15

D.—l

to say to it, but has consented to assume control of the maintenance for the reason that the Counties Act is not in force in the district through which it passes, and because the numerous Road Boards concerned have never been able to agree amongst themselves as to what proportion each should bear in the cost of the maintenance. These local bodies, however, are continually urging that the tolls should be taken off, but it is manifest that this cannot be done until they either arrange to take over the control themselves, or else subscribe amongst them the necessary funds for the maintenance in lieu of the tolls. The amount which it is necessary to contribute towards the Seventy-Mile Bush Eoad this year will be much less than last year, in consequence of the advance of settlement along it, and the shorter distance which has to be maintained owing to the extension of the railways, and it is hoped that after this year the contributions from General Government funds may cease altogether. Middle Island.—The chief road-works in the Middle Island have been the completion of the road from Blenheim to Nelson via the Pelorus Valley and Rai Saddle, and various improvements in the road from Nelson to Westport and Greymouth; also the construction of the Kaikoura to Waiau Eoad, length about 30 miles, which is well in hand. A survey has also been made for a road from Kaikoura to the Clarence, and the works along this distance will soon be put in hand. The bridge over the Clarence is now well advanced towards completion, and we may therefore shortly expect to have completed a coach-road throughout from the Waiau Township to the north side of the Clarence Kiver, and thus get rid of a long-standing obstruction to the progress of settlement between North Canterbury and Blenheim. Bridges are also in progress over the Taipo Eiver on the road from Christchurch to Hokitika, the Taieri Eiver in Otago, and the Clutha Eiver at Beaumont and Eoxburgh, also in Otago. In the case of the Beaumont Bridge, as in the case of the Wingatui Viaduct, which I have already alluded to, the plans of the superstructure, as originally prepared, would have entailed the work being ordered from England, but I have had these plans altered similarly, so as to admit of the work being done in the colony. A contract has also been let for the construction of a bridge over the Waiau Eiver at the Hanmer Plains, and this will supply a want which has long been felt in the shape of a safe road to the thermal springs near Jollies Pass, as we'll as to the whole of the interior of the Nelson and Marlborough Districts. The Hanmer Plains springs, the curative properties of which are well known, have been almost inaccessible hitherto, in consequence of the dangerous nature of the ford over the Waiau. When the railway is opened to the Eed Post the coach journey to the springs will be reduced to about 24 miles, and there is every reason to expect that this sanitorium will then be largely patronized by persons in the South who cannot afford the expense of going to Eotorua, or other similar springs in the North Island. The bridge, which is almost entirely iron-work, is being manufactured in the colony. EOADS TO OPEN UP CEOWN LANDS BEEOEE SALE. On these works, which are under the control of my colleague the Minister of Lands, the expenditure during the last financial year has been £49,314, and the liabilities at end of March last amounted to £70,072. The individual works done and in progress are so numerous that I cannot conveniently describe them in detail, but they will be found fully recited in Table No. 4 attached to this statement; and from that table honourable members will, I think, be enabled to realize that a fair amount of attention is being given to the opening-up of lands for settlement in all parts of the colony. There are still, however, many millions of acres of Crown land to be opened up, so that a large amount of work of this class will require to be done for many years to come. The expenditure during present financial year is expected to reach about the amount of the liabilities existing in March last, namely, the sum of £70,072, and that is all that it is proposed to ask for as a vote; but, in addi-