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10

EOADS NOETH OF AUCKLAND, MAIN EOADS, MISCELLANEOUS EOADS AND BEIDGES, AND GEANTS-IN-AID. Eoads North of Auckland. For roads north of Auckland the loan allocation has for some time been practically exhausted. The total balance left on 31st March, 1888, was only £732. Of this amount £264 was expended during last financial year, and a vote is now asked for the remainder, £468. Main Eoads. For main roads the amount voted last year was £15,100, of which £10,968 was expended. For the present year, with liabilities at end of March last amounting to £7,380, we ask for a vote for £14,000. This will leave a balance on loan allocation for this class of works of only £4,676. It is obvious, therefore, that, if the colony is to continue to maintain these main roads, the necessary funds for the future must be obtained from the Consolidated Fund, or some other source. The roads which have been maintained under this heading are main roads running through counties where the Counties Act is not in force, or otherwise in sparsely inhabited districts. Miscellaneous Eoads and Bridges. For miscellaneous roads and bridges the amount voted last year was £34,604, of which £26,748 was expended. For the current year, with liabilities amounting to £21,232, we ask for a vote for £27,112. This will leave a balance on loan allocation of only £4,651. The principal items on which expenditure will take place during the year are : Eoads in the Bay of Plenty District; the Napier-Murimotu Eoad, a very important link in the arterial lines of the country ; the KaikouraClarence Eoad ; subsidy for bridge over the Clutha at Cromwell; and the open-ing-up of tracks in Milford and other Sounds, to afford visitors an opportunity of seeing something more of this wonderful country. Grants-in-aid, Including Boads under the Boads and Bridges Construction Act, Subsidies to Local Bodies under the Finance and Powers Act, and provision- for Work for Unemployed. Under the Boads and Bridges Construction Act. —The progress-payments claimed and paid last year, in pursuance of grants of old standing, amounted to £972, and for this year about £400 will be required for similar payments. Under the Local Bodies'' Finance and, Powers Act. —The amount advanced last year out of the Public Works Fund was ,£ll,BlO. For the present year only £147 is required to meet a small outstanding liability, as it is not intended to charge to the Public Works Fund any further advances under this Act. Work for Unemployed. —Under the heading of work for unemployed the amount expended last year was £14,631, mainly on road construction. For the current year, with liabilities amounting to £2,525, we ask for a vote for £8,000, to be devoted as far as possible to forming county roads, the work to be done by small contracts. The balance of loan allocation for expenditure in future years is £2,000. EOADS TO OPEN UP CEOWN LANDS BEFOEE SALE. For roads to open up Crown lands before sale the amount expended last year was £21,954. For the present year, with liabilities amounting to £25,434, we ask for a vote for £45,827. This is to cover the existing liabilities, and to undertake some new works in various parts of the colony. The balance of loan allocation which will thus be left for expenditure in future years is £15,731. The general results of last year's operations, together with the proposals for the ensuing year, will appear in the annual report on the surveys of the colony.