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Hokitika Guardian, 4 October 1930, Page 4

Paktict’labb of .tils Public Works Estimates to be passed by Parliament, appear in this issue. The amount for this district is increased this year by the large.' building scheme now going forward at the Mental Hospital to assist in coping with the congestion of patients at the large centres. A large ward for females is now almost completed, the building being part of the £12,000 vote last year, whereof to the 30th March last £8064 were spent. Several farm buildings are now in course of erection, after while it is proposed to erect two or three moa v e large receiving wards. The vote for this year is the substantial sum of £24,000, against which the liability is given at only £774. It should, therefore, be possible with the funds available, to proceed rapidly Avith the completion of the building programme which appears to be so necessary to relieve the congestion in the central institutions. The road estimates have suffered a good deal, and a noticeable feature of tliis year’s appropriations is the number of subsidised votes, the local body in many instances haying toi find half the money. It is gratifying to find sufficient money voted to meet the estimated cost of completing the road to Dorothy Falls, so that distance should now be accomplished definitely. Enough money is voted, also, to clear off the liability on the Little Wanganui rher protection. A substan-' tial vote of £10,060 is provided for the. Great South Road beyond Welieka. The estimated cost of the section in hand is £ : 16,370, so that the money provided should ensure the Fox river bridge lieing built, and the road surfaced well through to Havelock creek. Considerable further iinpro vein cuts are evidently included on the Waiho-Weheka road, for which there is a vote of £4,400 the estimated amount to complete the improvements—doubtless including the small bridges to be erected. In this connection both Clearwater and Rocky Creek bridges are specially provided for with, votes of the estimated sum

to ensure erection. Generally,; the treatment of South Westland’ • must bo considered good, and it is the evident intention to give the sett lens on the southern route access equal to that enjoyed by residents of the, East Coast over many years. It is pleasing, particularly, to see the Great South Road provided for in such a way that this year it will be forged definitely ahead. The bridges in themselves are a great boon, a i/d assist to secure the completion of the road. There is also a vote of £3200 for roading Pocrua run, now being cut up. This work has iust been put in hand, and will be carried through to completion as rapidly as possible gome particulars of the Highways expenditure were indicated previously, and the Estimates confirm the pre- ; vious information. The substantial works referred* to above, account" for' the absence of many smaller local >or district works which would lie : acceptable to isolated' settlers in ;vnrious parts of the County. 'The-'appli-cations which have been successful under this heading, are the subsidised' votes, which mean a considerable,; tax on the local body fundfs. Apart from this, and particularly in the light of the 'general financial position, i the local share of the public expenditure is certainly substantial, and it how remains for the authorities to' sec that the expenditure is authorised as. quickly as possible.