PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5112, 11 August 1877, Page 2

PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT.

The Hon. Mr. Ormond .delivered the following Statement last evening : Mr. Speaker,—ln the Statement I am about to make, I shall endeavor to inform the House as to the general conduct of works under the Public Works Department during the past year, and as to the proposals of the Government in respect to works to be undertaken in the year we have just entered upon. In doing so, I would remind hon. members that my term of office commenced in January last; and I desire to take this opportunity of thanking my hon. friend and predecessor (Hon. Mr. Richardson) for the kind and cordial assistance he has rendered me on the many occasions I have had to refer to him for information and advice on matters connected with the department. The customary yearly reports from the En-gineer-in-Chief, and other officers of the Public Works Department, will be appended to this Statement when circulated, together with tables, as in previous years. Except where otherwise specially mentioned the word " yoar " is intended to m<&n financial year. RAIEWAYS. I will first speak of railways. My predecessor, in making his Statement last year, commenced his remarks under this head by stating that the railway works throughout the colony had not been pushed on so rapidly during the year then ended as during the two years preceding; and, sir, I have to state that during the. past year, although considerable progress has been made, the votes for the year have not been fully expended. It will be recollected that, when last year's Statement was made, it was announced that the new works authorised would not be undertaken until the Government was assured that the necessary means were available; and it was not until February, in the present year, that the monetary arrangements were concluded which enabled the Government to proceed vigorously with the different works authorised. I refer to this because in some parts of the. colony complaint has been made that the Government has not pushed on the works as rapidly aa was desired ; but I think it will be admitted that the course pursued by the Government was the only prudent one open k to them. I will now pursue the same course that has been adopted in past years, and give some account of the works in progress on the different lines of railway throughout the colony. The Kawakawa Railway is now. completed to the shipping place, and has been provided with rolling stock. . It is not intended to undertake any further work on this line] at pre-

sent, beyond a small extent of open bridging, which is necessary to secure against damage by floods ; and this work is in course of construction.

The Auckland to Kaipara Railway is being extended from Helensville to a new and more convenient station on the Kaipara River, and a section of 10 miles from Auckland towards Riverhead is now in progress under contract. The course of the further extension to Riverhead is not yet determined, but plans and estimates of the alternative lines are being prepared, and will be considered before the route to be followed is determined.

The Auckland-Waikato line is expected to be open to Newcastle (76 miles) by the end of August; from thence to Ohaupo (20 miles) the formation is finished ; and it is proposed during this year to complete the line to Ohaupo, and to push on the work toward* Te Awamutu. It is also intended, during the present year, to improve the station and workshops at Auckland, and connect the present station with the Queen-street' wharf. The railway wharf at Onehiinga is also in course' of construction.

The Napier-Manawatu Railway is now running to Takapau (59 -miles), and will be completed to Kopua, between 5 and 6 miles farther, by October. It is proposed to extend this line a few miles during the present year, which will bring the settlements in the Seventy-Mile Bush into more direct communication with Napier, and add considerably to the traffic.

The works on the Wellington-Masterton Railway have been delayed by causes partly unforeseen, and partly arising from the difficult character of the country the line- passes through. It is now ascertained that all-the tunnels will require lining. The bricks and other materials have to be carried by rail from Wellington or the Hutt, and the progress ia necessarily slow, as, each tunnel" must be completed before the line can be laid, and material carried on for the next. It is, however, believed that the line will be open to Kaitoki, twenty-seven miles from Wellington, by December, and every exertion will be used to get the line open to Featherston within the present year. It is proposed to go on with the formation from Featherston to Masterton, so that the line may be ready for platelaying by the time the rails can be taken -up.' It is~also proposed to proceed ; with the works required to connect the railway station with the wharf at Wellington. On the Waitara-Patea railway the line will shortly be completed to Inglewood. A section southwards of I iglewood is in progress, and it is proposed to continue the works a few miles farther during the present year. The southern section of the Patea-Mana-watu Railway has progressed satisfactorily during the past year. The line is now open from Turakina to the Wanganui River., A short section to carry the line into the town of Wanganui is under contract, and it is expected that the whole line from Wanganui to Foxton will be open for within, the present year. - - To the north of Wanganui the formation to Kai-Iwi is finished, and it is proposed to complete that piece of line, and extend the works northwards.

Delay Has occurred in connecting the NelsoaFoxhill Kailway with the port ; but it is proposed to do so during the present year, and to erect a workshop, so that repairs may be, effected locally. "• Ten miles of the Westport-Ngakawau Railway are completed, and. the remainder will be shortly, as also the necessaryworks for loading the coal. This line was constructed to open up the valuable coal district between Westporfc and the Ngakawau Eiver, and it is to be regretted that only one company—the Wellington Coal Company—is in a position to take advantage of the railway.

On the Picton-Blenheim line it is intended to carry out at once the extension of the line into Blenheim, and, as soon as the survey is completed, to extend the line southwards.

The Greymouth-Brunnerton line is working satisfactorily. The Brunner Coal Mining Company, the Coal Pit »Heath Company, and the Greymouth Company are now making use of the line, and the traffic is so much increased as to render rolling stock necessary. It is proposed to proceed steadily with the river protection works during the present year,and to improve the station accommodation, as well as to provide a workshop, as in the case of Nelson.

The line from Amberley to Waitaki was completed some months ago. The works proposed to be carried out during the present year are an extension of the Main Trunk northwards from Amberley about 15 miles ; the completion of the Ejreton Railway, now under contract ; the improvement of the line at the Waiinakiriri River ; the completion of the Opawa Railway ; the conversion of the broad gauge from Amberley to Lyttelton to narrow gauge ; the re-arrangement and improvement of the railway stations at Christchurch and Lyttelton; general additions to station accommodation ; and a large increase of rolling stock.

From Moeraki to Dunedin the whole line m under contract, except the Waikouaiti section, the formation of which has been done by piecework. The time for completion of the latest contracts is January next, and every exertion will be used to get the works finished within the specified time. The completion of the line between Dunedin and Invercargill is in a forward state, with the exception of the section from Balclutha to Clinton, for which tenders are invited ; the work to be completed in June, 1878. The Invercargill to Kingston line is open for traffic to Lowther, and will he completed to Kingston within the present year; by which time the Government hopes the main trunk line from Atnbeiley to Kingston, a length of 527 miles, will be open for traffic. Several railways in the Provincial District of Otago were in course of construction under the Provincial Government, and have been taken over by the Public Works Department. The Marewhenua, Waiareka, and Green Island Railways, although open for traffic, require a considerable expenditure for stations and rolling stock, and this is provided for. The Outram Railway is near completion, but requires rolling stock. The formation on the Western Lines, in the Otago District, was partly undertaken when the-works were taken over, but much remains to be done to complete them. The section from Wallacetown to the junction with the Otautau line is now contracted for, and the completion of the formation of that section to and of the Otautau line, will be proceeded with, so as to be ready for plate-laying as soon as the Wallacetown line is available for conveying the rails. There, is no rolling stock for these lines, but what is requisite for their working has been ordered. .' ■ ■■ In conformity with the provisions of the Financial Arrangements Act, 1876, a valuation has been made of the Provincial Railways in Canterbury and Otago. The valuation of the Canterbury Railways amounts to £731,759, and of the Otago Railways to £372,522 2s. sd. , Copies of the award of the valuation in each case will be laid upon the table. The total lengths of the railways authorised, open for traffic, and to be opened during and subsequently to the present year, inclusive of the lines undertaken by the provinces, are respectively as follows :

The amount appropriated by the Immigration and" Public Works Appropriation Act of last year for Railways was £1,300,600;. the expenditure against which has been £967,425 18s. 2d., including the "distribution to the several railways concerned of £29,881 15s. 6d., bejhg the balance of the advances made in previous years to, the General Railways Ao- : COuht. '. •.':■■ •'-

The total expenditure up to 30th June 1877 was £6,129,920 lis. 5d., and the outstanding liabilities £530,333 4a. 4d. This amount in

eludes the liabilities for aU existing contracts, - some of which extend into the year. 1878, ana . 'for plant and materials ordered from Home. SURVEYS. The work performed during the past year on exploration surveys for the Mam Trunk - lines has not been considerable, and what has . •. • been done has not yet been plotted, so that the ■:..: Engineer-in-Ohief is unable at present to report definitely. It is our intention to pußh.oll.the. - exploration surveys during the present year, awl to lay before Parliament next session : full information as to the direction, of the. Main Trunk, lines in both islands, together , with definite proposals for their completion. • . A report has been recently received from Mr. Blair, District Engineer, of the result of .- reconnaissance surveys made by him, of the different lines that have been advocated for openin" the Central Otago District.": His re- ;.: port will be appended to this Statement. • 1 : '. ROADS. •'•"■"' j ■ The report of the Assistant Engineer-in-Chief contains detailed information as to the road works carried out under the Public Works Department. The sums appropriated last year for road works have'been, where prao- ■'. Ucabley expended through the County Councils ' or Road Boards of the different districts, and where this could not be arranged, the works have been carried out by the Public Works Department. The votes have not in all cases been expended within the year, but engagements have been entered'into which will necessitate re-voting the unexpended balances in each case. . . ' " . , The House will remember that special provision was made last session for roads » n <*ortain districts in the North Island, and for similar purposes in Westland and the Nelson. South-west Goldfields, on the grounds that these districts had urgent wants which could, not be provided for by the local bodies, and that they had special claims to consideration from-being so situated as not to derive the same immediate and direct advantages from the Public Works policy as other parts of the colony. The Government intend to ask the House to make provision this session for similar works ' in the same districts, and I' shall submit the following votes for these purposes :—- Bonds North of Auckland '".. ".. •-'ijO.jMj Balance of last year's vote, being liabilities .. 15,206 ' Koads in Native Districts - ,?'2SX :-Roads, Westland .. • •• 10,000 Balance last year's vote •• ~»<i°* " Koads, Nelson South-West Goldfields.. .. 10,000 Balance last year's vote .. .. •• •• Z'°°i Hokltika-ChristchnrcliEoad '..-. ■ .:".. ;..' 0.000 —being a total of £79,172 for road- works._ There is another class of works, to which I have to refer—viz., the provincial roads I and undertakings which were under construction or. authorised when the Abolition of the Provinces Act came into force. The reports of both the ■ Erigineer-in-Chief and Assistant Engineer-'in-Chief contain information respecting many important" works of this character which were taken over, and have been carried on by the Public Works Department'. Some works' of the same' class have' been carried but by the local authorities at the.request of the Government." -:■""-" ' ..'..-.; The expenditure under this head has been considerable, and I regret I ain unable.at present to furnish an accurate statement of the condition of these works. The-requisite information has been called for from the different provincial districts, and when this i 3 obtained 'we shall ask the House to make provision ifor the liabilities incurred. We shall also deter,-.' '."- mine the particular works we shall ask the House to provide means to complete. The Government recognise that the distribution of •the. expenditure on these provincial works has been unequal in the different parts' -of the colony. 'We are also aware that there ;' are some works in sparsely, settled put-districts, such as bridges over difficult rivers, which are ; urgently- required to connect important divisions of the country, and that iu some case 3

these .works are beyond the present means of the County Councils. Wo do not wish it to be Inferred that'we think the colony can provide for all the works of this kind, that are desirable ; but We propose, at the same time that we Bubmit votes to cover the liabilities on the provincial works in progress, to ask provision for the more important and. pressing of the works I have just described, and in so doing we shall take into consideration the claims of those districts which have not shared equally in the Public Works expenditure already incurred., '-' . . ;. OPENING LANDS FOE SETTLEMENT. The question of providing for opening lauds for sale and settlement has pressed itself upon< the consideration of the Government. We see plainly that the work of settlement cannot go on as it ought in many out-districts without assistance, and this is especially so in the case of bush lands. A Bill will be introduced to enable the Government to make advances for opening new blocks for sale, such expenditure to be recouped from the proceeds of sales of land within the districts so opened. A large sum might be expended with great advantage on this object, but we have to look to the means at our command, and only see our way to propose a vote for expenditure during the present year of £50,000. , : ; WATEB-BAOES. : The expenditure on these works during the past year has been almost entirely confined to a fewraces,upon which large sums had beenpreviously spent. In the North Island the only work of the kindin hand has been the Thames Race, and ifc has been completed, except the distribution to the batteries, for which provision will be asked, In the South Island, — The Mount Ida Race has been completed. On the Nelson Creek Race large works have been carried out, necessitating the employment throughout the year of two hundred men. It is anticipated this race will be completed the present month. On the Waimea Race very considerable works have also been undertaken, including" an extension to the Kumara. ■ It is estimated that" all the works in connection with this race will be completed in a few months. The JMikonui Race has not been proceeded with, the tendere for the first Bection of the work having been considerably in excess of the vote. ,( It was stated last year, by my that the Government proposed to hand! over 1 the different water-races to the Councils of the countieß in which they were Bituated, and the Government has endeavored to give effect to that proposal. The County Councils that have been communicated with have not, however, been willing to undertake the charge, and considering the very large cost of the works, the Government has not felt jnstified in handing them over until assured that proper provision was secured for their care and maintenance. Appended to the Report of the Engineer-in-Chief is the Report of Mr. O'Connor, the Engineer under whose supervision the large water-races on the V. est Coast have been constructed. I regret to say that the results he reports in the case of such races as are completed are not satisfactory.. The Government propose to ask the House to provide the sums required to complete the most important water-races in course of construction, which are estimated, including liabilities, as follows : For the Thames Eace .. .. .. £0,605 Waimea Kace .. .. .. 25,828 ' Nelson Creek .. .". ..' 2*,384 Ponr-Mile Eace.. .. .. 14,00» „ Mlkonul Eace .. .. ..15,660 : . "£80,367 In the case of the Mikonui Race the amount asked for is the unexpended balance of last year's vote ; but as the estimated cost of that race is £BI,OOO, the Government will not propose to commence the work unless satisfied , that the .whole scheme will be completed by a private company. ■■■:>■ PUBLIC BUILDINGS.

The report of the Colonial Architect cannot bo appended to this Statement, as he is laid up by illness in Dunedin. It -will, however, be printed andrpublished as soon as he is well enough to furnish it. I hope to be able at the same time to give the House the valuation of the Provincial Buildings throughout the colony. The work of valuing is far advanced, and the valuation ' will be furnished as early as possible. Tbo, expenditure on Public Buildings during the year ended June last amounted to £43,309, ' particular* of which will be appended. This expenditure that will be required during

the present year for Buildirfgs is very much increased by the charge and »aint«n»nce« all Public Buildings in the colony havingtoDe provided for, many of which Provincial charges/ It & :found hatmany of these Buildings' are in a bad state of repair, and afford insufficient accommodation, ior Schools alone it is estimated that £50,000 w requisite. The provision needed for -Lunatic Asylums,' Lighthousei, Gaols police, and Courthouses is very considerable.. -£ J"'> the expenditure for Public Buildings is estimated at £215,000.' COAL EXPLORATION. " " ' During the past year the survey of the Buller Coalfield, commenced in 1874; has been brought to a close. The existence of over 100,000,000 tons, of,coal has been proved of gOQd quality, in positions which can be worked toldvantage. Several leases are understood to have been issued';-but-up to the present time the only mine ,in ; work is that belonging to the Wellington*-'Coal ".Company, who have 1 been most "energetic in opening up.their rame. At Greymouth,- the Brunner Coal Mining Company have during the yast three years extended their:workings from 22 acres to 38 acres, with a total output during-that time of tons. The Coal Pit Heath Company have coal now in the market, and the Greymouth -, Company have reached* the coal in their new shaft, and expect to be at work shortly. : ;: -' ■ ■: ■■'•', . , The Green Island Collieries in Otago, which have undergone great development since , the opening of the Southern Railway, been again inspected, and it is found that, although generally speaking ..these, are in good order, they have been hitherto carried on without any working plans, and in such a manner that not more than one-third of the coal will be mined.' ■ „ , In the North Island the coal of the Waikato Basin has been further examined, and from surface indications it appears probable that even a greater extent of coal exists there than has ever been calculated in the most sanguine estimates. The extent, however, can only be settled by boring. ..Two fresh mines in this district are now bringing coal to market —viz., Rahuipokeka (Ralph's) Mine, at Taupiri, and the Bridgewater Colliery (Foote's), near the Miranda Redoubt. In the latter case, the seam of coal is 55. feet thick, only 18 feet being at present worked. . ' The Wangarei and Bay of Islands coal has also been examined, and plans of the workings of these and other. collieries will.be published with the Geological reports this year.

INSPECTION OP MACHINERY. -There is nothing special to remark under this head.' The Report of the'Chief Inspector isattached, and shows that-a great-deal ;qf necessary work has been done,- and that the department, is rather more than supported by the fees charged. - RAILWAYS OPEN FOR TRAFFIC. - This part of the subject haS assumed largely increased importance during the past year. Honorable members are aware that on the Abolition of the -Provinces Act taking effect, ,the working of the Canterbury and Otago Railways devolved - upon the Government. There have also been considerable additions to the lines open for- traffic during the year; as well as new lines opened, and the additional work and responsibility thrown upon the Public Works Department by these changes has been very considerable. As the ■ Canterbury and Otago Railways came under" the charge of the Government, at the busiest season of the year, it was determined not to make any immediate change in the system of working. The, railways in those districts were accordingly carried on under the same system and "staff as before Abolition, and this was continued up to'the 30th of June last. .."'.-.

The House is ho doubt aware that the systems of management and the tariffs were different in Otago and Canterbury, and both were also different to the system and tariff in operation on the Geueral Government lines. We had thus three separate railway systems and scales of charges in operation on the~"New Zealand Railways, and the impossibility of continuing this state of things became apparent when the line from. Waitaki to Moeraki was opened. Then passengers or goods travelling by the rail were subject to different tariffs on passing over the Waitaki River. The local difficulty was at once met by assimilating the charges on the Waitaki to Moeraki section to those in operation on the Canterbury lines. But with the New Zealand Railways the property of the colon}, it became manifest that the rates must be equalized as nearly as possible. My predecessor had anticipated the necessity of adopting; a system of uniformity for the New Zealand Railways, and appointed, during his term • of. office, a Commission to enquire into and report generally on their working. _ The report of that Commission has-been laid on the table, and the recommendations made by it .have been, in the main, given effect to by-the Government., Before doing so, the Government carefully considered the whole question. We -recognised, that the subject was large, and involved, particularly in regard to the traffic, considerations requiring technical knowledge. Upon the Commission were gentlemen who were experts in railway management, and we concluded to adopt generally the recommendations, see how they worked, and alter and amend as experience showed the necessity. We also took-into consideration that these changes would be brought into operation during the least busy season of the year, when the public interests would be least affected should the new system prove unsuitable in any particular. The subjects in which radical changes were made were in adopting a system of central audit, the rendering weekly- accounts, and a uniform tariff. Several other important questions in connection with railway management wee reported on by. the Commissioners, and advantageously. In- respect to the central audit, the system recommended has onlybeen adopted as.a tentative measure, we desire to test fairly its operation ; if it is found to work it is easy to revert to a more .local system. Very great difference of opinion exists as to the relative advantages of weekly or monthly accounts. The weekly system is now in force. It is reported to have worked well on the Northern lines, and there has not been sufficient time as yet to test fairly its operation on the Southern Railways. With respect to the tariff, I say at once that, on the new tariff coming into force, many mistakes were represented and remedied. There are Other points now under consideration, in which I believe alterations are necessary. The question of passengers' fares is also being carefully looked into. The Government believe that the tariff should be as nearly uniform as possible 1 b«t - experience has already shown that there are cases in which either uniformity must be abandoned, or the traffic of the railways suffer, and the Government will not hesitate in such eases to depart from the general principle of a uniform rate. In the meantime, I have instructed the managers of the different railways to report on the working of the tariff, and generally as to the operation of the new regulations, with the hope that, aided by the information they can afford, and assisted by the representations that are freely made by the settlers, such alterations can be effected as will meet the public.requirements. I have already laid upon the table the Report of the Commission which sat during the recess, and inquired into the working of the Auckland Railways. The principal recommendations made by the Commission were to reduce the. charges, and place more power in the hands of the local Manager. The Government concurs that it is desirable to intrjist the Managers of the different railways with larger discretion, than has hitherto been allowed them, and this decision is being given effect to. . , ~ , , , _, The recommendation of the Auckland Commission as to the reduction of charges involves consideration of the whole question of the tariff, to which I have already- referred. It must however, be remembered that the Auckland ' Railways, in their present unfinished state, cannot be expected to show such satisfactory results as it, is believed they will when further completed. _ , . . The'Government has given careful consideration to the subject, and we purpose taking power during the present ssssion to lease the Auckland-Waikato Railway, with the view of

practically testing the advantages of that mode of management. - , In the case of the Canterbury Railways, there was a very great increase to the traffic during the past grain season'; and I regret to say that considerable inconvenience was occasioned to the settlers. The increased work thrown on the railway may be gathered from the returns of traffic during the months of March and April of the .present year, and comparing them with the returns of the same months in the preceding year. 187.7.- 1876. i Tons. Tons. . March 51,017 .. 37,465 April .... .- 49,868 .. 33,839 , It -will be seen, therefore, that the .increase of traffic was very great, and could scarcely have been foreseen by, the provincial authorities, or provision to meet it would, no doubt, have been made. The General Government only assumed Charge of these railways shortly before the pressure commenced, and; it was then impossible to procure the increased rolling stock required to meet the traffic. Another element which added largely to the difficulties of working the lines under such pressure was the delay caused, through ' the-•'difference of gauge on a portion of the railway. ,\ >' To provide against the recurrence of such difficulties in the future, the Government is providing a large increase of narrow gauge rolling Btock, and is changing the gauge of the section from , Amberley ,to Lyttelton to the New Zealand standard gauge. I am confidently assured that the steps being taken will enable the railway to satisfactorily perform the work'that will'be;* thrown upon it during the next grain season.-' .'; ! The following table gives the results of the working of the different railways that have, been under the conduct' of the'Public Works Department during the past year ; and of the Canterbury and Otago Railways for the six months since they were taken over by the Government:—

, *Oaraaru accounts are included with Ohristchurcli, .the connection of the lines having necessitated, their, 'amalgamation; ■ ' . , ' tThese figures will not be found to agree exactly with those given in the Finanoial Statement, owing to the departmental accounts for the. Southern lines not having been'finally adjusted at the time it was made". ■..-'". '■ ' - i ; . . / ■.'"••

The traffic returns for the present year will, without doubt," be largely in excess of last year's. r Not only have we to expect an increase on the lines how open, but ifc must be remembered that during the present year it is proposed to, complete the works now in progress in Otago, which will connect-the northern and southern districts with Dunedin, and make one continuous line from. Amberley to Kingston of 527 miles, exclusive of*222>miles of branch lines in the -.same districts. £ Then the railways from Auckland to Waikato, Wellington \to Wairarapa, and Wanganui to Foxton are also to be completed within the same period, each line opening large and important districts ; and although all these lines will not be completed in time to get returns from them within the present year, yet additional mileage that will be opened at an early date will materially add to the traffic, receipts. The returns from some of the shorter, lines are not so good as could be desired ; but it cannot be expected these lines will be repro--ductive»until they are continued, so. as to tap the districts they were designed to develop. Of the Northern lines, the Napier Railway is giving the most satisfactory returns, .but this line is sufficiently extended to secure the. traffic of a rich and settled district. ..• ;

With the view of giving honorable members an opportunity of comparing.the rates at present charged for the carriage of goods on the New Zealand Railways with the rates formerly in operation in Canterbury and Otagri, and also as compared with the rates charged on the Victorian Railways, I have had a table prepared; and it will be appended to thia report. There will also be attached to the statement a table of the passenger rates charged on some English lines, on the lines of ,the several Australian Colonies, on the Otagb and. Canterbury lines under provincial management, on the New Zealand lines prior to • Ist July, and of the rate 3 at present in force. An examination of this table will show that whole the charges on the New Zealand Eailways are reasonable. SUMMARY OF EXPENDrTUBE. .' ' The expenditure in each island on the three principal classes of works up to 30tTi June last was as follows: , , North Island. £ a. H.

PROPOSED EXPENDITURE ON BAILWAYS! The expenditure we propose for the current year is as follows, and the sum named for each railway includes liabilities, which amounted in the aggregate, on the 30th June, to £530,333 4s. 46.:—/ ' ■ Kawakawa ... ... ... ■•• £6,113 Kaipara-Puniu 142,830 Waitara-Patea 50,000 Patea-Manawatu ... 141,956 Napier-Manawatu ... ... ... 75,633 Wellington-Masteiton 162,677 Nelson-Foxtail ~. ... ... 11,083 Picton-Blenheim ... ... ... -29,235 Greymouth-Brunnorton ... ... 35,006 Westpnrt-Neakawau ... ... 38,234 Amberley- Waitaki & Northwards... 182,754 Waitaki-Bluff and Branches ... 365,488 Winton-Kingston .. 39,296 Wcotom Railways ... ... ••• 37,587 Surveys 10,000 Land . ... : ... 42,208

—making a total of £1,370,100, for railways during the current year. The Government would have preferred to propose a smaller expenditure for the year, but taking intoj consideration that in the case of some of the post important railways the works are far advanced, and represent in their unfinished, state a large unproductive expenditure, we consider it necessary to provide for their completion at as early a date as possible. We also think it requisite to push on the com-, pletion of the main line from Dunedin to Invercargill, and through to Kingston, and to advanoe the works on the different sections of the main trunk lines in both islands, and to provide the rolling stock and station accommodation which is necessary to secure the efficient working of the railways throughout the colony. With the exception that we undertake the completion o£ those branch railways in the South Island which were in course of construction by the Provincial Governments, our proposals are confined to works on the main trunk lines : we consider the colony is not in a position at-present to undertake the responsibility- of constructing branch lines, but must confine itself to steadily proceeding with the main trunks. We fully recognise, however, that many important districts in the colony may be immensely assisted in the development of their resources by the construction of branch or district railways, and to provide for this a District Kail way Bill has been which, we believe, will enable any district that is in a position to support

a railway to secure it. I purpose submitting this Bill to the House very shortly v JK Parliament sanctions the' "works"! ha've'proposed, a very considerable increase will be added during the year to- the mileage of working railways ; and looking at the results of the past year, we may confidently expect'a largely increased traffic, and such returns as will amply justify us in providing for the further extension, of our railway system. , -,,.- , ;

•o ■- ■ T) li 2 CO — •s «i ff| gj " » 4 is o $1 fl Mis Chs Mis Chs i Mis Chs : JIIs Chi Jorth Islan >outh Islan (1 .. 412 13 .. 815 82 212 47 047 55 1S1 75 142 31 67 25 51 26 iRS^^ffflKSf^EglJ 92 "fir

ce pts. Expe e. Pr Oflt. j £ s. d. £ s. d. , £ s. dT Kaipara .. 3,77S 4 6 4,200 11 6 Auckland .. 21,868' 3 0 17,603 8 10 4,204 14 n Napier ■ WelUngto .. 21,37413 10 13,239 19 2.8,134 14 n 11,518 18 3 9,893 19 2 1,024 19 8 1 Foxton .. 8,364 12 2 7,378 13 2 985.19 175 9 6 412 14 4 'th 2,641 19 1 3,271 2 2- .. 0 Wanganu New Plyn Picton .. 5,731 4 5 5,165 12 1 565 12 i Nelson .. 6,200 13 3 5,490 9 6 719 3 10 "VVestport Brunner 858 12 0 ,' 833 0 6 25. 6 7,920 11 7 4,346 19 6 3,573 12; 0 1 •Christen oil 150,310 0 11 105,677 16 2 44,638 10: 9 Dunedin .. 48,785 7 3 32,666 15 10 10,218 11. 5 Invercarg 11 21,043 11 0:14,603 9 11 . 7,080 1 1 Making a totalof receipts £311,187 .7 11 . . ., Expenditure |.. .... 224,800 17 9 Lea vine a balance : ....••.: t£S6,3S6 10 2

Hallways to 30th June, 1878 .. 1,781,017 13 8 ,, during year 1876-77 ' .. 418,447 15 5 Eoads to 30th June, 1876 .. .. 459,612 3 11 „ during year 1876-77 • .. 11,547 17 7 "Water-racea to 30th June, 1876 . .. 58,612 18 3 „ during year 1876-77 7,709 1' C Total, North Island .. . .£2,736,947 9 10 South Island. " i , £ s.' d, Railways to 30th June, 1876 .. 3,381,477 4. 7 „ during year 1876-77 .. 648,977 17 9 Eoads to 30th June, 1876 .. .. 193,955 10 10 „. during year 1870-77 ; 4,455 12 3 Water-races to 30th June, 1878 .. 220,871 0 0 „ during year 1876-77 67,870 9 7 Total, South Island .. : . .£4,417,607 15 0 Total .. ..£7,154,555 4 10