VII

D.—l

Nelson and Wairau to Aniuri and the South.' —Turning to the South Island, considerable progress has been made with the road from the Tophouse through the Upper Wairau Valley to Tarndale, on the way to the Amuri; and, so soon as the outstanding contract for improvements in the Wairau Gorge is completed, wheeled vehicles will be able, for the first time, to travel from Nelson, Picton, and Blenheim, to the Bluff and Riverton, in the extreme south. The road is now open from Tarndale southwards, although still interrupted by some unbridged rivers of considerable magnitude. Pelorus Valley, Nelson, to Picton and Blenheim, by the Bai Valley. —Of this road fourteen miles and a-quarter are being formed and graveled, and will shortly be finished. The Wakamarina and Kaituna Bridges are finished. Twenty miles, including the Rai Valley Road, remain to complete a carriage road between the Nelson and Wairau Districts. Nelson and Buller Valley. — Two contracts for forming and graveling on the Nelson and Buller Valley Road will complete the communication for vehicles between Nelson and the West Coast. It is expected this work will be finished during the present month. It will not, without further expenditure, be a high-class road; in particular, the Matiri and Owen Rivers and Granite Creek require bridging. Bee/ton-Grey mouth. — The bridge over the Inangahua at Reefton is nearly finished. It has five spans of 60 and four of 15 feet. • Saast Pass Bridle-track. — This track is open, and communication exists between the Lake Wanaka District (Otago) and Westland. Some inconsiderable works are still required to finish the line satisfactorily. Christchurch-Hokitika. —Considerable work has been necessary to repair damages by flood on this road, and to place parts of it in more security against future casualties of this kind. HARBOUR WORKS. The great works authorized under this head being almost all under the direction of Local Boards, the only important expenditure that comes within the scope of the present Statement is that for the improvement of the river at Greymouth. These operations are being carried out on the plans of Sir John Coode, are progressing satisfactorily, and have already had a beneficial effect on the channel. The training-wall has been extended to a total length of 924 feet, the greater portion of this having been done during the year. The wall has perfectly resisted the heavy seas and floods. A new and larger dredge, constructed by Messrs. Kincaid, McQueen, and Co., of Dunedin, and put together by them at Greymouth, is nearly finished. The entrance to the lagoon has been enlarged and bridged during the year. Tables furnished by the Harbour Masters at Westport and Greymouth show an average improvement of depth on the bars of these rivers of 1 foot and 9 inches respectively. The increase in the former case is due to the operation of natural causes : it is proposed to incur some expenditure with a view to secure the permanency of this improvement. LIGHTHOUSES. Cape Fgmont. —The lighthouse removed from Mana Island has been reerected at Cape Egmont, and was put in action on the Ist August. I may fairly congratulate the House on the completion of a work which has been long urgently required, but which for political reasons it would have been imprudent to undertake at an earlier date. COAL FIELDS. The operations of the Department of Public Works affecting this important industry have been limited to the construction of the railway lines, already referred to under another head, and to the adoption of New Zealand coal as fuel in their working. The inspection of the mines, with a view to the security of the miners, is actively carried on, needful precautions being enforced, and suggestions for more systematic working being made. Thoroughly effective and economical mining can only be expected when the development of the mines has advanced