D.—.l

VI

have charge of the construction and maintenance of roads, public buildings, lighthouses, harbour works, and defence works. PUBLIC WOEKS FUND. The following table shows the state of the Public Works Fund on 31st March last, inclusive of a small asset of £80 due to Part I. under " The Government Loans to Local Bodies Act, 1886 " —

It will be observed that the receipts during the year on Part I. more than met the expenditure, so that that part of the Fund was actually in a better position, to the extent of £4,867, at the close of the year than it was at the beginning, and the Public Works Fund as a whole was only £47,726 less at the end of the year than it was at the commencement, and this notwithstanding an expenditure during the year of £407,787 The receipts under Part I. consisted of £250,000 transferred from the Consolidated Fund, £54,681 of released sinking funds, £8,368 miscellaneous receipts, and £47,000 of Kaihu Valley Eailway debentures, entered on both sides of the account, as explained in the Financial Statement. LANDS IMPEOVEMENT AND NATIVE LANDS PUECHASE ACCOUNTS. The expenditure on the Lands Improvement Account during the year amounted to £89,207, leaving a balance of £160,793 to the credit of that account at the close of the year On the Native Lands Purchase Account the expenditure was £101,009, leaving a balance at the end of the year of £198,991, inclusive of the fifty thousand pounds' worth of debentures issued under " The Native Land Purchases Act, 1892." TOTAL EXPENDITUEE EOE THE YEAE. The total expenditure on public works and purchase of Native lands during the year, exclusive of the £48,000 entered against the Kaihu Valley Eailway, but in respect of which there was no disbursement of cash, amounted to £550,003, namely: — Public Works Fund, Part I. £307,182 Public Works Fund, Part 11. 52,605 Lands Improvement Account 89,207 Native Lands Purchase Account 101,009 £550,003 TOTAL WAYS AND MEANS AVAILABLE. In addition to the balances already mentioned we shall have the £150,000 proposed to be transferred from the Consolidated Fund, £50,0000 under " The Native Land Purchases Act, 1892," and about £22,000 from miscellaneous credits. The total ways and means available for public works purposes and Native land purchases this year will therefore be as follows : —

Parts of Fund. Planer *»° \ 31st March, {"JJ 1894. MWMIfc Totals. Expenditure,; Balances Year ended I remaining, 31st March, 31st March, 1895. 1890. Liabilities existing, 31st March, 1895. Net Balances available, 31st March, 1895. 'art I. 'art II. I £ £ £ 263,738 360,049 j 623,787 79 197 j 12 | 79,209 342,935 ' 360,061 ' 702,996 I I £ £ 355,182 i 268,605 52,605 ■ 26,604 £ 229,076 14,097 £ 39,529 12,507 Totals 407 787 295,209 243,173 52,036