NEW ZEALAND PUBLIC WORKS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4169, 31 July 1874, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND PUBLIC WORKS

The following are the chief portions of Annual Report of the Minister of Public Works (Mr. Richardson), which was made in the House of Representatives on the 24th instant : RAILWAYS —SOUTH ISLAND. First X come to the railway between Kaipara and Riverhead. It will be in the recollection of hon. members that last year I referred to the difficulty that had occurred with the contractor, owing to the delay in the supply of the permanent way material. After considerable correspondence with the contractor, Mr. Edgar, an amicable arrangement was entered into to relieve him from the completion of the line, and pay him the value of the work done according to his contract. The completion of the line has since been let to Mr. Fallon, who is to finish it in December next. On this line there is a' deficiency in the present appropriation, mainly owing to the advance in the coat of iron ; and to enable the Government to complete the line with the necessary accommodation, the House ■will be asked to appropriate a further sum of £14,000. This line will, with the sum now asked for, only cost £4437 per mile. Is of the most inferior description ; and if there is much traffic on the line a still further sum will have to be spent upon it ; the cost of good ballast being dependent on whether the line is extended from Riverhead to Auckland, for which extension the whole of the necessary plans and specifications were prepared early in the year. The sixteenth clause of The Railways Act, 1872, requires that, previously to commencing the construction of any railway, the Engineer-in-Chief shall report, whether such ra'lway is likely to pay its working expenses when completed, and on the nature of this report the authority to construct depends. In the case of the Riverhead to Auckland line, the Engineer-in-Chiefs report was unfavorable, and it was my duty to decline to proceed with the construction. The Government are, however, of opinion that the Kaipara and Riverhead line will not pay until it is extended to Auckland, and that the extension ought to be made. They are convinced that the through ’ line from Kaipara ■ to Auckland will pay considerably more ■ than its wonking expenses, although as individual lines neither of them probably would ; and I shall therefore ask authority to construct the whole line at such early date as the position of the labor market may warrant its being put in hand. The Auckland to Mercer line is progressing satisfactorily. . From Mercer southwards to Newcastle the line is in hand, partly by contract and partly by the Volunteer Engineer-Militia. At one time the Government had good reason to suppose that it was necessary to increase the available defence force in the "Waikato, and it was determined to effect the twofold object of having an additional armed force in the district, and at the same time pushing on the construction of the line. The force, numbering about 200, was rapidly organised by my honorable colleague Dr. Pollen, and commenced work in a very effective way during the mouth of December. The work done by it has been well done, and the progress made very satisfactory. The Waikato Bridge, adapted both for road and railway traffic, is on its way from England, and tender’s are now being called for its erection, to be completed in eighteen months from the date of the acceptance of the tender, or about March, 1576. Should the Engineer-Militia continue to improve in the results of their work, and the necessity for such organization still be found to exist, it is proposed to move them early in the ensuing summer across the Waikato, and to continue the formation of the ..line southward through the delta towards Alexandra. Following the order in which I took the railways last year, I next come to that from Napier to Waipukurau. I regret to state that the contractors for the first portion of eighteen miles of this line have not completed it within thpir contract time ; the notices necessary to enforce the penalties incurred by them have been given, in case it may be thought advisable to do so. The contractors have had great difficulties-to contend with in procuring sleepers and other timber, and the contract time will be exceeded on the first length by fully one year. A further length of this line, of 27 miles, is also under contract, and the works , are progressing satisfactorily. The Works on the Waitara and New Plymouth line are in Messrs. Brogdens’ hands ; and although there is great difficulty in getting materials delivered there, I see no reason why their contract time should be exceeded. Nothing has been done towards the expenditure of the additional appropriation made by the House last year for continuing the line south. It was not thought prudent to do so until the road behind Mount Egmont had been cut through, and the feasibility of the route finally settled. This is cow the case ; a really good line has been found, and instructions have been given to complete a working survey from the present line southwards towards Hawera. - From Wanganui northwards we have found a very difficult line of country to traverse, instead of the favorable one we have been led to expect ; and although every effort has been made to press on the survey,, the progress made is not sufficient at present to warrant my fixin" a date for the commencement of the formation of the line. It may he well to state that although on the first thirty miles of this line the works will be very heavy and the gradients severe, the remainder of the line through to New Plymouth will be of a more favorable nature. On this line the bridge over the Wanganui River has been let for completion by March, 1876. V now come to the Wanganui and Manawalu Railway. Two sections of this have been let, including the bridges over the Wangaehu and Turakina ; and the surveys are well advanced for the remainder. It will be remembered that by the Railways Act 1872, a further appropriation of £1)0,000 was taken to convert one-half of this line (which was at first proposed as a tramway) into a railway, still lea ring the remaining portion from Eangitikei to Manawatu as a wooden tramway. As there is not now the slightest doubt that the traffic over the whole line will be far more than could he worked by tramway, and especially as the Feilding settlement is progressing so rapidly, the Government consider it necessary to take the earliest steps to obtain the assent of Parliament for the necessary appropriation for converting the portion from Rangitikei to Manawatu into a railway. In connection with this line, the Government propose entering into a contract with Mr. Halcombe (the Corporation’s agent) for the construction of nine miles of railway, he bavin" consented to waive the right the company have, by their agreement with the Government; to demand employment for two hundred men at any -time during the next three years, —a condition which in practice is found to be most embarrassing. The last railway to be mentioned as in progress in the North Island is that from Wellington to Masterton. The first section of this line has been completed by Messrs. Brogden, and, after three months’ maintenance, has been taken over from the contractors. Owing to the necessarily hurried manner m which the information was collected on' which the estimates for this contract were based, the engineers and contractors were alike as tolhc nature of the stone in the hills alongside the railway. This was in practice found'to be unfitted for the sea-facing, and the alteration in plan involved an additional of £3098, bringing up the cost of the first eight miles, including all charges, with fair proportion of the charges for the Wellington terminus, to £49,718 9s. 7d. Afurther length of twenty-seven miles, including the summit tunnel, is now under contract. Of this length, six miles have been very satisfactorily completed by, Mr. McKirdy, and will shortly be ready to open for public traffic. The Engineer-in-Chief and the Superintending Engineer for the North Island, have spent a great deal of time in endeavoring to select the

best possible route for this railway, and more especially that portion which crosses the Rimutaka. It has been a work of tbe most arduous nature, and rendered more so by tbe necessity for bringing down the cost to tbe lowest possible amount 'compatible with a reasonable permanency. An inspection of the contract drawings in the head office will well repay any member who is curious about matters, and will show how it is that the line is so costly. . The appropriation-for this length of the line will bo far short of the amount necessary for the completion to Masterton, but more than sufficient to go beyond Eeatherston, to which point we hope to have the line under contract before this time next year. Before leaving the railways of the North Island, I take the opportunity of stating that during the recess X visited the Waikato with, the Engineer-in-Chief, and arranged with him that he should,rin company with Mr. Mackay, examine the country between Cambridge and Manawatu, with a view to ascertain its adaptability as a route by which to complete the trunk line through the island. RAILWAYS—MIDDLE ISLAND. I now come to the Middle Island ; and .first we have the Picton and Blenheim Railway. During the past six months better progress has been made. The Nelson and Foxhill Railway works have progressed satisfactorily, and the date fixed for completion is November, 1875. A preliminary survey has been made of the proposed trunk line from Foxhill to the Brunner. The works will be of a heavy -nature, and the gradients very severe ; but not more so than on some of the other lines now in hand. The Westport and Mount Rochfort line has been somewhat delayed for want of a survey staff ; but the first section to Fairdown is now about to be let, and the surveys for the completion to Ngakawau are in a forward state. The Creymouth and Brunner line, including the suspension bridge over the Grey River, is in hand ; but the railway works are not in such a forward state as was anticipated. This is not the fault of the contractor, but is owing to the necessity Which has been found to exist for improving the line over a short length where heavy slips are threatened. In Canterbury the first main line to be mentioned is that from North Kowai to Rangiora, including the very large bridge over the River Ashley, It is all under contract and is progressing satisfactorily ; the whole work is iu the hands of Mr. E. G. Wright. The line should be open to the South ICowal early next year. We next have the extension southwards from the Rakaia to the south side of the Rangitata, including three large bridges and one of a smaller description over the Hinds. The first section to the Ashburton has been worked with goods traffic for the past three months, under an arrangement with Mr. Wright, the contractor. It is proposed to open the line from thence to the Hinds river, about the Ist of January, and the completion through to the South Raugitata by the middle of 1875. The continuation of Temuka is about to be let, and the time fixed for completing the Orari Bridge and the formation of the railway is next May, as it is also for the completion of the short length fi'om Temuka to Young’s Creek, The laying of the permanent way may then be proceeded with rapidly from both ends, and should be completed through from Christchurch to Timaru about August or September, 1875. The Timaru to Young’s Creek is now well advanced, and the rolling stock has been transported to Timaru, and is being fitted up. This length can be opened in about two months, Erom Timaru south to the Waitaki the whole is ready for contract. The first length, to the Pareora, is let. Owing to the difficulty in landing materials required for the railways between Timaru and Oamaru, great delays take place, and it is impossible to calculate with certainty when these portions of the lines can be completed, but the dates I have given may, I think, be relied upon.

Before leaving Canterbury, I have to notice the branch line from Rangiora to Oxford. The completion of this has been delayed owing to the want of sleepers, but it is expected that it will be completed within the contract time —the end of November next. The Racecourse and Southbridge line is under contract, and the date for completion is fixed for January next. On the Rolleston and Malvern and White Cliffs lines the works are nearly completed, and the plate-laying of the last portion is expected to be done by December next. Owing to the high price of iron, the appropriation for these branch lines will not be sufficient by about the amount required for the Waimate branch, and arrangements will have to be made to provide funds for that work. All the rolling stock for these branch lines is in the Colony, and that for the trunk lines is either here or its shipment has been advised. We next have the Waitaki bridge. The completion of this is under contract to Messrs. McGavin and Co., and should be finished about November, 1875. Every endeavor will be made to keep the contractors to their contract time, and a bonus is offered them to finish it earlier. We are now in Otago, and we have first the Waitaki and Oamaru line. The railway from Oamaru to Moeraki is in Messrs. Brogdens’ hands. The works are not in as satisfactory a state as they should be, but the Government are not free from blame in the matter. A further difficulty has arisen near Moeraki, which might have been provided against had more time been taken with the survey ; the works completed on half a mile of this portion will have to he abandoned, involving a loss of some two thousand pounds. From Moeraki to Dunedin, the work which will take the longest time to construct is the tunnel near Port Chalmers through to Blueskin ; this is under contract, and is progressing very satisfactorily. Contract plans and sections are prepared from Dunedin to Blueskin Bay, and the work will be immediately put in hand to be completed concurrently with the tunnel. The plans for the remainder between Moeraki and Blueskin Bay are in a forward state, and will be contracted for during this , year. A further extension of the Port Chalmers Railway Jetty is contemplated during this ; year, to provide for the increase of traffic on the Dunedin and Clutha and Dunedin and Moeraki Railways. The Dunedin and Clutha Railway has been recently opened to Green Island, about six miles. ; The- works are progressing satisfactorily on the rest of the line, and with-a view of expediting its completion the Government have offered Messrs. Brogden a bonus of £BOO per month for every month they save iu the completion of the line previously to Ist September next year. The Tokotnairiro and Lawrence Railway is all under contract, and the date for completion of the formation is Ist of next June. The line ought to be finished by Ist September, 1875, but the whole of this work depends on the completion of the Glenore Tunnel, From Clutha to Mat aura, the only work actually in hand is the large bridge over the Clutha River. ! Between Mataura and Invercargill, about twelve miles have been opened during the past year for traffic, and the remainder of the Hue is progressing very well, although not so forward as it should be. From Winton to Kingston, the contractor for the first section is not so far advanced as ho ought to be with his work, owing to a delay, for which he was not accountable. His contract time does -not'expire till 9th of next month; but it is not possible for him to have his work completed by. that date. RATLW ATS—S U W MARY. To summarise the authorised:—-

Of which, there are—B9 miles 58 chains open for traffic ; 57 miles 74 chains complete, ready for traffic ; 103 miles 65 chains plate-laying going on ; 421 miles 45 chains length under contract in course of completion. Giving a total length undertaken of 673 miles 2 chains. In addition to which there are still to be let 337 miles 46 chains ; making a total, as stated above, of 1010 miles 48 chains. 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 been incurred. Before leaving the subject of railways, there is the question of working the traffic on them to be referred to. The first piece of Hue which is being worked by the Colonial Government is that from Auckland to Onohunga. This was opened before it was completed, and the best arrangement which was found practicable was made with Messrs. Brogden, who organized the staff and commenced to work the line. From the traffic receipts, the details of which will be found in the tables attached to this Statement, it will be seen that there is a large amount of traffic, and there is no doubt whatever that the line will pay very well ; the receipts during seven months have been £4,834 9s. 3d. The line from Wellington to the Hutt has been opened since April ; and I think that, considering the present temporary terminus is so far out of the town and the line so short, it is astonishing that there should be so much traffic on it as there is. ROADS. I shall now refer to the road works. X do not propose to weary the House by going into details as to the various road works executed during the past year by this department. The attached report of the Assistant Engi-neer-in-Chief describes them all, and a reference to it and the tables appended to this Statement will give the fullest information. The amount expended prior to 30th June, 1873, was—- £ . s. d.

This has to be credited with the sum of £12,000, which has been expended for benefit of confiscated lands in various Provinces. At the end of the year 1872-73 there were I, miles of dray roads opened and in progress, and of horse roads a total length of 170 miles ; and on 30th June last there were 1,188 miles of dray roads opened or in progress, and a total length of 'horse roads of 52C miles constructed at a total expenditure, including all liabilities, of £125,110 Is. 7d. On these roads, besides a very large number of culverts, there are completed 131 bridges, of spans exceeding 30 feet, of a total length of 11, feet, and 182 bridges of smaller spans of a total length of 2,871 feet, or 11,232 lineal feet in all. ROAD3—NELSON SOUTH-WEST GOLD HELDS AND WESTLAND. Last year I had to state that 331 miles of metalled roads had been completed, and 9 miles made passable for heavy traffic. During the year ending 30th June, 1871, this mileage of metalled roads completed has been brought up to 66 miles, and horse roads to 36 miles. In Westland there are completed 50 miles of dray roads, and in course of construction 101 miles of horse roads. The bridges on the last two named roads number 36, and measure in all 2,318 lineal feet. The amount expended on these roads is £130,679 Bs. 3d., and the liabilities are £11,006 Is. 6d. GOLDFIELDS WATER SUPPLY. I now come to the water supply on the goldfields. When alluding to this subject last year, ! felt convinced that in some instances' the amounts of the estimated cost of the works which the Government had undertaken were much under-estimated, and in almost every instance this has proved to be the case. The estimates for these works wore for the most part based on information supplied by the Provincial authorities, and a reference to the table accompanying this Statement, will show, that the whole amount of £300,000 authorised to be spent in works of this nature is already spent, or liabilities incurred which will absorb it. The great increases are on the Waimea, Nelson Creek, and Thames Paces. . The Provincial Government of Otago have superintended the carrying out of the Mount Ida Water Pace and Sludge Channel. This forma a notable exception, inasmuch as it was the only one in reference to which we had anything approaching a reliable estimate, and it will bo competed at a cost very little in excess. The Government do not propose to undertake any further works of this nature till time has proved how far those now in hand havo succeeded. The amount expended is . ~. £95,937 2 0 And the liabilities are ... 201,454 13 TO ADDITIONAL WORKS. Now, Sir, with regard to the appropriation for railways which it is proposed to ask the House to sanction this session:— ,Ist. We recpiire about £14,000 more for the Kaipara and Piverhead Railway. 2nd. We ask the House to vote £112,000, being tho difference in the cost of'the completion of tho line from Wanganui to Manawatu as a railway instead of the tramway, now on tho Railway Schedule. The original vote was taken at a round sum of £2OOO por mile, without anything approaching to a reliable

survey. The bridges over the Rangitikei and the Oroua are of a very extensive character, and I am advised that the above sum will not be more than sufficient; and that even if the line were kept as a tramway, which would, in face of the settlement now going on there, be a most wasteful course, a large sum would have to be asked for the purpose. The Government have no hesitation in requesting this amount. 3rd. We propose to convert the Fox ton and Manawatu Tramway into a railway, owing to its being found that the tramway is not capable of doing more than accommodate the present traffic ; the charges being in consequence kept very high—to pay the working expenses and repairs. If the tramway is kept as it is, it will prevent ■ the expansion of the large timber trade which is now taking place, not only in the Feilding Block but in the surrounding districts. The tramway is twenty-five miles long, and it will cost about £60,000 in all to complete- it as a railway. 4th. A further sum of £30,000, to extend the railway southward from Waipukurau toward Manawatu ; the object being to form the railway and lay down the permanent sleepers with a wooden rail to the heavy bush laud which the main line traverses, and thus get at the timber, so much of which is wanted for the railway now in course of construction. The cost of laying those wooden rails will be very small in conqiarisou with the advantage to be gained in getting at the timber, and the rails can be replaced in a year or two with iron ones with very little trouble. sth. We ask for £15,000 to complete the Waitaki Bridge ; and Gth. Bor £IO,OOO for the extension of the protective works at Greymouth. The vote of £IO,OOO for preliminary surveys being nearly exhausted, we shall ask for a sufficient sum to enable us to have full and' complete surveys made of the line through from Foxhill to Brunnerton, and thence to Canterbury, and from Greymouth to Hokitika, as well as for such other portions of the connecting links of the trunk lines as the staff at our command will enable us to do. There will be no necessity to do more than this before the next session. It has been stated by my hon. colleague the Colonial Treasurer, in his financial Statement, that the Government consider the railway scheme as adopted by Parliament embraces the main trunk line from Kaipara, in the North, to Auckland, thence by Mercer to Newcastle, and southwards to Wellington, the railways from Napier and Taranaki joining the trunk line at such points as on survey hereafter may be found to be the best. Then from Nelson to Hokitika, the main trunk line running through the Valleys of the Buller and Grey and into the Amuri by the best routes procurable, and passing South through Canterbury and Otago to the Bluff, together with the line from Invercargill to Kingston, the line to Port Chalmers in Otago, and that from Christchurch to Lyttelton in Canterbury. The only railway which I think it right now to call attention to is the connecting link with Blenheim. It has transpired during the survey of the Foxliill and Brunnerton Kailway that a very easy line to construct can be got from a point about fifty miles from Nelson, on that railway down the Wairau Valley to Blenheim, which is in course of being connected with Picton. I shall now, Sir, state what the Government propose with reference to the expenditure during this year on roads in the North Island. First, as I have already stated, we propose to convert the Manawatu Tramway into a railway, and to repay the North Island Road Fund the amount that has been spent, on its Construction, £29,500. We further propose asking for an additional grant of £60,000, with a view of completing several of the roads now in hand, and some others which are considered necessary. The following are the principal roads on which it is proposed to expend this money First, to complete and metal the road through from Opaki to the Manawatu Gorge ; to form the road through from Taurauga to Cambridge, and from Taupo to Cambridge ; and in the North of Auckland, the Victoria Valley Road, and that joining Hokianga with the East Coast, together with several others of minor importance. It is proposed to make a similar contribution to the Middle Island ; and the only road to be constructed out of it which the Government stipulate for is that between Hokitika and Canterbury. The cost of this road to be provided out of the share of the money falling to Canterbury "and Westland. The Colonial Treasurer has already informed 1 the House that the Government have promised to ask Parliament to raise £50,000, to be spent on the Thames Goldfields, taking direct security over the machinery and mines benefited by the expenditure. The security of the Province, through which the money is advanced, is also to be taken. This assistance, it is hoped, will be the means of enabling such of the mines as have almost been brought to a standstill, to be worked to a veiy much greater depth than has hitherto been done. If this hope is realised, it will bo the means of providing a large amount of work on the Thames Goldfields. It would have been quite within the power of the Government to have devoted a portion of the £300,000 already voted for drainage and water supply on the .goldfields for this purpose, but the whole was found to be wanted for the works already in hand. Up to the 30th Juno, 1873, there was a total expenditure by the Public Works Department, exclusive of immigration, of, £1,649,921 2s. lid., and the expenditure during the year 1873-4 was 4s.' lOd. 1 There are outstanding liabilities in England and the Colony of £1,873,088. 10s. 4d.; making a total of expenditure and liabilities of £5,078,056 4s. Id. The Colony has undertaken h gigantic -work, and it; is incumbent on‘the Assembly to see that it is carried out to its legitimate end, and, Sir, I have no fear as to the result.

Miles. Chains. Appropriation. Auckland 166 36 £934,500 Taranaki... 18 13 110,500 ‘Hawke's Bay 45 25 220,000 Wellington - . . 133 — , 644,000 Westland ..." . 7 28 74,400 Nelson 38 20 222,000 Marlborough . 18 63 126,000 Canterbury , 251 34 1,160,000 2,065,000 Otago 332 4 General (Surveys). 10,000 Total 1010 48 £5,575,400

In Province of Auckland 66,395 9 4 „ * Taranaki 37,608 0 9 „ Hawke’s Bay.. 30,956 9 1 „ -Wellington .. 79,081 13 5 Tools, Implements, &c., unapportionable 1,747 11 5 Making a total of £215,789 10 0 During the past year there has been expended — In the Province op Auckland, — Bay of Islands 16,730 5 6 North of Auckland... 9,199 8 10 Mangcre Bridge 9,409 15 4 Thames Waikato 7,451 17 6 Bay of Plenty 12,713 1 3 Poverty Bay 4,539 12 10 Taupo 1,225 9 10 Giving a total of £01,269 11 1 I.X THE PROVINCE 01’ TARANAKI, — Wai Iti to Patea 13,534 14 4 Hawera to New Plymouth.. 11,542 15 3 Giving a total of £25,077 9 7 lx THE PROVINCE 01’ HAWKE’S Bay,— Napier 3,045 3 0 Seventy-Mile Bush... 23,412 11 6 Wairoa 124 15 0 Giving a total of £27,182 9 6 In the Province op Wellington,— Wanganui to Patea 9,885 18 11 Wanganui to Taupo 1,968 14 4 Seventv-Mile Bush 10,331 13 9 Manawatu 9,376 14 0 Manawatu Tramway 7,748 18 2 Giving a total of £39,311 19 2 This gives a total expended to 30th June, 1874, — In Province of Auckland 127,665 0 5 „ Taranaki 62,685 10 4 „ Hawke’s Bay.. 58,138 18 7 „ Wellington 118,393 12 7 Unapportionable 1,747 11 5 Total £368,630 19 4 And there were liabilities on 30th June, 1874, — In Province of Auckland 22,851 14 3 „ Taranaki 6,787 2 0 „ Hawke’s Bay.. 0,771 15 0 „ Wellington 20,107 14 0 Total £56,518 5 3 Which makes the account stand, — Total expended 368,630 19 4 Total liabilities 50,518 5 3 Total £425,149 4 7 against the vote of £400,000.