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more favourable indications are now in evidence it is hoped that better progress will in future be made towards the completion of the tunnel, of which about 15 chains still remain to be bored. The expenditure last year on railway-duplication and contingent works was £30,245, principally on the Dunedin-Mosgiel line. On the Main Trunk line between Wellington and Auckland considerable work has been done in the direction of improving the grades in the vicinity of Buckland, Tuakau, and Pukekohe. The cost of grade-improvements on the North Island Main Trunk line was £33,031. The work of reclaiming land at Mechanic's Bay, Auckland, for use as a site for the new station-yard is in hand, and the sum of £11,337 has already been paid to the Auckland Harbour Board in respect thereof. The amount proposed to be voted for the current year on account of " Additions to open lines " is £500,000, of which sum £800,000 is for new rolling-stock and workshops machinery, and £200,000 for various new works. A vote of £40,000 is asked for on account of the Dunedin-Mosgiel deviation. EOADB AND BEIDGES. The provision made on last -year's appropriations for road and bridge works under all votes and accounts (including the Consolidated Fund vote for maintenance) amounted to £746,950. The total amount authorized for expenditure during the financial year, including the unexpended balance of authorities brought forward at the 31st March, 1912, amounted to £845,248. The total expenditure for the year amounted, however, to only £468,972, leaving an unexpended balance of authorities amounting to £376,276 at 31st March last. Between the Ist April and 30th September a further £337,378 was authorized, and expenditure to the extent of £231,605 was brought to charge. The large amount of money which has been standing as authorized for expenditure, compared with the actual disbursements, indicates that the temporary restriction placed upon the authorization of new votes after the close of last session had but little effect on the expenditure. In my last Statement I expressed the opinion that it was almost impossible, under the existing conditions, to expend within any year the amount of money voted for that year for road and bridge works. The experience gained during the past twelve months has confirmed me in this opinion. Last year I referred to the disinclination of local bodies to make satisfactory provision for the maintenance of main roads. In localities where the main road passes through unoccupied Crown lands, sparsely settled districts, or Native lands, whence little or no revenue in the way of rates can be collected, such a feeling is to a great extent justified. All main roads, however, do not come under the above category, nor will it be an easy matter to define what constitutes a main road. I hope, however, during the recess to find a satisfactory solution of this problem, as also to the equally abstruse one of improving the present method of distributing grants for roads and bridges. Roads on Goldfields (Mines Department). The total authorizations under this head last year amounted to £74,416, on account of which'a vote of £50,6001 was taken. The expenditure during the year was £36,761. The sum proposed to be authorized for the current year is £65,743, on account of which a vote of £50,000 is asked for. Total Appropriations for Roadworks. Last year's appropriations Were as under : — £ Roads, &c. .. .. .. . . .. 328,275 Backblock roads .. .. .. .. r 201,575 Roads on goldfields .. . . .. .. 50,600 Opening up Crown Lands for Settlement Account .. 100,000 National Endowment Account .. .. .. 19,200 New Hutt Road .. .. .. .. 5,300 Maintenance of roads (Consolidated Fund) .. .. 42,000 Total .. ~ .. .. £746,950