THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Southland Times, Issue 1643, 4 October 1872, Page 3

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

<» (BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.) ■ — ♦ THE PUB LIC WORKS STATEMENT. "Wellington-, Oct. 1. 1 In the House of "Representatives to(\ay, in rc t ,]y to Mr Kelly, Mr Stafford stated that "he did not intend to hand over the administration of any port'on of the confiscated land to the provincial authorities. They did not mean to abandon any of such lands, l>ut would deal with them on. the principles already announced. Mr Shephard has introduced a "Bill to ■ re -adjust the boundaries of the province of Nelson, and to make provision for the construction of roads to the West Coast goldfields. He explained that his object was to extend the boundary of the province to Teremakau, and that he also desired to increase the representation of the goldfields, and develope the principle of local self-government to the utmost — - the provisions of the Bill to be also applicable to the Amuri district. The Public Revenues Bill has been read a third time. The Minister for Public Works (Mr JReid) announced that disclosures of liabilities, of which he had not been previously aware, compelled him to defer making his statement until to-morrow. The Maori Representation Bill, giving one more native representative, is now under discussion. Oct. 3. Mr "Reid made his Public Works statement last night. It was very short and concise. The railway works under contract amounted to '£910,823. To complete them there would he required £516,201, giving a total of £1,417,025, as agninst £1,030,697, which was the amount authorised by Parliament for them. The House, therefore, would have to vote £380,328 more. The total liabilities and expenditure, on account of the Middle Island riihvavs and roadworks amounted to £1,489 209, leaving a balance of £5-17,992 available , for future works. It was intended during the year to commence the construction of the following lines .-—Lower to Upper Hutt, Nelson to Foshill, Evkaia to Ashburton and Timaru, Moeraki to Waitaki, Tokomairiro to Lawrence, and Winton to Kingston. Branch line — Kolleston to Malvern, Coalfield Ra.\)W ays — Brunner and Kawakawa. The foregoing would form a total of 136 miles of main Knee, 20 miles of branch lines, and 12 miles of coal lines. The | Government during the recess would carefully consider the best meana of J developing coal mines, and constructing branch lines as feeders to the main lines, i The sum of £227,054 was available for roads in the North Island, which would be constructed as quickly as possible. They would survey aud prepare for contract 232 miles of the following railways : — Auckland to Riverhead, Pakipaki to Ruataniwha, Upper Hutt to Masterton, and Pit-ton to Blenheim extension, Ashley River to the north bank of the Kowai, Ashburton to Teinuka, Moeraki to WaJkouaiti, Winton to ' Kingston. They would make preliminary surveys and partly working surveys of 198 miles, viz., Manawatu to Wanganui, , and Waitara to Wanganui ; and preli- i j minarv surveys. of 85 miles, viz., Mercer to Upper Waikato, and Waikouaiti to Dunedin ; also working plans of 70 miles of Canterbury braDch lines, and 12 miles of the Rochforfc coal line. They would also make working plans for the Clutha bridge and protection works. These surveys would cost £L 4,000. The proceedings in the House to-day were uninteresting. Mr Yogel gave notice that he would move to morrow — " That this House has no confidence in the Government."