PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT, 1900-1

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 251, 24 October 1901, Page 2

PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT, 1900-1

(Continued from, yesterday.) EOADS, ETC.

Dealing with 2067 involved great ■ labour in administration. The wet weather and short summer season greatly hindered work. The expendi- ( ture was larger, as a greater number , of roads bad to be maintained; 2273 , miles of dray roads and 1033 of bridle roads were kept in repair, and 1189 roads were b»gun or finished, 305 by local bodies and 784 by the department. The improvement in the navigation of the Wanganui and Tangarabau rivers was ( continued by the Wanganui River Trust at a cost of X 1250, enabling a light draught steamer to reach Putekituna on the Tangarakau, within six miles of the middle of the Whangamomona "Valley. Two lines of steamers now navigate from Wanganui; .£5946 was spent in the construction of roads, bridges, and culverts. A new department called the " Department of Boads" was created, and now has the responsibility of carrying out all the works for roads and kindred purposes and the administration of laws relating to roads. It is proposed to carry on road works with judicious expenditure and not to neglect the important duty of keeping up with the ever advancing bolder of settlement with bridle tracks at least, if with nothing better. ROADS ON OOLDFIELDa —MINES DEPARTMENT. The vote last year amounted to £83,650, the expenditure being £48,417 with liabilities at the end of the year of £49,221. For the current year £115,989 was required, and a vote of £84,000 is asked for. DEVELOPMENT OF GJLDFIELDS AND MIKING. The value «f gold exported in 1900 was £1,439,602. For the first time the output of coal and lignite bad exceeded 1,000,000 tons. The amount expended last yeir on development of the grldfields was £15,907 with liabilities of £2Oll. It is proposed to take a vote of £50,000 for the current year. TELEGRAPH EXTENSION. The expenditure under this head was £50,101, including £14,016 for new exchanges and additions. The total number of subscribers was 8210. The vote asked for this year is l £40,489. | PUBLIC BUILDINGS. , The expenditure on this head showed an increase over the previous year. For the current year £254,000 was asked. Among the works undertaken were: Fitting up the new library wing of the Parliament Building-, altering the building at Mount Oook, and sundry improvements at the general departmental buildings. The vote for the current year provides for new offices and laboratories for the Mine*, Agricultural, and Public Health Departments, acquisition of land for additions to the departmental buildings in Auckland, completing alterations at Mount Oook, partial re-building of deI partmental offices at Napier, completion of work at Parliament Buildings, } new Courthouses at Opunake and , improvements at Patea, now police j quarters at New Plymouth, and addi- , tions or extensive renovations at ( Ingle wood, Manaia and Waverley, new station at Patea, and additions at Waitara, Stratford, Opunake, Hawera, and Wanganui. A new post office site , was purchased last year at Inglewood, and alteration* made at New Plymouth. | For the current year provision is made I for a commencement with the new Pacific cable station at D jubtlets B iy, . for new post offices at New Plymouth, ' Toko, Inglewcod, Opunake, and Wan- . ganui; for alterations at Hawera.

LUNATIC ASYLUM'S. The expenditure on Punrua Asyluui was £10,587, £3OOO at Auckland Asylum, and smaller amounts elsewhere.

SCHOOLS, ETC,

[ The amount spent on school buildings last year was £58,681. This year £85,000 is asked for. Provision is made for a commencement with a new school for deaf mutes, also a home for weak-minded and epileptic children; also for the erections required by the Agricultural Department at Hunterville, Palmerston North, Carterton, Palmerston South, Roxburgh and Invercargill, for special wards for the treatment of delirium tremuns cases at the principal centres of population, and for the proposed sanatorium for consumptives. .

LIGHTHOUSEB, HARBOUR, WORKS AND DEFENCES. This year provision is made for a new light at Kaiourangi Point, for a new tower and lantern at Cape Campbell, and for connecting the principal lighthouse, with the telegraph {system. The expenditure on harbour works included snagging the Little Wanganui River. This year provision is made for new wharves at Maungaturoto, Mauukau, Sandspit, Orua Bay, Mokau, etc., and for continuing the Spit protection works at Napier. The expendi-1 ture under the head of harbour defences was also less than usual last year, but this year a much greater expenditure has been provided for. Harbour defences this year is £25,000. A large vote is also provided principally to meet the payments for field matters, submarine mining vessels, and material ordered.

CONCLOSIO*. } In allocating the amounts proposed for the several purposes, due consideration has been <nven to what I believe : to be the wishes of hon. members, that the works should be proceeded with at a reasonable speed, and especially that: the formation of roads to back blocks should be pushed forward. Every consideration lias been given to the urgent requireuents of the colony, and I have confidence that the result at the end of the year will give general satisfaction.