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roads, because I am desirous that the Engineer
should have opportunities of maturing a
system of accurate examination and survey
previously to commencing operations in any
particular locality. I conceive it to be abso-
lutely necessary that no road should have
money expended on it, until, in the case of
dray tracks, a reconnaissance survey had been
undertaken, and in the case of permanent
roads until the line had been finally decided
on, the levels taken, and the approximate ex-
pense per mile ascertained, and then after
these preliminary necessaries had been ful-
filled the portions of the road intended for
formation advertised for contract. If these
precautions be taken, and the great trunk
lines either through the centres of population
be chiefly attended to, and the immediate neigh-
bourhood of such centres metalled, while
dray tracks are freely opened throughout
the country there is no doubt that even a pro-
fuse expenditure would meet with universal
approbation; without them we shall fail to
reap a reward commensurate with our labours.
I would here mention that the Provincial
Council, in its session of September, 1855,
passed a resolution approving the survey of
Main and District Roads in the old surveyed
Hundreds, as the roads were formerly laid off
in parallel lines, at one time passing along the
bed of a river and at another stretching over
an almost impracticable mountain range. To
meet this expenditure a sum was placed on
the Estimates, but unfortunately the Council
having been dissolved by the Government, the
proceedings, subsequently to the announce-
ment of such dissolution, were annulled. Such
a measure as was then approved of is the more
imperative at the present moment, for, as the
country becomes occupied, the Government
would have to pay heavily for compensation;
and without the main lines are indicated it is
utterly impossible to direct the District Roads
aright. It is scarcely possible for any but a
country settler adequately to understand the
great amount of anxiety, expense, and loss
which has resulted from the existing state of
things, and which can only be remedied by a
central power, independent of local influences,
driving its road lines through all the Districts
that have to be crossed. It is consonant with
the demands of justice, and the dictates of
common sense that these evils should exist no
longer. Heavy as the expenditure has been
between Dunedin and the Taieri, amounting
to not less than £1600 a mile of actual outlay,
the country settler as he rides into town at
once recognises the necessity of the work; but
when he crosses the Taieri plain, ascends the hills
on the other side of the river, and witnesses
the operations of the working parties engaged
in blasting the solid rock in order to force a
way to the Upper Clutha Valley, a distance of
150 miles, and learns that even a dray track
might probably cost about £15,000, he asks
himself why the present communication with
the interior which is now traversed by drays
could not be improved at a comparatively
trifling expense, and why roads which pass
through the older and more populated districts
be made easily traversable by wheeled carriages,
and the approaches to towns, villages, and ferries
metalled; he cannot forget that the revenues
of the Province have been drawn from these
latter, and that they demand in common justice
the fostering care of the Government. The
principal road operations during the last few
months have been carried on between Dunedin
and Saddle-hill, in the north, and in the To-
komairiro and Clutha Districts to a lesser ex-
tent.

13. The Gaol is now close on completion,
    and appears a substantial edifice well fitted for
    the purpose for which it is designed. No pro-
    gress has yet been made in the erection of the
    Lunatic Asylum owing to the pressure of more
    urgent works. Its site is selected and plans and
    specifications are prepared.

14. Application has been made to the Gene-
    ral Government for a grant of that portion of
    land required to carry out the Harbour im-
    provements; should it arrive during the pre-
    sent session I will lose no time in having a bill
    framed for giving me power to raise money
    on the security or sale of the reclaimed land.
    I have for some time felt unsatisfied with the
    results of the working of the Dredging Ma-
    chine which is costing the Province no less
    than £800 or £900 a year, and I fear that the
    effects of its operation, which are now evident,
    will not continue, as the channel is being made
    transversely to the action of the tide. I antici-
    pate that it will be necessary if we are to pro-
    gress with the Harbour improvements that a
    Steam Dredge should be obtained. I have
    thought it desirable to put a sum on the Esti-
    mates for doubling the width of the present
    jetty and renewing the first made portion. A
    work of such acknowledged utility will, I am
    sure, secure your cordial support.

15. It is with pleasure that I bring under
    your notice the steady and systematic progress
    of the Survey, under the able supervision of
    the Chief Surveyor, Mr. Thomson. Within
    the last eleven months, no less than 150 square
    miles have been triangulated, and thus pre-
    pared for section survey. About 140,000
    acres have been surveyed, and marked on
    rural sections, averaging 80 acres in size, of
    which 3000 are situated in the new Province
    of Southland; and about 10,000 quarter-acre
    sections have been surveyed and marked on
    the ground in various townships; while a
    large amount of office work has been per-
    formed, including the recording of survey, the
    preparation of Crown Grants, and the issue of
    lithographed maps of recent surveys, as well
    as the reproduction of the old surveys. The
    benefit of the addition of a Lithographic Esta-
    blishment to the Survey Department is one
    which cannot be over-estimated; while even-
    tually self-supporting, it affords the greatest
    advantages to the company. In accordance
    with the suggestions of the Chief Surveyor, I
    am desirous that he should, in the ensuing
    season, devote the attention of the Department
    to—1st. A Reconnaissance Survey of the
    Waiau and the Lake Districts, and, if possible,
    of the West Coast; 2nd, The triangulation of
    the Northern and South-Eastern Districts;
    3rd, The survey of rural sections in the new
    Northern Hundreds, and of the remaining
    available land in the old Hundreds; 4th, The
    town section surveys of Molyneux, Kaitan-
    gata, and Waihola; and 5th, To the road
    surveys of the old districts, in which the roads
    were laid off in parallel lines without any
    reference to the configuration of the land.
    I considering, therefore, the abundant work in
    hand of a nature which cannot be delayed,
    and also the probability of the attention of
    the surveyors being directed to the gold fields,
    I think it would be unwise to interfere with a
    Department which has attained to its present
    efficiency at some considerable cost both of
    money and labour.

16. Much anxious thought has been be-