PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume III, Issue 743, 28 August 1878, Page 1 (Supplement)

PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT.

Wi i.u.voTo.v, August 27The Hon. Mr. ALtcatulrew commenced the deliver}- of his Public Works Statement this evening, by alluding to the changes he had made in the organisation of the Department, by (.lacing the working of the railways under t!t- management of n Commissioner for each Idand, as re-coinm-mied by tho Railway Committee last session. The other principal recommeudation of the Committer, relating to the ro-leasing of one of the Auckland lines had not been acted upon, and required grave consideration, meantime he was much in favor of the .State retaining the management of its railways in its own hands. Itailwj.y tickets would shortly be sold in ail tin; cut f centres otherwise than at railway stations. Although the returns on one or two small lines had not paid working expenses, yet they might well on the whole be regarded as satisfactory. WOKKI.Nti RAILWAYS IN THK MIDDLK ISLAND. 7-10 miles were open, of which 01 were opened during the past year. The net balance of receipts over expenditure available f.-r the payment of interest was Ll4.V;4t; against LllS.OftO for the previous year, showing a per centage on the whole outlay for construction of 2.Cs—a not unfavorable result seeing some of the lines' mcluderl in the outlay have only been opened recently and olln-ra still aro unfinished. The total number of passengers was 1.153,1-17. The working expenditure on the Dunedin section had been heavy owing to per mile having to be. spent in the workiivf ext.ensts. The working expens- s on the Christchurch section had been considerably reduced. It was not intended to create a sinking tuttd for »ew and tear, bur, ro charge repairs as needed t<> the current expenditure of working. The earnings p-r milhad been—Cliristchttrcli section, L7G4 10s ~tt per nnle per aortutu ; Dunedin section. LlO7l 19* 4-1, ditto ; and Invcrcargill section. L:>3l li-i Itl, ditto.

WORKING RAir.WAY.-i. 3TORTH ISLAND. 311 miles were open ff>r traffic, of which V'.y were opened during the past year. The not b:il;t:ic«f of rece ; pts over expenditure available f-.r payment of interest was Llß,G.~>o\ against LI3.GSG for the previous year, showing a per on the whole outlay for coils-ruction of 15s. The toral nuiub-.r of passengers was 313.725. RAILWAYS fNT'Ei: CONV rRtTTJO.N". Tlif reduction in tiu-iu-ad-o'Hc ■ salaries by the ani'srif anon of an Kn.dtiver-in-O'iiL'f for each island iti-r-a I of '-no Enjri-neer-in-Ghtef, and other changes, would amount to L3OOO. The ebmije is lik.-Iy to work well, ami to be beneficial to tin: service. It had been aliened that the changes by which the const nic'ion of public works and the wotki;:ir of railways in each island had i).'o.i reduced under distinct heads were the foivrnnnorsof some deep and sintst r design on tiie part of sortie person or persons, -n 1 that it was stndioitsly int.-tided to 1 ad np to the poll teal h' parafioti of the two islands. He need scarcely ."ay rhstt such a surmise was absolutely without foundation. One of those c'.ians-.-s at least had been the result of careful inquiry by a Committee of the House, and, so far as he was concerned, both had been made solely and simply with a view to mors; efficient and economical administration, altogether irrespective of the political opinions which he had ion", and wide!: he std;. held, as to what, would h..ve be.-:; the best and uio.it suitable form or (.••ivernm-:>jt for New Zealand Me would even u'o further. and s.iy that in i;-s opinion it would have !--•!■. v-.-M for riie <Vtony to ha v.- had two .Minis ers for Pits.lie W-rks one for .ach Island—both bidni: members <-f_ the Cabinet, with seats in and re.-pns-.sibic to the House. He v-. r,:mvd to think that h;id such been the case, there- would In-vc been much more to show for our money than there now was. There would be required to complete portions of railway already authorised - L 9.15.000 to complete 425 mites in the North Island, and L 1.007,000 to complete 87-1 miles in the Middle Island. Out of a total expenditure of L2.Oi.VCOO required for this purpose, it was proposed to spend this year L1.176.~t00.

THK FITrKK NORTH 1.-LAND RAILWAYS, j It id proposed .'•> till up the gaps in the j North Island system as follows:—Wei-j iington to Foxtnn, via Waikanae, 61 initio; Waitotnra l.'r.vr to Upper Pat e.i Crpssin,'. 51 mile*: Te Aw.nuutu (Wai-: k.tt») to fngi.wnod (Taranaki). 125 miles. This will complete- an unbroken line fn-m Wellington to Auckland of 476 miles. Masterton to Wondvilk-. 50 miles ; Woodvine to Papntti, 50 "die*, thus establishing n:.broken railway communication from WVnin'jfi-rt to Nsipi. r by a line of 220 miles ; Wa:k;»t.> to the Thames. 30 miles ; bra-:cb line to Hamilton, 21 miles; Hete-sviJh- r„ Ka-ikap.ikan.i River, 2i m>l s. Except as r. gards the i;m- from Waikato tt» the Ti.:i,.;es, ihere are no actual surveys, and the- following cost is estimated on tif biwii of a militate ratu : Welimg on t» Foxton. 1.440 000 ; \Vaiti.tara River to Upper Patea Crossing, L 357.000; Te Awamutu to Inglewood, LI .115.000; Mrtsti-rton to Tapatn, via Woodvilie, L«33.0oO; Waikato to thThames, LI63.000; branch line to Hamilton, LIO.OOO ; Hf'cnsviile to Kaukapakapa Kiwr. L 25 000 ; Wan .-an it ■> Kamio {7l mde.->, L3O 000. Total—L2 775,000 : or"a to; d, int:lud;»sr the am.unit required to e->mt»h te the liit'.-s a'r.-.vly authoris.-d, of L:?.7;!o.0'0. Th..> 1L n. "Mr. Macan ,i:-«w conrinu. d a-" f.-il.e-v.-: - Tilt; _constructtott or tiie hue through the Waikato country, '-sviuMrcd, n.i I iir.ve s;>id, to cost Ll,l 15,000, will, it is i-.optd, be fuily warrrfnted by the Requisition of consid-

I'erable tr.:.v> of land suitable for *}ttle-mtr-i. i i-ira'tand that the lin* will \'t'm\ '" ;gh "'jnifj of the finest land in j N..-w Z■■■'.■ ii'i-i, and fr«.-:.-j what ha 3 passed •i .rf.vei ;• :':•.- if"!:, tin: jT.-iui';!' and tins ll'-.n. 'at Xativ-: i»linisr. )• n-.-.n the nat'v-j i-.licet" ■:. tii-ire 13 goo-i reasoi to hope r ■•: tt .• :0.-|i;i.«irii>n of ''■■'- n--e H<mry land v } , ..■■-.vif-ily n- r; at ■■':. If th-..-=0 ~. .. •i; ••• :-. j ISC C->"i ■'• "I "f tile. V-f iiv. . '• • will :!•■<:;;.• -> them »f,.---Ipaii-.g •;•-'; suiljeient h.od whereby lo I construct this railway, they will not hesiI tate for a iiioiaent to enter heartily into a transaction which is bound to increase the value of the land which will be left to thein very many fold. Moreover they may earn a very large amount of money by devoting their labor to the construction of the lint', and there is good reason to believe ih.it large nnmherß of them will gladly accept the useful employment which the construction of this line will jiif-ird. The Fox ton line will, to some extent, be conth'geiit upon the acquisition of land from the Native owners. In addition to an area of 300.000 acres of Maori land, 180.000 acres of which have been under negotiation for some time, the line will render available for settlement 100.000 acres now in the hands of tho Crown, and there can be no doubt that, taken toother, these lands will ultimately realise an amount which will go far towards covering the est of the proposed railway. I know there may be considerable diti'ertiiee of opinion amongst hon. members with regard to this line, but I think that apart fr> m any advantages |it may of itself vi.-id, by enabling the j country bet wet-i Wviiiiu'on :'.v\ Foxton I to be ta-neficia'dy occupied, it is extremely desirable that il ..:•■-u!d be mado as part of the main tni-jk iii-. which is to connect Wellington wi. < Auckland. If the two great centres-- Wellington and Auckland ,i re to be -I'ci- itly ■ on:iect;:u by railway, the V."<.■;•-.-!.:■ .:, to F.-slon portion must be - "us . - i u sonio time. I bolLve j- E " '" 'i-r wc should ac-c-i-t the C0!:c :'-r.o- -i.it that connection has to b". ina-.K. fliid if so, I think the Parlian-.-ut av.-.t >.'. Ie people will agree with me thtt the si-oner it is done the better it will be f.-r the country. It will be seen from one of the appendices to the Statement that during the recess the • itiestioti "f the best route from Wellington to F»xton has occupied the attention of the Public Works Department, and of this lion, gentlemen may rest assured, that assuming the Government should be enabled to undertake the work, it will not be commenced until there has been a further and a most thorough investigation ns to the best route to be adopted. It will thus be seen that, mir proposals embrace one main line of communication on th-West Coast from W-llington to Auckland and tie Thames, and another on the East Coast from Wellington to N.'.pii-r. To make the system complete, it remains but to establish a connection between these two main lines, by means of a short link of twelve miles, between Bnnnj thorpe and Wo-dville. This \sonld place Napier and nearly all the JKast Coast country in communication not only with Wellington, but with Wanganui, New Plymouth, and Auckland. The probable Co3t of this link would be L 119.000, and there can be little doubt that Booner or later this work will be undertaken. As regard h the North of Auckland, it will "»•• s-.n by these proposals that if tho K:-.i!!:;:pakapa Station can be selected, jrailway j communication f--r a di.-ranc-; of 50 miles will connect thr-r cify with die gr<-at Ivaipara Estuary ar a point accessible to vessels of ordinary te-nnag--. The short line r rom Wangarei to Ivamio, opening up as it will do the important mineral ancfagriotilturai resources of that district, wi!! -Mine in as a portion of the Main North Line, which will, when completed, connect Auckland with the Bay of Islands.

MIDDLE ISLAND RAILWAYS. Now as to the Mid<lie Island. The works wy propo.se for the future are : The Otago C ntra!, from Dunedin to Alberto wn, Lake Wanaka, 160 miles, LI 100.000 ; Amberley to Brunnerton, 110 miles. L 1.195.000 ; Greymouth to Hokitika, 20 miies, L 220.000; Canterbury Interior Main Line, Oxford to Temuka, 85 miles, L 380.000 ; South Ashburton to Ashbnrtou Fork 3, 20 miles, L 55.000 ; Albury extension, 20 mih-s, LIIO,OOO ; Tapanid extension to Heriot Hum. 10 i .■:".->.«, L 40,000 ; Fortrose to Kder '. .:, . '_v, ; ,,,'js. LIIO.OOO •. Otautau to ?,-•:-. \c-•■<.. io miles, L 75.000; Clutha to ( -i ■ '* R v-:-. IS miles. L 95 000; Waimea -.. S. /:i-.s, i". miks, L 70,000 ; Lumsclen . , V':-.,-.v. 35 mih-s. L 180.000; Shag V -Xh-w i',i.../h Liu.-. 9 miles, L 35,000 ; 'i'ap.uiui to K. riot J'nrn, 10£ miles, L 40.000 :■ WsdareKa Pi rich n" Livingstone, 10 i/jile.s L105..00'.' making a total j ienuth •■■■ pi' -poacd i-aihva/- >.<■■>■ the- Middle j Island of 07'<'" : i n:il-.-. at". "■> ta ' ! " ost of L3,5G5.000. Adding to t .; an amount of L 1.087,000 which is the - ; nnted cost of completing an:! putting n working order the lilies already authorised and opened for traffic in the Middle Island we shall have a total of L4,6<V2 : 000 for that 1.-land. As regardi the Otago Central Railway, lion, meuibers will recollect that tfiis House last session, both by resolution and by Act, affirmed that 100 miles of this line through Strath-Taieri to Clyde should be proceeded with, and the House also passed a resolution in compliance with which 306,000 acres of Crown lands have been reserved from sale with the view of devoting the proceeds when they are sold to the eoi:strnc:iou of this portion of the line. It is now proposed to extend the line from Clyde to Lake "VV.--.naka, a distance of GO miles" for some 50 miles of which the country is as level as a bowling green, the whole <>f it being in the hands of the Crown, and available for settlement. My beli fis that no other of the lines now pr->po-ed "ill jirouiot*? settlement- and increase the productive po-.veis of the Colony to the saiii" txn-nt as the Otago Central, j ;.nd I venture to predict t at many years will not pass without this line being extended to Hokitika via the Haast Pass. The length of that extension from Albert Town, the now contemplated termination of the line, is only ISO miles, and the highest point of range to be crossed is only 1700 ft., as against 3000 ft. in the next line we propose to undertake, that namely from Amberley to Brunnerton, a distance of 110 miles. Although it does not appear ', tha: thisAmberley-Briinnertor. lineiiiproI rjortion to its length and cost of construcj turn will open up a very large extent of ' country suitable for settlement, yet the ! area of such land t'-at will be opened up jis by no means inconsiderable, and the proceeds of its sale will go far towards [defraying the cost of the work. There

I between the East and West Coast will by this line be developed enormously. It is estimated that even now were tiie line at work tiiu.-e would be at Joast 10.000 t -ns of <:■>■•■' hli'lJu i'l'iP.giii. ae.-..<5.-) Weehly, and if. as 1 believe, this c->-ii, which U quit..;■ equal to the "est N-.-.vcastle. «i lie put in:., ship-;' holds at L uelto>! for sn:ir-wh>-!;v a«'o-;i T.l a .on. ; : 13 diiiieuit l" }i:ace :;:•■>•_ <-'.".er li--r : than that of the carrying d-pac'iy of the line upon the traffic which would be developed. There is also an almost unlimited quantity of timber, which would find its way to market by the railway. Hon. members will gather from the Engineer's report that much careful exploration will be required before tinexact route can be determined. . From Ijrtinnenon t<i Greymouth, as in-niseis are aware, there is now ;i railw iy in operation, and we propose to continue it to Hokitika, a distance of 26 miles, in accordance with a resolution of tnis House last session. A reserve of land w;>s made in the Aorere Valley, in the KMs-m district, with a view ..if the proceeds being applied to railway construction. A flyiti-.-survey of the proposed line is now being completed. Tlie Government is, however, of opinion that before any expenditure in this direction is incurred, it is desirable that the river should be bridged, arid the district rendered accessible by road, for which purpose L 4700 has been placed <>n the Estimates. It will bo recollected that las' -<fc3S!o:i t'::h Tlonse, on the motion of the hon. ■>! Mher lor Akaroa, Mr. Montgomery, directed that surveys should be made, and estimates prepared for a number of branch railways as feeders to the main line. Those plans have been made, and the estimates are ready ; but it has been suggested that the general interests of settlement would fee better served, and the resources of Canterbury be developed to a much greater extent if. instead of those branches, we obtained authority- to construct an interior main lino of about 85 miles in length, by means of which a very large area of valuable c-untry would be opened up and made productive. I now submit proposals for the interior main line, Oxford to Temuka, accordingly. South Ashburton to Ashburton Forks, and the Albury extension lines will facilitate the beneficial occupation of upwards of 200.000 acivs of land, which must add largely to the exports of Canterbury and to the revenue of the main line. Of fhilaud, 30,000 acres are in the hands of tinCrown. Some hon. members may be disposed to think that having regard tithe length of the railways which Canterbury already she is al'owed an undue share in our -roposals, but slight reflection will si i w that such an objection cannot be fairly s-istined. When we consider the large amount which the coffer--of the Colony have derived from the laid revenue of Canterbury, and the amount which it is hoped will for some time t-■ come continue to be derived from the same source, I maintain that the district is entitled to even more than is now proposed. We are in fact only intending to confer upon the people of Canterbury the benefits derivable from applying to a Colonial purpose their own money, only proposing to expend a portion of the land revenue for the benefit of those upon the land from which that revenue has been derived by devoting it to purposes to wbioli not. only ia it legitimately applicble, but for which if ought always to have been held sacred. Tlie same remarks will apnly to the other railways which are to depend for their construction upon the proceeds of the sale of lands to be rendered valuable by them. A very important line in Canterbury, which is not included in the present proposals, is the Akaroa and L ike Sllesmere line. The Government hope that the Trust whose powers will be prolonged and extended by the Bill which has r-. cenlly passed this branch of the Legislature may be the means whereby t -is work may be proceeded with. If, however, it should be found that the Trust is unable to do so, the Government will at a future time be disposed to deal with the matter specially with a view to this most important undertaking b"ing pushed forward. As regards the branch line, Waipalii to Heriot Burn, it will be recollected that last session tlie House decided that this branch should be. constructed as far as Tapanui. It voted no money for the work, but resolved I hat it should be paid for out of land to be set aside for the purpose. I am pleased to say that this branch is now under way, and that no money will be required until i-fter its completion, the terms of the contract being that payment is to bo made in cash in three equal instalments at two, four, and six months after the line is completed. The amount is L 61.500, and the time for completion 22 months from date of contract, so that we shall have two year 3 and upwards in which to realise upon the 40,000 acres of land reserved. Tlie probability is, that this land, owing to the construction of the railway, will realise from LI to L 3 and upwards an acre, and will thus yield double the amount of the contract. I may add that there were five tenders for the work on the above terms, and that the one accepted, being the lowest, was L2OOO under the Engineer's estimate. This fact is worth any number of arguments to show how we might to a great extent construct our railways without increasing the amount of our public debt or adding to the annual burden in respect thereof. It is now proposed to extend tlie line 10 mileß farther. By so doing tho growth of cereals will be very largely increased, and one of the most productive districts in the Colony fully developed. I have heard it objected that now when the land fund has been colonialised, it is unfair to the Colony as a whole to alienate large portions of its landed estate for loeal purposes. To me sue ian objection seems if f raav be permitted s - rosy, sioiply absurd. W-.« are not a ! ii luting landed estate ; we are changing the form of parts of it, and thereby greatly increasing tlie value of the whole. If portions of the land g->, so far as the Colony is concerned, the railways constructed out of the proceeds remain ; and if we manage our affairs wisely, we shall derive a much larger income from thosa railways than we ever did or could derive from those portions of land. We do not propose to deal exceptionally with the proceeds or land set apart for the construction of railways —tlnsJ proceeds will be. dealt with as ordinary revenue, while, from the enhanced value of the land to be aff. cted by the lines so cons'ructe ', we may fairly as3nme it, as a fact th it tie ordinary revenue will year by yeuj be greatly increased.

Op PBQBQSBB iJ»3 BO MS JKT3£IG VTOBX& JflTilSU Summing up'the proposals, I have had the honor to submit, they will be found to involve an expenditure for railways i.-i thfX.-i-rh Island of L 3.733.000. and in the Middle Island of L 4 652.000 ; altogether L 8,385,00- As I have already obs ;v-d, *iie estimates under which these figi.rer. h;-.v •■ been arrived at are to a : tain - \ r no approximate. My belief is that !>:■•*.- ai-- more over the mark ihau uiidi-. •'"'! . it with judicious and careful ;i• : ;.-iois; ration, unless circumstances alter very much with the next, few years. j it will be found that a much less sum will suffice. We propose that the expenditure shall he extended over five years, which, in my opinion, is the shortest period within which we could carry -mf. works 'o this extent, unless we are prepared for the importation of labor to a greater extent that can be readily absorbed in Hipermanent settlement of tlie country. Our object will be so to regulate the administration of the waste lands of tlie Oro-.vn as to afford every indue mi -nt and facility to m-n who labo*" in the cous'rnction of the railways to i-iv--st their earnings in land by laying off allotments for sale along the various lines as they progress. I am disposed to think that much may be done in this direction, and that a fair proportion of the money expended on public works may find its way back totbo Vreasury. Out of the loan authorised last session, there remained on the 30':t! •Tune as available for public works about L 2.000,000. If we add the public works fund from ordinary revenue during the next five years say L 3.500,000,.500,000, theamount just stated as available will bo increased to L 5.500.000, and there will remain about L 3,000,000 to be raised by further loans in order to meet the estimated cost of the whole of our pnipo3ais. It may, perhaps, be asked : Is not L 3 500,000 too large a sum to expect to be spared from revenue 1 Is tlie revenue likely to be in a position to meet such a demand ? In order that hon. members may be enabled to form an opinion as to this, I shall enumerate the different areas of Crown lands, the value of which will be specially affected by the proposed railways, ■uid the sale of which may be said to b,cotitingent upon those lines being constructed. In the Middle Island the Ota<ro Central to Albert Town will pas 3 almost .•ntirely through Crown lands, and open up the most valuable public estate in f.h Colony. It will affect an area of 2,250,000 acres all in the hands of the Crown. Amberley to Brunnerton will pass through nearly 300.000 acres of freehold, and render available 400.000 acres of Crown 'anil. Mreymouth to Hokitika wili_ aff lets').ooo acres of forest land belonging to the Crown. Canterbury subsidiary main Sine will pass cM-fly throng", freehold laud, but as it cuts acres•dl the valleys at the bnse of the hill country, its construction will be of considerable value to the settlement of those valleys, and render more accessible an area of Crown land of 560,000 acres. -<outh Ashburton to Ashburton Forks and A'bury extension will enhance the value of 300,000 acres. Fortrose to Edendale : A preliminary survey of this line has been made in terms of the resolution of the House last session, and land lias been reserved for its construction in accordant with the same resolution. It will pro-m-.to tha profit.-.bio occupation of 120.000 ■ic.res of land, 40,000 of which are in the hands of the Crown. Orautau to Nightcaps : This is an extension of the inlan ■ line from Riverton. it will render available a very valuable coal-field, and promote the cultivation of over 50.000 acres of fine agricultural land, 10.000 of which is in the hands of the Crown. Clntha to Catlin's River is the commencement of a lino which passes through a district containing 60,000 acres of fine agricultural freehold land. It will lead to the occupation of a territory which contain* 60,000 acres of Crown land, chh-flv forest. The Waimi a to Swi'zers "inns up 200,000 acres of fertile land, much of whioa !.<• ivady for the plough, and all in the hands of the Crown. Tlie L unsdeu to Marrow opens up 200,000 acres of Crown land of the finest quality, a great portion of which will, [ believe be occupied and cultivated very shortly after it is rendered accessible by rail. The Shag Valley Branch is a line which was intended to have been made by the Provincial Government of Ofcago. Surv-j-3 and working plans were prepared, and puldic tenders applied for. It commands a rich agricultural anil pastoral district, 0f'45,000 acres of which 10.000 acres belong to the Crown, and will be one of the best feeders of the main line between Dunedin and Oamaru. It will moreover greatly facilitate access to the important gold-mining and rapidly increasing agricultural districts of Vlacraes and. Hyde. It will thus be seen that an area of nearly 1,400,000 (?4,115.000) - acres, of Crown land in the Middle Island will be affected by the proposed lines. Much of this land if accessible by rail, and in the market now, would realise L 5 an aore and upwards. Probably we shall not be beyond the mark in estimating that it will realise to the State, at a moderate computation little short of the whole estimated cost of the railways—viz., L 4,050,000 -now proposed to be made in the Middle Island. As regards Crown land iu the North Island' I have first of all to direct the attention of hon. members to tlie fact that about 120,000 acres of the best land on the West Coast portion of the confiscated territory is now being surveyed for sale. I do not wish to raise the expectations of hon. members unduly, but I believe that I am warranted in reckoning that from this quarter alone (irrespective of the large area of .'and already acquired and under negotiation in the same locality) we may expect t- = receive a net revenue, of three-quarters .if a million sterling. Iu addition to this, there are very large areas if land in th--Tr.aviiei ;'n<l Pi:.k;U districts, w Jcli will at ■no ■ acq lire a greatly increased value' from the prospect of railway communication being lik.-ly to be opened between Grahamstovvn and Waikato. Other large blocks of land in the Bay of Plenty. Poverty Bay, and Wellington districts, will shortly be available, and we shall have the gratification of beholding the North Island, for the first time for many years, yielding a substantial land revenue. For more particular information as to area, locality, and probable value of our North Island lauded estate, I would refer hon. m- mbers to the usual on native lands, which will shortly be made by my colleague the Native Minister. In reference to such of those lands as are situated upon the West Coast of this Island, forming part of pur. confiscated

'territory. I have a proposal to maka to I thJi : '-Tf,uV wLr-.::";, while it may appear to ! bi a' e\ •dderabhv modification, if net a • revevs-ii; uf the Financial Arrangements : Act of l'.i.-?t session, is really a means of I giving a practic-if effect to that A-t. These | lands have been acquired at an ■. xpense (if [ blood and treasure/, and which, in our j opinion, justify exceptional treatment in I appropriating their proceeds. In addition ! f" the 25 cent, payable to the New : Piymo,Kh Harbor Board, the C-unty in which they are situated, in accordance with the legislation of last session, would receive 25 per cent, of the amount realised from the sale, while the Colony, which had already paid so heavily for the land, would be called upon to provide the means of constructing the main line of railway. We propos • then to apply 15 per e-nt. of the 20'p-T cent, otherwise p-yibl-to the County, to tin: c■ instruct -on of I the railway through the district. Ashe hind will shortly !>•' in the market, there will be a considerable sum at no distant date, specially available for this work which can he commenced immediately. The county w.b in this way receive the whole of the 20 per cent,, while tile colony will be assisted in a work which will contribute si materially to enhance the value of property in the disti ict and to increase the financial resources of the colon.}-. Assuming those proposals to be approved by the it becomes

an important question what is to be our; procedure with regard io tho works not already sanctioned. The House will, of! course, recognise the impossibility of coming to any conclusion of sue!: a matter which can be satisfactory to all. Bach district in the colony believes that iru claim to be provided with railways, at the cost of tho State, ranks afc least as high as that of any other district, ami none probably will admit that any such claim ought to be met before its own. This, in truth, is the great diliiculty which the House by its past legislation has brought upon itself. That difficulty commenced from the moment when the Legislature repealed that cardinal condition of the Public Works Policy, chat in the event of the pr-C'edsof any railway failing to meet the interest and sinking fund on the cost of its construction, property in the districts should be rated to make up the deficiency. The difficulty is one width 1 confess I cannot solve as things stand. The Government are desirous to distribute to the best advantage whatever funds may be available for the construction of public works, and to do this as fairly as possible under the circumstances we sitall endeavor to carry on as nearly as may be simultaneously the various works that may be authorised, and to apportion the expenditure each year in suoti directions as shall seem most ikelv to promote the speedy settlement uid beneficial occupation of the waste lands of the country. Much of the difficulty of the situation arises from the fact tliat here in New Zealand we are expected to do in a few years what has hitherto taken centuries elsewhere to accomplish. A few hundred thousands of people are bent upon doing in a lifetime that which in the past has been the work of millions of men during generations. If New Zealand goes onward as she is now doing until she reaches her first century it is hard to decide which will then be the "greater," which the '• lesser" Britain. Ic is tho remarkable progress we have made which renders us so impatiout with regard to our future progress, and this-impatience is for us an • ■vil against the possible effects of which we must jealously guard. I need scarcely say that there aro lines of railway in each island, besides those embodied in my proposals, the importance of which are fully recognised by the Government, and j which we should have been glad to \ have included. The present proposals in- ; elude an expenditure of L 1,677,000 a-year, I until the lines mentioned ate completed, and if we can come to an arrangement as ! between ourselves and honorable membats, an arrangement which ought to be held as oinding as the laws of the Modes and Persians, that upon the completion of those lines a similar amount shall continue to bo expended on productive railways only, it is a mere question of time when all the land throughout the colony which is required to occupy and render available by means of railway communication shall be so rendered available. By the time that the railways now proposed are completed, we shall no doubt find that many branch lines will be undertaken by private enterprise There tire at present throughout the colony nearly 100 miles which are being taken in hand under the provisions of the District Hallways Act of last session, and it is believed by slightly amending that Act, advantage will be taken of its provisions to a much larger extent and the Government will theroby be relieved of constructing many lines which sooner or later, devolve upon it. I look upon this as one of the most gratifying features of the future railway policy of New Zealand.

LOCAL WORKS. I must now solicit the earnest attention of hon. members to a question which may virtually affect the whole scope of the future policy of the colony, and which in my belief, may largely influence the, functions and tho character of this House. I refer to the question of roads and bridges. Although the gradual extension of the railway system is diminishing, tho extent of money which must needs be expended in such works as compared with what was unavoidable in the past, there are still many districts in which such works will continue to be for years to come essential, j I need not remind you that one of the | great advantages which was to be seourcd j hy the recent politioal changes was that the name of a road or bridge was never more to he heard in this as connected with any asking for money. Such we were fi.sk.-d Do believe, was to ho one of tho fij'st results of the abolition of t :, e Provinces As it is, however, unUss r.he H-'U.se is pr.iare 1 to make a decided stand, ir is to be fo-ired that roads, bridges, and cn-v-rta will become subji.ct.~- of the must anxious and excited discussion? to be heard within these walls. What, then, is to be our p.olioy with respect to tb,esc works ? My colleagues and myself are clearly of opinion that they ought to wholly devolve upon by local bodies, by whom the requisite funds must ho found. One thing seems to me to be beyond doubt or question, namely, that the colony must under, ake :> 1L such works, or must refuso to undertake any. Any other course must be brimful of injnst'ce. Last. session we passed various votes for roads ! end bridges-, with the unde - -standing that j the-amounts were to be provided out of •the loan, Those votes will, I apprehend.

! have to be raade gaoA in any ewe. Many of them are- now in course of expenditure, ; and we propose to renew all the unexpended portions by putting them upon i this year's Estimates. This will, in round ! numbers, mean the appropriation of about I L 102.00;) for local works in the North Island, and about L 166,000 for similar I works in the .Middle Island. Thereafter I wo prono.ie to (iualiy close tho accouut, ' -in*l i-■inline public works operations entirely to railway obstruction. I admit that if we are sustained in this course, it * will be productive of hardship to those portions of the colony which were not fortunate enough to participate in the scramble for roads and bridges last year. It s-ems to mo, however, as 1 have said, that in fairness «e have no middle course onon. If we are to construct arterial ro '.ls and «'.' iuu«' t ,ke e''a:'go of all - neh wo"i..s. oid subs les in aid 6f which iv o now paid to loci bod: -i ni'n»t cease. I; is manifestly unreasonable to expect that the colonv can go on paying as if did last year, in arlv three quarters of a million to local bodies if it had to perforin the functions which devolve upon such bodies besides. ' Ono way out of the difficulty, perhaps. Would be to increase the borrowing powers of local bodies. To this, however, many objections may be urged. Some people are of opinion that the colony should raise tho money, and have the local bodits to expend it. But hero, again, we should trample under foot a fundamental principle on which tho new order of things was so recently based, namely, that iv> money shall, be raised by th« Colony th* expenditure of which is not to b<» plnr->d directly undov tho c-y-'-v >i of t}d.-. Mous>«. For my own part, 1 have never believed that that principle ought to bn rigidly aud unreas nimbly observed, but it was ono of the cardinal points of Abolitionism, and I pivsumo it will bo adhered to by the prosent Parliament. Altogether, I confess that this is one of the most difficult problems which wo are now called upon to solve, and there can be, in my opinion, but one of two fair solutions. Eithor tho Colony should close its bowels of compassion in respect of every application for roads and bridges, however exceptional may bo the claim (and they are all exceptional in the opinion of tho claimant), or it should jjdistributo its tt'fvs. to all upon some equitable basis. As it is, unless we go into the money market, there will be nothing to distribute over and above tho snbsidi s already fixed. There remains, therefore, only the one solution, viz., of every locality relying upon itself. 1 need scarcely say thai, under all the circumstances of tho case, we have been reluctantly compelled to turn a deaf ear to numerous and pressing .•ippliea'ioiis for local works throughout ihe Colony. I "lnittud to observe that tho two amounts above referred to are irrespective of a sum of L 220,000, which is r. quired to meet.provincial liabilities, and L 35,000 for roads in nativo districts. will be recollected that last session !\ Bill was introduced, which instituted tho Settlement Works Advances Bill, the object of which was to enable the Government to open up lauds for settlement before they were put up for sale. In many localities Crown lands are comparatively inaccessible and useless, and until they are to somo extent opened up by roads tliey are likely to remain mi-

,K.«'|jira.,vU -01.l U„i.,,v iiMtsll- Vlllllt) 11. speculators. This Bill, however, did not biconie law, astir.; Government did not specify tho precise localities which tho proposed expenditure was to be applied to. We intend to ask a vote of L 58.590 for litis object, full "particulars of tho proposed expenditure of which will appear in the Public Works Estimates, It in •intimated that this amount will, at an aver* Hiie of 2s. lOd. per ncro, enable of 414 000 aoios in various districuT throughout tho Colony to bo brought, into tin; market under conditions which will largely enhaneo its value. It wijl btt hj: en fr.nn the Public Worl<B estimate that a cousiileiablo sum of money is required for exp'iidit.uro on various public build-iiiii-s throughout the Colony. Among those to which I may specially refer is tho. Lunatic Asylum at Dunedin, which is. too small for tho numher of inmates, and which it is proposed to remove to a more suitable locality, being an extensive reserve of 9.00 aorea of Government land, tho cultivation of which on Ihe part of patients will, it is hoped, ivudi-r the institution self-sup-portiii}.!. thereby re.lievlmc the State of a lai;j;e annual burden, which must otherwise continue to devolve upon it. It is. j proposed in the new establishment t«> make suitable provision for the car* of inebriates, to enable which class of patients to be dealt with some special legislation will be necessary. It ia also intended to erect upon the same reserve adequate separate buildings for the Otaga Reformatory and Industrial School for boys and i;irls. The cost, of the latter will be more than recouped by selling tho property upon which the school at present stands. While on this* aubject, it. may not, bo doomed out of place fo notice that j the hulk in Wellington harbor belonging to tho Public Works Department befog i no longer required, we propose to havo her fitted up as a Training School and Reformatory, into which boys convioted. of criminal offence may be drafted from all parts of tho colony, instoad of their being associated with hardened criminals in the common gaols, or mixed with thosa whoso only crime is that they have been left destituted and negloctod.

CONCLrWNu REMARKS. ''.lnch as tho Public Works and Immigration policy h«6 conduced to tha prosperity of New Zealand, titers oin be no question that if it is followed up, tits is now proposed, the future ivbuHb will very largely exceed thos-j of the past. We know tho extent, to whieh railways have lir'pnd ns to incrt!'n • our settled population, our agriculture mill our trade, and wo know that for houu« of these railways wo hav. raid very dearly, not nlono in "•■(•..•joy, but our expenditure whatever it '■■&■< cost u< should at least have taught ua in what directions and in wliat manner We can her.t spend the money hereafter available' for such undertakings. Not only ou.'ht we resolutely to reßolve that wo will never agum sanction tho commencement of a railway, an • to which we have not at least reasonable ~ evid'iic.; that it will pay, bill; wo should ■ cju.i'ly resolve that as one point of experieiic 10s. slial l be m kl.; to represent U much work as 20-i. has unfortunatelyin.■""'' too many cases reprw nted heretofore. We trow seg clearly many things, after which weoould only blindly grope when . we began to construct our railways. W

nava-many appliance* that were then wnolly wanting, and'we have in oar midst reapoosibfo and capable contractors, for ; whoa at the outaet we had to go far afield, lo addition to the prices of material being reduced. Indeed, npon rails alone, the redaction is so great th>»t could we afford at once to purchase all we shall want for oar contemplated lines we sh«>nld save probably 1600,000, as compared with prices we have as a rule had to pay. Advantage has been to a limited extent taken of the low state of the market *by ordering 10,-000 tons of steel raite, at Ls l4s delivered at Cardiff. In expressing these opinions, I desire to disclaim casting any reflections npon those who have hitherto had the professional charge of onr public works. If then? have been blunders, they have been chiefly owing to incidental circumstances, and to the exceptional nature of things, and in my belief they have been more political than professional. I di> not think I ne»:d occupy the time of the House farther. Appended to the Statement are tabies and reports, all of which embody much vainable information, and will no doubt bo fonnd both useful and instructive. I conclnde, sir, by once more commiting to the approval of hon. members the proposals I have had the honor to submit. I hava had pleasure, too, inßQbmittingt!iem,forinmy belief they are calculated to meet the requirements of settlement over a great portion of each island. To give effect to them will. I am. convinced, be to increase enormously the productive power of the Colony, and to do that the constantly growinz tendency must be t» lighten the public burdens. Under these proposals our industrial population ought to be at least doubled during the next few years, and the great proportion of tho incomers to be, and may be so located, that while laboring lovingly to subdue th* earth, till that which is barren yt«l la i'* kindly and matured fruits, they may lalior s'ubhonily. because they are creating horws for their children, and pron !ly litems- their names figure on no man's rent roll. It is in such a spirit that most of ns have struggled to create a gre.it nation in this favored land. Such was i he spirit in which we strove through the day of small tilings, and now when our vision is clearer as to . what we may do and become, and when our grasp is firmer upon all that we undertake, I confess that I am jealous to have some share with those of whom it shall hereafter be said th«t they had influence in promoting the prosperity and greatness of New Zealand.