to the table accompanying this Statement will show that the whole amount of £300,000 authorized to be spent in works of this nature is already spent, or liabilities incurred which will absorb it. The great increases are on the Waimea, Nelson's Creek, and Thames Races. The Provincial Government of Otago have superintended the carrying out of the Mount Ida Water Race and Sludge Channel. This forms a notable exception, inasmuch as it was the only one in reference to which we had anything approaching a reliable estimate, and it will be completed at a cost very little in excess. The Government do not propose to undertake any further works of this nature till time has proved how far those now in hand have succeeded. £ s. d. The Amount expended is ... ... 95,937 2 0 And the Liabilities are ... ... 201,454 13 10

And there were liabilities on 30th In Province of Auckland „ Taranaki „ Hawke's Bay „ Wellington ... l June, 1 .874,— 22,851 14 6,787 2 6,771 15 20,107 14 3 0 0 0 Total £56,518 5 :; hich makes the acccmnt stand, — Total expended ... Total liabilities ... 368,630 19 56,518 5 4 3 Total £425,149 4 7