PROCEEDINGS IN PARLIAMENT.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1319, 21 October 1872, Page 2

PROCEEDINGS IN PARLIAMENT.

PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT. Wellington, Oct. 19. On Friday evening, the Oamaru and Maerewhenua Railway Bill was passed. On the motion to go into Committee, Mr Ormond made his Public Works Statement. As to railways, he said the esti- , mated amounts were only estimates, as the surveys in many cases were not sufficiently advanced, ho was unable to make accurate calculations. The amounts were simply as near as possible with the information available, and subject to alteration from the variation of the labor market and other causes. Except in the case of the Waitara railway, which was exceptional on account of its political importance, the Government would construct no line unless the chief engineer gave . a certificate that it would pay working expenses. The estimated cost included land, engineering, and office expenses, stations, rolling stock, and everything complete. The sums stated after the number of miles in each case is the amount required to complete them, in addition to the amount already authorised for the line :— Auckland arid Riverhead line, 17 miles of which are already contracted for at the authorised amount, to be completed in September, 1873 ; and for the remainder of the line, the surveys are to be ready by March, when the Government would be prepared to contract, if the line was likely to pay ; to be' completed in three years. — Auckland to Mercer, 46 miles, L 132,500, including a branch line to Onehunga. The greater portion is already contracted for, to be completed in September, 1875.-r-Napier to Waipukurau, 45 mile 3, L 29,00 0: 18 miles already under contract ; to be completed in September, 1873.— Waitara to Wanganui, 11 mile 3 : L 10,500, to be commenced immediately ; and it is hoped the survey of the remainder of the line would be completed by next session. It was intended that its construction should proceed simultaneously with the settlement of the country through which it passed.— Wellington to Masterton, 70 miles : L 38,500 : 20 miles of the survey to be completed in November, 1873. It was proposed then to let the additional 20 miles ; and the whole' of the line to be completed in four years. — Manawatu to Wanganui, 50 miles : L 90,000, tramway only. This was now authorised, but it was proposed to substitute a railway between Wanganui and Rangitikei, and a tramway thence to Manawatu, 13 miles. The railway to be commenced immediately, and 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, L 24,550. The surveys are now ready for contract, line to be completed in two or three years. Picton to Blenheim, 19 miles, L 46,000, including an extension from Rangiora to the north bank of the Kowai, 15 miles, L 20.500. The survey to be completed by January, and the construction within two years. Addington to Rangiora, 17 miles, already constructed. Selwyn to R*kaia, 11 miles, including Rakaia Bridge, L 40,000, nearly completed. Rakaia to Ashburton, 20 miles, L 24,000. Survey completed, and line to be completed in two years. Ashburfcon to Terauka, 32 miles, L 115,040, including three bridges. Survey to be ready in a month, and the line to be completed in three years. Temuka to Timaru, 12 miles, L 70,000. The survey to be ready in January, and the line completed in two years. Moeraki to Waitaki, 40 miles, L 99,000. Surveys ready, and line will be pushed on expeditiously and finished in three years. Dunedin to Clutha, 51 miles, L 70,700. Contracted for, and to be finished by September, i 1875. Tokomairiro to Lawrence, 20 miles, L 56,000. Surveys will be ready in March, and line to be commenced immediately, and continued concurrently with the line from Tokomairiro to Clutha. Invercargill to Mataura, 30 miles, L 37,000, under contract ; to be completed in September, 1874.— Winton to .Kingston, 70 miles: L 51,600, survey to be ready in March. The railway to be carried on in four sections, and to be completed in four years.— Waitaki bridge, L 25,000, required to be completed as far as possible. Coal Fields lines.—[Kawakaua, ?J 8 miles, L 25,00 0; Brunner to Greymouth, 7 miles, L 26,26 0; Mount Rochfort, L 60,000. To be commenced as soon as arrangements are made for working the mines profitably.— The Canterbury branch lines — Rangiora to Oxford, Kaiapoi to Eyreton, Racecourse to Southbridge, Waimate to main line, Malvern to Rolleston— would be commenced immediately, and carried on simultaneously,

in accordance with the understanding with the Provincial Council. The estimated cost now for the whole of the works is L 3,661,516,, 661, 51 6, as against L 2,719,410 formerly appropriated; the difference, L 924,506, being accounted for thus : Rise in cost of iron, L 450,00 0; Rakaia bridge, not formerly provided for, L 40.000. Rangitata, Orari, and Hinds bridges, notformerlyprovidedfor, L 80,000; increased rate 3 for work, L 247,230 ; total. L 817,230. To this add approximate estimate for purchase of land, L 192,900 ; engineering and office, L 157,760 - total, L 1,167,890. The average cost of the railways would only be about LSOOO per mile, including everj' thing. He intended to ask LIO,OOO for the survey of new lines, principally for the intervals in the main lines— Christchurch toDunedin, extension of Mercer to Waikato, and a main line to the West Coast of the North Island. He also asked power to purchase the Port Chalmers line. After a debate, the Railway Bill passed the committee, and was read a third time. To-day the Immigration and Public Works Bill was committed, after a short debate, and nearly all the clauses wore passed, when the House rose. The prorogation is expected on Wednesday, and many members leave tomorrow.