PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5123, 24 August 1877, Page 6

PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT.

The Hon. Mr. Ormond delivered the' following Statement oii ; Friday,' - August 10 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 Worksi'-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; ‘ln doing so, I would' remind hbnj'members that, my term of office commenced in January last; and -I desire to take this opportunity of,.thanking my hon.frierid and predecessor (Ifon. Mr. Richardson) J for 'the -kind i and cordial assistance he has rendered me. on the ■fiiauy ;6ccasibns l have had to re.’er -to rhim'fbrinformation and advice on inatters connected'with the department.. , T ,. . ' " '■••TKe* 'customary- yesHy’.reiterts from-the JBn-gineer-in-Chief, - and other officers of the Public Works - Department,- will : be appended ’to. this Statement ■; when 1: circulated, , together; with tables, as in previous.years." Except-where otherwise specially mentioned the word “ year ” . is intended to mean'financial 'year/ V’ • Ein.WATS.- '• ' ' ’ X will first speak of railways. My predecessor, in making his Statement last year, co-m----menced his remarks under this head "by stating that the railwsy works throughout ’the colony had not been 'bh'so-rapidly. during jthe year then ended • as’ during the two years'preeeding;' the' past yearj.although ’considerable ’ progress has. 1 been "'made, the ;: vptes ; for’ : the year have not been fully expended. ■ ‘ -; ' ’ 1 ‘ It will be recollected that, when'last; year’s Statement was .made, it was 'announced that the hew works’authorised would hot ,be undertaken until the 1 Government was assured that the necessary-meahs 1 were .available ’;" and it .was not' until February, in the present year, that-the - monetary arrangements ' were concluded which'enabled the; Go vernihent'to proceed vigorously 1 -with the 'different works authorised. •I- refbr. to’this ibepaiise in 'sdme ■ parts 'of-'the • coltoy complaint has been made that the Government s has hot pushed oh the works as rapidly as was desired ;* hut T think it will be admitted that the -’coursfe 1 pursued by the Government was' the only prudent 6ne opeh to them. ’• ‘ * -,! T ' ' I 1 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 ’how completed to the shipping place, - and has been, provided -with: rolling stock/' It is not. intended tb undertake any further work bn this line at ’ present, beyond a small extent of .open bridging, which is. necessary to secure 1 against damage by. floods ; .'and this, work is in course of construction. . , ’ . ■ - - ■ ... The Auckland, to Jvaipara Railway is being extended from JHelensville 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 tbe.route to.be followed is determined.; , ‘ The Auckland-Waikato line is ’expected to be open to Newcastle (76 miles) by the end of Augustfrom "thenceto Ohanpo (20 miles) the formation is finished ; and it is proposed during this year,to complete the line to Ohanpo, and to push.on the,work towards 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 Onehunga 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 S 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 Wellipgton-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 is necessarily slow, as, each tunnel must be completed before the line can be laid, and material carried on ‘ for ),tlie next, ,■ It .'is, jhoweyer, believed that the line will be open to Kaitoki, twenty-seven' inHes ‘iroiff; WeUifJgtpn,,- byJDe-.'ceraber,-and every exertion''vjll.be used to get the line open to Featherston within thej present year.lt is proposed to go bn with the formation from Featherston to Mastefton, ,so that the line may beiready 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. y ". ; ■. ~ Onithe Waitara-Patea railway, the ;line .will shortly he completed to Ipglew.ood. - A section 'southwards of Ipglewpod I? in progress, and it is proposed to, continue; the .works a lew. miles farther during the'present year. ~; , The southern section of the Patoa-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 o£ Wanganui is ..under, .contraband, it.-ia -expected lhat'the whole line, from Wanganui to Foxton will be open for traffic 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 NelsonFoxhill Eailway .with the port ;;but it is pro*’ posed to do so during the present year,.and to erect a workshop, so that repairs may he-.ef-! fected locally. ■ Ten miles of the Westport-Ngakaivau Hailway are’completed,* and the remainder will 1 be ’ shortly, as also the necessary works for loading the coal. This line was constructed to open up the valuable .coal district; hetweenWestport and the NgakWwau River, and it is tribe tt-' gretted that only, one, company—the. Wellington Coal Company—is in a positioh-to take advantage of the railway,.... ■ 1 ’ On the Plcton-Blenheim line it is intended to carry out at once the extension ofthe,.line, into Blenheim,' and, as soon as .the survey is completed, to extend the line spnthwards.,. The Greymouth-Brunnerton line is working satisfactorily. The Bnmner,Cpal Mining Company, thC‘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 ’ dddiMohal 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 td provide a workshop, aa in the case of Nelson— . 71'. -1 The line"from * 1 Amberley to'Waitaki was completed some; mouths’ago. .The works pro-, posed tobe carriedput during.the present year are an extension of the Main- Trunk northwards from Amberley about" 15 miles ; the completion : df the Eyretori Railway, nowiunder contract; the improvement of-the line at the Waimakiriri'- River, completion ,;pf,„the ; Opawa Railway -Tthe cpnversion, of the broad. uange from Amberley. to-Lyttelton to narrow °auge ; the re arrangement and improvement of the railway stations at. Christchurch .and. Lyttelton"; geneijal' additions to station accommodation ; and a large increase of rolling From Moeiaki to Dunedin the’whole line is under contract, except the Waikouaiti section,, the formation of which has been done by piece-. work. 'The time for completion of the latest 1 contracts is January next; and every exertion will be used to get the works finished within the specified time, ’’ ~, :■ . - ,■ .l The completion oLlhe.line-between Dunedin mil InvercurgUHs ina forward’state; with the' exception of the section froimj Balclutha to Clinton, for, which., teu(Jers"are invited.ji.the! work t(* 1 ■ The Invercargill to Kingston line is open for traffic t 6 Dbwtheri ;and'.'Vill- be .completed to-. Kingston within ’the present year ;by which time hopes-the ‘maintrunkline from! Atwheiley to ■ Kingston,^ I length; of 527 mdes, yriUib.e, open, for traffie. 1 Several railways ia. the’Provincial Districtof Otago were in course of- construction under the Provincial Govertamenti''ahd’\haye, J l)een taken oVefr by 7th£ Public, Works,Department.The .Marcwheiiua, , ,Waiareka>i an (I,Green Island Railways^although open!for traffic; re-,, quire a; conriderable.-expenditure for' stations' and n>lUh{fi^^ u i^. ; ihis.is ; {«Dyide3.^K' i uv. <: The Outram!Bailw»y isrieap:completiou,’but, requires rolling stock. . cr !/' The formation 6n :: ,the‘Western Lines, in the Otago District,was > partly, undertaken - when’ the worts were taken over,- bnt much ' remains; to be done to complete them., The'section from Wallacetown to' .the!.Junction .withe the: Otautau line is, .now .contracted for, and the completion, of, the formation of that section to Riverton, and. of the.Otautau line, will be pro- ’, ceeded with,-so aa-to. be ready for plate-laying as soon as--the Wallacetown line is for conveyingrthe "tails. .‘There is no'roffing stock these lines, but what-is requisite for their working haft been: ordered. • ! In confornuty^strith s the 'prorisidns -oj; the.. Financial"Arian'gdm’enls; Act, 1876,i (fejwuss tion has been made of the Provincial Ilaxlways in Canterbury aud ! Otdgo , . '' ; ' ' * , ' y The valuation of .rthri'-Canterbriry; Railways Obig6!,Eail-; ways t0‘£372,52^,25, od.-x't itobv.-.-vq r.nd#nAS» - Copies of the award ofthe 'valuationdn each case - l > The total lengtha of the railways authorised, open for traffic, and to be opened during and subsequently to-the--present’year, inclusive,!o£; the lines undertaken, by, the provinces,;are re 7, speotively as foliriws.l-.i.t r! : - --7

The amount appropriates'by the Immigration and 'Public Works Appropriation Act'd last year for Railways was £1,300,600;' the' expenditure against which has,.been £967>425 13a. 2d., including the distribution to the several railways concerned of £29,881.15a- 6th, being the balance of the advances made “in previous yean? to ..the’;.General Railways Ac-, count. ■ "i •

The total expenditure up to 30th: June, 1877, was £6,129,920 Tls; *sd., and the outstanding liabilities £530,333 4s. 4d. This amount includes the liabilities for all existing contracts, some of which extend into; the. year 187$, hpd for plant and materials ordered from Home. , surveys. The work performed'during, the past year on exploration surveys" for the Main Trunk lines has hot been considerable, and 'what' has been done has not yet been'plotted;'so that the Engineer-in-Chief is unable atpresent to report definitely. It is our intention to push on the exploration surveys during the ' present year, and to laybefore 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'fraiveys' made by him of 'the different lines that have been advocated for opening the Central Otago District.. His re- 1 port will be appended to this Statement. HOADS. ■' ' 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-beeny where: practicable, 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 hot 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 pro-, vision was iriifle' last session for roads in certain districts in. the/North: .'lsland,: and for’ similar purposes in Westland and the Nelson South-west Goldfields; on the’ grounds that’ these districts had urgent wants ,which ; cpuld not be provided forby the local bodies,, and that they had ’ special claims to’ ooiiHideratioti from being- ad situated. as .not to deriye, the' same immediate, arid .direct advantages from the Public Worlds policy as other parts of tho colony. , 0 The Government intend to ask the House, to make provision this session lor similar works in the same, districts, and I shall'.submit the following ybtes for these purposes : — ; ,, ; f ., , BeadsNortb.ol, Auckland .. i .. .. £IO,OOO Balance ot last year's vote, being liabilities iv 16,200 BoadsinKatiye'rPistricta. i. : 12,000 Beads, Westland .. .. .. 10,000 Balance last year's vote . ... .. .. / ,1/0,164 Beads, Nelson,South-West Goldfields. 1 . 1 : ... 10,000Balance last year’s vote 7,802' Hokltika-Cbnstchuich Boad' .. ' 6,000 —being a total of. £79,172 for road works. . 1 ,. The re is another class of works, to which I have to refer—viz.yr.the: provincial • roads and undertakings which were under construction or authorised, when tke'Abolition,of,thei Provinces, Act came frite force. The reports of,"both the

Engineer-in-Chief and Assistant Engineer-in-«GhieWppntain important works of this character which were taken over, and. have been. carried on-by- the Publid ’.Department.,’ Somef;worka / .0f.class have been carried' out by the local authorities, at i the> request of ' the Go- ' vemmjent. h t -ct VIA V . I.: VU: UA/ '-J ■ The! expenditure - under this head* hafl (been ‘considerable, and; 1 regret,! am unable at present to furnish an accurate -statements of thp coudition-of these works.: The requisite i information ihas,been called for from the:different provincial districts, and when this is obtained, we shall ask the House to make' provision ‘. for thd liabilities incurred. We shall also, determine the particular*,. works : we/shall ask. the Hdutd to. provide means .to complete. Ihe •Government recognise tbat-the distribution-of, the expenditure ’on' these provincial works has been unequal in* the different phrts ;of ‘ the, colony. We are also aware* that there 7 arm some jworks'vr: Bporgelyys6jt l^l’’ (l> “iVs?lf^! such as 1 bridges’ ever difficult rivers, whidh are urgently required to comiect import/inf divisions of the ' country! these works are ‘beyond the present means 6f ; the County Councils. We'dp not'wish it to be, inferred that we think.the colbhy.can, provide for all 1 the works of this. kind that are desirable ; Ibnt we propose, at the .same time.,that ive submit votes to cover, .the ..liabilities on the provincial-works in progress, to'’ask provision for the more' important ,ahd pressing of the works! I 1 have just described, and in ;ijo doing we shall take into the claims of those districts which, have,iot-shared equally, iu. the .Public Works expenditure''already in--1 burred. . -rj ’i ./

, g, ;. ! OPENING LANpS IFOR SETTLEMENT. . > .The 1 question of. providing - for«opeuing- lands* for sale and settlement has pressed; itself upon the consideration of the Government... ~.We..see. ■plainly that the work of. cannot go; on . as I it ought in many out-districts without assistance, and this, is especially .so in , the, case of biish lands.. A Bill will be introduced, to enabldthe 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 suin'might be expended with great advantage on this object, but we have to look to -the. means* at our command, and only see s our way. to propose a vote for expenditure during.the* present year of £50,000. : ' .: ' | WATER-RACES; V: A! nUlo-penn • The expenditure on these-Works during thepast'year has been almost entirely confined.'tb a few race?; upon Which" large sums had been previously spent; —In- the~Nprth“lslaud the only work bUthmkind in' hand has been the Thames Race, |an : d-'it [has* * been completed,' except the’ distribution tV the batteries, fob Which Ap'royi-; non will'.be'asked. : •' *•''■’***'■’* ■■ .* '• ' • ■' ’ ■

1 » “Fori the Thames Race £6,505, , :'l,l Waimca Race .. .. :. *25,828 '• • *jl X Nelson Creek .. 24,33-t' ? 'M ,i Four-Mile Race.. ~{<.<14,000 : nr i , Mikonui Race .. . 1£,650 1 j-nAjO'i Y YA £Bo'36^^'^

"''ln 1 the'South Hsland,-^-' ■ ; Tliej Mount Ida Eace been 'cpmplefcd; fte^eli9n , Of^^-Mfc 1 l^e !^ork8; been empldyment'' throughoht'thh'year L '6f tifo ’hundred' men, V If? ft anticipated ’this” ractf Will 1 be'- compftte’d : duringi the 1 prtfteht nSonttu* ! k ' < Y .-’ f“ - L ’> ’On (the Waimea;.Eace t very works have also bebh f undertaken, including- an extension to 'We;Kumata;" f, lt is estimated that all the Works' in' •connecfionl with':this' race, Will ( be‘‘cqmpleted ! in a’few months; 1 * L ' \ .o'Tiie Mikonui'Eaoe Has 'not' been proceeded withy thei : teudors'fpr' I the 1 first section of.tlie' - work having 'been considerably jn i excess of thej 1 . ’vote. I 1 It was stated last year, by my predecessor, ’, .that tbe ; Government 'proposed to hand 1 oyer : thordlfferenttwater-rtices tO the Councils df the 1 counties in which they were situated,.and the .’fhpvernment, has give-effeotto that propoeaL' : 'The ,; C6unty Councils that have been communicated with have;'not,. however, been willin^to 1 undertake the'ch'ai^ei 1 a!nd considering7lthe y&ej ’.large ebstf'of r tjl‘e work^ J the ‘ Governmedt’ i haa l/ nbb-‘ felt justified in’Banding "them bver'-until ’ Wiftiecured for-their ; ‘ 'Appended to the Eeport of thp Engineerthe''Eeport 'of ■ l s£r/ : O’Gohhbr,' 1 the, Engineer ‘linder- whose supervision' ilte large'-water-taces 7 on tHfe bhen;cony strncteo. I regret ”tol‘siy l that the 1 resnltxKe’ repprfcj in- the 1 base of‘ such* races as afe'himjflpfed -j j <r spri,: <; ~j' SCte 1 propose : .to ask'the House, to'provide the'&xtnh Required tq^epmplete.jtiie, mogt' important whter-races .in, .course of .con;,, structipn, which are estimated,. iuclnding r liabilities, as follows: 1 ' '

• In' thejpasp ofjthe-Mikonui Race the imehnt J askedj jfor is the anexpendedi.balauce of last, yearU Vote ;-but as the estimated) coht of that': posej.tp -commence -thework-un!ess~ satisfied that tnstwhole.sphein'e.wJll be.hampleted'by'a' ,private company.

j PUBLIC ! BUILDINGS. I! T! f i ,li , The iffart ofthe.Colonial Architect, cannot be apfjendedi,to,.-this Statement,: as. ihe ia : laid hp by jhlnessoin.Dunedin;! It wiH,, however, be printed;and.,published aaisoonahhefis well; enough to furnish it, r ; v b < ' I hope/t€> be,'able atthe,same, timer;to givethe House . the valuation! of , the Provincial:' Building^ithroughoat;the: colonyl .The, work;-' of valuhig iis tfat;;advaneOd/ahdithe valuation > will be |furnished,.as early as, possible,,;! i ! ;,-i /' The expenditure-on Public Buildings during! the year.ended June last amounted to £43,309; particulars of which will be appended; ;>■ The that: will be required during the prdsent, year for-Buildings is very much’: increased by the . charge ;ahd) maintenance of all Public Buildings.’in.the colony having to be' provided; for,, many of ■ which ■, were- formerly provincial (Charges. It is < found- that many: of these Buildings, j are . in/a bad; state of repair/ and afford., insufficient. accommodation. ; ' For Schools 1 , alone ft, is. estimated that £50;000 is: requisite--, (| The .provision needed for Bundtic Bighthonses, i Gaols,; Police/: and Courthouses is very 1 • In all, the expenditure for (Public Buildings ifs-esti-' ihatdd at-£215,000., .: vd;.! <nt i.i ..m'l •‘.H ; I ' ' coal EXPLORATION. . During;.the.: past ..year ’> the. i survey '■ of' the Buller (Coalfield, commenced .in 1871, has been brought! jto i a, I close.: The. 'existence. 1 of oVer ! Ip0,(/p0|0,00,.tons.; of coal has been!proved of good quality,, in positions which: ban be worked'to advantage. Several: leases.'are 'Understood to have be«u issued;; but: up to :the-present; time thd only, mine!; far- work: is ithat belonging to the Wellington : Coal Company, who have been moat energetic,in opening up their mine; l

At Gjreymouth, i thej;BrunneriGoal Mining Company have during the'yaat three years extended their workings from 22 acres to 38 acres, with'.a total i output during, that time of 49,833 tons; ThetiOoal Pit Heath" Company: have coat now- in the market; and the Greymonth Company have reached the coal in 'theh.new shaft,:-.and : expect to: be at work .shortly.: r: i TrfK" : The Green-Island Collieries in Otago, which have undergone; great: development since ;the' opening'of the Southern Kailway, have been - again inspected, and it is found that, Although’ generally speaking ? these are'' in good'jorder; they have, been • hitherto carried on-without ;any working plans, and in such a manner that not more. than.’one-third of th^coal will be inined. j Vhl -hi: id ■ '■■■! Iriithe North Island the coal of the Waikato Basin has been, further examined, and : frdm' surface indications it .appears probable that even a gteater extent of coal exists:tberethan has; ever ibeen calculated in the most sanguine estimated.. .iTbe. extent, However,‘ can onlybe iiettled‘'liy boring. Two fresh mines in tliiS district are: now bringing coal to ■ Rahuipoheka’(Ralph’s) 1 Mine;" at’Taupiri,' and the 'Bridgewater: Colliery (Foote’s),'-near'the ' j'Mifahdaj Redoubt. : Inothe.’latter:'Case, , ' ( ’tbe ! seam, of ! coal 'is 55 feet-thick,’mhly TS ' feet" heing at breSenfc'rworJcedi-.'vdi r "’ h ‘ - ; ’ The Wangarei .'and: Bay of Isladds coal-has also been 1 examined, and plane of the 'workings of these and other - collieries Will be published with the Ideological reports thirf year. ' 1 | INSPECTION 'OF MACHINERY. ’ '* There US 'nothing special to "remark under this head, TiiO 'Rejiort Of, is attached, "and shows; that 1 a. great deal of necessary work haS been donei and that the "department is, rather.more, than supported by, the fees charged. ‘ :

RAILWAYS OPeVfOR TKAVFIC.

•to- TffitfpSrt of th&'6ubjdfifi' fife hafaimeddargelyincreased importance during,/theCpast year. .Honorable - members - are aware* thatonthe, Abolition* of the Provinces Adt* taking';effect; J the/wbrking of thd-Canterbury* 'aud !l *Gtago Railways; jdevolved'.iuponx, th'ej'Gb'vefhmehti * There have also beenconsiderable additions; to, 1 . the linpe open for. traffic, during the year, as, well. as new'lines 6pened, u and theadditionai work land responsibility *> thrown' Upon*--the Public Works Department by. these : changes hasibeen r very considerable, , - y- j a liAs jthe Canterbury” and ’Otago Railways caine under the charge of, the Government, at the biisiest season • of 1 the year, 1 it was ’’ deterf' mined not to make any immediate chauge ’iti ' the system of working. -The railways in those, -districts were accordingly parried.qu under the sime system and staff as before Abolition, and-this was continued up. to the 30th.of . June last. 1 : * ‘ ; " " ’*' *’' l

'. The.'House is no doubt aware* that* the systems of management and the tariffs were different jin Otago and Canterbury, and both were, also different to the system and tariff in operatibn"oji the- General Government lihfes.-' : We° had tijus three separate railway systems and scales J of charges in operation on the, New Zealand,- Railways, and the, impossibility of, continuing .this state of things became !appar-, ent wljen the line from Waitaki to Moeraki was opened. Then passengers, or goods gravelling by the rail were subject to different tiriffsjou 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' thafctho rates must be equalized*as nearly:as; possible. My predecessor had anticipated the, necessity of adopting a system .of uniformity s foKthd New Zealand Railways, and appointed, during his term of office,'/a Commission ‘to' enquire into and report generally on/their, working.-:,, * / -..-.. T -.a -A.* .--/mA. ,ic\— • 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 Go-*: verninent carefully considered the whole qiies-. -tion (We recognised;,;that * the-subject.- was large, jmd involved, particularly iih,.regard to .the traffic, considerations■: requiring :technical .knowledge. ' Upon the Commission were. /gen- - tlemen who were, experts iu railway manage-' /ment, and we concluded to, adopt: generally'the recommendations, see how ;they worked, and alter and amend: asjjexperiencei.'sjxpwedrthe necessity. ; !We.! also, took, into consideration - that; these changes, would, be , brought, iutd. operation' during the/least busy, season of .the when the public interests would be least! ’ affected should the new system prove unsuit-' able in any particular. ), iTI . ,!x;. -j*3w:a f.i; J " The aubjects in which, radical ghanges'were made Were" in adopting, /audit; jthej.rendvring weekly accounts; and\ttuniform tariff. Several other important ques■ttons'iii connection with railway [management", we imported on by; -advantageously. In respect. to, the,-.central audit, fhe system recommended | has-qalyibeen, adopted as a tentative .measure,; \ve;.desire'to, test fajrly its operation ; iyjfe disadvimtagepusly,i it. is;i ( re.y.ert. toja .more* joed system! ’’Yery .great iffifferenoe, of, ‘ppinibn exists as to the relative adyantages'of or monthly accounts. ‘ Tb.e, jvooklyi 'lystem is now in force. It is reported 'tofhave. worked well; jOn the N or therd,lines, and,.thppe, ihaknot been sufficient tjmVas yet to test faijly. its operation on the Southern, Rail ways. , n With rekpe’et to the tariff, I say at, once, on the, : new tariff coming,, intg force, /manyr mistekes. were represented and femediedit f ’j W other pointa.now-under_oonsideration,.in whichI believe, are' necessary. ,jThe question, of passpngera’i fares; is ialso being carefully rlpoke’di into. The,: Goyerniitent'/beUeYe-ithat ’ the'.tariff .shfluld be ; aß .nearly; uuiform.as posai-. . bl’ebut exq>erience J has,>mreadyliihawn;.ithat tbSfe kre must be abandoned, or the trafficldf'ltheOailA ' wiys : iiper.iftnd .jybp.GofJ^m.entfwill hotrhesi/ *. tafe in! a'ughf.oaspa ( to,,!deparb if.rom/ihp; general: I haveiuatcncted the,managers of the.different; ('railways! tpi Teport, r pn:jthe jvprlpng, ofthe 'tariff,; and fglueVaUy aa to the pperatioh of themew'regulations,.(withibe..,hppe- that,!-aided^--iy; the ,Informktfqn,i.,tiiey .can: ( afford,': Eissistedsbyi the rebreaenmtipns.itliat..are,freely- madq iby the settlers,; su()h;albefationß;cah,be .effected as' will mbet:thp-ppblic.,rpquiremenm. ic:r!;i-ij-.;iKd , , I have,;alseady)jl,aid!, ,nppOiitbe*'jtable ,the Report bf u the t ,Cominißaipn;,wlfich ttsat;duriug: the the./vvbrking of .the Augkmnd ; ‘liailyyays; j:ATbe principal re-y ,<mmmdndaticms madp by.-the Commission*:.whre to‘reduce, jthe, pbarges »nd,plaofe:Jnote power; in the hands of K; jbhe/ipceliMa(nager.ir iTba* dfoverdment jcqncqrs; that it is desirable todn-'. .trust. tbe-Managers- of—the-different-railways-withr larger! dwcrelio'u thaii has' hitherto- been them,’ and-thUldecisibri'is -being given effect to.' . ,

The .recommeudatipnof ,thi ’Auckland Com- ‘ mission as to the reduction of charges involves 'consideration, of' the whole -'question -of the' prior to- 'which ! I have already referred. <Tt must,* however, be remembered that the Auckland ,! Railways, .'in ..their, present'unfinished' 'state,, expected;to 'show slioh'satis- < factory, results as it -is' believed the'y willwheh further!completed.-;-Jin.'iixip :h ! ’ 7 ' '< ,The (Government, has giv’em careful ration ter the-subjept,- and"yve7purppse r t?.kipg,' power ‘during the r present 'ssssipn to 1 lease 'the'. Auclclalnd-Waikato' J ßailw : ay/OTth of; practically testing'thß, advantages'of that iiiode of management. <J,!! ; " J . !/ln'!t|ie case of ! the : there’.! was a very , great increase'to trafficr during | the' past 'grain' season'; * aiidir.pegret’to 1 say that considerable inconvenience was'occasioned to 1 the ; settlers; ■ The’-ihlcrfiaised Work thrown; on the railway maybe gathered from the . rethms of ' traffic during; ;’tfeev mpnthis',' of March land. Aptil of the’prCserit yCar, ! and comparing them! With'the returns of the same mouths ;in the preceding year.- jrr;

will be seen, 'tliafc the increase^ ■ tr^ff^c!'W^-^very-'g?eati^nd-‘ have, been foreseen by the provincial authorities, or provision-to meefcitwould, nodoalit, iriailc. -The General Government only .assumed charge of - these 1 railways beforei the' ptessurepcbraikeiioedl abdl it; ■wastheu;,iniposSible' to 'pfdpure'theunereasbd rolb' ing stock required to lUest-thU' traffic! i; A[ii6ther elementi which added 'largely to the'difficulties of working the lines under such pressure was l ’the delay caused'Jthrpftg)i-'vthd‘''ai|ference ! bp gauge .pi a f> brtion bf the railWaJjr. -* *ll ' /> I :• To provide'agaihs't' the' recurrence' of such difficulties inythp, future, thepGpVernment - is providing''a large in'crekse, 'of .narrow gang’s rolling-stock, and is, changing’^he.gauge, pf the, : section from' 1 imb'erley 1 to * Lyttelton' to the Npw Zealand iptfindard,,gauge, i I (anj <qqnflf' dently assured that' the steps .being tajcen will ;enablefthe railway tp tg^jßfaPtdnlyHß*^ o ™ the work that will be .thrown, upon'it during the next'grain sdasnn. ' : \ : ~The foflbwing table giyes the results of the, 'Wprkingl of the 'diifijrerit' railways’ that; have -been under the conduct of the Public’Works ■Department daring thb 1 past year ; and of the , Canterbury 1 'and Otago 1 ; jiailways. for the six months sinc.b they, were taken over by the Go-, vernment .

Malting a total of receipts -£311,187 ' 7 11' •" Expenditure ,v- - -224-;800 17 9 - 'Leafing a hjdanco ' ' |£Bfl,3Bß 10 2- .. *Oamaru accounts are included'-with Christchurch, the connection of the lines having' necessitated their amalgamation, - . • .

The r traffic, returns for the preseujj.Xftffi.J'Xifth. without -doubtj be -largely in'excess*"of "last” year’s.! Not only have Wei' l 'tot expect »n increase on” the lines nowrepenj 'b^^i^hiußrpe' ' rem'embered that .during; Me' proposed to complete the‘works ribw in proigrets’ in Otago, will connect the northern t and soptherri 1 pop cohtinuofislme Worn' of 527; miles, exclusive of, mijes, of branch lines in the same’ffisfricts; * Then the ■from 1 ' to . Wellington’ A to' ;,Wa}rarapa, ail'd Wahganuv. tb‘Foxtop are ~to be completed within' the; same’ period, each . line opening large'and Important districts ; 1 'hud althbugh r all these' lines will hot be completed In time to get returns fjronp .them >vitbin the present v the 'additihhar rhileage that' will.be opened: at'ah’early 'date will materially: add tojthe traffic receipts!" ", r >! ‘ Theireturns from, spme o,f the ,shorter are hot so good as oouldbri desired but'it cannot' be expected these lines wUI be ductive until they are continued,’ ’so f ap to'tap the [.districts they were 'designed ‘.to ’develop.'., ..Of the Northern lines, 'the ’giving|the' most'*Satisfactory ’returns!' but ;this ■line is sufficiently extended to secure .the traffic ■of a rich and settled district. ( ' ! ffi' J" f With the view bf' 'givihg'hbuoraMe toehibers, :an opportunity of"comparing the/rates .'at |present chained 1 for the'eatfiage’ of gbods oh, the Nevvi Zealand Railways'with’ the rates formerly in operation in Canterbury ahd" Otago,. ’ arid also as compared with thb rates charged on' the Victorian Railways, I have had’a!" table prepared, and it wjll ( be appended ,tp this .yeport/! (There wUI also be’attached to the statement a table of the passenger rates charged on soffie~Fnpishy lih.es.) on (t the Iffies ;of - .ttye several Australian' 'Colbni§s,rbh thCjOtagb and Canterbury lines under provincial manage- ' ment, pn the. NowFealand-jlffies, prior, |to,,Tst. ■July,' arid of the rates, at:present m,force, L ;An; Examination of “this table willjshbw that on the Whole jtlie phargesr-on ,fihe Nppr,. i Zepand.]Bail| ways are reasonable. ’ ~.. , ' : SUMMARY OP EXPENDITURE. The!expenditure in .each island:on the three,, principal; .classes, (Up i.tOilSOthi; June .lastwas as foUowsi-r- uiviii :. ■»£.* v .wUvmn wit

T PROPOSED 1 EXPENDnURi 'ON R'AIIAVAYS, The [expenditure we propose for the current yearjsias follows," and the sum named'tor "each railway includes liabilities, which, amounted in the .'aggregate, on the 36th 1 Juno, to £536,333

fduringi the’ current year." "33»cl Government t would have preferred to, propose, a mailer expenditure for; jbpt -ipto con;siderat|ion;hbat. m'thp cgse pfpogiepfjthepupft'tj ■ jindireprese^t unproductive expenditure,' we consider,,, it, faecessary to their completion .'at,fi:as| early date ..ppeßiblejj .•also think'it requisite' to push.,on the completion of , the jßJain , v frpm ( ■tonTnyercarglll, 'and , tpi' Kingston, jalnd''tp advance ferent! sections of the main; jri ibpthilslands, and to thaJrpllhig is)£k ,and station . tdJseCure the efficient working throughout the colony. ,that'«we undertake the <ipmpfeti,bfl pjv jhqse branch railways in the Solith' XHi ant r"v.;hi ch 1 store-in course of construction! by'.the Brpvijidcial Gqyernmt nts our proposals are _cohmied« to works on~tbe main trunk .lines ; r .we consider the colony,is_ no_t_ m_a poaition_at_pxeßeat_to. ’ nhdijrtakie, , jhe responsibility pf coustrqptjngf branch! lines, but must;cpnfine itßplf tp stppdily procetdifig, .lyjth .. the however, that many impprtaut,disr triets.ih the colony may be'imniensely ysflisfed'' in thfe jdevelopment; of tljeif jespuioea. by_the« - cohstfuctiqn ( pf jwaqch or csf*kfe*i ■: iXailvyays,. 'arid to pro.yjpp this hai )V Misy?. wHiPU-l ableWyidiatrfo't in,q.j)9sjtipn .fq pgppprt. Ja s ’railway" to ‘secure it. 5 'lpurpose submitting, this Bill .to } the,,pouse! ygry!shoryy. ;;If l '^ur,, ; liament sanctions,phe works.lchave,proposed,. a very! „will. Be', added, during failwaypV and ‘looking at the., results,,of ;the, •past year,.we may [I cpnfide'ntly’pxpect,a.largelyt jt'raffipi; .and' fjuch,,returns,>as will, juraply justify psVun prpyidingi for tjw further,, '‘extenaipn.pf o|ur.raßway;system. .[j,, ,)

- jS--IS- ■»©■</: - j a i :;*Jh ■ & £P?2 ■< 5* i: • i§ r © ■ © S's* iesS H i< "M Mis - Chs’ MIhC^s Mis Chs MlsChs North Island,,,. '412- 13 • 212.,47 131: 75 / 67; 51 South Island .. ’ 815 32 647 55 142 31 25 20 1227 45 8G0 22 274/. 26 92 ? 77

• — r“ ■' i-i U877" '>!■ 1876; r/ ' : Tons. Tons. Jj - - March.. 61,017 ,t r. 37,405 April .. . ■ ' ..''49,868 .1 ..

. Railways. Receipts. Expenditure. ■■'Profiti ■ £ i B; d. ■■ £ . a."di s. d;> Kfclpaik j .. 3,778 4 5 4,206 11 .6 ‘■s A -.'.At 'U fAilcWandj v 21,808, 8 9 17,663 ; 8 10 ,4,204 14 11 papier 1 21,374 '13 10 13,239 19 2 8,134 14 8 .Wellington 11,518 18 3 9,893 19 2 1,024 19 1 1 Foxton j .-. ■ 8:364 12 - 2 • 7;878 IS - 2 - 985 19 0 Wanganui... J H175" 9*3 6 " .412 14 :4 V • Hi r J S -,‘t <J Now Fiyw’th ,2,641,19 -1 : 3,271. ,2 2 ! 1 Ploton.;, 1 ., 5,731 1 4 5 ' 6,166 12 1 665 12 .4 Nelson, | .. . 6.209,13 3 5,490 9 6 ... 719 3,10 WOltpbrt: .I ■858 12 B -'sss 6 e 25 6 1 0 Brunner i.. 7,920 11 7 4,346 19- e 3.673 12 1 *ChrlStch’ch; 159;816f6fll 105,677-16' .2 44,638 10 '0 Dunedin .. 48,788 7 3 32,566,15 M 16,218 11 B Invercargill 21,643 ( .0 14,533 9 11 ' 7,080 1. ,1

.'IcWv W(Vo ilo wo » - r* .y in' f ;■ '■ ■■' I ' lr » Northlsland, <, It ail ways to 80th- 'Juno; ‘1876' ■! «. during year 1876-77 Roads to f I „! ' 187i6-77, *.» Water-races to 30th-Juried 1876 t ..j during year 1876-77 , , £ <1.1 i' l ljV6l ;017 1 13“ 8- 11 . 418,447 IS*’ sgi: I ; milj 3/U.f.<11,647 : 68,61218.3 ' . • 7,709', 1 O’ t. Total, ;North Island .. , r s ■ r,! ■ j \ , f So^ih'Jsland.i .,, Railways' to 30th’ June, 1876 ‘ f * ‘. -od’uring year.1876-77- •' Roads to 4 80th June;, 1876-.Jr. . ‘i „! \ iduflng,year 1876-77 r,;. . ‘NYater-yacos to 30th June,Tl876 . , „j 1876-77' 1 o'. £2,736,947,.-,9] 10 £ r g,, d. 3,381,477 4 7 . .648,9775171 9 .193,955.10 10 .. , 4,455 12 3 '220,871 0 0 J07.87O' 9‘ 7 ..J.) £4,417,607-1.5; 0

■4s.,i4d.- , , _, h/ , Kawakawa’ ‘i'6,113 Kaipara,Punm‘' “ • 'A.'.., ’ ... . . 142,630 Waitara'-Patea ... 'tfo,tio6" Patea-Manawatd • 141,956 . Napier-Manawatu 1 ;‘ ,!U V. 1 . " 75,633 Wellington-Mastertou 162,677’ jNelsijri-Foxhill ... ■ •••*'— ,',v 11,033 xPicton|-Blenheim 'J-y,-*,"' ,»j» 'Greypaoutli-BrtfnfiertJon' ' ... V ,;1. 29^235 •.;.:-35,006 •• • ‘ ! 38,234 . Amberley-W aitaki & Northwards. .. 182,751 , and Branches A : 365,488 -Winton-Kingston A. - - - .39,296 ."Western Railways i;. > , .AA, -A ,.;A 37;687 iSvayeya/;.. a .. ; . s j._ AV i-t? ’' r ip.OOOi Band j. ... ... ... ... ‘ 42,208