D.—l

IV

The actual net expenditure on all works and services charge- £ £ able on the Public Works Fund for the year was— (a.) Under appropriations .. .. •• 3,140,574 b.) Under section 6, subsection (1), of the Ellesmere Land Drainage Act, 1905 .. .. 439 (c.) For charges and expenses of raising loans .. 184 Making a total of .. ... •• 3,141,197 This left a credit balance in the Ways and Means Account at the 31st March, 1921, of 489,489 Legislative authority exists for providing further funds as follows : — In terms of — (a.) Finance Act, 1920 (balance) .. .. 560,000 (b.) ! Finance Act, 1921 .. .. •• 2,500,000 It is proposed to make further provision this session for an additional 5,000,000 8,060,000 Making available for the current year a total of £8,549,489 The estimated expenditure on public works for the current year (exclusive of accounts which have their own ways and means) is £5,490,080, which will leave a credit balance of £3,059,409 to be carried forward to next year (1922-23). Exclusive of the before-mentioned funds, statutory authority at present exists for raising the following moneys for public undertakings which are not chargeable against the Public Works Fund, but which have their own statutory ways and means, viz. : —■ {a.) Aid to Water-power Works Act, 1910 .. .. .. 31,000 (6.) Finance Act, 1919 (addition for Waihou and Ohinemuri Rivers Improvement Account) .. .. .. 82,000 (c.) Electric-power Works Loan, 1919 .. .. 5,442,490 (d ) Finance Act, 1920, section 15 (electric-power works) 3,500,000 V ; 8,942,490 £9,055,490 KAILWAY-CONSTBUCTION. Three sections of completely constructed lines were handed over to the New Zealand Railways Department for ordinary traffic during the year, viz. :— Huarau to Maungaturoto .. .. 2 miles 5 chains. Maungaturoto to Ranganui .. ... 4 „ 25 „ Kioreroa to Portland .. .. .. 5 „ 23 ~ Total .. .. .. 11 „ 53 „ Several other sections were sufficiently advanced to admit of goods and passengers being carried, a convenience that has been greatly appreciated not only by settlers but by the travelling public. This is particularly the case at Tauranga, where both passenger and goods traffic are carried to a regular timetable on a length of over forty miles. The total net expenditure on construction, improvement, and maintenance for the year amounted to £1,428,544, as follows :— Construction of new lines .. .. • • 944,150 Additions to open lines .. .. •• •• 421,316 Railways Improvement Authorization Act 1914 Account .. .. .. •• ■• 63,078 Total £1,428,544