D.—l

XVI

LIGHTHOUSES, HARBOUR-WORKS, AND HARBOUR DEFENCES. The lighthouse works undertaken during the year were: The completion of the first-order light at Gape Brett, and the necessary outbuildings and dwellings for the keepers ; the erection of the new acetylene-gas light at Tuahine Point, near GKsborne ; the erection of the new Pintsch-gas light on Jackson's Head, to replace the Wigham oil-light; and the connection of Cape Brett and Cape Palliser Lighthouses with the telegraph system. The fog-signal for Timaru, for the purchase of which a sum of money waR voted, has arrived in the Dominion, and will be erected at an early date. The total expenditure on this vote for the year was £6,763. During the current year the new works to be provided for are : The erection of two lights on the East Coast of the North Island, the protection from land-slips of the track leading to Godley Head fog-signal, and the connection of another lighthouse with the telegraph system. Since the Tuahine Point Lighthouse was erected heavy land-slips have occurred at the site, rendering the immediate removal of the light necessary. It has been decided to re-erect it on a safer and more suitable point near the old site. For the works mentioned above a sum of £10,167 will be required, and provision for a vote of .£5,000 on account is made on the estimates. Under the heading of " Harbour-works," last year's expenditure amounted to £4,548, the principal items being : Wharves at Elmslie Bay, Horseshoe Bay, and Half-moon Bay, Okuru Wharf and Eiver improvements, Waipu Kiver improvements, Havelock Harbour improvements, snagging the Waitotara and Patea Eivers, removal of rocks from Kaipara and Kaikoura Harbours and Hollyford River, and acquisition of Tata Islands as a harbour of refuge. For the current year, in addition to renewing the unexpended items on last year's appropriations, it is proposed to provide for the following: Wharves at Motukaraka (Hokianga), Kirikopuni (Kaipara), Waiuku, and Lemon Point (Kawhia), Waipu and Karamea Liiver improvements, the erection of a meteorological observing-station at Wellington, alterations to the ponds at the Portobello Fish-hatchery, and improvements in the harbour at Collingwood. The sum of £11,718 will be required for these works, the vote proposed for the current year being £7,000. The expenditure on harbour defences amounted to £5,372, and, as further important works are in hand or contemplated, a larger vote will be necessary for the current year. Provision has accordingly been made for an appropriation of £8,000. Gross Total Appropriations. In addition to the votes specifically referred to, the estimates include provision for the undernoted services : — £ Departmental .... .... .... .... 45,000 Immigration.... .... .... .... .... 20,000 Lands improvement .... .... .... .... 12,500 Contingent defence .... .... .... .... 10,000 thus bringing the total amount of the proposed appropriations, including special accounts, up to £3,105,935, against £2,624,480 voted and £2,218,975 actually expended last year. CONCLUSION. Having now briefly detailed the work of the past year, and given an outline of the operations in hand and proposed for the current year, my task for the present is concluded. The practical initiation of our hydro-electrical-energy policy will, I am sure, act as a great stimulus to industrial development of all kinds, and lead to the starting of numerous new enterprises. Trade is rapidly improving, the public revenue is increasing, and with the amounts for public-works services that are provided, the fullest possible employment should be available for our people in the development of the country, and I therefore look forward to a year of considerable activity and progress.