PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 975, 16 November 1910, Page 4

PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT.

t £3,000,000.

i 'has received tlio careful consideration of the Government. It has been decided to recommend the Houso to proceed with tire work as far as Beaiimont,' an additional ■ seven milesi Tlio Government ixmsiJer that it is necessary to take, in hand tlio additional work proposed., ill order that the country may derive, a return on the expenditure already incurred. The Wclling-ton-Hutt duplication works-have made considerable progress; the construction of the new main road is'well in hand, an({ unless something very unforeseen occurs the whole work, railway and rotid, will, it is anticipated, be completed during the present financial year. , Hjtiro-Cieotric Schemes, - Dealing with . the development of water-power, tlie Minister says that the. work is to ie taken up with vigour. Tho work will be continued until all our centres of * population have been supplied with hydro-electric energy, and uiitil:our .principil sources -.of , power have been 1 tiL-iicd .to commercial advantage.,: Two' additional reports have nowbeen obtainoj—bno from Mr. R. V/. Holmes, Engmeer-Ln-Chief of the Department, on. the dilerent schemes, with detailed estimates of cost of some of them . and probable commercial results and a very : full report by Mr. L. Burks on .-the subject of the .demand that exists for power, tho .schemes that it would be best to develop, etc. Tlio Department was in a position to at oncc commerce tlio actual construction works in connection with cither or both the Hutt .River and Lake Coleridge. scheme, and, instructions ' will be, given for-a commencement to ". be,: made as spoß..as -pr J icticable'._after tho; passing of the. estimate. - As regards- :'the;' Hutt scheme > three -: estimates of • cost have been; prepared by engineers,:; acting! independently of ..each -. other, arid' as regards the. Lake Coleridge- scheme 'four Such estimates: are available. Tho dctSils' aro asi undeK-r'- : : IiAKF;.COLEH-lI>6E SCHEME. , . ■ . Hancock. ~ Hay. Birks. Holmes. Horse-power - ' provided ■ -v ■ . --. . • lor " :... IO.OdO 58,060 or r ; 13,300 -15,CC0 •: ■ 29,000 ' -;; Estimated , V ■ capital : 1 : - - cost ... £241,667 £700,000 or £291,500 - £421,000 ■■ ;/ £4«,ooo' ': Workingex-. C-- : . , .jicnses ,per 1 anaum-..-.fM,79?v.""...^'.'' • £44,070. £44,500 Probablo . . » receipts.. . per all-- 1 ! . , num ' '£200,0000r '£90,000 —- £100,000 Probable - .■ profit per an- ' num... — — £45,930 — ; . HUTT , MTEB SCHEME. Horse-power r . provided for-. — , 17,000 13.3C0. 12,500 Estimated -' • • capital cost ... - £470,000; £443,960 . £422,000 ITorking.cx- 1 -' ' : i pcuses per annum. - —. >jk -r £50,639 £38,000 Probablo >' ' . receipts per an- ■ , num . - £50,000 £118,300 - Probable - ' profit . : per. an- . ■. i num... — — £67,661 ' , Electrical Engineers Needed. As regards the -other schemes' pro- . loscd, much , less information is avail- ; Ible, and 'it 'will bo necessary during i lie present year to gather further do- 1 ails--and complete.. tho survej's which' i ire absolutely necessary, in order that 1 ull. aiid reliable estimates, n'ot, only of ] ;lie probable cost, , but of tho comnier- - iial results likely to bo obtained from ;he working of tlib' schemes, and of the narket-s for porror, may bo available for , lubmission to Parliament next -session, i The Waipori scheme carries a much arger capitalisation' per - horse-power : lian either of the Government schemes low proposed, and. ,is also on a much imaller scalo v (aiid iconsequently more ixpensjve to work proportionately) than '. iitlier 'of.' tile Government Schemes, and i ■et'that scliemo is now working at a ] irofit notwithstanding that much of : lie energy produced is disposed of at ; inly; a small fraction-over' |cl; p,er unit. ; The inauguration- of our de\-elopment if water-power policy will render, it no- ( :essary to obtain tho services of a ( rydraulic 'and Telectrical engineer 'fcf- j ;ood standing, so that the Government i md .the country may feel assured that c ihe moneys appropriated by Parliiirrfent ] or expenditure, on-, these services-are ; aid out on good : .practical and.com- ( nercially-sound schemes, and to' tho j jest advantage. It is proposed to in- < :ito applications for.. tho position im- i nediately. Tho - cstimat-es - now sub- j nitted provide, for an appropriation of s £300,000, 'which sum will be'ample to j jnable an energetic commencement to. i jo- made. c f Railway, Electrification, Etc* t Under our present proposals there is i'er,y little doubt that tho line between kytteltoir and Christchurch,' and pro- , Ijably stiburban lines adjacent to other j :ities, could bo electrified with great j advantage to the public in the. matter f jf the speed and frequency of.tho ser- j vices, and also with advantage to tho 1 ilailwa.v Department from a working i point of view. This matter will bo I gone into again with-a view to pro- ! posals for the electrifications of sub- 1 urban railways being, submitted next J session. ( As regards tho irrigation and water- ( supply scheme, it is proposed to begin i with tho Ida Valley .Block, containing < 65,200 aercs, which is admirably adapt- < ed for irrigation.y , . < Oil the . current year's -voto-provision ' is made for the completion of the new Government House,' .and a substantial ( iterii on account of the erection' of tlio ' proposed new Parliament Buildings. < Tho expansion of tho work of tho Post ! and Telegraph Department is so great < that heavy expenditure for buildings j must bo looked for ill tho near future. , Large appropriations on account .of t the new offices at Auckland and Wol- t lington aro required. A largo amount ] on account of buildings for wireless t telegraphy will also bo required. Tlio I erection of a bulk store on the land re- ( cently reclaimed on Waterloo Quay, Wellington, will absorb a considerable. ■' sum. Other important buildings liavo t also to be erected. } Under the beading mental hospitals, it is stated that provision is also mado > for tho purchase of land, preparing site, and erection of buildings for the now mental hospital at Tokamii, and for } tho erection of rooms ill comicetion with tho general hospitals in which mental J patients may bo examined instead of at tho police cells. The principal item for ' .hospitals is £13,000, to provide for the s

i; ... By-.-way•'••of; prefacoyto -the Public , :" -Works'. Statement, '.which was brought r '..': down in "the-House'of Representatives .last- night, . the. 'Hon. R. • M'Kenzio !' :'. (Minister for' Public. ""Works) states; ; ; that the yoar-;1909-10,, the- operations \ of .which he had.'to describe, if not ■'/• quite tho busiest-'m' the .annals' of the j ; Department, was -nevertheless . a very !,;'. busy, year.. There hadbeen'only, four I" ;■: occasions'-during ; tlio;last thirty years' ' . on; which the annual expenditure of (the : 'Department; had.'exceeded.,two mil- ' '■•' lion 3 sterling, and. last year'was one ;";-. of .them. The present year promises to ; : : beWevcn'-a.busier one, as he.was in the ; ■;.' fortunate position' of' being able to pro-. I: ipose larger votes than-last .year, for all ;■■'-.'■ tho works ordinarily undertaken by tho Department—railways,-roads,--buildings, ; , telegraphs, etc.—and, in addition,: to •;■'■, submit proposals for carrying' out prae- '■'■■:■_ .tical work in 'the. way of developing ;. •■'. some of our''extensive water: powers, i , and also for. the .construction, of im- !,' r^rtani, irrigation .works,, and ho had. ?.;' :: to bespeak'for his'various-propositions' h the careful and sympathetic considera- [.;. .tion of members. ... '. . •' • j; V: The Financial' Position. - ; ; :^!At : March ;31, 1909, the available ;' .ways and means for public works pur- ;: poses were £383,709, and further"funds i::-.' ; ' were received as under:— i-■-:-.■ ■;,■■'■ „-..■■- . ..: £, ' '■' ' Balance of £1,250.000 raised .''.-. /'.■, -.binder'the Loan Act of 1908' 50,000 :■-.'■. Amount-received under simi-' ; - ,; : :lar Act of 1909. 900,000 ".:. 'Amount received."under the ; - ;\Financo Act,.. 1909...:....'.: 1,000,000 ;.. Amount received, under; tho , 'New Zealand Loans Act,' ;' '"■;■•• :i:i908.;. ■:...;...';...:;„.,;.....; 12,000 - Miscellaneous, receipts ~,.„. . 2,833 |;: : '. 'Making a.gross total of ... £2,348,542 ';.-;: ; ; Tho ordinary, expenditure of tho year. ; . '... amounted to £1,993,171; debentures [. ; .redeemed,'£3oo; transfer to .State Coal • V -; Mines, Account in respect: of the- Greyj. ..-.■'■iii.oiith-Point Elizabeth-'Railway, £24,- '■;■ ' .990; .other ..charges, £17,715:- thus ~-;;; .bringing (the total disbursements up to I-'■ ':■ '£2,036,176, and leaving.a 'credit ,b"al- ':■ ahce at tho end of. the year 'of :.;':: ; £312;366/ ,;;;■-„:.,;•;■ . .;;';,.. ' " . For- the; current year it' was proposed ■ i V: .toprovido additional funds as under:— •' -.:'.-■.■ ■-': : ".; ; ;'- :; "'.' .-.' -.'■"■■;,. ;''' : V ■•■;.'£' • :.:;' 'Balance'of 1909io'ans .....;.,.-' '350,000 --.Under tho Public Works and ' Land - Sbtf lemeht. Act, 1910 ■ 1,750,000 ! ..- Under.the Aid to .Water-pow-; i :-: '.'." er;<-Wdrks Act; 1910 ....... •" 500,000 [' "' (Transfer from , Consolidated t ;;; ~Fund ,'..;: ':..;Z\. .:...„.; -800,000. >; .SpeoialHprovi-rioip: for ; irriga-■; '-I i:"■'•'■::, tion works (Section 19, Ap-' ! , impropriation Act, 1909) ~.:.. 100,000 ;. ; ..:;-Tho above, with;the balance brought I -• (forward, gives a; : gross total of. £3,812,;/■.;.'1366. .'-'-The estimated expenditure for ;■.-■; .public works for the current year (ex- •,'■ ...eluding separa'td; accounts .having, their !•-.,- own ways and'nieans) ..amount's to ! : ~£2,855,000, thus leaving a balanco of ;*£957,366 to be carried forward to next :-■ ,i,year. It.will be observed■ that the ;. . 'proposed transfer from the Consolidated ;-;. Fund f is'-larger-,than' anticipated 'when .; ;;• the Budget was brought down, but the '. .' great'Jmprovemoiit in the revenue that j.ihas since taken place has enabled tho ::.. .'Minister, for. Finance to; provide a ; ; -.. larger-measure of assistance, than was I-', 'originally considered possible. Expenditure Last; Year; I. expenditure for the late financial : year under the "different headings was: i : ; : Railways-—.-'■;. -,-..,■'''-....-.'. '£ V ".-New.- construction .;...........-..- 780,952 \,' -." 'Additions- to open lines .>?-... ;468,518t \.:. Roads-- .............................. 338,762 ! .- Public buildings 277,157 ■Immigration .'.•■■; 17,003 '■. ' Purchase.of Native lands ... 30,567 ;.,: Lighthouses, harbour works, : and;,harbour defences ...... 16,682 ; :, "Tourist and. health-resorts.... '.. -14,508 , [ ; Telegrßph extension '..,.'.,..".'..; 123,422'" of goldfields 17,597 ..- ..; Defence works (general) ....... 4,977 Departmental '...:. ! ..:.......... ! 41,176' ;-'- Payment ■to Midland' Rail- , , '], ;.' ; ' way-bondholders '.....:,..:...,. — ;'; Lands ............. 6,910 '~ Minor-works and services ... — : : Costv'and discount,, raising \. : -. ■■;-,;. loans', etc.. ; 5,715 ! : ;, ;', Total-. ..;.., -.2,149,946 tExcluding expenditure oh new Hutt ... :i -Road. ■; ■ . Railways. Dealing with the various ;• railways, ; ;,; the Hon. R. M'Kenzie states that as it ,; js intended to push'on vigorously ivith .;, the construction of the North of Auck-' land'railway, an additional section, of the line to M'Carroll's Gap will bo h'u- :' thorised this'year. Provision-will be , mado.'.in, the Railways . Au'thorisation ■; ;.'■' Bill with respect.to tho Huntly-Awarua ' 'line, .which 'is expected to. yield a ro- : jnnnerativo traffic. It-is proposed dur- ..-. ing tho present .session to authorise a further section'of the East Coast Main '■'■:' Trunk between To Puko and ;-. Paengaroa.' The construction of the . railway to this-latter point presents no ..special difficulties. Beyond. Paengaroa, • however, the question of. the best route 'to-'be adopted'is, at present .open to !" sonie doubt, andj.further surveys will . require to be made; in order to'definitely ." ," decido the' point;' Those surveys, will .be. undertaken during tho■ coming recess. Having in view' the great importance of completing railway connection between Auckland and Wellington, by the East Coast route, it is proposed to provide in tho Railways Authorisation Bill of tho present session - : for tho construction of the first portion of the Napier-Gisborno. section of tho line.; It is desirable that provision should bo made this year for a further extension of the South Island Main Trunk, lino, and tho Railways Authorisation Bill to bo introduced "shortly will . accordingly provide for.a further scc- . tion, about six miles in length, up tho valley of the river Leader. , As regards . the Midland railway, it is stated that ; it is-doubtful if it will be ready as far as Hope's Junction this summer, so that, the through journey between Nel- '■-:■ son, Greymouth, and Hokitika might be accomplished in one day. The work that is being performed by the eontrac'tors for the Arthur's Pass tunnel is of a very satisfactory character, but it is becoming tolerably evident that there is little prospect of tho work being com- ' nleted by contract date. Thero williiot bo the least difficulty in completing the Cass-section up to the tunnel by the : '-'■ time.tho tunnel is completed. The' question of continuing the Law- "■■ rence-Raxb.urgh line bavond Big Hill

purchase of a site .and . a building for a now St. Helens Hospital at Welling* ton, tlio present one being simply a rented building, and unsuitable for tho purpose.- . Reads and Bridges. With refer'cnco, to roads and bridges, tlio report .states! that I .a special feature of the operations of the past year was the expenditure on tlio construction of roads to facilitate the transport/of material and produce to and from newly settled lands, in the interior of tlio North Island, more,particularly in the King Country and adjacent districts., A comparison of tlio distribution of expenditure as' between the.North and South Islands is largely in favour of the North Island, tho actual figures being:— North Island 271,406 South Island 110,498 £381,904 In addition to the above, tho sum of £40,830 was expended on goldfields roads, and £28,468 on the construction of tho new Hutt Boad. In . pursuance of tlio previously-ex-pressed intention of tlio Government to :ntrust local bodies with tho expenditure of tho major portion of the "votes, £183,444 was either authorised or offered to tlio various county councils ind road boards for expenditure between tlie time of tho passing .of tlio Estimates and the of tho financial year, and during Itlie same period £79,000 was authorised to Departmental engineers. This year it is proposed to invito tlio local authorities to lubmit their proposals for tho expendi:uro of the sums available forthwith, ind if reasonable expedition is. .exer:ised in doing this there should be no lifficulty in tlio formal' grants 'being n their hands and. available for cx>endituro within a few days of tho ac:ual passing of the. appropriations by Parliament.. . ' . A Word to Local Bodies. It is stated by tho minister that vlulo tlio construction of new. roads to ipen up backblocks. is a work that may iroperly be regarded as devolving upon ;he Government, and that while' tho jovernmont may reasonably bo expected to assist in tho improvement: and Detailing of roads that wero originally as bridle-traeks or . wero eft unmetallcd,, maintenance if roads and bridges, except in very ipecial eases, is a work, that should and nust devolve upon the local authority if the district. Amongst the numerous ipplications that have been received or grants for roadworks during tlio inrrent year,'quite-an appreciable percentage aro for works. of repair and naintenance, which, should undoubtedly >o provided for by local rating. ; Durng the financial year 1908-9 the Govirnment of. the .Dominion, undertook the naintenance. of ho ile'ss than .3352; miles if dray-road and 2017 miles .of bridle•oad, or/a gross total.of 5369 miles if. road. 'During last year the , figures lore" much "smaller—namely, 2597 miles if dr'ay-road .and-12-16 miles, of. hridlooad,'or a,gross total of 3843 mile 3 of' oad. "Wireless Telegraphy.", .Owing- to the great importance of tireless . telegraphy for defence; naval, nd mercantile marino purposes, : the Joverriment decided to. call for tenders or two high-power, stations ill tho leiglibourhood 1 of Doubtless Bay and SlufF, and three 'medium-power stations it the"'neighbourhood of Gisborne,'. Capo p aren:ell, and Sumner. -Tho.high-jjowcr tations will havo a range of 1250 nauical miles, which will enablo.comrminiation to .bo kept'up with stations to o erected at Sydney and Fiji, and with .•arships or mercantile vessels at any oint within the range. Tho mediumlower"/stations will ; bo sufficiently quipped to command ships at sea for 00" miles. The tenders referred to "ere .called , for in New,/ Zealand, the Jnited Kingdom, and . America, and lose : at_ Wellington-'onDecember 15. 'endorers; havo/t'o estate thc- ; time re-uired'-.for the completion of' the wirk. is the :competitioli;how' .existing among ianiifacturers ,of,'wireless apparatus lis pn'siderable, no;;; great".- delay • should rise,: ;It is; expected- that several, .if o't all, the stationswill bp ' in., .full, •orking "order beforo the end of 1911. Tie necessary buildings are to bo ereetd by the Public Works_ Department, nd will be put in hand immediately a ontract is. let for' tho wireless teleraphy apparatus. This year's proposals iclude £5000; on account of wireless elegraph stations.' The expenditure on harbour defences mounted to £537-2, and, as further nportant works .aro in hand or conemplated, a larger, votewill ho necesary for. tho .current year. Provision as accordingly been made for an apiropriation of £8000. , A Bright Forecast. ■ In addition, to the votes specifically oferrcd to, tlio Estimates include proision for tho undernoted services i— _ '. ' £ Departmental 45,000 Immigration 20,000 Lands, improvement '... 12,500 Contingent defence ... 10,000 lius. bringing /the'./total amount of the iroposed appropriations, including ppcial accounts, up to £3,105,935, gainst £2,624,480 voted and £2,218,975 ctually expended last year. ','Having now briefly detailed the work f the past year, and given an outline f tho operations in hand and-'-proposed or the current year," adds tho Minster, "my task for the present is conludod. The practical initiation of our lydro-electrical-energy policy, " will, I ,ni- sure, act as a great stimulus to inlustrial. development of all kinds/and ead to tho starting of numerous new ntcrprises. Trade is rapidly improvng, the public revenue is increasing, md with the amounts for public works ervic.es that aro provided, tho fullest rassiblo employment should ho availiblo for our people in the development if the country, and I therefore look orward to a year of considerable acivity and progress." :