THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Evening Star, Issue 3003, 3 October 1872, Page 2

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

[By Electric Telegraph.]

f From ike New Zealand Press Association.)

October 2. £ast nicrht, classes 2 and 3 of the Estimates were passed. Mr Vogel intimated his intention of, at a proper time, initiating a discussion on the Financial Statement, which he said abounded with statements likely to create a false impression, Mr Vogel drew the attention of the Ministry to the question of charges for press telegrams. Mr Curtis said the Government wej-e considering how best to reduce the cqet to tlu> pftpsrg without injury to rhe revenue.

In reply to a question by Mr Rallenstein, the Government said they did not at present see thrir way to make miners’ rights available over the whole Colony. In reply to another question by Mr Hallenstein, the Government said they saw no way to check the influx of Chinese but by a direct tax, and they were poji prepared at present to recommend that, Mr Vogel has given notice that he will move to-morrow, that the House has no confidence in the Government as at present constituted. . Mr Reid commenced his Public V orks Statement last night. Ho said his predecessor having recently explained what had teen done during the last year, he would (confine himself to a concise account of the position ot thp f'pinny wjth regard to works, loans, contracts, and engagements already existing ; the estimated cost of completing the same, and the works intended to 1 e commenced and carried on during the current year. The railway contracts existing amounted to 1.910,828; to complete these lines would require a further expenditure of L,500,201. while the amount authorised by Parliament %vas L 1,036,697; L 380,328 would thus be required to be voted to complete the works already contracted for, out of the Middle Hsland railway fund. On roads on the south-west goldfields, the expenditure engagements amounted to L 29,409, being L 8.962 in excess of the appropriations. Jn Westland the expenditure and engagements amounted to L 38.085, leaving an nnexpended balance of L2.6QS, 1.4,000 had also been spent on the Greymouth Harbor Works, and L 6 000, unauthorised, on railway surveys • The total expenditure—liabilities and engagements on account of the Middle Island railways and roads was thus L 1.489.209, leaving a balance of L 547.992 available for future works. The discrepancy between this and the amount given in the Financial Statement arose from the omission in the latter of the sums necessary to comp’ete the existing works, so as to render them useful ; and also certain outstanding engagements. The House would bo asked in the Railway Bill to make provision for the 1,380,328 required to complete existing works. The total expenditure and liabilities for works in the North Island was L 172.915, leaving an unexpended balance of L 227.084; of goldfields water supply engagements and contracts, the items were—expenditure, L 3,415 ; subsidies, L 12.534 ; Thames waterrace, L 51,405 ; leaving unappropriated balance of 1,233,355. Thus on all accounts the sum available was L 1,012,040, subject to a reduction fpr departmental expenses and expenses of raising the loans. During tho year it was intended to expend to the full extent the available appropriation, and to press forward the construction of roads in bativo districts in the North Island ; but it was impossible to specifically indicate the particular works. The Government would endeavor to secure the co-operation of the Natives in making the works, and use Native labor. With regard to the Middle Island roads, the Government would afiji for a vote

of L 3,000 from the Railway Fund for the road from Westportjto the Nine-mile Creek, and L 3.000 for a road from Ah aura to Amuri, and thence to Kaikoura. The expenditure of the latter sum was conditional on Canterbury and Nelson each contributing LISOO. A vote was to be proposed for a survey to ascertain the cost of a road from Ahaura to the Thirty-second Mile Post, and the balance of the W estland Road Fund would probably suffi:e for the necessary widening of the road between Ross and Kanieri. The Government was fully alive to the importance of waterworks to goldfields, and would do its best to secure productive expenditure, while providing an adequate water supply to the principal Goldfields. It would consider applications for assistance as soon as possible. In railways—it was intended to commence the following works during the year Lower to Upper ilutt, construction 74 miles, formation 4 mile; Nelson to Foxhill, formation 20 miles; Eakaia to Ashburton, including Ashburton Bridge, construction 20 miles ; Timaru to Temuka, construction 124 miles ; Moeraki to Waitaki, construction 40 miles ; Tokomairiro to Lawrence, formation 20 miles ; Wiuton to Kingsston, con.traction 12 miles ; a branch line from Rolleston to Malvern, construction 20 miles; the Brunner coal line, construction 7 miles ; Kaiwakawa coal hue, construction 0 miles ; making in ail 168 miles to be undertaken in the year, 'i he Government recognised the necessity for the construction of branch lines as feeders, and during the recess would carefully consider the terms on which such lines should be undertaken, I‘hey intended to take up the Bill prepared by their predecessors, authorising a branch lino from Oamaru to Wairoka, on condition that the land for the line be given free of cost, and that the owners and occupiers of land in the district through which the lino will pass consent to their properties being rated to an extent sufficient to cover at least one-half, or, at the option of the Minister of Public Works, five-sevenths of the annual charge in respect of the cost of construction, maintenance, and working of the line. The Government, however, had no intention to proceed with this line during the recess, but took up the J3iil to enable them to ascertain the merits of the proposed line, and the feelings of the land owners in the district. If tneir enquiries were satisfactory, further action would be invited next session. The Government felt the great advantages which would accrue from the coalfields of the Colony being developed, and would, during the reeess, consider the best means to promote these,- though probably the best means would be by the constructing of tramways cr railways to the mines, so’a* to provide efficient and economical means of transit. It was intended to push on and complete the survey* and working plans of the following lines, bo as to be able next session to make definite proposals in fegard to their construction : Auckland to liiverhead; Pakipaki to Rua* taiuwha; Hutt to Masterton; Picton to Blenheim extensi n ; Ashley River to North Bank of the Kowai; Ashburton to Temuka; Moeraki to Waikouaiti; Winton towards Kingston the above amounting to 232 miles, to be prepared for contract.- Mapawatu to Wanganui'; apd Waiter* to Wap* ganui, 198 miles—preliminary surveys to be completed as far as possible, and a portion of the working surveys to be made. Preliminary surveys to be made of the Mercer to Upper Waikato, and Waikouaiti to Dunedin lines, 95 miles ; working plans for 70 mil a of Canterbury branch lines to be made, and also for Mount Rochfort cable line, 12 miles; borings to be made and plana prepared for the Ciutha bridge and protective works. The cost of tne above surveys is estimated at L 14,000, for which a vote would be asked. These proposals had been decided on. After careful consideration, keeping in view the amount of labor probably available, the Govei'mueni; had efideuvprbd to proceed with, out undue precipitancy oh the one hand ahd with earful prudence ou the other. Some districts might be disappointed, but it was impossible ail the intended works could bo immediately commenced with any reasonable prospect of their early or economical completion, even if the necessary funds were immediately available, which was not the easel The Government, therefore, felt it to be their duty—first fb propose to proceed with thosjj lines likely at the earliest date to yield the largest results to the Colony as compared with their cost of construction. The Government was fully aware that, to carry ont the scheme to a successful completion, it must be administered with energy, prudence, foresight, and with painstaking attention to the matters of detail, which will render the task both onerous and responsible, and was also aware that such results, qf any indecision or vacillation in action, could only be exceeded by those which would follow from careless or improvident administration of the large resources placed under the control of the Government.