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Last Chance Scheme. —This scheme was practically completed so far as new works were concerned. Maintenance work was rather heavy, and more than the usual amount of repair is required before the next season's operations are undertaken. Tanas Scheme. —This scheme was completed, and practically all settlers supplied with water. The work done consisted of 5 miles of main race and 12| miles of distributory race. Teviot River Scheme.—This scheme was completed, and water supplied to thirty-five settlers. HawJcdun Scheme. —Repairs to the Eweburn reservoir were completed, and the Wedderburn siphon was built. A survey of the distributary races is in hand, and should be completed during the spring ; 72 miles have been laid off in this connection. Arrow River Scheme. —Surveys have been completed, agreements obtained from settlers relative to water-supply, and construction work put in hand. Upper Manuherikia Scheme.—A. committee consisting of representatives of the Public Works, Lands, and Agriculture Departments has been set up to view the land in detail, and interview the settlers before any scheme of construction-works is undertaken. Tenures of land, size of holdings, texture of the soil, existing waterfacilities, and generally an investigation as to the nature of the product which could best be raised on the lands affected is to be undertaken. The results of the committee's inquiries will determine the Government's attitude to the proposed scheme, whether it should be constructed or not. Plans of the Upper Manuherikia dam area have been completed, the reservoirsite resurveyed and plotted, and the site tested with pits sunk thereon. Further information relative to the race-line from the dam-site to Hills Creek Saddle has been obtained, and is now being tabulated. Preliminary estimates for Roaring Meg scheme have been prepared, and an alternative scheme reported upon. Plans of the Luggateburn and Pisa Creeks schemes have been completed, and estimates are in course of preparation. Similar remarks apply to the Miller's Flat scheme. A preliminary report has been prepared relative to the Mareburn scheme. The schemes which were in whole or partial operation when the last Public Works Statement appeared are still being operated. Officers sent Abroad. Mr. F. W. Furkert, Engineer-in-Chief and Under-Secretary, left the Dominion early in April of this year for the purpose of a general investigation of engineering matters in the United States and the Continent of Europe. While abroad he will attend the Fifth International Roads Congress at Milan. Mr. E. Bold, Principal Land Purchase Officer, left for England early in April last, and while abroad will inquire into the procedure in respect to legislation affecting the acquisition or interference with private lands, and also relative to proposals for schemes of public utility, and will report to the Government on his return towards the end of the year. ROAD-CONSTRUCTION. The expenditure on road-construction has been steadily increasing from year to year, and during last financial year it has again constituted a record for this branch of the Department's operations. The diagram on the following page shows the trend of the Department's roading programme since 1913-14, and it will be seen that the £1,000,000 mark has nearly been reached. The primary development in any country must, of course, be by roading, and very great progress has been made in this direction during the past year both in materially improving existing roads by widening and improvement of alignment and grades and in constructing new roads. The expenditure of the parliamentary appropriations for this purpose has been carried out both by the Public Works Department and by local-body organizations in accordance with departmental requirements. Particular attention has again been given the question of constant and sufficient maintenance of roads, and no

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