D.—l

II

WAYS AND MEANS. At the 31st March, 1909, the available ways and means tor public-works purposes were . . ... ... ... ... £383,709 and further funds were received as under:— Balance of £1,250,000 raised under the Loan Act of 1908 ... 50,000 Amount received under similar Act of 1909 ... ... 900,000 Amount received under the Finance Act, 1909 ... ... 1,000,000 Amount received under the New Zealand Loans Act, 1908 ... 12,000 Miscellaneous receipts ... ... ... ... 2,833 Making a gross total 0f... ... ... £2,348,542 The ordinary expenditure of the year amounted to £1,993,171 ; debentures redeemed, £300; transfer to State Coal-mines Account in respect of the Greymonth - Point Elizabeth Railway, £24,990; other charges, £17,715: thus bringing the total disbursements up to £2,036,176, and leaving a credit balance at the end of the year of £312,366. For the current year it is proposed to provide additional funds as under: — £ Balance of 1909 loans ... ... ... ... 350,000 Under the Public Works and Land Settlement Act, 1910 ... 1,750,000 Under the Aid to Water-power Works Act, 1910 ... ... 500,000 Transfer from Consolidated Fund ... ... ... 800,000 Special provision for irrigation works (section 19, Appropriation Act, 1909) ... ... ... ... ... 100,000 The above, with the balance brought forward, gives a gross total of £3,81*2,866. The estimated expenditure for public works for the current year (excluding separate accounts having their own ways and means) amounts to £2,855,000, thus leaving a balance of £957,366 to be carried forward to next year. Honourable members will observe that the proposed transfer from the Consolidated Fund is larger than anticipated when the Budget was brought down, but the great improvement in the revenue that has since taken place has enabled the Minister of Finance to provide a larger measure of assistance than was originally considered possible. RAILWAY-CONSTRUCTION. The sections of railway opened for traffic during the last financial year, or since its close, are as under :— M. eh. Opened. Ruatapu to Ross ... ... 7 21 ... Ist April, 1909. Waihoaka to Tuatapere ... ... 8 7 ... Ist October, 1909. Riversdale to Waikaia ... ... 13 70 ... Ist October, 1909. Catlin's to Houipapa ... ... 2 30 ... 17th December, 1909. Towai to Hukerenui ... ... 4 31 ... 3rd May, 1910. Wellsford to Te Hana ... ... 3 27 ... 16th May, 1910. Huiroa to Te Wera ... ... 7 0 ... 20th June, 1910. Ngahere to Blackball ...* ... 3 40 ... 16th July, 1910. Domett to Mina ... ... 3 63 ... Ist August, 1910. Lawrence to Big Hill ... ... 7 37 ... Ready to open. Total ... ... 61 6 The total expenditure on railway-works last ypar amounted to £1.283,032. The particulars are as under: — c Construction of new lines ... ... ... ... 786,946 Additions to open lines ... ... ... ... 316,464 Huu Railway and Road Improvement Account ... ... 59,282 Railways Improvements Authorization Act Account... ... 81,249 Wellington and Manawatu Railway Purchase Account ... 39,991 Total ... ... ... ... ... £1,283,932 1 will now refer more in detail to the several railways that have been in hand, and the proposals of the Government in regard to new works for the current year. Kaihu Extension. The extension of the Kaihu Valley Railway to Waimawas sanctioned under the Railways Authorization and Management Act, 18!) 1, and on the supplementary estimates last year a vote of £2,500 was taken towards making a commencement with the work. It was found impossible to put actual construction-work in hand