THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Evening Star, Issue 3017, 19 October 1872, Page 2

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

[By Electric Telegraph.]

{From the New Zealand Freds Association.) October 18. In reply to a question by Mr Stafford, Mr Vogel said that after the Appropriation Act was passed and party conflicts were ov r, the Government vmuld be willmgjto afford members who desired a dissolution an opportunity of recording their opinions. In re, ly to a question by Mr Calder, Mr Vogel said that he was not yet able to state the names of the proposed two additional members of the Cabinet, but he hoped to do so before the session ended. The Public Trust Office Bill finally passed both Houses. The Payments to Provinces Bill passed the House of Bepreseutatives, the operation of the Head Boards grant being limited to the present financial year. An amendment by Mr Kelly, to distribute the Native grant on the basis of population, was negatived by 33 to 20. A new clause, abolishing the keeping of a special account between the Provinces and the Colony, was introduced at Mr FitsHerbert's suggestion. The Legislative Council rejected the Deceased Wife’s lister Marriage Bill by 23 votes to 9, October It), The Oamaru and Macrcwhcuua Bailway Bill passed. On the motion to go into Committee on the Kail way Bill, Mr Ormond made his Public Works Statement. As to railways, he said the estimated amounts were only estimates, as the surveys, in many cases, were not sufficiently advanced to enable accurate calculations to bo made. The amounts were simply as near as possible, with the information avaiable, and subject to alteration from variation of the labor market and other causes. Except in the case of the Waitara Bailway, which was exceptional on account of its political importance, the Government would construct no line unless the Chief Engineer gave hie eortilicate that it would pay working expenses. The estimated cost includes Jand, engineering and office expenses, stations, rolling stock, and everything complete. The sums stated after the number of miles in each case is tho mount required to complete. In addition to amount already authorised for the line—Auckland to Biverhead—l7 miles : 17 miles already contracted al authorised amount, arc to be completed in September 1873. Bivorhead to Auckland, 23 miles, L 67.500 : The surveys will bo ready by March, when the Government will be ready to contract, if the line is likely to pay, and be completed in three years. Auckland to Mercer, 4G miles : L 132,500, including a branch to Ojiehjinga ; the greater portion is already contracted for; to be completed in September, 1875, Napier to Waipukurau, 45 miles, L29,(K)0: 18 miles arc already under contract, to be completed by

September, 1873. Waitara to Wanganui, II miles, LI 0,600 : To be commenced immediately • he hoped that the survey of the remainder of the line would be completed by next session. It was intended that its construction should proceed simultaneous y with the settlement of the country through which it passed Wellington to Mas ter ton. 70 miles, I 38,500 : 20 milts already surveyed, aud part under contract; to be completed by November, 1873; it was proposed then to let an additional 20 miles, and the whole line to be completed in four years. Manawatu to Wanganui, 50 miles, 1 90.000 : A tramway only is now authorised, but the proposal was to substitute a railway between Wanganui and aud a tramway thence to Manavatu, 13 miles of railway, to be commenced immediately ; the rest according to the state of the labor market; the construction of the line to be conditional on the Province giving land as security for the additional L.90,000 required. Nelson to Foxhill; 20 miles, L24.55U: Surveys are now ready for contract; to be completed in two or three years. Picton to Blenheim, 19 miles, L4ft,ooo, including an extension. Rangiorato the north bank of the Kowai, 15 miles, 1,20,500 : Survey to be completed bv January, and to be constructed within two years. Addington to f'angiora, 17 miles, LI ,000 : already constructed. From Selwynto Rakaia 11 miles, including the Rakaia Bridge, L 40.000: Nearly completed. I’akaia to Ashburton 20 miles, L 24.000 : Survey completed ; line to be completed in two years. Ashburton to Temnka, 32 miles, L 115,040, including three bridges ; Survey to be ready in March; the line to be completed in three years. Temuka to Timaru, 12 miles, L 7000: " urvey to be ready in January ; the line to be completed in two years. Moeraki to Waitaki, 40 miles, L 99.000. Survey* ready; to be pushed on expeditiously, and finished in three years. Dunedin to Clutha, 51 miles, L 70,500 : Contracted for, and to be finished by September, 1875. Tokomairiro to Lawrence, 20 miles, L56,00C: Survey ready by March ; to be commenced immediately, and continued concurrently with the line Tokomairiro to Clutha. Invercargill to Mataura, 30 miles, L 37.000. Under contract, and to be completed by September, 1874. Winton to Kingston, 70 miles, L 51.500 : Survey ready by March, aud the lailway to be carried on iu four sections, aud completed in four years. Waitaki Bridge : L 25.000 would be required, the bridge to be completed as fast aa possible. Coalfields lines, 8 miles. L 2,500. Brunner to Greymouth, 7 miles, L 26.250. Mount Rochfort, LOO,000: To be commenced as soon as arrangements are made for working the •nines profitably, Canterbury branch lines : Rangiora to Uxford, Kaiapoi to Eyreton, Racecourse to South bridge, Waimate to main line, Malvern to holies ton, would be commenced immediately, and carried on simultaneously ip. accordance with the understanding with the Provincial Council. The estimated cost npw for the whole of the above wofks is L 3,661,516, as against L 2,719,010 formerly approp iated, or a difference of L 942,506, which, was accoupted for thus: The rise in the cost of iron, L450,0U0 ; Rakaia Bridge, not formerly pre? vided for, L 40,000 ; Eangitata, Orari, and H ind’s Bridges, not formerly provided for, L 80.000; increased rates for work, L 247,230; total, LSI 7, 230. To this was to be added : approximate estimate for purchase of land, L 192 900 ; engineering and office expenses, L 157,760 ; grand total, LI, 167,890. The average cost of the railways would then only be about LSOOO per mile, including everything. It was intended to ask for LIO,OOO for the survey of new lines, principally at intervals in the main line from Christchurch to Dunedin, extension of Mercer to Waikato, and main line on the west coast of the North Island ; also, to ask for power to purchase the Port Chalmers line. After debate, the Railway Bill passed into committee, and was read a third time.