PARLIAMENTARY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VII, Issue 236, 3 October 1872, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

FOXHILL RAILWAY TO BE PROCEEDED WITH. Wellington, October 3. Mr. Reid made his Public Works Statement last night. He said that 253 miles of railways were contracted for, the contract price being £910,822, and that the estimated cost for their completion was £506,201 more, making the total of the liabilities and engagements for railways and roads in the Middlelsland,£l,4S9,§o9, thus leaving afbalance available for future works of £547,992, and,not £740,489; the difference being caused by outstanding engagements of which no record had appeared, and which were not known at the time the Financial Statement was made. Ihe estimated cost of the completion of the works contracted for exceeded the appropriations by £350,328, for which the Legislature would be asked to make provision in the Bailway Act Amendment Bill now before the House. Out of the proportion of the Middle. Island Railway Fund, there had been expended £67,584, leaving an unexpended balance of £3608. On the Greymouth Protective Works £4000 had been spent, and on unauthorised sureties £600, for which authority would be asked. On Roads in the North Island, the expenditure and liabilities amounted to £172,915, leaving an unexpended balance of £227,084. For Goldfields Water Supply contracts had been let to the amount of £66,644, leaving a balance of £233,355. There were, therefore, available for, Eoads in North Island, Water Supply, and Bailways, including permanent way and rolling-stock, £1,012,040, but this sum was reducible to. the extent of departmental expenses and expenses of raising the loans. During the current year the roads in the North Island would be pressed on to the full extent of the appropriations, the assistance, of the Natives, either as contractors or laborers, being obtained wherever necessary. For the Middle Island Hoads £6000 would be asked. Eoads from Westport to • Nine-mile Creek, and Ahaura to Kaikoura would he proceeded with, as also the construction and widening of roads in Westland. The Goldfields Watr Supply would also be attended to. Out of - the £596,992 available for railways, it was proposed to commence: —Upper Butt to Lower. Hutt, 8 miles j Nelson to Foxhill, 20 miles; Hakaia to Ashburton, including bridge, 20 miles; Timaru, 12 miles; Moeraki to Waitaki, 40.miles, Tbkohiairiro to Lawrence, 20' miles; Wintonto. Kingston, 12 miles; branch line from EoUeston towards Malvern, 20 miles; Brunner Mine rail- 1 way, 7 miles; and Kawakawa, 5 miles, making a total of 168 miles. ; .i During the recess it was.proposed to( make enquiries as to the. merits, of,- -a. branch, line from Oamaru ;■. to Waireka,' the > owners and occupiers of. properties, agreeing. to .rates-amounting to .five ; sevenths of ; the annual'; charge.; > <En(pjiries. fespecting ; the would:, be 'madeduring;! the recess with a view, to their'^ deyelbpment. by railways or tramwaysj It wasV further to push on and comply \ plans of-the Ucesfo : PattirPatti; -tor;Jtuatanawha, V.jt'p\ Masterton, Picton to Blenheim; extension from : the^^ i-VAehbrat.^ and Winton to Ebigsfoni. There would thus be'

the preliminary surveys would be undertaken, and working plans of branch and coal railways would be completed. ..For these £14,000 would be asked. Such were the proposals submitted to the House, and they would, : he (Mr. Gillies'), thought be sufficient to disabuse members' minds of the idea that the Government was opposed to the prosecution of the colonising functions it had undertaken. It would be the duty of the Govt rnment to proceed first with the lines likely to yield the earliest and largest results, and- they hoped byenergy, prudence, and foresight to carry the scheme to a successful termination.