D.—l

II

Notwithstanding the somewhat increased funds available, I regret that I have still been unable to make provision this year for all the projected new railways and extensions of existing lines that have been petitioned for from time to time. I have only been able to provide for about one-fourth of these works, being those that are most urgently required, or which will be immediately reproductive. While admitting that there is every probability of some of the lines unprovided for ultimately earning interest on their cost, it would nevertheless not be prudent to commence their construction until some of those now in hand have been completed. Reference is made later on to the more important of these proposals. AVAILABLE WAYS AND MEANS FOE PUBLIC-WOEKS PUEPOSES. On 31st March, 1898, the available balance of ways and means for publicworks purposes was .£326,492. Further funds were provided last session as follows:— Under the Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement Acts Amend- £ ment Act ... ... .. ... ... ... 500,000 Transferred from the Consolidated Fund ... ... ... 425,000 Sinking funds released ... ... ... ... ... 43,360 Miscellaneous receipts ... ... ... ... ... 2,330 Thus making a gross total of available ways and means of £1,297,182. The expenditure amounted to £916,327, which left a balance of £380,855 at the end of the year. Against this there were liabilities amounting to £446,283. It is now proposed to raise additional funds as under : — £ For railway construction ... ... ... ... ... 300,000 „ additions to open railways ... ... ... ... 225,000 „ roads to Crown and Native lands and main roads ... ... 150,000 „ roads to back-block settlements ... ... ... ... 150,000 „ permanent works on goldfields ... ... ... ... 50,000 „ public and technical school buildings ... ... ... 50,000 „ purchase of Native lands ... .... ... ... 50,000 „ contingent harbour defence ... ... ... ... 25,000 Total ... ... ... ... ... ... £1,000,000 It is also proposed to transfer from the Consolidated Fund a further sum of £450,000, making altogether a gross total of available ways and means of £1,830,855. The estimates of expenditure for the current year total to £1,355,098, of which £1,308,025 will be a charge against the Public "Works Fund, and the balance against the Government Loans to Local Bodies Account, leaving an unallocated balance of ways and means for public - works purposes of £522,830. It must, however, be borne in mind that the date of the appropriations will probably limit the actual expendituie to about the same amount as last year, and the balance available for next year will therefore be greater than the £522,830 unallocated. It is also hoped that there will be a surplus on the Consolidated Fund this year, out of which another grant can # be made to the Public Works Fund, which, together with the unexpended balance available under the latter fund, will be sufficient to meet the actual expenditure under that fund to 31st March, 1901. What steps should then be taken to obtain further w 7 ays and means for public works purposes must be left for the next parliament to consider. TOTAL PUBLIC WOEKS EXPENDITUEE. The following table shows, in parallel columns, the total expenditure on all works and services throughout the colony out of the Public Works Fund up to 31st December, 1890, and also up to 31st March last:—