D.—l

III

The above, with the balance brought forward, gives a gross total of .£4,756,212. The estimated expenditure for public works for the current year (excluding separate accounts having their own ways and means) amounts to £3,402,758, leaving an estimated balance of £1,353,454 to be carried forward to next year (1915-16). 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.... 285,000 Under the Irrigation and Water-supply Act, 1913.... 65,000 Under the Waihou and Ohinemuri Eivers Improvement Act, 1910 .... .... .... 50,000 BAJLWAY-CONSTBUCTION. The following sections of railway were completed and opened for traffic during the last financial year, or since its close : — M. eh. Coal Creek Extension .... 3 69 .... January, 1914. Otiria to Kaikohe .... 16 25 .... May, 1914. Kaihu to Tarawhati .... 2 35 .... June, 1914. Cass to Arthur's Pass .... 14 65 .... July, 1914. Cronadun to Inangahua .... 13 7 .... June, 1914. Pohokura to Whangamomona 6 13 .... July, 1914. Kaiwaka to Otamatea .... 2 45 .... August, 1914. Total .... .... 59 19 The following lengths are practically completed, but have not yet been handed over to the Railway authorities for traffic: — M. eh. Maunganui to Te Puke .... .... .... 13 27 Otoko to Rakauroa .... .... .... 6 60 Big Hill to Beaumont .... .... .... .... 5 36 Houipapa to Papatowai .... .... .... 12 52 In addition to the above, the following sections are approaching completion, and are expected to be ready to open for traffic during the current financial year: — M. eh. Te Puke to Paengaroa .... .... .... .... 5 50 Rakauroa to Matawai .... .... .... .... 5 70 Mount Egmont Branch .... .... .... .... 2 56 Whangamomona to Kohuratahi ... .... .... 4 49 Ward to Mills .... .... .... .... .... 7 76 Papatowai to Tahakopa .... .... .... .... 5 21 The total expenditure on railway-construction and improvement-work during last finanei-il year amounted to £1,144,459, as under : — £ Construction of new lines .... .... .... 606,448 Additions to open lines .... .... .... 498,448 Railways Improvement Account .... .... 39,563 Kaihu Extension. The construction of the extension from the booms at Kaihu to Waima was completed during the year, and the new section of 2 miles 35 chains, ending at Tarawhati Station, was taken over by the Railway authorities for regular traffic on Ist June last. The further extension of over four miles and a half to a terminus at Donnelly's Crossing, authorized last year, has been surveyed and the route located.