PUBLIC WORKS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 405, 18 October 1911, Page 5

PUBLIC WORKS.

STRATFORD MAIN TRUNK. The Public Works Statement, wan laid on the table of the House of Representatives on Monday evening by the Minister for Public' Works, Hon. R. McKenzie. The estimated expendit ire for public works in the coming year in X.'i, 1 15, fw 1. The principal North Island railway appropriations proposed are, as follows: Kaihu extension £1F>,0()0; Ivawakawa - Ilokianga, £00,000; Kawak avva-G r a hams to wn. .111 - r i,000; North Auckland. .C 1 .Ot):!; Hiintly to Awaroa, £20,000; Raetihi to Ohakune, .ill 5,000; Fast Coast Main trunk, ,£10.1,000; Mount Egmont, .£15,000. ST RAT FO lit)- M AIN T 'ill N K. Very good progress has been made with the works on the > ' ratford-Mfiin Trunk line. Th'j W hangamomona tunnel, which is over' 30 chains in length, is proceeding satisfactorily. Survey work has been in hand for some time tit the eastern end of the line, and construction operations will he undertaken as soon as affection of convenient length has been tin ally located. The expenditure on this line last; year amounted t;i> £70,23 I, and for the current year I am asking for a votfc of £loo*ooo. In the South Island the following votes are proposed : South Island Main trunk, £55,01)0; Midland failway, .£11)5,000; Weslport Inangaftua, .£30,000; Ngahere ■ R lack hall, £2000; Grey mouth-Port Elizabeth, .£25,000 ; Ross-Mikonui, ,-£5000; Waitriatc* extension, .£5000; Lawrence-Roxburgh, .£20,000; Catiins I .-- Waimihakn, £ SO, 000 ; Win ton -II odd on Rush, ,£10,000; Oropuki-Waiau, £!">()()(). ( '

WATER POWER SCHEMES, it is estimated that the sum of £375,000 will he required to inajtal a full 10,000 horsepower plant, at Lake Coleridge. ; The estimates of capita! outlay and operating expenses indicate . that power can be supplied at about £(j 10: i tier horse-power per year for whole • salo supply, for distribution, anil for factories. \

Although the Lake Coleridge system is the first in importance other available sources of electrical fencgy are receiving attention. An .investigation of the available market in the Whangarei district, wher* hydroelectric power ia available from the Wnirua Falls, has been made with satisfactory results, ani preliminary steps are about to be' taken for the development of power from those falls and from Lake Waikartmioana. The electrical engineer, will visit both sources of power at an e'a'rly dale. EX PERI MEN A L FARMS. .

Koparrtinp: agricultural training works, the Minister aaifl the lnml at the Ruakura experimental farm in very responsive to draining, and the marked improvement effected by this means wince Hie farm was taken over has been a valuable object lesson. For (be current year provision is made for (lie purchase of land for an experimen!al farm, which it has born decided (o establish in the South .Island. W\\- required on experimental farms are also provided. UA!L WA Y ELE(ITKI EIO AT'ION. The conditions pertaining to the electrification of the ChristchurchEyttelton railway are being investigated, and it is anticipated that with fiie r"upp 1y of power available from I ,ake ('oleridge (ho conversion from steam to electric, working will be profitable. Tenders for the work, will be invited in due course, with n view to i! « complet ion as soon as possible after tb" supply of current, becomes available. After the application of electricity to the working of thi:i line its application to ot.h-r sectians will bo considered. In the meantime all information on the subject is being collected, and the progress of the electrification of railwayVr in other countries is being carefully watched. The department is considering the application of electricity, no!, only to suburban services, where its usefulness ia undoubted, but also as an a'.lornat ivo to regrading, which is proving necessary (3D many of the main lines, in order to cope with the increasing t.rallic. The use of electric traction would dispense vvtih the necessity of regrading in a great many cases, inanmnch as steeper grades can be worked

with eleclric haulage. and at, higher than with steam engines. On m w ]i; n : also it, would bo possible to reduce tho cost of eonstr'ucLion considerably. and to expedite the work by (j H adoption, of higher rulirc iraxiniuni jrre.dient-s than are possible, with (■•team haulage, but. which can he advantageously operated electrically. "rtihi.do lum.ni^cs, N"W Government, buildings are to bo built at Hamilton, Gisbi'ine, New I'lvmoutli and Masterton-, Amongst new courthouses are those at Taumarunui, () Ohakune, Raetihi and additions at; Hamilton. ROADS AND BRIDGES. The provision for the current year is as under: - Roads, etc., .C'jn.oSS; back block roads, roans to ,£, r >0,000; opening up Crown lands (Settlement Account,),. .£100,000; National Endowment, .£ 1 !»,;?. r >o; Land for settlonients, ,£:.'0,000; new Hutt road, XM,00l); maintenance of roads (Gosolidated fund), .I'.'m.OOO; total, .£7SS,:ir>o. Goldtields development will have a vote of .£'3.000 ; Tourist and Health resorts, .£l. r i,000; Telegraph extension, 451 ll.HlkS ; Wire less extension, flTfi.ooo; Lighthouses, . JH () (); Harbour works. .fl'LlwO; Harbour d«fences, ,£d000; ami Waihou and Ohinemuri rivers improvement, .£120,000. LAND SKTTLLMI 'NT. In accord an c<' with tha policy already outlined in oli-. j Financial Statement, this year. Government settlers who take up alloinnmla under the proposed family land settlement system will, wherever possible, if tiiey desire it, li« emploved part of their time on public works to bn promoted to (live access to the lands upon which they are settled.