PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT.

Kumara Times, Issue 998, 11 December 1879, Page 2

PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT.

From the Statement delivered by thft Minister of Public Works in the House of Representatives on Tuesday evening last; we extract the following items in connection with public works proposed to be undertaken on the West Const; and the works north and south to connect the East and West Coasts j also the amount proposed to be expsnded for water-races throughout the colony, of which; although no particular district is mentioned, vre have little doubt we shall obtain a fair proportion. RAILWAYS: Connection is being made on tile Nelson and Foxhill line with the port at Nelson, and inland an extension of three miles from Foxhill is in progress. The Picton and Blenheim line is being carried into the town of Blenheim. The Harbor Works at Greymouth, "• which maybe regarded as an adjunct to the railway system, seems as far as they have been completed, to answer the purpose for which they were intended; From the Engineer’s report it would seem that the employment of a dredge has materially facilitated the work and reduced the cost of these improvements. Nelson to Greymouth.—lt is intended to call for tenders for a section at each end of this line, and to carry on the Greymouth harbor works move vigorously than circumstances have rendered it possible during the past year. Greymouth to Hokitika.—The continuance of this line will bd kept steadily in view. Westport to Ngakawau.—The Buller protective works will be completed so as to insure the whole distance, as well as the railway, against the encroachments of the river. There is every reason to hope that very shortly coal mines in this district will be in full working order, the expenditure incurred on this line turned to profitable account. Picton to Hurunui.—ln addition to completion of the line to Blenheim, a section to the southwards will be surveyed and advertised for contract. Hurunui to Waitaki.—The main line through the M'eka Pass to Hurunui Pass will he completed and the stations at the large centres improved.

East and West Coast.—This line will Hot be lost sight of, and while no special portion can for the present be begun, the "surveys will be continued during the summer. Hitherto only preliminary surveys made, and then these have not been completed on the routes which seem to present the greatest advantages without the fullest information, it would evidently be impossible to give a trustworthy estimate of the cost of this undertaking. I have abstained from burdening the above proposals With details of the mileage and post of the various works to be. undertaken but very full information will be found on table No. 1, attached to the printed statement. This table is intended to form one of the schedules to the Immigration and Public Works Appropriation Bill in compliance with the provision in section 9 of the proposed Public Works Act, 1879 ; aiid this Bill, if adopted, will practically provide ,the guarantees sought to be obtained by Parliament in the Railways Construction Act of last year. WATER-RACES. The Vote proposed to be taken for waterraces is L 39,883. This sum will be expended as indicated in the Estinatos, on works which, while thep promise to be beneficial, cannot be expected to bo directly remunerative.

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