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1907. NEW ZEALAND.

PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT. BY THE HON. JAMES McGOWAN, ACTING MINISTER FOR PUBLIC WORKS, 8th NOVEMBER, 1907.

Mb. Speaker,— The somewhat serious indisposition of my esteemed colleague, the Hon. Mr. Hall-Jones, has, for a second time, imposed upon me the duty of administering the Public Works Department in his absence. After an especially strenuous year Mr. Hall-Jones was suddenly seized with serious illness in May last, and on the 12th July left New Zealand by the s.s. " Kaipara," on a health-seeking voyage round the world. Mr. Hall-Jones reached London on the 26th August, and the cable has advised us that his health has already improved. I am sure I am voicing the feelings of every member of the House in expressing the hope that the leave of absence which has been granted to him, and the temporary cessation from assiduous devotion to duty thereby insured, together with the entire change of scene and environment which his long journey will secure, may be the means of completely restoring him to his former health and vigour, and so enable him on his return to resume the duties of his high position, and to render the country many further years of faithful service. The year that I have to review has been one of marked progress. The total expenditure on all works and services borne upon the public-works estimates amounted to no less than £2,205,605, or, if we exclude special accounts having their own ways and means, and take into consideration only actual charges against the Public Works Fund, the total amounted to £2,040,319, which is the largest expenditure on such works for many years past. A very large amount of work has been accomplished, and my task this evening is to give an account of the same in as brief a manner as possible. i-D. 1.