PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IX, Issue 175, 25 July 1874, Page 2

PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT.

[By Electric Telegraph.] We are indebted to the Hon. the Minister of Publia Worka for the following:— Wellington, July 24. Mr. Richardson made his Public Works Statement in the House this evening. He said ho hoped to satisfy the House that as much work had been put in hand as it was advantageous to the country should be put in hand during the year, gome few works contemplated last session remained in abeyance. Two reasons had operated to cause this : First, the great demand for labour throughout the colony rendered every one very active, Hnd caused competition to the department ; secodlv, there had been a want of skilled engineers, arising mainly from Provincial and private requirements. Seven engineers had now been obtained from England. But while he acknowledged some delays it would be only fair that the House should recognize that, taken as a whole, the progress of public works under the department had been quickened during the year beyond what was contemplated laßt se«sion. He had to repeat the thanks he had expressed last year for the energy shown by the officers of the department. He much regretted the loss by sudden derth of two very promising engineers — Messrs. R Millett and R. Johnston. The engineer cadet system waa working excellently, and would supply officers who would be most valuable to the colony. He would first refer to North Island railways. An amicable arrangement had been made to relieve Mr Edear from completing the contract for the Kaipara and Riverkead line, and it had been let to Mr Fallon, who was to finish it in December next. A further appropriation of £14,000 would be required for this line, mainly owing to the rise in iron. This additional would make the total cost £4,437 per mile. But Ktter ballasting thin works provided for would be necessary if there was much traffic, and the cost of such ballasting would depend upon the extension from Riverhead to Auckland being made. Plans for the extension were ready, but it had not been commenced. Mr Ballast, the engineer in charge, was unable to report that it would pay working expenses. The House would, however, be asked this session to authorise its construction, for though it probably would not, taken alone, pay working expenses, and though the Kaipara and Kiverhead branch would probably not do so, the Government were convinced that a Kaipara to Auckland line would pay considerably more than working expenses. The Auckland to Mercer line was progressing *atisfactorily, and it was hoped that the bonus offered to Messrs Brogden of £500 a month would lead to its completion three or four months in advance of contract time, Ist September, 1875. Pr m Mercer to Newcastle, the line was in hand, partly by contract nnd partly by the Volunteer Engineer Mili-ia, that corps now consisted of three companies numbering in all about 200 men. Its organisation waa effected by the Hon. Dr. Pollen, the Government having at one time supposed the additional defence force was necessary in the Waikato. Tbe corps had been at work since December, nnd had worked very effectively. Their work had bren well done under tho directions ofthe District Engineer, but Major Cooper and the other officers in charge, had maintained discipline and drill so « sto ensure that the corps would be available for defence if needed. It was proposed to charge to Defence any excess of cost in the work done by the corps, as compared with ordinary contract work. The materials for the Waikato bridge, for coach as well as railway traffic, were on the way from England and it was expected the bridge would ba completed about Mnrch, 1876. As to the extension of thia line it might be said that if non professional opinion could be relied on, there appeared to be no engineering difficulty in carrying the railway in a nearly direct line south from Alexandra behind Mount Egmont. On the first eighteen miles of the Napier to Waipukurau line the contractors would be fuliy a yr ar behind time. They bad trrtat dflicultiea to contend wi'h in getting sleepers and other timb-. r. Notice too, had beeu given so ns to enforce penalties it found neoessary. A further length of £7 miles was und^r contract snd progressing satisfactorily on the Waitara and New Plymouth lines The contract time ought not to be exceeded, but tould it have been foreseen that the Court would sustain such claims for payment for land as it had sustained, the Government would have delayed commencing tho works until reasonable arrangements h d been effected. A really good line behind Mount Jgmont has now been found, and a working survey southwards towards Hawera was to be completed from Wanganui northwards. The country had beea found very difficult instead of favorable- as the department had been led to expect, and, despite all possible exertions, no date for commencing the formatin of the line could be fixed. The heavy works would mainly be within the first 30 miles north of Wanganui. Tiie bridge over the Wanganui Kiver was to be completed by Maich, 1876. Two sections of the Wanganui and Manawatu would soon be let, including bridges over the WaDganui and the Turakina; for the re- j mainder the surveys are well advanced. The conversion of half of the lines from a tramway to a railway was provided for by the Railways Act, 1873. It was now found to be absolutely necessary similarly to convert the Rangiiikei to Manawatu section. It was propose! to j contract with Mr A. F. Halcombe, the agent j of the Emigrant and Colonists' Aid Corporation, to construct 9 miles of this railway, he waiving the right of the company to require employment for 200 of the company's emigrants at any time during the next three years, a condition which was found to be very embarrassing. The first section of the Wellington and Ma<terton Railway had been, after three montbs maintenance, taken over from the contractor. It had cost £3098 more than the contract price, so that the total cost of 8 miles, including a fair proportion of the charges of the Wellington terminus, was £49,713. The hurried collection of information on which the contract was based caused both engineers and contractors to be misled as to the cost of the stone in the hills alongside the line. The stone proved unfitted fjr sea facing, and there was consequently change of plan and the addit ; onal cost sated; 27 miles, including the summit tunnel, were under contract. Six miles of this portion had been satisfactorily completed by Mr M'Klrby, and would shortly be ready to be opened. The work of the engineer in selecting the best route across the Rimutaka had been most arduous. The engineer had, in company with Mr James Mackay, examined the country between Cambridge and Manawatu. He had reported, but nothing could bo decided as to a railway line until it was known whether the line could be taken on to the west side of I ake Taupo instead of the east side, the land that would be triversed on the former route being very superior to that on the latter. Coming to the Middle Island railways, the contractors for the Picton and Blenheim line were much behind time, but they had promised to comp ete as soon aa pra'.ticab'e. The Nelson and Fox-hill woks were progressing satisfactorily, the date for their comp ciioii was November, 1875. On the Westport aud Mount Rochfort line, tbe section to Faimown is about to be let, and the surveys for the completion to Ngakawhau were in a forward state. He saw no reason why the entire railway should not be completed by the end of 1875. and he hoped that before the middle of 1875 the permanent harbor works would be put in hand. The commencement of these works depended upon the completion

of the contract for the first length, the date of which wfia August, 1875. Tne Greymouth and Brunner line, including the suspension bridge over the Grey River, was in hand, but the railway works were not in such a forward state as was anticipated. This was owing to the necessity for improving the lice over, a short length whtre heavy slips threatened. The engineer in charge stated that the steps he h".d taken were sufficient to insure the safety of the line, and the cost of the addition* would be met out of tbe appropriation made last year.;. The piotective works undertaken had > riswerel all expectations and had stood the test of some very heavy floods. The North Kowai to Rangiora was all under contract, and pr pressing satisfactorily. The line should be opened to South Kowat eerly next year. The extension from the Rakaia to the south nde of the Raagitata, included three large bridge j and one small one. The section to the Ashbu-tou would be open for general traffic iv a kvr days. To the Hinds river would be opened about January Ist nex% and the whole work would be completed by the middle of 18*5. Tho continuation of Temuka was about to be let, and from Christchurch to Timaru the whole line should le ready for traffic about August or September, 1875. Thi Timaru to Young's Creek section could be openeu in two months. From Timaru to the Wnitata was ready for contract, and about Dtcimber, 1815, might be named as the time for completion. The branch from Rangiora to Oxford should be completed within contract time, the end of November next From the racecourse to the. Souhbridge was to bs completed by January next, and the Rolleston and Malvern and Whi'e Cliffs lines were expected to be ready by November next. All the station buildinga for tbeae branch lines were under contract, aud would be ready in accordance with the regulations. Owing to the high price of iron the . appropriation for these bravch lines would not be sufficient by about the amount require! for the Waimate branch, en 1 arrangements would have to >oe made to provide funas for that work. All the rolling stock for these branch lines was ia the Colony, and that f;r the trunk lines was either here or its shipment had been advised. The completion of the Waitaki bridgo was under contract to Messrs M'Gravin & Co , und should be finished about November, 1875; every endeavor would be made to keep the contractors to their contract time, and a bonus was offered them to finish it earlier. It has been found necessary to add ao extra six feet to tvll the cylinders now on the way from England, and a further appropripticn would be require! to cover the cost. He alluded last yar to the great delay caused by the alteration in Eng l»nd of the design for this br.dje, and he must repeat his personal opinion that tbe original desigu would at very much smaller tost have answered the purpose. Pissing to the Otago lines, that between Waitaki an) Oamarn had been much delayed by the difficulty of gettiug sleepers. Between Oamaru and Moreaki the works were not in as satisfactory a state as they should be, but the Government vere not free from blame in the matter. The engineer over this section had to be removed in November, and since thin Mr Brogden had been getting on more Sitit factor ly with the works On die Moreaki line half a u.ile of works costing £20'<0 would have 1 e?n abandoned. This might have betn provided against had more time been taken for the Burvey. Be'ween Mo.raki snd Dunedin theheaviest was the tunnel through the Blueskin. Jt was progressing satisfactorily. Dunedin ti Biueskin and Clay woul l be completed concurrently with the tunnel from Biueskin to Mueraki and would be idt during the year. An exten ion to the Port Chalmers railway was contemplated to be made this year. The Dunedin and Clutha railway bad betn recently opened to Green Island abcut sis miles. The works wire progressing satisfactorily on the rest ofthe line an i with a view of expediting its completion, the Government had offered Messrs Brogden a bonus cf £800 fer month fer every month they saved in completion of the line lo September Ist next year The line ought to be finished by Ist of September, 1875, but the whole of this depends on the completion ofthe Gtenore tuouel From Clutha to Matmra the only work actually in hand was for the large bridge over the Clutha river, but it was intended to call tor tenders for tlie section between Mataura and Clinton immedi te'y, and the remainder as soon after as possible. Hetwe» n Matauia and InvercargiU about 12 miles had been open du'iog the past year or traffic, and the remainder of the line was progressing very well, although not so fo-ward as it should be. Oa the Winton to King ton line the contractor for the first section was not so forward as he should be, and he could not complete the work in the contract time, August 9. But the fault was not with the contractors; the next section, 28 miles, had just been let, and the remainder would be let as soon as the Government could see their way to procure the necessary material. The action of the Southland District Land Board, by affecting the supply of sleepers, would probably prevent this line being kept within estimated cost. Th* cost of railways authorised in each Province and the amounts {appropriated, might be thus summarised : —

| There were opened for traffic 87 miles 68 chains complete; ready for traffic, 37 miles 7* chains; platelaying going on, 103 miles 65 chains ; length under contract and in course of completion, 421 miles 45 chains. Total lengths undertaken, 673 miles 2 chains; still to be let, 337 miles 46 chiins. As to the general result of the operations of the department, Mr Richardson said : — The expenditure and liabilities incurred "for railways completed or in hand amount to £3,660,881, leaving £1.914.519, for which no liabilities have yet be^n incurred. This, I think, is a very satisfactory result for the working of the department so far, and although it might have he: n possible to have forwarfed more work on the market, tbe House will agree with me in believing that it would have bten very inadvisable in the intirest of the colony to have done co. Speaking gen-rally with reference to the cost ot the railways authorised by Parliament, it has been found that wi-h few exceptions ' the amouat already appropriated will be ' found sufficient for their completion Owing ] to the great fluctuations in tbe cost of iron in 1 tngla id, it may, however, be necessary to ' group the railways in the various provinces in ' order to make the appropriation cover the cost. As against some lines of pc manent way have been charged, at fie highest rites, whilst the others have obtainei all the benefit of the lower grates. Before leaving the subject of railways, there is the question of working the traffic on them to be referred , to. l The first piece of line which is being _ wonted by the Colonial Government is that , from Auckland to Onehunga. This was - opened before it was completed, and the lest arrangement which was found practicable was _ '-, ade with Messrs Brogden, who organise I ( the staff, and commenced to work the line. There is a large amount of traffic, and there i is no doubt whatever that the line will pay '

7ery well. The r?ceiptsduring seven months h ive been £4834 9s 3 1. ') he line from Wellington to tho Hutt has be:>n opened since April, and I think that considering tbe present temporary terminu3 is so far out of town, and the line so short, it is asJonhhing that there should be so much .traffic on it as there is. There is no reason to" doubt that the line will pny, an I each section after the Hutt river is crowed will materially increase its paying capabilities. The fragraenarv portions of the lines which have been opened m tlie provides of Canterbury and Otago, t Te vn le P reßent bein ? respectively worked by the Provincial Governments. The erection of the large workshops ia being pressed forward in Auckland and Dunedin, and I trust in a few months the oepartment will be in a po-ition to execute not miy repairs, but $>.iso to fit up and complete a considerable amount of rolling stock wh'ch must now be imported from Eng'and It wiil be a matter h-.reafter to decide whether it will be advisable to undertake the manufac ure in the colon? of rolling stock which will be required Road Board expenditure during the year had been in Auckland, £61,289; Taranaki, £25.077; Hawke's Bay, £27,182; Wellington, £.'9,311. The total sums expended en each of the four provinces up to tha end of the year was, Auckland; £127,665; Taranaki, £62,685; Hawke'> Bay, £58,138; Wellington, £118,393; thus making, with £1747 un--approps-iatel, a gnus tonal of £368,630 There were on June KO the f allowing liabilities, Auckland, £.2 851 ; Taranaki, £6.787; Hawke's Bay, £6,771; Wellington, £20,107, or together, £56,512. Addin? these liabilities to the actual expenditure the total waa £425,149 &s against the vote of £400 000, but the cxc ss had to be credited with £ 2,000 expended for tbe benefit of confiscated lands For the £125,149 tliere bad b<ea 1 .288 miles opened or in prognss, and 525 miles of horae roids constructed on those roads. Besides a vtry large number of culverts, there were 134 bridges of spans c-xcejdin* 30 feet and of a total length of 1 1,°58 fee', and 128 smaller bridges of a -totat-Lngth of 2,874 feet -There had been expended oi roads iv the Nelson bouth-West Goldfields and ii Westland £130,679, f-nd their liabilities amounted to £14,006. The estimates for gol<iflsl,!s water supply works, [which were mostly based on information fupplied by the Provincial Government had been greatly esc died. The gnat incnases of cost had been on the W.nmea, Nt-lson Creek, and Thames races, whue thy Mount Ila race an 1 smite channel would be completed et a cost very little exceeding the estimate. £30,000 had been appro; r ale d for this class f works ; there had been expcn-ltd £95 937. end there were liabiliticiamounticgto £201,454. No more works ot the kind would be undertaken until, time had proved how tar those ia hand bai succeeded. During the year £2400 had been expended on explorations for coal, and there was ajcontingrnt linbilty for £1236. Mr M hards n gave some particulars as to trhla of coal and as to the prospects of various fields, and spoke of the works carried on ; and proposed in connection with tbe Colonial Architect's Department, estimates for new Government offices in We'lington, and for other necessary bu:!dtn fe >s in different parts ot the colony, which would, he fa d, be submitt d during the 8' ssion. ahe appropriation for rat! wn s, for which it was propose! to r.sk this session, wtr.< :— l. £UOOO tor the E-iimraand Riverhead railway ; 2. £112,00), the difference in c-\at of completing tie Mongonui-Manawatu line as a ra-lway instead of a trjinwty; 3. £6000 to convert the Fdxtoh-Jla-- a watu tramway into a radway. This wte considered very implant, on account of the large timbe trade of the district, and the progress of the Fielding settlement; 4. A further sum of £30,000 to extend the railway southwards from Wnipukurau towards Manawatu, the object being ti f.,rm the raiiwav nnd lay down the permanent sleepers wi ha wooden rail to the heavy bush land, which the main line traverses, and thus get at tbe timber, so much of which was wanted for the railway n>w in course of ronstruction; 4. £15,000 to complete the Waitaki bridge; 6. £10,000 for the extension of tha protective w rks at Greymouth. A vo c of £10,000 would be asked for ('he amount for preliminary surveys bang nearly exhausted) as a sufficient sum to enable full and complete surveys to be made of the line through from Foxhill to Brunnerton and thence to Oamerbury, and from Greymonth to Hokitika, as well as for such other portions of connecting links of the trunk lines as the staff at command would enable to be done. There would be co necessity to do more than this before the nex- session. It was proposed to remy to the North Island road fund £-29,000 which had boen spent on the Manawatu tramway, ani to ask an additional grant of £60,000 to complete roads in hand, as well as to construct others considered necessary. Having stated the roads upon which this money waa to be expended, and given other explanations, Mr Richardson conclude 1 as follows :—*• Up to the 30th June, 1873, there was a total expenditure by the Public Roads Department, cxc usive of immigration, of £1,649,921 2s lid, and the expenditure during the yeir 1873-4 was £1,554,446 4s lOd. There are outstanding liabilities in Engtand and the colony of £1,873,689 16s 4d, makiog a total of expendi ture and liabili'ies of £5,0r8,056 4s Id." " These are large figures, but, Sir, we have large results, and there are few who will be found now to assert that any of tbe railways which are proposel or undertaken will not from the moment thoy are opened return more than working expenses and a fair depreciation fund, and if economically worked will considerably contribute in course of time towards paying interest on the outlay, and with regard to the roads in the North Island, I do not imagine any one will deny the vast service they have been in opening up and bringing about the settlement of the country." " The colony haa undertaken a gigantic work, and it is incumbent on the Assembly to ses that it is carried out to its legitimate end, an 1, Sir. I have no fear as to the resuit."

Miles. Chains. Appropriation. Auckland — 166 36 — £931,5 0 Taranaki — 18 13 — 110,600 Hawke's Bay — 45 25 — 220,0 r 0 Wellington — 133 0 — 641,000 Westlanl — 70 23 — 74 400 Nelson — a* 2 0 — 232/100 Marlborough — 28 63 — 126,000 Canterbury — 2>l 34 — 1,160,000 Otago — 332 4 — 2,0G5,000 General Survey s 10 COO I Totals 1,010 48 £5,575,400