Public Works Statement

Feilding Star, Volume XIV, Issue 44, 29 September 1892, Page 3

Public Works Statement

(PEB FBEBS ASSOCIATION.) Wellington. September 27The following is a digest of the abov statement delivered in the House las Tuesday by the Hon Mr Seddon :— Before dealing with the particula works in detail it is well that I shoul< make a statement ns to the Public Wore: Funds. The state of the Public Work Fund on 31sl March last was as follows Part 1— Unexpended balances on 31s' Mnrch, 1891, £861,989; * nrin * 1891-92, £350.071 ; totals, £712.060 :ex penditure for the year ending 3lsl March, 1892, mainin* 31st March i 892, £29 9.5 78 i, liabilities existing 31st March, 1862. £250.064; net balances available 31>l March. 1592, £4",514. As already annouueed in the Financial Statement, the Government proposes tc devote £200,000 of the estimated surplus revenue of the year to Public Works purposes. In addition to this £50,()0C will be available under the Government Loans to Local Bodies Act. and some miscellaneous credits to the extent ol another £2000 or so are expected to ht received in addition. The following table shows the slate of the Public Works Fund on 31st Mnrch last and the estimate of how it will stand on 31st March next if the proposals which I now submit to the House ire approved of.— Cash balance on 31st March, 1892, £576,555 ; credit from sur plus revenue and Loans to Local Bodies Act £250,000; probable recorer.es duriDßthe jear, £2000; amount propnsjd for actual expenditure during 1892*93. £661,765 : estimated cash balances on 31st March, 1893, available for ■ expend.. ture after that date, £166,790; cash Ulances ,m 31st March, 1892, £576,555 ; credit from surplus revenue and bo wo ment loans to Local Bodies Act, £2oO,« 000 • probable recoveries during the year. £2000; total. £828,555 ; total, appropriation proposed for expenditure during 1892 93, «nd to cover liabilities at the end of the year. £779,216; estimated balance on 31st March, 1893 nr^Me for future appropriation, dr , Lto),dM The expenditure on the main roads last year was £11,789, with a liability at the Ld of the year of £4945. Th»J"* rt » proposed to vote a sum of ±16,000 tor road works of this class. There are still several main roads roads in the unsettled districts, which it is imperative for the Government to maintain in order to promote settlement and commerce, aud that the convenience of travellers may be reasonably met. On district roads last year £6843 was expended, and liabilities existed on the 31st of March to the amount of £8068. This year I propose a vote of £15,295 for district roads. The roads that open up Crown lands for sale are of far the greatest importance. The amount expended last year on roads of this class was £27,993, and village settlements and roads in connection therewith was £5830. The liabilities at the end of tie year were £38784 and £5780, and it is proposed to ask for £88,310 and £5768. The area of country to be opened is greater this year than for some years, owing to settlement being in advance ol roads to give access to the land. The blocks principally requiring opening up are situated in seyeral provincial districts, where settlement is progressing. Actually there is urgent need for expenditure in the interests of settlement, for without it settlement cannot advance. It is, of coursa, well-known that the lands now to be occupied are more difficult of access than already disposed of, and the expenditure of making roads is, therefore, greater. Last year the funds available under the Government Loans to Local Bodies Act could not be made use of during that period to the extent allowed by law, because of the preparation necessary to bring the Act into operation. In the way of getting any definite information as to the value of the land, and as to the actual roads required in the blocks to be disposed of the annual reports of the Department of Lands and Survey contain full details of road construction work done during the jear. The following new roads undertaken are :— Ohakune, Pipiriki, Hunter ville, Turangete, Tokaanu Tunnel, Karioi, Makino, and Makuri (in Wairarapa), Catlins, Waikama, Mauruwhema. and Orepuki Waiau. Since the date of the Lands and Survey Deportment report the main road from Hunterville has been completed to Turangarere, and it is expected that the gap existing between Turangerere and Taupo will be finished shortly after the New Year This will permit of coach and jail traffic between Wellington and Auckland. The Oha kune Pipiriki Road has been under contract during the year, and only seven miles remain unfinished. In May a steamer commenced to run between Wangamii and Pipiriki, so that on tho completion of the seven miles referred to there will be a continuous communication by coach and steamer between Wanganui and Napier. The Stratford Road is now very nearly finished for a distance of 21 miles from Stratford. It is proposed to push on the extension during the coming season, at both ends. A portion of the road from the tunnel on the railway line to Taumaranai, on the Wanganui River, has been formed for a dray traffic, and some very bad hills have been avoided. It js proposed to continue the construction from four miles beyond the tunnel to the junctioa of the Stratford Route. The return recently presented to Parliament by command of His Excellency the Governor shows the results of the operations of the Native Land Purchase Department since the inauguration of the immigration and public works policy of 1870 to 31st March last as follows :— 5,855,457 acres finally acquired at a total cost of £1,172,434, or about 4s 5d per acre all round, and 1.400,777 acres atUl under negociation, on which the sum of £76,441 had been expended up to the above date.