d.—i

III

For the current year it is proposed to provide additional funds as under :— £ Balance of authorized loan-moneys .. .. 1,476,100 Proposed new loan .. .. .. .. 2,000,000 The above, with the balance brought forward, gives a gross total of £4,171,862. The estimated expenditure for public works for the current year (excluding separate accounts having their own ways and means) amounts to £2,803,550, leaving an estimated balance of # £1,368,312 to be carried forward to next year (1916-17). In addition to the above we have authority to raise, outside the Public Works Fund, the undermentioned sums :— £ Under the Aid to Water-power Works Act, 1910 . . 245,000 Under the Irrigation and Water-supply Act, 1913 . . 29,900 Under the Waihou and Ohinemuri Eivers Improvement Act, 1910 .. .. .. ..50,000 RAILWA Y-( IONSTRUCTION. The following sections of railway were completed and opened for traffic during the last financial year :— Otiria to Kaikohe .. .. 16 25 . . May, 1914. Kaihu to Tarawhati . . 2 35 .. June, 1914. Cronadun to Inangahua .. 13 0 .. June, 1914. Cass to Arthur's Pass . . 14 65 . . July, 1914. Pohokura to Whangamomona 6 13 . . July, 1914. Kaiwaka to Otamatea . . 2 45 . . August, 1914. Otoko to Matawai .. . . 12 50 . . November, 1914. Big Hill to Beaumont . . 5 36 . . December, 1914. Houipapa to Tahakopa .. 17 56 . . February, 1915. Total .. ..91 5 The following lengths are practically completed, but have not yet been handed over to the Railway authorities for traffic :— Otamatea to Maungaturoto .. . . .. 4 10 Maunganui to Te Puke .. .. .. 13 4 Mount Egmont Branch . . . . . . 2 77 Whangamomona to Kohuratahi . . .. . . 4 54 Ward to Mills' .. .. .. .. 7 76 The total expenditure on railway-construction and improvement work during last financial year amounted to £1,155,776, as under : — £ Construction of new lines .. . . .. . . 646,878 Additions to open lines .. . . .. . . 499,875 Railways Improvement Account . . .. .. 9,023 Kaihu Valley Extension. In November last construction-work was commenced on the extension from Tarawhati Station to the proposed terminus at Donnelly's Crossing, four miles and a half in length. Heavy work on the first mile is almost finished, and the balance, being lighter formation, will probably be completed during the current year. A temporary service line has been laid to a quarry near Tarawhati, where metal for ballast and concrete culverts is being crushed. Kawakawa-Hokianoa. Formation-work has been completed for two miles and a half beyond Kaikohe, and the next 60 chains, which includes the Tahuna Tunnel, 7 chains long, is being carried out under contract. Progress on this length is rather slow, and will delay the laying of rails up to and beyond the tunnel. Formation is in progress up to a point four miles and a half from Kaikohe, and the line has been located and pegged