PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 919, 17 November 1910, Page 3

PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT.

SUBMITTED TO THE HOUSE EAST EVENING. Tiio above was delivered in (bo House last evening, the following being a summary : Tho total expenditure on all works and services borne upon the public works estimates last year amounted to £2,218,975, or, i£ we exclude special accounts having their own ways and moans, and take into consideration only actual charges against tho public works fund. I bo total amounted lo £1.993.171, uliiili. with tho exception of the previous year, is the largest expenditure on such works for many years. At. (lie 31st March, 1909, tho available ways and moans for public works purposes wore £383,709, and further funds were received us under: —Balance of £1,250,000 loan raised under the Loan Act of 1908, £50,000; amount received under similar Act of 1909, £900,000; amount received under the Finance Act, 1909, £100,000; amount received under the New Zealand Loans Act, 1908, £12,000; miscellaneous receipts, £2833, making a gross total of £2,348,542. Tho ordinary expenditure of tho year amounted to £1,993,171; debentures redeemed, £300; transfer to State coalmims account in respect of the Greymoutli Point Elizabeth railway, £24,990; other charges, £17,715; thus bringing tho total disbursements uj) to £2.036,176, and leaving a credit balance at the end of the year of £312,366. For the current year it is proposed to provide additional funds as under: Balance of 1909 loans, £350,000; under tho Public Works and Band Sot,l lenient Act, 1910, £1,750,000; under the Aid to Water Power Works Act, 1910, £500,000; transfer from consolidated fund, £800,000; special provision for Irrigation Works (Section 19 Appropriation Act, 1909), £IOO,OOO. Tho above, with tho balance brought forward, gives a gross total of £3,812,366. Tho estimated expenditure for public works for the current year (excluding separate accounts having their own ways and means) amounts to £2,855,000, thus leaving a balance of £957,366 to be carried forward to next year. The proposed transfer from tho consolidated fund is larger than anticipated when the Budget was brought down, but the great improvement in the revenue that lias since taken place has enabled the Minister of Finance to provide a larger measure of assistance than was originally considered possible. Railway Construction. —The sections of railways opened for traffic during the last financial year or since its close arc as under; —Uiiatapn to Hess, 7m 21ch, opened Ist April, 1909; Waihoaka to Tuat.aperc. 8m 7eh. Ist October, 1909; lliversdale to Waikaia, I3m 70ch, Ist October, 1909; Gatlins to llouipapa, 2m 30cb, 17t li December, 1909; Towai to Hukeranui, 4m 31eh, 3rd May, 1910; Wellsfonl to Te liana, 3m 27cb. 16lb May. 1910; Ngaliere to Blackball, 3m 40cli, 16th July, 1910; Domett to Mina, 3m 63ch, Ist August, 1910; Lawrence to Big Hill, 7m 37ch, ready to open; total, 61 miles 6 chains. The total expenditure on railway works last year amounted to £1,283,932. The particulars are as under;—Construction of new' line £786,946, additions to open lines £316,464, Hull .railway and read improvement account £59,282, Hallways Improvement Authorisalion Act account £81,249, Wellington and Munawalu railway [mrclia.sc account £59,991; total, £1,283,932. With regard lo proposals for railway construction this year the Minister said; Having in view the groat importance of completing railway connection between Auckland and Wellington by the East C'oast loute, it is proposed to provido in the Railways Authorisation Bill of the present session lor llio construct ion ot fhe lust portion of tho Napicr-Gisborne section of the line. The votes proposed on the current year’s estimates for the different sections are as under; -—Tail-ranga-Facngarou, £25,000; Gisborne-Mo-tu, £80,000; Napier-Gisborne, £5000; total, £IIO,OOO. With respect to other lines, a very largo amount of work bus been carried out on the Stratford Main Irunk railway during the year. Tho section between Huiroa and Tewera, about seven miles in length, was bunded over to the Railway Department for regular working in June last, and the further section to I’obokura, rather over nine miles, is approaching completion. It is expected that this section will be ready lo be handed over for regular tratlic in January next. The section between Folioknra. and Whangamomoiia is in hand, and is progressisg very satisfactorily. Last year s expenditure constituted a record, having amounted to £93.235. For the current vear a vote of £IOO,OOO is proposed. North island Mam Trunk.—The completion of this railway was mentioned in my last year’s statement, but as a minilasr of liabilities went outstanding a vote of £20,000 was provided on the estimates to convert same. The actual expenditure usder this veto amounted to £27,640, but credits in respect ol lands acquired out of llie previous year's voles, sale of plant, etc., came to hand to a still larger .sum. so (hat no expenditure whatever appears against the vole, but on the contrary a credit balance of £5. No further appropriation on account of the work is required. South Island Main Trunk. At the north end of this line the section between Sodden and Ward bus been practically completed, but us a matter of Departmental convenience is retained in the hands of the Public Works Department fur tile present. Goods and passengers are being carried to meet the requirements of settlers. The new section from Ward to Mirza has been commenced, and is making satisfactory progress. It is proposed in the current year’s Authorisation Bill to provido for a further extension of about three miles and three quarters, namely, to a [joint about one mile south of the Uro river. At the south cud tho section between Domett and Mina, 5 miles 65 chains in length, has hceii completed, ami was handed over to the Railway Department for regular working in August last.. The Parnassus section between Mine and Tho Leader Valley ha.s been commenced, and the works are proceeding satisfactorily. Tho large bridge over the Walarna river is approaching completion, and when finished will be available for road us well as railway trallie. It is desirable, that provision should be made this year for a. further extension of tho line and the Railways Authorisation Bill to bo introduced shortly will accordingly provido for a further section, about six miles in length, up the valley of the river Leader. Midland Railway.’ At the Nelson end ot this railway the section between Kiwi and Tui lias been practically completed, and will be ready for bunding over to the Railway Department early in the new year, and the section between Tui ami Kaka, is nearing completion. The remainder of the works up to and including the large cutting at the Tadmor Saddle are well in hand, and a start, has been made on the Hope side of tho saddle. At the Reefton end tho earthworks on the Uronaduni-Mangalma landing section are nearly completed, and the laying ef the rails is in hand, so that there is not much doubt that trains can be running to the landing by the close of the coming summer. Further work on the section between the Landing and the Mangahua Junction has been suspended for tho present, [lending the examination of a much shorter route which lias been suggested for tho brunch line to West - I’ert. Steady progress continues to be made with the Arthur's Pass tunnel on the Giiiiterbury-Wcstland section of tho line. Tho bottom heading has now been excavated for a total distance of 1 mile 16 chains, enlarging to full size 64 chains, and tho concrete lining 51 chains. The work that is being performed by the contractors is of a very satisfactory character. The contract time expires in August. 1912, and it is becoming tolerably evident that there is very little prospect of the work being completed by that date. Tho contractors are being urged to accelerate tho rate of progress to flic utmost possible extent, in the hope that the completion may not be delayed very materially beyond tho date fixed in the contract. At the Canterbury end of the railway considerable progress has been made, with the result iliat the long section between Broken iviver and the Cass 15 miles 12 chains in b yrth is now practically completed, ai, l l will be opened for regular traffic in the end ot the present month. A large amount ot work lias been taken in band on the sect ion between the Cass and tho Bealev. and the rails have been laid over a [’art of llie distance. llierc will not be the leas; diffn ulty in completing this section up t > th • commencement of the Arthur’s Pass unmel . contract bv file time the tumid itself is completed. Ollier railway works.—The AucklandjFomoso and Addingtou-KoJleston dupli-

cillril lines have been completed and brought into use for i-rafiia The Wel-lington-1 11 jtt, duplication works have made considerable progress. The const ruction of the new main road is well in hand. Work in connection with the Dnnedin-Mosgiel duplication is being pushed on and the Caversham tunnel lias been pierced and the line completed and opened as far as llurnside. A considerable number of men are employed in prosecuting the work thence onwa ids lo Mosgiel. The expenditure on these works for the last financial year was £140.531, made up as follows; —Welliug-lon-llutt duplication works, £30,814; new Hurt road, including land for same, £28.468; Auckland-Penroso duplication works, £5476; Addington-Uolleston duplication works, £9256; Dunodin-Mosgiel duplication and deviation of line. £66,517; total, £140,531. for the current year provision for the duplication works has been made to the extent of £135,000, namely, Auekland-l’enrose £IOOO, \V ollington-llutt £35.000. Addington-Uolleston £3OOO. Duii-edin-Mosgiol £96,000, total £135,000. Irrigation and water supply.—A very considerable amount of survey work in this connection was carried out in Central Otago during last, year, full details of which will be found in the report of tite Kngineer-in-Cbief. It is proposed lo begin with the Ida Valley block, containing 65,200 acres. Public Buildings.—The total expenditure, on public buildings last year amounted to £335,114, namely, £58,165 under the consolidated fund and £276,949 under the. Public Works fund. For the current year votes totalling to £413,190 a.ro proposed, namely, £53.190 out of tho Consolidated fund and £360,000 under the Public Works fund. On Hie current year’s vote provision is made for the completion of the new Government House and a substantial item on account of (be erection of the proposed new Parliamentary Buildings, also for Departmental buildings at Hamilton, Gisborne. New Plymouth. Stratford, Wanganui, Maslerton, (.’bristchurch and Invercargill, and other minor works and charges, tho total vote proposed being £70,000. .Judicial Courthouses. — expenditure on Courthouses for the year amounted to £11,119. For the current year quotes are asked for buildings at Kaikohe, Auckland, Tanmaranui. Upotiki, Waverloy, Ohakune, Masterton, Petonc, Greymouth, Mcthvou and Tapanui, for additions at Hamilton, Gisborne, New' Plymouth, Cheviot and Timaru, and for converting the police station at Warkwortb into a Courthouse,

Gaols. —The total expenditure on gaol buildings amounted to £4231. The new voles include provision for further work at Ml. Eden and Invercargill, for a new building at Gisborne, for development work at Tokaanna. reformatory farm and an addition to the, police station at Timaru to servo as a police gaol.

Police .Stations. —New buildings have been erected .ii Kaitaia, Kaikohe, Hamilton, Shannon. Pongaroa. Takaka, Dnnollie. Sydenham, Lincoln, Rakaia and Ghat bam islands, and various others are in ban.’. Apart from the unexpended votes of last year tile chief new items are for buildings- at Warkwortli. Renmera. Takapuua. Mount Albert, Ponsonby, Taumarunui, Te Puke, Napier, Waitara, Wluiug.miomona. Taibapn and Cobdeu. amt a gymnasium at Newtown training depot. Post and Telegraph.—An extensive building programme is in hand for the Post and Telegraph Department. In addition to largo appropriations on account of now offices at Auckland and Wellington, a considerable sum is required tliis year to meet, the award of the Compensation Court in respect, of the land and building at Wanganui, adjoining the present Post Oilier, which ha.s been taken under the Public Works Act to provido for very necessary enlargements. A large amount on account of buildings for wireless telegraphy will also be required. The erection of a bulk store on land recently reclaimed on Waterloo quay, Wellington. w ilt absorb a considerable sum. and other important buildings have also to be erected.

Mental Hospitals.—The expenditure on mental hospitals during tbo year has been £19,838. Tho works carried out include the additions at Porirna for tire aec.oiunioda,tiou of patients from Mount View, and the main building has been [minted throughout. Tho proposed vole for tbo current year provides for further works at Auckland, Christchurch, Seacliff, Waitati, and Porinui. Provision is also made for the purchase of land, preparing site, and erection of buildings for the new mental hospital at Tokanui, and for the erection of rooms in connection with general hospitals, in which mental patients may be examined instead of police cells. Schools. —The sum of £98,103 was expended out of public works fund last year on school buildings. Most of this amount was paid to education and high school hoards and other governing bodies, for the erection of now buildings and additions and purchase of sites and equipment, etc., for public .schools (including teachers’ residences), training colleges, technical and secondary schools, and university colleges. Provision is made on the. current year’s estimates for works estimated to cost £125,878, on account of which a vote ol £IIO,OOO is asked for other buildings.

Hospitals.—tinder the heading of “Hospitals and Charitable Institutions,” there was an expenditure of £7259 on new buildings and improvements, the chief items being completion of a wing at Hokitika hospital and additions to St. Helena hospital, Dunedin. Tho items on this year’s estimates total to £25,064, oil account of which a vote of £IO,OOO is proposed. The principal item is £l3, 000. to provide for (ho purchase of a silo and building for a new St. Helens hospital at Wellington, the present one, being simply a rented building, ami unsuitable for the purpose. The vote also provides for substantial additions to the St. Helens hospital, Christchurch. Agriculture.-Last year the most important work in. hand was tho erection of lads’ training quarters at the Uuakura. : Experimental Farm. This, with conveniences, is nearly completed. The purchase of a piece ot land at Wallaceviile' was completed, and ibis addition consolidates the block surrounding the pathological and experimental laboratory conducted by the live stock and meat division ot tile -Department. A much-needed stable bus been erected af the Woraroa Experimental Farm. For llie current year a large proportion of the proposed expenditure is 111 connection with llie experimental farms. Last year's expenditure amounted to £5895, and this year’s items total to £10,726, on account of which a vote of £5500 is provided. Roads and Bridges.— The following are some important undertakings which were either in hand or eompleteu during the vear, with the amounts expended thereon;—Te Akim Block, £5444; Kawliia to Marokopa River. £2605; Pakihi, £2902; Uhura road, £64(4; Uhunui Block, £2527; Mangapoike Valley road (east end), £ISOO (contributed by settlers £2590); Te Ann Settlement, £2706; W aimarama Block, £2771; Mason’s to Parapara, £2461; Piripiri Block, £3863; Waiau Ferry to Haunter, £2340; Taien UVmnty Hood damage (£f for £1), £3061. in addition to the above some important bridges were in hand. Hie following are some of them, with tho amounts expended during tho year; \\ aiharakeko bridge expenditure, £2006; Wairoa River bridge (Frasortown), £4324; Mamiwatu River bridge (Lower Gorge), £3676; Wanganui Town bridge, £2116; Butler River bridge (U’tjullivan’s), £2460; Fairlio to Mount Uook (bridges), £2193. A comparison of (lie u nun but ion of expenditure as between tho North and South Islands in largely m favour of the North island, the actual figures being .North Island, £2fl,40u; South island, £110,498; total, £381,904. In addition to the above the sum of £40,830 was expended on goldfields roads and £28,468 on lire construction ol the new Hull road. Tbo total sum voted by Parliament last year under all votes and accounts (exclusive of roads on goldfields vote) lor tho construction, supervision, and maintenance of roads and bridges throughout the Dominion was £541,843. In pursuance of tho previously expressed intention of the Government to intrust local bodies with the expenditure of the major portion of the votes, £183,444 was either authorised or offered to Hie various bounty Councils and Road Boards for expenditure between the tune of the passing of the estimates and the close ot the liiiaueud year, and during the same period £7990 was authorised on departmental engineers. This rear it is proposed to invite the local authorities to submit their proposals for tin' expenditure of the sums available forthwith, and if reasonable expedition is exercised in doing this there should be 110 dilliculty iu tho formal grants being in their hands and available for expenditure within a few days of tho actual passing of the appropriations by Parliament.

During tho financial year 1008-9 the Government of the Dominion undertook the, maintenance of no less than 3352 miles of dray road and 2017 miles o bridle road, or a gross total ot 536 J miles of road. During last year the ligures were much smaller, namely, 25 Jl miles ot dray road and 1246 miles. ot bridle road, or a gross total of 3843 miles of road. Roads on Goldfields—For the current vear the proposed authorisations total to £83,175. on account of which a vote of £50,000 is asked. Total Provision for Roads. —Inc provision submitted for tho current year is as under; Roads, etc., £270,480; backblock roads, £229,620 ; roads on goldfields, £50,000; loans to local bodies account. £100,000; national endowment account, £15,935; land for settlements account (say), £17,000; maintenance of roads (consolidated fund), £30,000; total, £712,935. Telegraph Extension.—During the year £123,422 was expended on telegraphs and telephone extension. The mileage of extensions and trunk circuits erected was 497 miles of line and 2134 miles of wire, and tho telephone exchange circuits 105 miles of line and 5037 miles of wire. New telegraph and telephone oflices to the number of 121, and 17 new telephone exchanges were opened. The number of telephone exchange subscribers increased by 2104. The principal works carried out were: Auckland exchange, under-ground metallic circuit; Hastings exchange, metallic circuit and installation of central battery system; Auckland, Mangonui, Doubtless Bay, Otorohauga, Raurlmu, Napier, Gisborne, metallic circuit; llaotihi, Ohakuno, TaShape, metallic circuit; llirtvcra, Manilla. Opnnake. Wellington, Levin, Christchurch, Timaru. metallic circuit, and Clifdeu blackiiiount. ,

The gross total appropriations include provision for the nndcr-notcd services Departmental, £45,000 immigration, £20.000; lands improvement, £12,500; contingent defence, £10,000; bringing the total amount of the proposed appropriations, including special accounts up to £3.105,935, as against £2,624,480 voted and £2,218,975 actually expended lust year. The Minister concluded as follows:—Tho practical initiation of our hydro-electrical energy policy will, I am sure, act as a great stimulus to tho industrial development of all kinds, and lead to the starting of numerous new enterprises. Trade is rapidly improving, tho public revenue is increasing, and with tho amounts for public works services that are provided the fullest possible employment should bo available for our people in the development of tho country, and I therefore look forward to a year of considerable activity and progress.