D.—l.

The quantity of gold entered for export during 1903 was 533,314 oz., valued at £2,037,831, and of silver 911,9140z., valued at £91,497; as compared with 508,045 oz. of gold, valued at £1,951,433, and of silver 674,196 oz., valued at £71,975, for 1902 ; being an increase of 25,269 oz. of gold, valued at £86,398, and 237,718 oz. of silver, valued at £19,522. The amount expended last financial year on works for the development of the goldfields was £16,278, while the liabilities at the close of the year amounted to £2,039. It is proposed to take a vote of £14,000 for the current year. TOURIST AND HEALTH RESORTS. The expenditure under this heading during the year amounted to £15,643, a large portion of which was spent in and around Rotorua. Other items included the purchase of Glade House (Lake Te Anau), and improvements at Hanmer and Queenstown. This year important improvements at Hanmer, Te Aroha, Waikaremoana, and Rotorua have to be provided for, as well as for the enlargement of Pukaki House, and Glade House, Te Anau. Provision is also made for the oil-launches purchased to meet the increased traffic on Lakes Tarawera and Rotomahana. The gross authorisation asked for amounts to £26,648, on account of which a vote of £25,000 is proposed. TELEGRAPH-EXTENSION. The expenditure on telegraph-extension during the year amounted to £47,227. The more important telegraph and telephone lines constructed were Ngaruawahia-Waingaro, Gladstone-Te Wharau, Martinborough-Pahaoa, Tai-hape-Ruanui, Pelorus, Kurow-Omarama, Clinton-Balclutha, Mokihinui-Kara-mea, and Wellington-New Plymouth. There were 1,472 new subscribers to the telephone exchanges, the expenditure on which absorbed the greater proportion of the vote. The amount allocated for this year is £60,000, including £43,877 liabilities. This leaves only £16,123 for new work not already authorised. PUBLIC BUILDINGS. The total expenditure on public buildings last year amounted to £268,533 — namely, £29,526 on school buildings and £22,815 on other buildings, both out of the Consolidated Fund, and £216,192 out of the Public Works Fund. For the current year votes totalling £25,075 under the Consolidated Fund (in addition to the vote for school buildings, which has now been placed under Class XIII., Minister of Education) and £177,000 under the Public Works Fund are proposed; and in all probability a further sum will be asked for on the supplementary estimates. General. Under this head the expenditure amounted to £11,566, the principal items being the new Departmental Buildings at Napier and the offices and laboratory for the Mines Department at Wellington. For the current year a vote of £9,000 is asked for, which provides for the completion of the offices and laboratory for the Mines Department, Wellington, offices for the Defence Department at the Alexandra Depot, Wellington, the completion of the first portion of the new Departmental Buildings, Napier, and for making a commencement with the proposed similar buildings at Auckland, &c. Judicial. Courthouses. —A new Courthouse was erected at Levin and a new Magistrate's Court at Wellington. Besides these, additions or somewhat extensive renovations were made at Rawene, Ormondville, Manaia, Wellington (Supreme Court), and Westport.

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