Public Works Statement.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume IX, Issue 970, 17 August 1881, Page 2 (Supplement)

Public Works Statement.

We cannot find room for the whole of the Statement in this issue, but the following will be interesting to most of our readers :—

CONSTBUCTION OF RO.WS. The roads begun or completed during 1880-81 have been under the charge of two departments — that of Public Works, and that of Crown Lands Much progress has been made with the road works, but comparatively few have arrived at completion. Of the road works, under the vote of £66,650 for roads, Ac., North of Auckland, part have been carried on by the several C ounty Councils of the district under agreement as to the objects which the several grants were to be expended. A portion of the vote has been applied to the construction of a main road between Auckland and Mongonui, and is being expended on this work under the superintendence of the Chief Surveyor, Auckland, Mr. Percy Smith. The works done on the road have made it fit for wheeled traffic as far as Wellsford, a distance of miles, and they include three bridges of considerable size. On the next two sections contracts are in progress. In the neighborhood of Whangaroa and Mongonui works are also in progress, and between Mongonui and Awanui contracts are completed, or in progress over about 18 miles. These, when finished, will make a road between the last-named places fit for wheeled traffic. On the whole distance from North Shore to Aw anui, about 40 miles of new road will, on completion of the contracts now in hand, have been formed, a portion of which has been metalled. Te Aroha drainage: In Waikato and 1 hames, the most important works are the Te Aroha drainage, in which considerable progress has been made. About 81- miles of drains remain to be done. "VV hatawhata Bridge: The bridge across the Waipa at W hataw hata, on t ie Hamilton-Raglan road, in length 520 feet, was opened in April last. Te Bore Bridge: The Te Bore Bridge across the same river, 2£ miles below Alexandra, providing communication between Kawhia and the Waikato and Auckland railway is under contract, and progressing satisfactorily. Mountain and coast roads (Taranaki) : On the Taranaki promotory, the road at the back of Mount Egmont has been metalled for a distance of nearly 18 miles. The formation of the coast road, or that leading through the Waiugongoro Plains and the Parihaka block to Stoney Biver, has been completed during the year. It is now practicable for wheeled-vehicles throughout its entire length. It has been carried out to a large extent of means of the Armed Constabulary force.

HARBOB WORKS AND LIGHTHOUSES. The great works authorised under this head being almost all under the direction of local Boards, the only important expenditure that comes within the scope of the present statement is for the improvement of the river at Greymouth. These operations are being carried out on the plans of Sir John Coode, are progressing satisfactorily, and have already had a beneficial effect on the channel. Cape Egmont lighthouse, removed from Mana Island, has been re-erected at Cape Egmont, and was put in action on the Ist of August. COAL FIELDS. The operations of the Department of Public Works affecting this important industry have been limited to the construction of the railway lines already refered to under another head, and to the adoption of New Zealand coal as fuel in their working. The Inspectors of the mines, with a view to the security of the miners, are actively enforcing the needful precautions, and in making suggestions for more systematic working. [The hon. gentleman then gave details with respect to water-races on the West Coast goldfields]. TELEGRAPHS. The telegraph system of this Colony is already so far advanced that but little in the way of addition has been found necessary during the past year. Between Stoney Biver and Opunake the gap which has existed for several years has at last been filled up. The greater part of t he work was performed by members of the Armed Constabulary force The total length of this addition to the line is 28 miles. From Motueka to Collingwood a line has been conducted 48 miles in length, with an intermediate office at Takaka.

This line is worked .by the Edison bell | telephone. From "Port Chalmers toSeacliffe, a line carrying two wires hah been erected from the Railway Department. This line is the first in Aew Zealand on which old iron rails are used as poles, and in point of cheapness and stability, is a great success. The line was erected at a cost of £l6 16s 8d per mile. The removal..ojt. the difficulties which so long interfered with the opening of the Komatjt, lit the Valley of the Thames, will enable, the Thames-Waikato telegraph to be shifted to a line on which the maintenance will be much more, e.cqnpmipal than in .the very difficult country through which it is now corried. PUBLIC BUILDINGS. */ . In the North Island the principal buildings which have been completed during the financial year are the new Supreme Court and offices, and the new Police Station in Wellington. A considerable number of police stations have been erected in various parts of the country, and four new post add telegraph offices. Extensive alterations and additions have been made to the lunatic asylums at Auckland and Wellington, and to the gaols at Wellington and Gisborne. In the Middle Island about 40 buildings have been in course of erection, or been altered or repaired during the year. REDUCTION IN PUBLIC WORKS.

A considerable reduction has been effected during the last fifteen months in the stuff of the Public Works Department throughout the Colony, the number of officials dispensed with being 95, the aggregate of whose salaries amounted to £21,664 annually. PROPOSALS FOR THE CURRENT PERIOD. My hon. friend the Colonial Treasurer was able to place before the House a very gratifying Statement of the condition and prospects of the ordinary finances of the Colony. With regard to the loan expenditure, however, we have now reached the period, when the operation of the pledges on the subject of further borrowing, which were required of us in 1879, are to be practically felt, and. our expenditure on public works must be less than it has been for some time past. The balance remaining of the public works funds on the 31st March was £1,860,373, of thi& f sum: £645,793 is absorbed by the expenditure between Ist April and 30th June,, and by liabilities, irrespective of Native land purchases outstanding, of the latter date. There remains, therefore, but £1,214,580 available for additional public works, and for engagements in respect of Native land purchases. For this latter purpose -£87,623 will be required during the current year, and £lOO,OOO should be reserved for further liabilities. When hon. members call to mind that the paymerits out of the public works fund during the nine months of 1879-80 amounted to £1,750,350, and during 1880-81 to £1,958,351, and when they are aware that of the expenditure we can now afford, a considerable share- ipust be devoted to the completion of works already in hand, and to the further equipment of railways already being worked, they will not be surprised to learn that we are compelled to disappoint some reasonable expectations, and to postpone for the present some important undertakings the Value of which is admitted. I trust, however, that this limitation of direct Government expenditure will to a able extent be compensated for by the 1 operation of companies which will avail themselves of the facilities'? We propose to them for the construction of railways by the system of land grants. Our proposed expenditure will in the course of a day of two be laid before the House in detail in the Public Works estimates. As already stated a large part of most of the votes asked is required in respect of works or contracts for works entered upon under previous authority. It will also be found that a considerable proportion of the expenditure of the year will be devoted to roads and bridges. This is partly with a view to facilitate the settlement on Crown lands, and partly to render justice to these portions of the Colony which have benefitted but little by railway expenditure. ROADS. Beginning with the inost northerly, and taking them in geographical order, it is proposed to run a road through the fertile region extending from Kawakawa to Okaihau and Victoria Valley, and to continue the line recently opened between Victoria Valley and Herd s Point into ICaihu, Wairoa, both by the coastal line via Mongonui,

. Rodney and Waitemata. ■Blocks at.present iiiacceSsible’ will be opened by 6ross roads run dn from the main line. In this manner more than 800 miles of new road will penetrate the Crown lands lying north of Auckland, which comprise an area of 1,200,000 acres. Passing south of Auckland to the Waikato basin we have two roads penetrating the,,Awarpa survey district, from a on the railway* system, and a line to ripen the Huihuitaha block. In the Thames District a very necessary road has at length been ■ obtained through the Kopiato block, and is npw jupder conWRfen finished[it a summer coach road from the Thames through Te,; Aroha, Hamilton, and Whatawhata* to Raglan. It is of importance to complete the drainage of, the TeArdha block and to continue tB improve the coastal main line of; rqad from Tauranga to Opotiki and East Cape, and also to follow up the construction of the important line from Cambridge to Rotorua, which, s when available for wheeled traffic, will crimy plete a coach road from Wellington to Auckland. Another important section is between Cambridge and «Taupo; which will form part of a future main line from Waikato to Hawke’s .Bay. Sums varying in amount will b,e askeß for these works, as also to improve a set of roads in the Bay .of Plenty branching inland from coastal main road. These are from Matata (Richmond) to Te Teko, and from Wfiakatane to Te Teko, and continuation to Galatea on> thd edge jthe Kaingaroa plains. The importance of opening the extensive East Coast.district has received much The road line from Opotiki to Gisborne has been under consideration during the past year. It i< very desirable to complete it, and so establish communication between the Bay of Plenty arid Poverty Bay. Branching from this road an inland line has been explored and surveyed to the valley of Waiapu. Another road, to connect Gisborne ?with the Waimafa blocks, and that from Gisborne to Wairoa with branches to Crown lands, require forming, so as to afford the opportunity of settling a, Country which for the present may be said to be hermetically .sealed frp,m settlement. Mr. Hall then explained the intentions of the Government with rfespecfr to roads in Hawke’s Bay, Wellington, Tarankti and the South Island.

| 1 I ’/■ UGHtSOUSES. | ■ I The recent melancholy loss of life in Fpveaux Straits has brought home to Us the urgent necessity which exists for an additional light in this locally. Instructions have been given to haye the neighborhood of Waipapa and Slope Points carefully examined for the purpose of determining the precise site which should pe adopted, and a vote is proposed for the erection of the lighthouse, and steps will at once be takon to procure a suitable light. The light and apparatus which has for some time boon in store at Auckland, for erection on one of the islands as a guide to the entrance of the Hauraki Gulf, will now be utilised for the object for which it was procured. Small sums will also be asked for the erection of leading lights already in store at the entrance of Tory Channel, and for placing a substantial beacon in the French Pass. • ' ? f ’ ! J ' t • -. , : • r ? < • IMMIGRATION. Operations under this head have been almost suspended duyingrthe past year. The state of the labor market is not all such that we should be justified in attempting to renew a large assisted immigration. Believing, however;' as we do, that a considerable addition to the population of New Zealand is as necessary for the develop ment of its resources as to the prosperity of those who are now settled within its borders, we look forward to being able at no distant date to again afford facilities for the introduction of suitable immigrants, but at present circumstances, do not permit us to do more.than to assist a number of persons who have been to some degree surprised by the suspension of subsidised immigration, to extend this assistance to a very limited number of single women and of nominated immigrants, who are anxious to join, their relations in the Colony. PROPOSALS FOR THE FUTURE.-A BRIGHT OUTLOOK. The character of the proposals to be made on the meeting of next- Parliament must depend to a great degree on the financial experiences of the current year, but I wish now to affirm a few principles which will be observed in our propositions should we be hon-

ored with the continued confidence of the country, and should our finance, as we anticipate, testify our immediate forward movement. First, we shall make our proposals as Ministers of the whole Colony, although not neglecting the claims, needs, and prosperity of any one of its varied districts. Secondly we shall ask the legislature to define its future undertakings with all possible precision, and to give the fullest guarantee in its power that the undertakings so defined shall be faithfully carried out. : Thirdly, we shall ask that future borrowing operations be restricted in amount by the calculable prospects of the country, arid that borrowed money be employed only for works which give reasonable promise, of being remunerative within such a period as sound finance contemplates. There are indications of a great and early change iri the prospects of New .Zealand, and especially of the Northern districts —signs that one longstanding obstacle to their progress is •about to disappear. ' There are few parts of this favored land of which we may rationally hope, not to say caleu- > late, that their special advantages of climate or soil, accessibility, mineral or other wealth, will not in due time make them populous and prosperous. It is the interest of all to open every part of the land to enterprise and industry, arid in, .asking authority to make the put of the Public Works fund necessary for the works to be undertaken we hope in the early future, we are asking the Legislature to act in a hearty national spirit, to resolve that the waste spaces shall be developed, that a yet wider field shall be opened for our children and for a multitude of opr countrymen and race in this land, unsurpassed for climate and soil, and for the variety of its resources.