PARLIAMENTARY NOTES PUBLIC WORKS ESTIMATES. VOTES FOR ROADS IN AUCKLAND DISTRICT.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 292, 22 August 1888, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES PUBLIC WORKS ESTIMATES. VOTES FOR ROADS IN AUCKLAND DISTRICT.

Wellington, August 20. This Public Works estimates!) shows a reduction of tho total appropriation to £1, 093,132 as against £1,962,152 authorised last year. The loaves and fi.sh.os aro consequently small. Tho principal Auckland volos this year for roads Lo open up lands botore sale arc :— Mangakahia, £900 ; Hold's Point-Takahuo £1,000 ; Taupo via Uotoairi and Waunaiino C 670 ; Honui district, £410 ; Eotorua-Waiolapu, £500. Tho miscellaneous roadk and bridges votes include the following : — Main road W ark worth to Kawakawa, £2,500 ; Opofciki-Whakatano, £1,000; Mangore Bridge, £1,800 ; main roads — Oxford-Boto-rua, £1,000; Taiuanga to Napier, via Taupo, £3,000.

ROADS AND BRIDGES. Under the heading of roads, the following aie the estimated amounts required to be voted for actual expenditure this year: — Roads, bridges and wharves north ol Auckland, £300 ; main roads, £15,000 ; miscellaneous roads and bridges, £34,334 ; grants in aid, £22,000; roads to open uplands ueiore &ale, £50,000 ; village special betblemcut, £20,000 ; loads on goldiiolds, £350,000 ; total, £166,754. The principal votes for main roadb are : Oxford-Rotorun, £1,000 ; Taimmga. to Napier via Taupo, £300 ; West Coast bridge maintenance, £4,500.

OTHER VOTES. For roads on goldiiolds sub&idies towards construction of roads ond tracks in mining districts, etc., upon subscription of one half being contributed, £11,940 aro being asked. Under the heading of public buildings, £12,000 are required for actual expenditure this year on departmental buildings in Auckland, and £7,500 for completion of the printing office at Wellington. A new vote of £10,000 appears for Dunodin Gaol, Couib* house and public buildings, but authority to expend only £2,000 during the present year is asked. On Auckland Lunatic Asylum £5,000 is to be speno this year ; £4,100 on Sunnyside, and £3,500 on Seaclitfe. A sum of £3,500 is bo be expended on Cuvier Island Lighthouse. Woodville-Palmersbon. — On the Wood-viile-Palmerston Railway, the total length to be constructed from Woodvillo to Terrace End, 1\ miles from Palmerston Station, is 15 miles. Of this length, 4?} miles of formation in che Manawabu Goige is under con bi act, and expected bo be finished in July next. The works, which include heavy cuttings, bridging and tunnelling, are making fair progress. Tenders have been invited for the erection of the rohanginci Bridge, and if a satisfactory tender is received it is proposed bo accept it forthwith. The vote which is asked for this railway is £50,000, leaving £77,201 for future appropriation. Wellington- Wood ville. — The Wellington- Woodville railway is completed and open for traffic from Wellington to JMangumahoe, a distance of 82 miles, and a combined road and railway bridge has been constructed over the Manawabu River at Awapurua, near Woodville, horn JMangamahoe co Eketahuna, length 6 miles. Contract for formation and platclaying is in progress, although somewhat retaided by adverse weather and other difficulties. The works have been carried on \igorously, and they are expected to be iinished in October next. The completion of the railway to Eketahuna will leave a gap of only 27 miles in the whole distance bebweon Wellington and Woodville, 115 miles. A contract has jubt been entered into for protective works at the Awapurua Bridge, the cncioachmont of the liver having made it necessiiy to probecb the bank and ex bend the approach on the soubhern side. The complebron of the works thuo in hand will practically exhausb bhe presenb loan allocation, so ib i.s nob contemplabcd to undertake any further works on this line ab present. The vote lequired in order to meet existing liabilities which will probably accrue this year is £24,000, and for next year about £4,000, leaving £4,844 for appropriation in succeeding years.

SIR WILLIAM FOX AND THE TIPPLERS. The action of Sir William Fox when presiding at the Police Court on Monday last, is likely to be brought under the notice of Parliament. The veteran Blue llibbonite somewhat astonished " the drunks " by inflicting the maximum penalty on all first oflenderb. Several hon. members dissent from this proceeding, and intend to ask a question on the subject.

THE OTAGO CENTRAL. I hear that a determined effort is to bo made by the Opposition, aided by the Auckland members, to strike out the proposed vote on the Public Woiks Estimates for the construction of the Otago Central Railway to Middlemarch. They have a double object in view — the punishing of the member for Dunedin South (Mr Fish) for "ratting " and making the Ministry unpopular in Otago, now that Mr Pykes Bill has been shelved by their aid. The proposal to strike out the entire vote is meeting with considerable support.

BANQUET TO MR LARNACH, About thirty members of both Housos of the Legislature attended the complimentary banquet to Mr Larnach at Bellamy s on Saturday night. Mr Seddon occupied the chair, and was supported on either hand by the Minister of Mines and the guest of the evening. Telegrams of congratulation were received from the different mining centres, and apologies for absence from Messrs Fergus and Pyke. The health of Mr Larnach was proposed by the Chairman in a eulogistic speech, in which he dilated upon the honourable gentleman's valuable services to the colony, and to the mining industry in particular. Mr Larnach responded in an excellent speech, after which the Chairman presented him with an illuminated address from the miners of Kumara. Regret was expressed by Col. Fraser and Mr Reevesat the non-arrival of similar testimonials from the miners of Thames and Inangahua which were also to have been presented on this occasion. The remaining toasts were : " The Legislature, proposed by Mr Tolhurst and acknowledged by the Hon. Messrs Buckley and Richardson j " The Mining Industry," proposed by Mr Reeves and responded to by the Hon. Mr Richardson ; " The West Coast Miners," proposed by Mr Larnach and responded to by Messrs Buckley and J. C. Brown ; " The Commercial Interests," proposed by Mr Kennedy Macdonald, and responded to by Mr Ward ; " The Army, Navy, and Volunteers," proposed by Mr Allen and acknowledged by the Hon. Mr Bonar, and Messrs Ward and Feldwick.

DEATH OF DR. MENZIBS. The House will adjourn this affcornoon without transacting business till 7,30 p.m., out of respecb bo the memory of the late Dr. Menzies.