PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5734, 15 August 1879, Page 2

PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT.

Prom the Public Works Statement, we observe that in the Middle Island there are SO9 miles of railway open for traffic, the total cost of construction being £0,757,1 SS. The gross receipts for the year were £601,280, and the working charges and maintenance £423,498 ; leaving a balance of £172,632 available towards interest on the cost of construction, or at the rate of 3 per cent, for the year. The number of passengers carried during the year amounted to 2,015,571. The profits were considerably diminished by floods and want of rolling-stock, but the last-named evil was being successfully diminished, whilst further risks from floods were being lessened by the protective works constructed.

In the North Island 336 miles of railway are open for traffic, the total cost of construction being £2,300,000. The gross receipts for the year were £156,762, and the working charges and maintenance £116,879, leaving a balance of £39,933 available towards payment of interest and cost of construction, being at the rate of nearly 1} per cent, for the year. The number of passengers carried during the year amounted to 703,869. During the past year 27 additional miles of railway have been opened for traffic in the North Island, whilst there were 59 miles opened in the Middle Island during the same period. The total amount expended on railway construction in the North Island during the year has been £343,861, and in the Middle Island £462,812; beinga total, including £12,607 spent upon surveys, of £319,230. The total contract liabilities on railway construction to 30th June were;—North Island, £537,951; Middle Island, £539,530; rails not yet arrived or ap-. portioned, £IOO,OOO ; being a total, including £1,308 for surveys, of £1,177,531. Since 30th June, additional tenders amounting to £12,2 '2, have been let for the North Island, and £24,977 for the Middle Island. The following is the reference made in the Statement to the West Coast railway ; Wellington to Foxton.—This line is part of the main trunk line from Wellington to the Waikato, via the West Coast. The land through which it passes is now being purchased by the Government, and at least one million of acres contiguous to it will be shortly available for settlement purposes. Considerable pains have been bestowed upon ascertaining the most suitable route from Wellington to Waikanae, this being the most difficult and expensive portion of the line. It has been found that the best outlet from Wellington is by Kaiwarawara and Johusonville, by which route a very fair grade can be secured. The working plans are now finished, and tenders can be called for the works almost immediately.