D.—l

1st January, 1891, and 31st March, 1902, (c) the gross total expenditure to 31st March, 1902, and (d) the expenditure for the late financial year: —

From this table it will be apparent that the present Government, while •fully alive to the needs of the colony in the important matters of railwayextension and providing suitable and convenient buildings for the use of the several Departments and services of the State, has lent a particularly attentive ear to the requests of the back-block settlers for roads and bridges to open up the rural districts of the colony, the expenditure on works of the character referred to during, the rather more than eleven years' term of office of the present Administration having exceeded the rate of expenditure previously prevailing by over 17 per cent., notwithstanding that the total expenditure on public works of all classes during the same period shows a decline of over 37 per cent. WAYS AND MEANS AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC WORKS PURPOSES. At the 31st March, 1901, the ways and means of the Public Works Fund amounted to £1,032,515, and further sums were provided as under : — £ Of the loan of 1901 (£1,250,000) the amount received was ... 1,062,667 . Transferred from revenue ... ... ... ... ... 500,000 There were also miscellaneous receipts to the amount of £2,129, thus making a gross total of £2,597,311. The expenditure last year amounted to £2,143,252, so that at the close of the year the balance remaining was £454,059; and it is proposed to provide additional funds as follows:— £ Balance of 1901 loan, less cost of raising, say ... ... .. 99,333 New loan, 1902 ... ... ... ... ... ... 1,750,000 Further transfer from revenue ... ... ... ... 200,000 This will bring our total ways and means up to £2,503,392. The estimates of expenditure for the current year total to £2,193,052 (in addition to £45,000 under the Government Loans to Local Bodies Account), thus leaving an unallocated balance of £310,340. • RAILWAYS UNDER CONSTRUCTION. Before detailing the various works that have been in hand, a few words in reference to the amount that is being spent on railway-construction in New Zealand, as compared with some of the other colonies, may not be out of place. I believe a feeling exists in the minds of some persons that we have gone, or

II

Expe: liture. Class of Work. Total to 31st December, 1890. 1st January, 1891, to 31st March, 1902. Total to 31st March, 1902. Year ended 31st March, 1902. Eailways, including additions to open lines Boads Public buildings Immigration Purchase of Native lands Lighthouses, harbour-works, and harbour defences Tourist and health resorts Telegraph extension ... Development of goldfields Defence-works (general) Departmental Minor works and services Cost and discount, raising loans, &c. £ 14,067,100 3,575,804 1,776,003 2,144,386 1,191,137 880,095 £ 4,434,867 2,390,405 879,247 3,473 792,094 97,677 £ 18,501,967 5,966,209 2,655,250 2,147,859 1,983,231 977,772 £ 1,333,941 402,260 145,600 140 18,262 12,159 600,849 561,101 429,720 349,789 300,689 1,021,472 11,260 337,038 140,576 267,116 127,298 9,785 41,919 11,260 937,887 701,677 696,836 477,087 310,474 1,063,391 11,260 31,729 15,325 146,876 17,770 2,311 5,620 Totals ... 26,898,145 9,532,755 36,430,900 2,143,253