UBLIC WORKS STATEMENT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1274, 26 June 1886, Page 2

ÜBLIC WORKS STATEMENT.

The following summary of the Public Works Statement, delivered by the Minister lor Public Works, the Hon. E. Richardson, in the House of Representatives last evening, is taken from the full text of the Statement telegraphed to us by |the courtesy of the Government:—

The Hon E. Richardson having stated that, owing to the Colonial Treasurer having given an outline of the proposals of the Government regarding Public Works in the Financial Statement, it would be unnecessary to extend bis remarks to such a length as be did last year, proceeded to refer to District Railways.

Negotiations had resulted in an arrangement for the purchase of the Waimea Plains Railway, subject to the ratification of Parliament, During these _ the Premier, the Colonial Treasurer, and Minister of Mines have stood aloof, as they desired to bear no part in the transaction. The purchase of other district railways has only just been completed. The question of rates and charges will haye to be watched with great care, as the ratepayers’ interests are not always coincident with the interests of those who use these railways. The charges on all these lines require revision, and the matter is now being carefully considered. Railways in course of construction and

PROPOSED. Mr Richardson then dealt at length with railways in course of construction and proposed. Referring to the Rotorua line he said owing to recent changes that have taken place in this district, the location of Rotorua and of the line will be very carefully considered before any works are undertaken. Mr Richardson having referred to the North Island Trunk Railway and other North Island lines at length said that in oases where contracts have been let to Natives they have done a very great deal of work very satisfactorily, and at moderate prices,_ and whenever they have demanded excessive prices, the contracts have been advertised and let by public tender. . Hurunui-BluS and Branches. —This section is extended 11 miles northward to Culverden, but too late for wool this season. No doubt this section will be largely used by visitors and invalids during summer. A road bridge is being erected over the Waiau, and when eomnleted will give a safe road to the Hanmer

Plains and Hot Springs. Further additions are being made to the Dunedin station and to the rolling stock. Ashburton Branch— The formation of this line was completed up to Mount Somers, inclnding bridge over Ashburton river, in March last, and a further contract has been let for platelaying between the bridge and Mount Somers, a length of about one mile. The amount which will be asked for in the Estimates provides for a further extension of four miles to Spnngburn. Mr Richardson gave details of other additions proposed in this section. Additions to Opened Railways. Work of this character, exclusive of permanent way and rolling stock, to the extent of about £91,000 was executed during last year, and it, is proposed to expend £03,000, for similar work, including liabilities already incurred, this year. The principal items leading to this result are in round numbers as follows :—Auckland section, £-20,000 ; h.apierWoodville, £7000; Wellington-Woodville, £7000; Poston-New Plymouth, £SOOO ; and Hurunui-Blufl and branches, £50,000. Working Railways. On March 31, 1886, there were 1477 miles I of railways open for traffic, having cost the ! colony £11,810,191; and on March 31, 1886, there were 16,137 miles of railways openi for traffic, having cost the colony £12,172,814. In this latter result is included 77 miles of railways purchased by the Government from various district railway companies at a cost of £283,349. The total revenue from all i sources was £1,047,418, and the expenditure ! amounted to £690,310, leaving a net profit of £357,078. During the year many reductions in the rates of carriage of goods have been made, all in the direction of helping local products, which, bad the rates remained unaltered, would have produced £oo,ooo more revenue without increasing the cost of working. The total number of passengers carried on the railways was for the year 1883-84 3 272,614; for 1884-85, 3,232,880; for 1885-86, 3,362,266 ; showing an increase over last year of 129,380. Referring to railway stock, Mr Richardson said nearly everything in the shape of rolling stock is now being manufactured iu the colony, the orders sent to Great Britain being oontined in most oases to raw materials and some few articles which cannot at present be manufactured in the colony. Fair progress is being made by the contractors who undertook the manufacturing of ten locomotives last year, and judging from the work they are doing, the engines ought to prove of a very serviceable nature. The contractors imported some portions of material required for these engines partially worked up, but sooner than a’‘Mother condemn these articles a valuation was made, and a reduction has been agreed upon equal to the amount of work so executed in England outside the tern sof contract. RAXES AND CHAHJES. Much discussion has taken place on the subject of the system of charges now in force, and a Commit* ee of the House is now taking evidence on a proposal for a radical change. Referring to this matter Mr Richardson said: I shall not venture an opinion on the particular proposal which the Committee have under consideration, but remind members that the system we have in use is similar to that of the adjoining colonies, and also to that applied to the railways m other countries, and befipre making

ai y change the probability of its succesi ! should be clearly demonstrated. The wan felt is more in the direction of some authont; to whom any member of the public oai ’ make their grievance known and feel the: 1 can get fair consideration. I have hesitated ti t * introduce the Bill laid before the House las year, as I felt certain that it would not mee with general support, and although.two othe Bills have been sketched out to meet th< case, I cannot see any practical good tha would come from them so long as this Par liament is not prepared to part with a grea deal more of its control than it has uont hitherto. The exigencies of the country are S( diversified that to work our railways to the bes; advantage some parts of the country requin very different rates to those in other parts But so jealous are those _who_ use our rail ways in the several provincial districts of anj changes mide in the charges with a view 01 securing traffic that one always has to hesi tato in making such changes. If a body 01 several of them were appointed in the country, such as that suggested, I am oi opinion that it would be found that it (would take a considerable time for them to become acquainted with the necessary information tc enable them to deal practically with the subject, and that nothing but a permaneni Board, whose members would give their whole time to the subject, would meet the case. Mr Richardson then gave particulars of the laud purchases of the Government. Immigration. _ The number of immigrants introduced for the period between June 1, 1885, and April 30, 1886, was 545. This shews a considerable falling off from the numbers given in last year’s Statement, but the falling off can be accounted for by the fact that the engagements with persons whose passages bad been held over were, as stated last year, nearly all fulfilled and further by the increasing rate of payment for passages required to be made on making the nomination in the colony. Fresh negotiations for nominated immigration were issued on September 28,1885. By these a payment of £lO was required towards the passage of each adult and; the passage of each child over 12 years of age. These sums, it is estimated, represent half the total cost to the colony of an immigrant from the time he leaves his home in Great Britain until be becomes a settler in New Zealand. Since the date of these regulations 658 nominations have been received and forwarded to the Agent-General, and an average of from 50 to 00 nominations are sent monthly, on which cash payments are made in the colony of sums varying from £4OO to £SOO. From this it would seem that the settlers in New Zealand are not loth to induce their friends to join them and that they are willing to prove their earnestness in the matter by paying halt cost of expenses to which the colony is put A new feature in regulations is the assistance which is given towards immigration of farmers and agriculturalists pcsssssed of small capital. Under this soheme intending immigrants are assisted by tha Agent-General to the same extent as persons who may be nominated in the colony. They are, howsver, required to prove that they are possessed of £IOO in cash and a sum equal to erojcehieti child over years of ago.

Steps taken by the Agent-General to give effect to these regulations will be found in the correspondence which will be laid upon the table. The total number of immigrants of all classes introduced into the colony since the inauguration of the immigration scheme by the Colonial Government is 112,498.

Telegraph Extension. during the year {consisted of erection of 199 miles of new line and 554 miles of additional wire, less 11J miles of line and 88 miles of wire dismantled. .Telegraph lines in use in colony at end of May last extended to a total length of 4463 miles, carrying 10,931 miles of wire. Telephone exchanges were set up during the year at Napier, Wanganui, and Timaru, making exchanges now in operation 10. They yielded a gross revenue during last financial year of £12,294. The expenditure on new work and extension of all classes last year was £36,009, and the vote proposed to be asked for this year is £20,700. Public Buildings. A very large number of buildings have been dealt with during the year to a greater or less extent, but most of the work has consisted of small additions and repairs, chiefly to police stations and courthouses in the out districts. Harbor Defences.

During the past twelve months considerable progress has been made in the scheme of defence. The works commenced in April last year, and which were designed to temporarily accommodate guna already in the colony, have been in almost all oases carried to completion. At the same time they have been made of a thoroughly durable and substantial, instead of a temporary, nature. Additions have been made where necessary. Guns are now being constructed for the colony in England, and fresh works have also been added, so that provided there is no further delay in shipping guns two-thirds of them can be mounted in the nest few months. Submarine mining stations are being constructed in each port, and arrangements are also being made for lighting harbors with powerful electric lights. Contracts for delivery of all these appliances are approaching completion. A sum of £72,833 out of the amount voted last year has remained unexpended. The total amount required to carry on works during the year, including sum above mentioned, will be £120,000. Public VVobks for Year.

The balance to the credit of the Public ' Works Fund on March 31 last was £768,780, and in addition to this amount and such further funds as may be required to be raised for the North Island Trunk Railway, we propose a loan of £1,500,000, as described in the Financial Statement. As against the credit balance of £708,780 existing at the end of March last we had liabilities then existing to the extent of nominally £1,091,590. But these liabilities include items on account of purchase of Native lands in the North Island, amounting in all to £238,000. Of this amount £202.115 is for prospective liabilities, which will probably not come in for payment for a very considerable time, and which may therefore for the present be disregarded. Deducting this £202,145 from the total liabilities above stated, the actual liabilities which we have to deal with amount to £892,415, of which £387,592 is on_account of this balance, and £504,853 on account of works and undertakings other than railways. Of £387,592, liabilities on railways, the sum of £370,740 is on account of items covered by proposed loan, as set forth in the Financial Statement, leaving £10,852 to be covered by other funds. Liabiiities.on account ,of works and undertakings not covered by proposed loans schedule amount, therefore, to £892,445, less £376740, namely, to £515,705. Assets for general purposes at 'end of March last year amounted to £1,110,560, as against liabilities amounting to £795,703, so that there willjbe available for voting for absolutely new works other than railways a sum of £623,855, in addition to re-voting liabilities on same, amounting to £495,705. Votes for undertakings other.than railways can, therefore, reach up years. Mr Richardson concluded his statement with the following words: I venture to express a hope that before the time comes round for the next Public Works Statement, the rise which has recently taken place in the great staple productions of the colony may prove to be a precursor of a general improvement in the position of all classes of the community, and that by careful administration during the year Government may be able to come down to the House with a Statement as favorable as that I have now 1 delivered. It "only now remains for me to thank you, Sir, and the House, for the kind consideration you have shown to me this evening. The usual reports by the several permanent officers of the Department will be attached to the Statement, and also the usual tables showing cost of works and results of working railways.