138

Expenditures of votes
for past year.

On perusing the accounts for the past year, it will be seen that, with very few exceptions, the whole of the appropriations on the main Estimates towards public works have been either expended, or are now under contract. Most of the sums on the Supplementary Estimates have likewise been expended. The contract price of public works, owing to the scarcity of labor, has in very many instances exceeded the vote; there was, however, no option but either to leave the works in abeyance or to sanction the excess.

Public Works Department — Increase of Staff.

I may here observe that, in my opinion, the amount of labour and responsibility which now devolve upon the Public Works Department are much greater than we are warranted in imposing. I propose, therefore, that the construction of railways, of which, it is to be hoped, we shall have not a few constantly in hand, be made a separate branch of the Department, and that provision be made accordingly.

Besides the Appropriation Bill and the few bills of a formal nature which will be submitted to you, there are several very important questions with which you will be called upon to deal. Of these, I would refer especially to the deepening of Dunedin Harbour. Considerable attention has lately been bestowed upon this subject, and sundry professional reports thereon have been obtained.

It has been suggested that the work of deepening the Harbour should be undertaken by a Trust, out of moneys to be borrowed on security of Harbour dues and of the Provincial revenue.

The Government has been requested to introduce a Bill for the constitution of a Trust. Before taking any action in the matter, it is deemed advisable to ascertain your views upon the subject. There can be no question as to the benefits which would accrue from the proposed work, and proposals will therefore be brought before you with the view of immediately proceeding with it, either through the medium of a Trust, or directly by the Government.

While upon this subject, it may be observed that your resolution of last session, whereby it was proposed to reclaim 100 acres in Dunedin Harbour as a Harbour endowment, has not as yet been acted upon, the limited supply of labour during the past year rendered it inexpedient to go on with the work. It is hoped, however, that labour may shortly be sufficiently plentiful to enable this reclamation to be prosecuted with advantage.

Otago University.

Copies of correspondence between the Otago University Council and myself will be submitted to you, from which it will be seen that, in the event of your consenting to the granting a suitable site on the old Cemetery Reserve, the present University Building might be disposed of, and the proceeds applied to the erection of an edifice more suitable for University purposes, within the walls of which ample provision might be made for the residence of both Professors and Students. The complete success of the University depends very much upon such provision being made, and I venture strongly to recommend the matter to your favorable consideration. Should you concur in this proposal, a Bill will be at once prepared to give effect thereto.

While upon this subject, I cannot refrain from expressing my regret that the Council and Professors have agreed to relinquish the powers and the status conferred upon the University by the Provincial Legislature, for the problematical advantage of being connected with the University of New Zealand. I can only hope that the result of the negotiations now pending between the two bodies may turn out better than may be anticipated.

Normal School.

Last session you authorised the erection of a Normal School for the training of teachers. The difficulty of procuring a suitable site has caused considerable delay in this matter. You will be glad to learn that this obstacle has now been overcome, and that the building will be proceeded with at once. I need not say that much advantage may be anticipated to our educational system from having a regular supply of duly trained teachers, and from increased inspection. Notwithstanding the large sum voted last year for educational purposes, the amount has been found to be far short of our daily increasing requirements; and I am still of opinion that it would be a wise course to adopt my recommendation of last session, and to some extent, at least, to throw on posterity the burden of providing school accommodation, which is as much for the future as for the present.

Geological Survey.

An amount was voted last year towards a Geological Survey of the Province, and you will no doubt be glad to learn that we have succeeded in engaging a gentleman who is eminently qualified to perform this service. Some time has necessarily been