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take the line to Featherston, leaving twenty-four miles between that town and Masterton unprovided for; and although that length cannot be undertaken before the year 1877, still they consider that a vote should now be taken to complete it, and they will accordingly ask for £120,000 for that purpose. There is also the terminus at Wellington to be provided for. This, including the reclamation, will cost £35,000, and a Railway wharf must be built, the estimated cost of which is £25,000. In addition to these amounts, there is a vote of £5,000 required for a small workshop, immediately wanted. It is proposed to build this in such a manner as to be capable of easy extension. To complete the line inland from the Waitara to the township of Inglewood will require an appropriation of £35,000. Seeing Iloav rapidly the settlement of this district is proceeding, the Government will ask for a vote to that amount. The Government hope to be in a position to submit to the Assembly at its next Session estimates of the cost of completing the portions of the Main Trunk Railway through the North Island between Wanganui and Taranaki, and Masterton and Manawatu and Napier. Survey parties are now engaged on these routes, and although the cost of completing these railways Avill be very large, still the Government are satisfied there will be no difficulty in raising the necessary funds when the railways now in hand are finished and the extension can be undertaken with economy. The Westport and Mount Rochfort Railway is now so far progressed that provision must at once be made for shipping coal and protective works; and the amount originally estimated by the Engineer-in-Chief will be asked for—£3o,soo. The plans for this work are already prepared. At Port Chalmers a new passenger station is absolutely essential, and will cost £10,000. This sum includes the refund of the cost of the reclamation undertaken and completed by the province. The only other vote it is proposed to ask for is for the workshops at Dunedin. There has been already expended on these shops about £9,000, but before they are completed, with all the necessary sidings, they will cost the same as those in Auckland, viz. £15,000. I promised last year that a survey should be made if possible to enable the Government to decide which Avas the best route for a railway to join the East and West Coast of the Middle Island. The Engineer-in-Chief was fortunate in securing the services of Mr. Foy, an engineer of considerable experience for this service. He has traversed a great extent of country during the recess, and has furnished data sufficient to enable the Engineer-in-Chief to express an opinion that the best route for a railway from the West to the East Coast, north of Hokitika, is from Greymouth via the River Ahaura to the Tutaikurae, over the Hope Pass, thence along the Hope and the Waiau-au to where that river would be crossed by the extension northwards of the main trunk line. I shall in a few days lay upon the Table a full report on all the lines traversed in this direction, as also on two routes which have been traversed from Amberley northwards to Blenheim via Jollies' Pass. The two last-named routes are through very rough country, and in which it would be very inexpedient to attempt to construct a railway at the present time. It is proposed to have the alternative route by the East Coast surveyed as soon as the department is in a position to undertake it. Then the Government will be in a position to come to some conclusion on the subject, but at present they are not able to recommend any action in this matter to the Assembly. In concluding this Statement, the House will no doubt wish to be informed, in few words, of the expenditure on the principal Public Works up to the end of the year just terminated. During the past year the expenditure on Roads has been £123,958 15s. Bd., in addition to a total expenditure to 30th June, 1874, of £508,787 16s. 4d.; on Railways the expenditure for the year has been £1,997,165 3s. 9d., in addition to £1,994,256 10s. sd. previously ; and on Water Races there has been £113,335 18s. 2d. expended, in addition to £101,352 18s. 3d.: the total expenditure to the 30th June last for each of the above class of Works being,