GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Evening Star, Issue 3564, 25 July 1874, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

[Bt Telegraph.]

Wellington, July 24. Ih the House, the second reading of the Colonial Bank of -ew Zealand Bill was moved by Mr Fox.—The Bill was read accordingly. The following Bills were read a first time : —A bill to Amend the Wellington Education Reserves Act. 1871 ; Merchant Shipping Acts Adoption Bill; Naval lrainingSchools Establishment Bill; a Bill to Amend the Highway Boards Act, 1871. Upon ihe report of the Goldfields Com mittee on the Gold-mining Bill being read, Mr T. L. Shepherd movo.l that the Bill be committed that day ; but he said the second reading had passed with but one dissentient voice, and yet the Goldfields Committee, consisting of a few members, had absolutely refused even to consider the preamble of the bill which the House had said was necessary, it was a perfect farce for the minority of the House to have power to set

the majority at defiance, take up the time of the House, and waste the money in printing for nothing, giving the House, in fact, a slap in the face, saying, “You are not fit to consider such a measure ; you know nothing of the subject.” He wished such an anomalous state of things to be decided upon once for all.—Mr O’Conor said the committee had decided last year that no such Bill should be introduced without being circulated upon the goldfields. As this had not been done with this i ill till committed, he declined to consider it.—Mr Vogel asked if it was desirable for the House, in the face of the report of the Goldfields Committee, to order the Bill to be committed. It was no criterion of the character of such a Bill >f tbe House good-naturedly did not oppose the second reading of it. The matter had passed out of the control of the General Government, and if they were to he called upon to amend the existing system it could not be done m a haphazard manner in the middle of the session, xhtse questions required much consideration and extreme caution. It was a difficult matter to get two RroyincialCouncils to agree upon goldfields questions. Me would lecommeud the hou. member not to pi ess for a committee on the Bill.—Mr Maeaadrew said it was quite clear, from the observations of the Premier, that the quicker the House abrogated all control in these matters the better, as it had shown its utter incapacity to deal with them. It had been demonstrated that a Goldfields Bill which suited the Thames did not suit uta*o and Westland.—Mr fchepherd wou.d not press the Bill against the wish of the Government, but, as the chief reason for its rejection by the committee was because it had not been circulated, He hoped the Government would immediately circulate a few hundred copies.—The Bill was then withdrawn.

In reply to Mr O’Conor, the Premier said (he department had not sufficient information yet as to the locality, to deciae upon extending the telegraphic communication to No Town and Grey Va.ley. Mr Garrison asked the Postmaster-General whether the condition ©f signing covers of newspaper exchanges might not be dispensed with. —1 he Premier said the present regulations had been introduced to protect the revenue, but he thought he could see his way to overcome the difficulty by stamping excu.inge papers. Lu reply to Air Fyke, as to whether the Government will reconsider the question of members’ allowances, the Preau. r said the question was one containing so many anomalies, that it would he advisable that the whole question should be seriously considered. He would therefore mpve that a select committee be appointed to take the whole subject into consideration.

Bills passed: Electric Telegraph Act Amendment Bill and Government Insurance and Annuities Bill.

The House then went into Committee of Ways and Means. The following items were agreed to without discussion i—legislative Departments, L 23.840 2s; hxeculive Departments, L 16.815 10s; Stamp Department, L 3,530 ; Printing Department, L 9 670; Store Department, L 535, On Geologies I and Meteorological Department, 1.3,216. Some discussion ensued, Mr Thomsan wanting more time to consider the items, they having been brought up too unexpectedly. The increase from L3OO to 14 0 in the salary of the Analyst having been questioned, the Premier said the increase was weli deserved, the officer having many and important duties.— in reply to a question from Mr Micaudrew, the Premier promised to give the analysts of Otago and Canterbury the same status as Colonial analysts, item passed—Electoral Department, L 3,470. Agreed to,—Crown Lands Department, L 1,914 15s. In proposing this item, the Premier said that, owing to the enormous waste of labor, cost of services, and great confusion arising from local surveys, he thought the appointment of a Surveyor-General would prove a great boon to the Colony,—Mr J. E. Brown could speak from hia own experience as a surveyor, that such appointment was necessary, and the sooner the Government organised a more perfect system the better.—Mr Fox hoped the Government would adhere to their intention of attempting to improve the surveys of the Colony.—Mr Bunay regarded such proposal as suspicious. It looked like a design on ths part of the Government to get the control of the waste lands of the Colony, What would then become of Provincial Governments?— The Premier explained at length the peculiar position in which the surveys of the Colony were, and the many mistakes all over. He assured the House tuat the proposal was not at all of an insidious character. —Mr Macandrew reminded the House that the report upon the Conference of surveyors recommended such an appointment without fearing any terrible consequence.—Mr Carrington s.dd it would cost a million of money to correct the surveys of the Colony—MrCracroft Wilson; Yes, six millions—ltems : Department of Justic •, LI, 168 ; Crown Land Office, id, 160; Supreme Court, L 7,155 ; District Courts, L 1,610, passed.

PUBLIC WORKS STATEMhNT. Mr Richardson made his Public Worke Statement. He said he hoped to satisfy t e douse that as much work had been put in hand as it was advantageous to the country should be put in baud during the year. Mome few works contemplated last session remained in abeyance. Two reasons had operated to cause this : first, the great demand or labor throughout the Colony rendered it unwise for any active competition with private employers by the department Secondly, there had been a want of skilled engineers, arising mainly from Provincial and private requirements. Seven engineers bad now been obtained from England, but. while he acknowledged some delay, it would be only fair tne House should recognise that, taken as a whole, the progress of public works under tbe depa tment had been quickened during the year beyond what was contemplated last session. He had to repeat the lhauks he expressed last year for tbe energy shown by the officers of the department. He much regretted the loss, by mdden death, of two very promising engineers, Messrs R. Millettand K. Johnstone The Engineer Cadet system was wooing excellently, and would supply officers who would be most valuable to the Colony. He would first refer to the North Island railways. An amicable airangement had been made to relieve Mr Edgar from completing the contract for tbe Kaipara and Riverhead line, audit had been let to Mr Fallon, who was to

finish it in December next. A further appropriation of L 14,000 would be required for this line, mainly owing to the rise in iron. L'his addition would make the total cost L 4.437 per mile. But better ballasting than the contract provided for would be necessary if there was much traffic, and the cost of such ballasting would depend upon the extension from Biverbead to Auckland being made. Hans f r the extension were ready. It had not beeu commenced to badast the line, as the engimer in charge was unable to report that it would pay working expenses. The House, however, would be asked this session to authorise its construction; for, th ugh it would not, taken alone, pay working expenses (and though the Kaipara and Riverhead branch would probably not do so), the Government were convinced ihat a Kaipara to Auckland line would pay considerably more than working expenses. The Auckland to Mercer line was progressing satisfactorily, and it was hoped that the bonus offered to Messrs Brogden, of LSOO a month, would lead to its completion three or four months in advance of contract time, namely, the Ist September, 1875. From Mercer to .Newcastle the line was in hand, partly by contract and partly by the Volunteer Engineer Mditia. That corps now consisted ot three companies, numbering in all about 200 men. Its organisation was effected by the Hon, Dr Pollen, the Government having at one time supposed that additional defence force was necessary in the Waikato, The corps had been at work since December, and had worked very effectively. Their work had been well dour under the direction of the District engineer, but Major Cooper and other officers in charge had maintained discipline and drill, so as to ensure that the corps would be available for defence if needed. It was proposed to charge to defence any excess of cost in the work done by the corps as compared with ordinary contract work. The materials for the Waikato bridge, for road as well as rail-

way traffic, were oa the way from England, aid it was expected the bridge would be completid about March, 1876. As to the extension of this line, it might be said that, if non profession*! opinion could be relied on, there appeared to be no engineering difficulty in carrying the railway in a nearly direct line south from Alexandra, behind Mount Egmont. On the first eighteen miles of the Napier to Waipu-turau line, the con* tractors would be fully a year behind time. They had had great difficulties to contend with in getting sleepers and other timber. JNotice, too, had been given, so as to enforce penalties, if found necessary. A further length of twenty-seven miles was under contract, and progressing satisfactorily, on the Waitara and New Plymouth hues. Contract time fought not to be exceeded; but could it have been foreseen that the Court would sustain such claims for payments for land as it had sustained, the Government would have delayed commencing the work until reasonable arrangements had been effected, a really good line behind Mount Egmont had now been found, and a

working survey from Southland towards Hawera was to be completed. From Wanganui northwards the country had been found very difficult instead ©f favorable, as the department had been led to expect, and, despite all possible exertions, no aate for commencing the formation of the line could be fixed. Th. he <vy works would mainly be within the first thirty miles north ot Wanganui. The bridge over tue Wanganui Kiver was to be completed by March, 1876. i’wo section-, of the Wanganui and Mauawatu line would soon be let, including bridges over the Wanganui and the Turakina. For the remainder, the surveys are well advanced. The conversion of half of the lines from a tramway to a railway was provided for by the JRailways Act, 1872, It was now

found to be absolutely necessary similarly to convert the Haugitikei to Manawatu section. It was proposed to contract with 1r A. F. Halcombe. the agent of the Emigrants and Colonists Aid Corporation, to construct nine miles of this railway, he waiving the right of the company to require employment for 200 of the company’s emigrants at any time during the next three years, a condition which was found to be very embarrassing The first section of the Wellington and Masterton railway had been, after three month' 1 maintenance, taken over from the con ractors It had cost L 3,098 more than contract price, so that the total cost of eit'ht miles, in Ending a fair proportien of the charges f- r the Wellington terminus, was L 49.713. The hurried collection of information on which the contract was based caused both engineers and contractors to be misled as to tue cost of the stone in the hills alongside the line. The stone proved unfitted for sea facing, and there was consequent change of plan and the additional cost stated. Twenty seven miles, including the summit tunnel, were under contract. Six miles of this portion had been satisfactorily completed by Mr M’Kirdy, and would shortly be ready te be opened. The work of the engineers in selecting the best route across the Rimutaka bad been most arduous. The engineer had, in company with Mr James Mackay, examined the country between Cambridge and Manawatu. He had reported, but nothing could ba decided as to a railway line until it was known whether the line

cou.d be taken along on the west side of Lake Taupoinstead of on the east side, the land that would be traversed on the former route being very superior to that on the latter. Homing to the Middle Island Railways, the contractors for the Picton and Blenheim line were much behind time, but they had promised to complete the work as soon as practicable} The Nelson and Foxhill works were progressing satisfactorily. 'I he date for their completion was November, 1875. On the Westport and Mount Kochefort line, the section to Fairdown was a'iout to be let, and the surveys for the completion of the Ngakawhan were in a forward state. He saw no reason why the entire railway should not be completed by the end of 1875, and he hoped that by the middle of 1875 the permanent harbor works at the Buller would be put in hand. The commencement of these works depended uoon the completion of the contract for the first length, ths date of which was August, 1875. The Greymouth and Bruaner line, including the suspension bridge over the Grey River, was in hand, but the railway works were not in such a forward state as was anticipated. This was ©wing to the nec ssity for improving the line over a short length where heavy slips threatened The engineer in charge stated that the steps he h*d taken were sufficient to ensure the safety of the liue ; and the cost of the additions would be met • ut of the appropriation made last year. The protective works uu dertaken had answered all expectations, and had stood the test of some very heavy floods. The North Kowhai to Rangiora was all under contract, and promising satisfactorily. This line should be opened to South Kowhai early next year. The extension from the i' akaia to the south side of the Rangitata included three large bridges and one siuc-dl one. The section to the'Ashburton would be open for general traffic in a few days. The Hind uiver would be opened about the Ist of January, and the whole work would be completed b / the middle of 1875. The continuation of the Temuka line was about to be let, and also from Christ church to Tiruaru. The whole line should be ready for traffic about August or September. 1875. The Touaru to Young’s Greek section

could be opened in two months. From L'imaru to the Waitaki was ready for con■•ract, and about Decomber, 1875, might be named as the time for completion. The branch from Raugiora to Oxford should be completed within contract time, the end of November next. From the Racecourse to Southbridge was to be completed by January next, and the Rollestoa and Malvern anil White Cliffs lines were expected to be readv by iNovember next. All the station buildings for these branch lines were under contract and would be ready in advance of the regulations. Owinj; to the high price of iron, the approf nation for these bronch lines would not be sufficient by about the amount required for the Waimate oranch, and arrangements would have to be made to provide funds for the work. A.ll the rolling stock for these branch lines was in the Colony, and that for the trunk lines was either here, or its shipment had been advised. The completion of the Waitaki bridge was under contract to Messrs M‘Cavin and Co., and should be finished about November, 1873. Every endeavor would be made to keep the contractors to their contract time, and a bonus was offered them to finish it earlier. It had been found necessary to add an extra 6ft to all the cylinders now on (he way from England, and a further appropriation was required to cover the cost. He alluded last year to the great delay caused by the altering in England of the design for this bridge, and he must repeat his personal opinion that the original design would, at a very much smaller cost, have answered the purpose. Passing to the Otago lines, that between Waitaki and Oamaru had been much delayed by the difficulty of getting sleepers. Between Oamaru and Moeraki the works were not in as satisfactory a state as they should be, but the Government were not tree from blame in the

matter. The engiseer over this section had to be removed in November, and since then Messrs Brogden had been getting cm more satisfactorily with the works. On the Moeraki line, half-a-mve of works, costing about L 2.000, would have to be abandoned* This might have been provided against had more time been taken for the survey. Between Moeraki and Dunedin, the heaviest was the tunnel thr ugh the Blueskin. It was progressing satisfactorily. Dunedin to Blueskm would be completed concurrently with the tunnel, and from Blueskin to Moewould be let during the year. An extensionofthe Port Chalmers was contemplated too this year. The Dunedin and Olutha Railway had been recently opened to Green Island—about six mites. The works were progressing satisfactorily on the rest of the line, and with a view of expediting its completion the Government had offered Messrs Brogden a bonus of LBOO per month for every month they saved in completion of the line to Ist September next year. The Tokomairiro and Lawrence Kailway was all under contract; the date for completion of the formation, Ist of June next. The line ought to be finished by Ist September, 1575, but the whole of this work depends on the completion of the Glenore Tunnel. From Clutha to Mataura, the only work actually in hand was the large bridge over the Clutha River, but it was intended to call for tenders for the section between Mataura and Clinton immediately, and the remainder as soon after as possible. Between Mataura and Invercargill about twelve miles had been opened during the past year for traffic, and the remainder of the line was progressing very well, although not so forward as it should be! On the Winton to Kingston line, the contractor for the hist section was not so forward as he should be, and he could not complete the work within the contract time, August 9, but the fault was contractu a. The next section, -8 miles, had just been let, and the remainder would be let as soon as the Government could see their way to procure the material. Ihe action of the Southland District Land Board, by affecting the supply of sleepers, would probably prevent this line being kept

within estimate cost. The cost of railways authorised in each Province, and the amounts appropriated, might be thus summarised ; Auckland, 166 miles 36chains, appropriation L 934 500; Taranaki, 18 miles 13 chains, LI 10.500 ; Hawke’s Bay, 45 miles 25 chains, L 220.000; Wellington, 133 mile*. L 644.000 { Westland, 70 mile* 23 chains, L 74.000; Nelson, 38 miles 20 chains, L 222.200 ; Marlborough, 28 miles 53 chains, Ll2 ,000 ; Canterbury, 251 miles 34 chains, LI, 160 000; Otago, 3.12 miles 4 chains, L 2.065.000 ‘ general (surveys) LlO.OOO: total, I.OiO miles 48 chains; total appropriation, L 5 575,400. There were open for traffic 87 miles 68 chains complete ; ready for traffic, 57 miles 74 chains ; platelaying going on on 103 miles 65 chains ; length under contract, in course of completion. 421 miles 45 chains. Total length undertaken, 673 miles 2 chains. Still to be let, 337 miles 46 chains. Au to.the general results of the operations of the department, Mr Richardson said; "Theexpenditure and liabilities incurred for railways completed or in hand, amount to 13,660,881, leaving L 1,914,519 for which no liabilities -have yet been incurred. This, I think, is a very satisfactory result for the working of the department so far, and although it might have been possible to have forwarded more work on the market, the House will agree with me in believing that it would have been very inadvisable in the interest of the Colony to have done so. Speaking generally with reference to the cost of the railways authorised by Parliament, it has been found that with few exceptions the amount already appropriated will be found sufficient for their completion. Owing to the great fluctuation in the cost of iron in England, it may, however, be well to group the railways in each of the various Provinces in order to make the

appropriations cover the cost as against some lines, the permanent way of which has been charged at the highest rates, whilst the others have obtained all the benefit of the lower rates. Before leaving the subject of railways there is the question of working the traffic on them to be referred to. The first piece of line which is being worked by the Colonial Government is that from Auckland to Onehunga. This was opened before it was completed, and the best arrangement which was found practicable was made with Messrs Brogden, who organised the staff and c unmenced to work the lino. There is a large amount of traffic, and there is no doubt whatever that the line will pay very well. The receipts during seven months have been L 4.834 9a 3d. The lino from Wellington to the Hutc baa been opened since April, and I think that considering the present temporary terminus is so far out of tlie town, and the line so short, it is astonishing that there should be so much traffic on it as there is. There is no reason to doubt that the line will pay, and each section, after the Hutt River is crossed, will materially increase its paying capabilities. The fragmentary portions of the line which have beeu opened »n the Provinces of Canterbury and Otago are for the present being respectively worked by the Provincial Governments. The erection of the large workshops s being pressed forward in Auckland and Dunedin, and I trust in a few mouths the department will be in a position to execute not only repairs, but also to fit up and complete a considerable amount

of robing stock, which must be imported from England. It will be a matter hereafter to decide whether it will he advisable to undertake the manufacture in this Colony of rolling stock which will be required. Road work expenditure during the year has been—in Auckland, L 61,269 ; Taranaki, L 25 077 ; Hawke’s Bay, 1.27,182 ; Wellington, 1.29,311. The total sum expended on roads in each of the four Provinces, up to the end of the year, was—Aucklaud, L 127,665 ; Taranaki, L 62.685 ; Hawke’s Bay, L 58.238 ; Wellington, LI 18,393 ; thus making, with L 1,747 unappropriated, a gross total of L368,(j30. There were, on the 30th June, the following liabilities : Auckland, L 22.851 ; Taranaki, L 6,787 ; Hawke’s Bay, L 6.771; Wellington, L 20,107 ; or, altos'etner, L 56,518. Adding these liabilities to the actual expenditure, the total was , 425,149,1 as against the vote of L 400.000 ; hut the excess hid to be credited L 12,000, expended for the benefit of confiscated lauds. For the L 425, »49 there had

been 1,288 miles opened or in progress, and 525 miles of horse roads constructed. On those roads, besides a very large number of culverts, there were 134 bridges of spans exceeding 30ft., and of a total length of 11,358 ft., and 182 smaller bridges of a total length of 2,874 ft. There had been expended on roads in the Nelson South-west Goldfields, and in Westland, L 130,679, and .here were liabilities amounting to L 14.406, The estimate for goldfields water-supply works, which were mostly based on information supplied by the Proviuciah Governments, had been greatly exceeded. The great increases of cost had been on the Waimea, Nelson Creek, and Thames races, while the Mount Ida race and sludge channel would be completed at a cost very little exceeding the estimate. L 30,000 had been appropriated for this class of works. There bad been expended L 95.937, and there were liabilities amounting to L 201.454. No more works of the kind would be undertaken until time had proved how far those in hand had succeeded. During the year L 2,400 had bisen expended on exploration for coal, and there was a contingent liability for L 1,236. Mr Richardson gave some particulars of trials of coals, and as to the prospects of varipus fields, and spoke of the works carried on and proposed in connection with the Colonial Architect’s Department, tstimatea for new Government offices in Wellington, and for other necessary buildings in different parts of the Colony would, he said, be submitted during the session. The appropriations for railways for which it was proposed to ask this session were—First, L 14,000 for the Kaipara and Kiverhead Railway. Second, L1i2,000, the difference in cost of com-

pleting the Wangauui-Manawatu line as a railway instead of a tramway. Third, L 6 000 to convert the Foxton and Manawatu Tramway into a railway. This was considered very important, on account of the largi timber trade of the district, and the progress of the F / e r l\ D^nfw tl '“ ent ; Fourth * a further sum of Ldo,ooo to extend the railway southward from Waipukurau towards Manawatu, the object being to form the railway, and lay down the permanent sleepers with a wooden rad to the heavy bush land which the main line traverses, and thus get at the timber so much of which was wauted for the railway now in course of construction. Fifth L 15.000 to complete the Waitaki Bridge* bixth, LIOjUOO for the extension of the protective works at Greymouth, The vote of LIOjOOO asked for preliminary surveys being nearly exhausted-a sufficient sum to enable full and complete surveys to be made of the line through from Foxhill to Buunerton, and thence to Canterbury ; and from Greymouth to Hokitika, as well as for such other portions of connecting links of the trunk lines as the staff at command would enable to be plete rouds in hand, as well as struct others considered necessary. Hay! mg stated the roads upon which this money was to be expended, and given other e/ plauations.” Mr Richardson concluded £ follows Up to the 30th Jane, 1873 them ai? 8 i a expenditure by the PnKli» Works department, exclusive ofNmmigr*

tioa, of L 1,649,921 2a lid ; and the expenditure daring the year 1873-74 was L 1,554,446 4s lOd, There are outstanding liabilities in rngland and the Colony of L 1,873,688 16s 41, making a total of expenditure and liabilities of 16,078,056 4s Id. These are large figures, but, sir, we have large results, and there are few who will be found now to assert that any of the railways which are proposed or undertaken will not, from the moment they are opened, return more than working expenses and a fair depreciation fund, and if economically worked will considerably contribute, in eourse of time towards paying interest on the outlay; and, with regard to the roads in the North Island, I do not imagine any one will deny the vast service they have been in opening up and bringing about the settlement of the country. The Colony has undertaken a gigantic work. It is incumbent on the Assembly to see that it is carried out to its legitimate end, and, sir, I have no fear as to the result. ”

In the Legislative Council, The Hon. Mr Waterhouse’s motion, to the effect that the Government be not authorised te lease lands without the sanction of Parliament, was withdrawn, on condition that an opinion of the Honae be asked before the end of the session. The Post Office Savings Bank Bill was thrown out by 12 to 8.