The SECRETARY, with regard to the first part of the question, said that the vote was being expended. Tlie works wore under the superintendence of Mr -George Shand and other members of the Local Road Board, in the same way as other works of minor importance were being carried out under local management, iv consequence of the time of the Engineer having been very fully occupied. The site had been chosen by local parties, and had been selected so as to get the road through at the proper place. There was no possibility of doing otherwise without the alternative of going to law or giving compensation. TAIEM RTVER. Mr REID asked the Secretary, " Whether the amount of LI.OO opposite the item 'Clearing Obstructions, Taieri River,' in the Appropriation Act of last session, has been expended 1 Whether the work has been let by public tender or in the usual way, and under whose super intendence the works are being carried out /" This was another matter in which there was some dissatisfaction among local residents. The work, as he understood, had not been handed over to any local party or to any responsible official, and, moreover, no public call for tenders had '/been made.
The SECRETARY said the circum stances connected with the vote were rather peculiar. The work was peculiar, and it was represented that, at a par ticular time, the river was in a state suit able for ifc being effected. The gentlemen who made these representations were asked to undertake the work, because the Engineer did not know its exact nature, and had no engineer available at the time. The work was under the super vision of Messrs Begg and G lesson.
TORT CHALMERS DOCK AND RAILWAY.
