PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume III, Issue 686, 12 July 1882, Page 2

PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT.

The above statement was delivered last night. The following is a summary of it: —Although the amount voted last session for survey and construction of railways, including additions to opened lines, was L 1,026,630, yet the amount spent was only L 454,333, and the liabilities outstanding on the 31st March were L 320,254. The length of railways in various stages of progress during the year was 234 miles, and of this length 46 miles were opened for traffic within the year—--23 miles in each Island. The total length of railways opened for traffic on the 31st I March last win 1,333 miles, there being open in the North Island 458 mile?, and 1 in the Middle Island 875 miles. I will now make a brief reference to each of the lines of railway, to what extent they have been proceeded with or improved is stated in detail in the reports from the engineers in charge, but it is customary to refer to them in the Statement itself, and on this occasion to do so will make a desirable and convenient preface to the proposals for the expenditure of the new loan. The working of the open lines during the past year shows good results. The increase in revenue being L 55,592 against an increase of expenditure of only LI, 142, whilst the tonnage carried shows an increase of 50,931 tons; and the number of passengers, 561,916 more than the preceding year. As a matter of fact, the reductions made in the rates in all parts of the colony have been large. The concessions made in the grain rate alone being estimated to benefit the producers to the extent of about L 15,000 during the current year. While the goods traffic, however, shows largely increased commercial activity, tha passenger traffic has not as yet entirely recovered from the heavy fall which took place during 1880-81, that having been the period of the greatest depression of railway traffic in the colony. The passenger traffic is not, therefore, as great as previous results might have led us to expect, and this fact suggests that it is desirable for us to consider whether it might not bo advantageous to reduce the faros, a subject which must receive attention at an early date. It will require, however, to be treated with caution. The passenger receipts for the year having been L 361,705, it will readily be seen that a reduction of fares, if not followed by a corresponding increase of passengers, would considerably diminish the profit of the railways—more so because it would be necessary to make a very substantial reduoiion in order to give the experiment

any reasonable chance of success. The total expenditure up to the 31st March

last upon railways, including the cost of the provincial railways taken over, is 1)10.974,000. Of this sum it is estimated that L 1,531,000 was not in a position to contribute to the revenue during the past year. The cost of the lines open for traffic was, therefore, L 9,443,000 and the surplus of receipts over expenditure, L 369,000, give a return of L 3 18s 2d per cent. The lires in the North Island cost

L 3,194,000, and yield a net revenue of T. 08,000, or L2 2s 8d per cent. Those in the Middle Island cost L 6,249,000, and

give a return of L 301,000, or L 4 16s 3d per cent. The increases over the preceding year being—for the North Island LI,BOO, and L 37,000 for the Middle Island, which upon the total cost gives an average increase of 10s per cent. This

great difference between the traffic carried on the lines in each island points unmistakably to the advisability of completing

the connection between the separate portions of the railway systems of the North Island. It must be borne in mind that the total expenditure of L 10,974,000 covers not only the expenditure upon all works in progress to date, and for plant

on hand, but also upon all extensive explorations and trial surveys, together with that on some harbor works and wharves in connection with the railways, the revenues derived from which are retained by the local bodies. With regard to roads, exclusive of the vote taken for “roads to open up lands before sale,” amounting to L 50.000 for the year for both islands, and for “ roads

through lands recently purchased,” amounting to L 7,853, which was placed under the control of the Minister of Lands, there were votes taken last session

for the construction of roads and load bridges in the North Island, amounting to L 116.825, and in the Middle Island to L 53,539. Of these sums the expenditure in the North Island was L 09,871, and the liabilities on the 31st March last, L 32,103; total, L 101.974 In the Middle Island the expenditure was L 28.896, and the liabilities, L 28,798 ; total, L 57,694 On harbor works altogether the expenditure out of Public Works Loans within the year has been LIB,BIO, and the liabilities on the 31st March last were L 4,755; total, L23,5G5. Under the heading lighthouses the works completed during the year have not been very extensive or costly, but they will bo of considerable utility to shipping. For public buildings generally the amount voted last session was L 191,106, of this sum L 128,356 was expended during the year, and the liabilities at the end of March last amounted to

L 84,457; total. L 212,813. The portion of this expenditure, including liabilities, devoted to the North Island was L 71,634, and to the Middle Island, L 141,179. In

the Middle Island the lunatic asylums at Sunnyside and Seacliffe are the principal works in progress. At Sunnys'de considerable additions have been made during the year, and others are being proceeded with, while designs have been got out for still further additions at Seacliffe. The works, which are of a large magnitude, are being gradually carried out. It is expected that these two asylums, when completed, will compare favorably, both in appearance and utility, with the best institutions of a similar kind in England. The coal now used on the New Zealand railways is entirely raised in the colony. The only New Zealand coal in the market of a description suitable for marine purposes is that of the Kawakawa coalfield, the Kamo mine, and the coal of the West Coast of the South Island. The former is very largely used by the Union Steamship Company. It is expected that when tiie Orepuki line is completed, the fine coal seam in this locality will also bo worked, and Southland will thus become entirely self-supplying in the matter of coal. Mines ai’e now opened in Southland, Otago, Canterbury, and Auckland, which are capable of supplying the local wants of these districts, and the mines of Greymouth and Westport are being further developed, yielding very superior gas and steam coal respectively. The published reports upon the control and and inspection of mines show that the quantity of coal raised in the colony during the years 1878 to 1881 has steadily increased, while the quantity imported has steadily decreased. During 1831, however, there was a slight increase as compared with 1880, but the increase in the quantity raised in the colony during 1881 is relatively as great as in previous years, and far exceeds the increase in coal imports daring the same year. In view of the facts, and bearing in mind the increased facilities which are being provided by railway for transit of coal from mines to the centres of population near the seaboard, it may reasonably bo assumed that the consumption of local coal will become far more general than it is at present, and that the importation of the commodity will gradually cease. For waterworks on goldfields the sum of L 22,000 was voted, of this amount L 13,272 has been expended, and there were liabilities at the end of March last to the extent of L6,G66. Total, L 19,938.

I now come to the proposals for the current year, which comprise the scheme t£ distribution of the loan so far_ as it is available for railways construction ovtr such of the works authorised as the Government consider should be pushed on as rapidly as possible. The loan was apportioned thus Railway?—Kawakawa, to comploto, L 17,500; Whangarei and Kamo, to complete, L 7,500; Hamilton and Cambridge, to complete, LOO,000; Hamilton and Te Aroha, to complete, L 92,000; Thames, Te Aroha, Grahamstown to Kopua, L 23.000; main trunkline from Te Awamutu southwards, L 10,000; Napier and Woodville, to complete, L 160.000; Wellington and Woodville extension from Masterhon, L 200,000; New Plymouth-Foxton, to complete line of 195 miles L 75.000; Nelson-Roundoll extension from Belgrovo, L 40,090; Grey-mouth-Reeftoa extension towards Reeftop, L 100.000; main trunk line through South Island extension southwards from Blenheim, L 90,000; completion of Weka Pass and Horsley Downs sections, includ- , ing bridge over Hurunui, L 75,000; main trunk lino extension northwards, L 180,000; Upper Ashburton branch extension, L 15,000; Lincoln and Little River, to complete, L 30,000; Albury Creek branch extension to Burke’s Pass, L 33,000; Oxford to Sheffield, to complete, L 12,000 ; Livingstone branch, to complete first section, L 22,000; Palmerston and Waihemo, to complete, L 18,000; Gatlin’s River branch, to complete section from main lino to Port Molyneux road, , L 22,000; Waipahi and Heriotburn, to complete section to Swift’s Creek, 1 L 12.009; Edendale Tol Tois, to complete section to Mokoreta, L 13.000 ; Otago' Central extension, L 300.000; Lumsden and Marroa branch, to complete to Centre Hill, L 35,000; Riverton-Orepuki, to complete, L 16,000; total, L 1,650,000. Purchase of Native lands, L200,00d. Public buildings, L 200.000. Immigration, L 200.000. Roads to open up Crown lands, L 200,000. Roads and bridges, LIOO,OOO. Roads, wharves, and bridges north of Auckland, LIOO,OOO. Goldfields, LIOO.OOO. Harbors, Lloo,ooo. Telegraph extension, L 500,000. Total, L 1,350,000. Grand total, L 3,000,000. The immigration proposed is solely a nominated immigration, except for single women. It is believed the amount devoted to it is sufficient, although I am glad to say as evidence that the colonists who have come to New Zealand have prospered here, that the Minister for Immigration has in hand at the present moment more than 5,000 nominations of persons whom their friends in the colony desire to bring out, and there is no doubt that when the Government advertises throughout the colony that they are prepared to receive nominations this number will be largely increased. I need not say that the expenditure upon immigration is exceedingly profitable. Wo have spent upon it altogether since 1870 rather less than L 2,000,000, or incurred an annual charge of about LIOO.OOO, and have introduced in all 101,214 persons. Since 1870 our population has increased from 248,400 to 504,900, whilst our revenue, exclusive of revenue derived from railways and Crown lands, has increased from L 935,000 to L 2,414,000— a sure indication that the introduction of this large body of immigrants, besides being very advantageous and profitable, has enabled the immigrants themselves to attain to a condition of comparative comfort in their new home. To the course which has been adopted during the past few years of opening up Crown lands before offering them for sale by a systematic plan of pioneer roads, bridges, and drainage works, the Government attaches very groat importance. The fact that nearly half a million of acres will be surveyed and available for sale during the current year, under the different provisions of the Land Act, will show honorable members that largely increased facilities, as compared with previous years, are being afforded for settlement throughout the country. Possibly the amount set aside for roads and bridges may seem needlessly large, seeing that the Government proposes to make special provision for works of this class, but it must be remembered that, owing to the necessity which has existed of extending the expenditure of the balance of our Public Works fund over the interval until we can borrow again, a considerable number of the works authorised last year have not been commenced. But, nevertheless, the localities interested look upon the grants as being still available, and there are, moreover, works still to be carried out upon such roads as the one from Christchurch to Hokitika, or that between Greyraouth and Nelson, or upon the roads north of Auckland. Indeed, seeing that the portion of the colony lying north of Auckland is excluded from any farther railway construction out of the loan now proposed, the Government deemed it only equitable to specially allocate for the roads, wharves, and bridges in that district the sum of LIOO.OOO It is the intention of the Government to afford no further, assistance to local works otherwise than under the Bill proposed to be introduced, and it is hoped this class of expenditure will soon cease to be a charge upon our Public Works fund. Referring to harbor works expenditure, the speaker said that generally it would be the effort of the Government to make to a much greater extent than had hitherto been the case, all further loans to be loans for railway construction. There could be no doubt about the enormous benefits which had accrued to the colony from its railways. The colony (the speaker continued) has largely gained by the promotion of settlement and by the greatly increased prices obtained in some cases for Crown lands, as, for instance, on the Waimate Plains. I may be permitted to express here my regret that the State did not from the commencement of the public works policy take possession, at the then value, of considerable areas of land in suitable localties in the vicinity of the proposed railway lines in order to cut them up or sell them insmall homesteads. Thiscourse would not merely have largely diminished the cost of railways, but would have added to their earnings, and the direct and indirect taxation which this additional population would have contributed to the Treasury might have made it possible to alleviate to some extent taxation generally. Ic is therefore almost superfluous for me to add in conclusion that tho Government is thoroughly convinced of tho advisability of completing our railway system ; that, it is an essential part of its policy to complete the construction as rapidly as possible of the main trunk lines in both Islands and of desirable branch lines as soon as circumstances will permit ; and that it will gladly see private enterprise supplement the work undertaken by the colony, by taking advantage of the Railways Construction Act of last year and of the District Bail ways Act. With this policy tho colony will continue to make the progress and enjoy the prosperity which we now happily experience, and if the policy is carried out with prudence, there is no reason to doubt that the prosperity will bo enduring.