D.—l

20

column, in order to keep the works going on during next year, so that the Government would be authorized in having liabilities at the end of this financial year, or shortly afterwards, reaching up to the amount of the difference between the first and second columns, in addition to expending during the current year the amount in the first column. Thus, the figures in the second column represent the full measure of the authorities which would be given to the Government for all purposes, while the figures in the first column represent the portions of the amounts so authorized which the Government would be warranted in expending on each class of work during the current year. If this arrangement is agreed to, it should also be placed properly on record; and I would, therefore, propose that the Public Works Estimates, after revision by the House, should be bound up with the Appropriations, as is, I believe, already the custom in some of the adjoining colonies. The adoption of the system which I have here advocated would also do away with the present anomaly that, while over a series of years we have voted hundreds of thousands of pounds for some works, we have in reality only expended tens of thousands on those works, but have expended close up to the full amount voted on other works. The preparation of the Estimates in this new form has taken rather more time than if I had adhered to the old plan, and has given me a great deal of personal trouble, as the amounts required for expenditure during the year had to be very carefully considered, but if I have succeeded in meeting the wishes of the House in this particular I shall not at all regret the labour I have devoted to it. The amounts which we propose to ask the House to vote for expenditure during the current year are as follows :— For Immigration, with liabilities at the end of March last amounting to £7,000, we ask for a vote of £19,200. For Departmental Expenditure, with liabilities of £719, we ask for a vote of £28,000. For Eailway works of all classes, with liabilities of £387,592, we ask for a vote of £709,400, the details for the several classes of works being as follows: New works, Construction and Land, with liabilities of £224,113; amount asked for, £463,400. Additions to Opened Lines, with liabilities of £50,160; amount asked for, £93,000. Permanent-way, Sleepers, and Boiling-stock, with liabilities of £112,072; amount asked for, £150,000. Surveys of New Lines of Eailway, with liabilities of £1,247; amount asked for, £3,000. For Eoads of all classes, with liabilities of £254,350, we ask for a vote of £327,600. This includes various classes of roads, as follows: Eoads North of Auckland, with liabilities of £32,147 ; amount asked for, £34,600. Main Eoads, with liabilities of £14,277 ; amount asked for £24,900. Miscellaneous Eoads and Bridges, with liabilities of £34,881; amount asked for, £52,600. Grants-in-aid under the Eoads and Bridges Construction Act, and subsidies to local bodies, with liabilities of £66,884; amount asked for, £97,000. Eoads to open up Crown Lands, with liabilities of £61,372; amount asked for, £61,500. Improvements Village Special Settlements, with no liabilities as yet; amount asked for, £5,000. Eoads on Goldfields, with liabilities of £44,789; amount asked for, £52,000. For Waterworks on Goldfields, with liabilities of £14,963, we ask for a vote of £15,100. For the Purchase of Native Lands, with presently accruing liabilities amounting to £36,455, we ask for a vote of £100,000, that being sufficient to meet the probable payments which will become due during the current year, the further prospective liabilities on this item (amounting to £202,145) being left out of consideration, as not applying to present year. For Telegraph Extension, with liabilities of £3,700, we ask for a vote oi £21,700. For Public Buildings, with liabilities of £23,255, we ask for a vote of £112,000. This includes school buildings, £55,000, as against liabilities at end of March last of £1,400.