D.—l

XVI

attributable to the fact that when the votes were provided local bodies had not completed their arrangements for loans. An increased number of applications has been received this year for grants on this basis. It is unnecessary to detail all the various works carried out during the year, but they may be summarized as follows : — New dray-roads constructed.... .... .... 362 miles. Dray-roads metalled .... .... .... 195 „ Bridle-roads converted to dray-roads.... .... 127 „ New bridle-roads constructed .... .... 202 „ Engineering surveys made .... .... .... 445 „ Dray-roads maintained .... .... .... 1,940 „ Bridle-roads maintained .... .... .... 1,073 „ Bridges constructed, 20 ft. in length or over .... 149 Stock-bridges .... .... .... .... 72 Roads on Goldfields. The authorizations last year under this head were £86,795, on account of which a vote of £53,420 was taken. The vor,e was made up of a large number of quite small items. It is proposed to continue to assist local bodies by means of grants and subsidies towards the construction of roads and tracks to enable plant and stores to bo conveyed to mines in course of development, and also towards the construction of tracks in new localities so as to better enable prospecting operations to be carried on. Total Approphiations fob Road-wobks. Last year's appropriations were as under : — £ Roads, &c .... .... .... .... 312,545 Backblock roads ... .... .... .... 230,720 Roads on goldfields .... .... .... .... 53,420 Opening up Crown Lands for Settlement Account.... 100,000 National Endowment Account .... .... .... 15,935 Land for Settlements Account .... .... .... 20,865 New Hutt Road .... .... .... .... 20,000 Maintenance of roads (Consolidated Fund) .... 30,000 T0ta1.... .... .... .... £783,485 The provision for the current year is as under : — £ Roads, &c. .... .... .... .... 253,865 Backblock roads .... .... .... .... 296,135 Roads on goldfields .... .... .... .... 50,000 Opening up Crown Lands for Settlement Account 100,000 National Endowment Account .... .... .... 19,350 Land for Settlements Account .... .... .... 20,000 New Hutt Road .... .... .... .... 14,000 Maintenance of roads (Consolidated Fund) .... 35,000 T0ta1.... .... .... ....£788,350 DEVELOPMENT OF GOLDFIELDS. The mining industry maintains its position. The production of coal in New Zealand is steadily increasing, and affords an indication of the continual growth of our industrial enterprises. The extension of the Kumara Water-race is nearing completion, and it is anticipated that the water will be available for sluicing before the end of the financial year. The pipes have been successfully laid across the bed of the Teramakau River, and this is, L believe, the first instance of such a work being accomplished in the bed of so swiftly flowing a river as the Teramakau. The amount expended last financial year on the development of our goldfields was £10,845, and a vote of £25,000 is proposed for the current year.