PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT.

Kumara Times, Issue 267, 13 August 1877, Page 1 (Supplement)

PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT.

[PRESS AGENCY.] Wellington, August 10. At the evening sitting, the Public Works Statement "was delivered. The Minister for Public Works (Hon. J. D. Ormond), reminded the House that he took office in January last, and he acknowledged the cordial assistance by way of information, which he had received from his predecessor, the Hon. E. Richardson. Considerable progress had been made during the year in railway works. The votes had not been fully expended, but those who are inclined to complain on that ground should remember that it was not until February that monetary arrangements were concluded which enabled authorised works to be vigorously proceeded with. The KawaKawa line was now completed to the shipping place, and but little additional work on it was proposed at present. The Auckland and Kaipara line was being extended from Helensville to a new and more convenient station on the Kaipara river ; and from Auckland towards Riverhead, a section of ten miles was in progress. The course from that section to Riverhead had to be diverted, and alternative plans were being prepared. The Auckland and Waikato line was expected to be opened in August to Newcastle, 76 miles in all. Newcastle to Ohaupo was proposed to be completed during the financial year, thus adding 20 miles ; work towards Te Awamutu being also pushed on. The railway wharf at Onehunga was in progress. During the year it was intended to improve the station and workshops at Auckland, and connect the present station with the Queen street wharf. The Napier and Manawatu line would be extended five or six miles by October next, when it would be completed to Kopua, and about 05 miles would be in work. During the year a few miles would be finished, and as this would bring the Seventy-Mile Bush settlements into more direct communication with Napier, the traffic would be considerably increased. On the Wellington-Master ton line it had been found that all tunnels must be lined, and this was necessarily a slow work, and the country was altogether difficult, but it was hoped that by December the line would be open to Kaitoki, 27 miles from Wellington, and every exertion would be made to complete the line to Featherston before June next. Formation works towards Masterton would be proceeded with, as would also those required for connecting the Wellington station with the wharf. The Waitara-Patea line would soon be completed to Inglewood, a section south of Inglewood was in progress, and it was proposed to continue the work a few miles further this year. A short section to carry the southern section of the Patea-Manawatu line from the Wanganui River into Wanganui was under contract, and the whole line from Wanganui to Foxton was expected to be finished during the year. The Nelson andFoxhill railway would be connected with the city by June next, and it was intended to erect a workshop in Nelson. The Westport and Ngakawau line and the works for loading coal would shortly be finished. The Picton and Blenheim Railway was to be extended to Blenheim at once, and the work southwards would be begun so soon as the survey had been completed. The Greymouth and Brunnerton line was working satisfactorily. The river protection works would be proceeded with steadily. The station accommodation would be improved, and a workshop erected during the year. The line from Amberley to to Waitaki was completed some months ago. The works proposed to be carried out during the present year were an extension of the main trunk line northwards from Amberley ; about 15 miles completion of the Eyreton railway, now under contract; improvement of the line at the Waimakariri river; completion of the Opawa railway ; conversion of the broad gauge from Amberley to Lyttelton to narrow gaage; re-arrangement and improvement of the railway stations at Christchurch and Lyttelton; additions to station accommodation, and a large increase of rolling stock. Between Moeraki and Dunedin, the whole line was under contract, except the Waikouaiti section, the formation of which had been done by piece work. Every exertion would be used to get the works completed by January next, which was the latest contract date for any of them. Tenders have been invited for the Balclutha-Clinton section of the Dunedin and Invercargill line, and the whole was to be completed by June next; within the next year the Invercargill and Kingston line would be completed, and the Government hoped that by that time the trunk line from Amberley to Kingston, 527 miles in all would be open for traffic. Additional stations and stock for the Marewhenua, Waircka, and Green Island railways were provided for ; the Outram line was nearly completed, but required rolling-stock, there was much yet to be done the Otago and Western railways. The section from Wallacetown to the J unction with the Otautau line was now contracted for, and the completion of the formation of that section to Riverton, and of the Otautau line would be proceeded with, so to be ready for plate-laying, as soon the Wallacetown line was available for conveying the rails, there was no rolling-stock for these lines, but what was required for their working had been ordered. The valuation of the Canterbury and Otago railways, in compliance with the Financial Arrangements Act, 1876, gave these results : Canterbury, L 731,759; Otago, L 372,522. The total length of railways yet authorised, was 1,227 miles of which 412 miles were in the North, and 815 miles in the South Island ; and there were open for traffic 212 h miles in the former, and G47i miles in the latter, making a total of 860 miles. An additional length of 274 miles would be completed during the financial year, about 132 being in the North, and 142 in the South Island, this

would leave nearly 93 miles of authorised lines to be completed subsequent to the current financial year ; something more than G 7 miles being in the North, and 23 miles in the South Island. The amount appropriated by the Immigration and Public Works Appropriation Act last year for railways, was L 1,300,600, the" expenditure against which had been L9G7,425 13s 2d, including the distribution to the several railways concerned of L 29,881 15s 6d, being the balance of the advances made in previous years to the General Railways Account. The total expenditure up to 30th June, 1877, was LG,129,920 lls sd, and the outstanding liabilities L 530,333 4s 4d, This amount included the liabilities of all existing contracts, some of which extend into the year 1878, and for plant and material ordered from Home. It was intended to push on the exploration surveys during the present year and main trunk lines in both Islands, together with definite proposals for their completion. The House would be asked to give further aid in the direction of the special provision made last session for roads in certain districts in the North Island, and for similar purposes in Westland and the Nelson SouthWest Goldfields, on the grounds that these districts had urgent wants which could not be provided for by the local boards, and that they had special claims to consideration from being so situated as not to derive the same immediate and direct advantages from the public works policy as other parts of the Colony, Including re-votes of balances from last year the total asked for these road works would be L 79,172, thus divided Roads north of Auckland, L 25,206, including L25,20G, balance for last year, to which amount there were liabilities—roads in. Native districts, LI 2,000 ; roads in " Westland, L 19,164, including LOG 14 of balance ; roads in Nelson South-west Gold-fields, L 17,802 including L 7802 of balance ; Hokitika and Christchurch road. In formation had not been obtained as yet to enable an accurate statement to be made respecting the condition and cost of Provincial roads and works in construction when the Abolition Act came into force. Votes would be submitted as soon as the necessary information had been received. The Government recognise that the distribution of the expenditure on these Provincial works had been unequal in the different parts of the Colony. We are also aware that there are some works in sparsely settled out-districts, such as bridges over difficult rivers, which are urgently required to connect important divisions of the country, and that in some cases these works are beyond the present means of the County Councils. We do not wish it to be inferred that we think the Colony can provide for all the works of this kind that are desirable, but we propose at the same time that we submit votes to cover the liabilities on the Provincial works in progress, to ask provision for the more important and pressing of the works I have just described, and in so doing we shall take into consideration the claims of those districts which have not shared equally in the Public Works expenditure already incurred. A Bill would be introduced to enable the Government to make advances for opening up blocks of land for settlement. The Government recognised that a sum might be expended most advantageously in this way, but only L 50,000 would be proposed to be so spent this year. The bill would provide that any such expenditure should be recouped out of the proceeds of land sold in blocks thus opened up. As to water-races, the expenditure had been almost wholly confined to a few races, on which large sums had previously been spent. The Government had intended to hand the races over to the respective County Councils, but the Counties communicated with, had not been willing to undertake the charge, and considering the very large cost of the works, the Go° yernment had not felt justified in handing them over, until assured that proper provision was secured for their care and maintenance. The pecuniary results of completed races on the West Coast had not been very satisfactory ; it was intended to ask for votes for L 86,367, to complete the more important races in progress. That amount would be thus Thames, LG,505; Waimea, L 25,828 ; Nelson Creek, L 24,384 ; Pour Mile, L 14,000 ; Mikonui, L 15,650. The amount named for the Mikonui race was the unexpended balance of last year’s vote, but as the estimated cost of that race was LBI,OOO, the Government would not propose to commence the work unless satisfied the whole scheme would be completed by a private company. On public buildings, L 43,309 had been expended during the year, and the estimate was that L 215,600 would be needed for the current year. This was largely owing to the charge and maintenance of all public buildings in the Colony having to be provided for, many of which were formerly Provincial charges. It was found that many of these buildings were in a bad state of repair, and afforded insufficient accommodatiun. For schools alone, it was estimated that L 50,000 was required. The provision needed for lunatic asylums, lighthouses, gaols, police, and courthouses was very considerable. With respect to coal exploration, the results of the year had included the survey of the Buffer field, which had been proved to contain over one hundred millions of good coal, advantageously workable. Only one mine, that of the Wellington Company, had yet been opened. At Greymouth, the Brunner Company had in three years extended their workings from 22 acres to 38 acres, and their total output during that time had been 49,833 tons. The Coal Pit Heath Company had coal on the market, and the Greymouth company had reached coal in their new shaft, and expected to be at work shortly. In the Waikato Basin, it was believed to be probable that more coal existed than had yet been stated in the most sanguine estimate. Two new mines were sending coal to market, and one of them, the Bridgewater, had a seam 55ft thick, only 18ft being at present worked. Coming next to the question of railway management, Mr Ormond explained that

when the Government took over the" Otago and Canterbury railways, they found that the tariffs charged on them differed from each other, and that the tariffs on the General Government lines differed from both. Thence the necessity for the Railway Commission, the essential recommendations of which, after very careful consideration, had been put into' force. As to their effect, he said —“The Government believe that the tariff should be as nearly as uniform as possible, but experience has already shown that there are cases in which uniformity must be abandoned, or the traffic of the railways suffer, and the Government will not hesitate in such cases to depart from the general principle of uniform rate.” In the meantime I have instructed the managers of the different railways to report on the working of the tariff, and, generally, as to the operation of the new regulations, with the hope that, aided by the information they can afford, and assisted by the representations that are freely made by the settlers, such alterations can be effected as will meet the public requirements. The principal recommendations of the Auckland Railways Commission were—that charges should be reduced, and more power given to the local manager. The Government concurred in the desirableness of the railway managers being allowed more discretion than hitherto, and effect was being given to this view. Their recommendation as to charges involves the whole question of the tariff. After very carefully considering the subject, the Government purposed taking power this session to lease the Auckland and Waikato railway, with the view of practically testing the advantages of that mode of management. On the Canterbury railways the great increase of traffic caused inconvenience during the grain season ; the traffic returns for March last, showed* a total of 51,000 tons, as against 37,400 tons in the corresponding month of 1876 ; and in April the returns showed 49,000 tons, as against 33,800. Such an increase could have been foreseen and provided for by the Provincial authorities ; to guard against like difficulties in future the Government were procuring a large addition to the narrow guage rolling stock, and the Amberley-Lyttelton section was altered to the New'Zealand standard gauge. When the Financial Statement was made some of the departmental accounts of the southern lines had not been finally adjusted, therefore the amounts given in that statement as the earning and profits of the railways were not quite accurate. They were now found to be Total receipts during twelve months on lines under Public Works Department management, and during six months on the Canterbury and Otago lines, L 311,187 7s lid ; expenditure, L 224,800 17s 9d, leaving a balance of L 86,386 10s 2d. As to the future, the hon. gentleman said, the traffic returns for the present year will without doubt be largely in excess of this year’s. Not only have we to expect an increase on the lines now open but it must be remembered that during the present year it is proposed to com° plete the works now in progress in Otago, which will connect the northern and southern districts with Dunedin, and make one continuous line from Amberley to Kingston of 527 miles, exclusive of 222 miles of branch lines in the same districts. Then the railways from Auckland to Waikato, Wellington, and Wairarapa, and Wanganui to Foxton are also to be completed within the same period, each line opening large and important districts, and although all these lines will not be complete in time to get returns from them within the present year, yet the additional mileage that will be opened at an early date, will materially add to the traffic receipts.” Taking the three principal works, the expenditure in each Island up to June 30 had been as follows North IslandRailways, L 2.199,465 ; roads, L 471.160 • water-races, L66,35l ; total, L2,736,947* South Island. Railways, L 3,930,455 • roads, L 198,411 ; water-races, L 288,741 • total, L 4,417,607 ; aggregate for both Islands, L 7,154,550. The expenditure proposed for the current years for railways was L 1,370,100 ; but that amount included liabilities which, on the 30th June last, aggregated L 530,333. In the following statement of railways and proposed appropriations, the liabilities were included in each case Kawhaka, L 6113 ■ Kaipara and Puniu, L 142,830; Waitara and Patea, L 50,000; Patea and Manawatu, L 141,956 ; Napier and Manawatu, Lf5,633 ; Wellington and Masterton, L 162,677; Nelson and Foxhill, L 11,083 • Picton and Blenheim, L 29.235; Greymouth and Brunnerton, L 35,006 ; Westport and Ngakawau, L 38,234 ; Amberley and Waitaki, and northwards, L 182,754 • Waitaki and Bluff, and branches, L 365.488 ; Winton and Kingston, L 39,296 ; Western Railways, L 37,587 • Surveys, LIO,OOO ; Land, L 42,208. The Government (said the hon. gentleman in conclusion) would have preferred to propose a smaller expenditure for the year, but taking into consideration that in the case of some of the most important railways the works are far advanced, and represent in their unfinished state a large unproductive expenditure, we consider it necessary to provide for their completion at as early a date a possible. We also think it requisite to push on the completion of the main line from Dunedin to Invercargill and through to Kingston, and to advance the works on the different sections of the main trunk lines of both Islands, and to provide the rolling-stock and station accommodation which is necessary to secure the efficient working of the railways throughout the Colony. With the exception that we undertake the completion of those branch railways in the South Island which were in course of construction by the Provincial Government, our proposals are confined to works on the main trunk line. We consider the Colony is not in a position at present to undertak© tho responsibility of constructxng branch lines, but must confine itself to steadily proceeding with the main trunks. We Jully recog.

mse, however* tßWmany impoV tricts in the Colony may be 'i assisted in the developmet resources by the construction district railways, and to provrif a District Railway Bill has bee which, we believe, will enable t that is in a position to support to secure it. I purpose subm Bill to the House very shorth liament sanctions the work I posed, a very considerable ix be added during the year to the working railways, and looking at of the past year, we may ■ expect a largely increased traff returns as will amply justify i for the further extension of system.

After a few remarks by J Barff, and Mr Macandrev adjourned at 8.50.