PUBLIC WORKS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 231, 23 September 1908, Page 3

PUBLIC WORKS

THE STATEMENT FOR 1908. DELIVERED LAST NIGHT. BIGGER APPROPRIATION'S THAN EVER. THE STRATFORD MAIX TRUNK—£4O,OOO SET ASIDE. THE ROADING POLICY. (Government Memo.—By Telegraph.) Wellington, Last Xigiit. In the House of Representatives this evening the Minister for Public Work; (Mr. Uull-Jones) delivered hi s State meat for 1008 as follows: Mr.. Speaker,—The outstanding feature of th e Statement which I have the ho»or to present to the House this evening is the practical completion of the North Island MAIN TRUNK RAILWAY, .

thus fulfilling my promise that the mils between Auckland and Wellington would be connected by the e nd of 1908. There should be no difficulty in making the through journey in nineteen hours, as proposed in the suggested tiiuefab.e. The railheads having now been connected, every effort is being made to complete the ballasting and other works yet remaining to be done, and I hope to be able to arrange for the running of passengers over the whole line shortly. The total cost of the railway, including extensive road construction and improvement works undertaken to facilitate the progress of the line, has exceeded two millions and a-half, and the average annual expenditure thereon has approximated £IIO,OOO, and I ieel th.it I can heartily congratulate the House and the country on this work having now been completed. GENERAL REVIEW.

The total expenditure on all works and services borne upon the Public Works Estimates amounted to £2.101!,362, which is £99,243 less than the previous year's total. If, however, we exclude special accounts having their own ways and means, and take only actual charges against thc P.blic Works Fund, the disbursements total. £1,881,564, or :£158,755 less than during the previous year. Steady progress has been made with the various works in hand, however.

• ' TOTAL EXPENDITURE. The following table shows the totals U regards each class of work:— Gross Total Year March 31, endicg Class of Work 1908 March Si, 1908 Railways- £ £ £New construction ... 18,191,869 092,858 "Addition to open lines 5,984,625 364,06Utilisation of water power *VHB 315 Roads 7,561,468 323,742 Public buildings ... 3,804,597 226,035 Immigration 2,186,712 9,131 Purchase of Native lands 2,035,748 2,190 Lighthouses, harbor work;, and harbor defences 1,024,520 6,883 Touristand health resorts 158,568 45,048 Telegraph extension ... 1,479,730 155,49;; Development of gold fields 786,6c6 8,631 Defence works (general) 888,168 18,574 Departmental 568,385 18,219 Payment to Midland Kailway bondholders ... 150.0P0 Land improvement ... £4,575 9,561 Minor works and serf ices 312,583 '837 Cost and discount, raising loans, etc 1,235.642 Gr 8,487 Gloss total to March 3ist, 1908—£46,708,887. Total for year ending March 31st, 1908— *1,M3,077. The last total in the above statement ii less by £8487 than the total, expenditure for the year previously mentioned. WAYS AND MEA>"S. At 31st March, 1907, the available

balance of ways and meams for public works purposes was £35'J,400, and further funds were received as under:— Balance of £1,000,000 raised under the Loan Act of 1900, £56,000; Amount raised under similar Act fef 1907, £808,200; (Premiums received on sales and renewals of debentures, £13,514; Transferred from revenue, £800,000; Miscellaneous receipts, £1640; Making a gross total of £2,039,154. The ordinary expenditure of the year amounted to £1,881,564, and charges and expenses in connection with the financing amounted to £5027, thus bringing the total disbursements up to £1,88G,591, leaving a credit balance at the end of the year of £152,563. For the current year it is proposed to provide additional runds as under:— Balance of 1907 loan, £191,800; New loan of 1908, £1,250,000; Transfer from Consolidated Fund, £BOO,OOO. This will give a total of £2,394,303. In addition to this there is authority for £200,000 under the Post Office ings Bank Fund Investment Act of last year for the erection of post offices, etc., making a total available for ways and means of £2,504,363. The estimated expenditure for public works for the current year (excluding separate accounts having their own iwa-ys and means) amounts to £2,430,j450, thus leaving a balance of £157,915 to be carried forward to next pear. RAILWAY CONSTBUCTIOX. The total expenditure on railway works last year fell somewhat short of that of the previous year. The total amounted to .£1,279,809, made up as under:—Construction of new lines (Public Works Fund), £692358; construsvtion of new lines (Waikaka branch rail-. jray account), £36,609; additions to open lines, £364,088; Hutt Railway and Boad- Improvement Account, £4622; Hallways Improvements Authorisation >Aot Account.' £140,053; total, £1,270,809. I will now refer more in detail to seveial lines that have been in hand and proposals of the Government with regard to each for the current year. -KAWAKAWA-GRAmMTOWN. • Last year's expenditure amounted to f£9193, tut the vote proposed for the lament year is £40,000, • HELENSVILLE NORTHWARDS.

• The expenditure on this railway last year amounted to £28,410, but in view pf the increased number of men already employed, and the further increase which it is proposed to make shortly, 1 Rm asking for a vote for £BOOO (si.-) for the current year. AUCKLAND AND EAST COAST ; (WAIIH-TAURANCA). ' The trial survey for- a railway between IWaihi and Tauranga promised in last year's Statement has since been put in hand, and 1 a strong party is now engaged upon it. GISBORNE-ROTORUA.

Last year's expenditure amounted to [£9248, "tout for the present year a vote of £60,000 is asked for. NEW PLYMOUTH-SENTRY HILL DEVIATION. This work has now been finished, the new line having been brought into use in December last. The total expenditure on the deviation amounted approximately to £30,000. This includes £18233 involved in connection with the purchase of. the necessary land. The amount expended last year was £11,743. STRATFORD-MACi TRUNK. Mention was nademliMt year's Statement of the necessity ot making further surveys to determine the point on the Main Trunk Railway that would beat eerve for a junction station for this line, and also to exactly define the route of the first few miles of railway at that end. which has not been definitely fixed at present. Considerable survey work has since been done, as a result of whi-li I am advised that a better line, and one passing through better country, can tic obtained at a point considerably nor.h of Ongarue than would be the ease if the line were joined at that township, as seems to have been contemplated when the railway was first authorise!. Further surveys and engineering reports are necessary before this point can be definitely decided upon, though it is d--Birable to have the question determined as soon as possible, in order that the construction work at the north-eastern end of the railway can be put in hand Work has' Wen carried on tbroughon! the year at the Stratford end of tl» line, and the section between Douglas and Huiroa was completed and liaml.i over to the Railway Department on ,» "April last. The Te Wera section is no" in hand, and a large staff of workinei is engaged upon it. The completion n the line to the end of this section wi' fcringit into contact with the main ro-i< fe Whangamomona. thus making t.i taflw&y much more useful to settler in the'bacldblocks. as well as in servm » largely-increased traffic. The expenditure last year amount" to '£12,385. hut in view of the propn, to commence -work at the nfirlh-en->ler end of the line, a larger vote is love B'ary this year, and I am tircnrdiwrl asking for an appropriation id £40.00 MOUNT EGMoNT BRANCH.

TV fn-l -c'li.'M of this nilwsiv irs» to sn<l itfrlmlinjr tho crusli'm'jr-stntion at Mangflnni wan romnlßtwl ami li-»i1i1mI over to the Railway Hejtorti.ient in X\\»\\ J»gt, and broken ston« ami Irallast is jH*w being produced there. It is pn-

posed to extend the railway to the site of the permanent cniarrv on the slopes of Mount Egmont, about three miles further on, and provision for taking this work in hand is made on the current year' s Estimates. Last year's expenliture was £8307, and for the present year we propose an appropriation of

NORTH ISLAND MAIX TRUNK Very satisfactory progress indeed was made with this railway during the year Ihe railheads were finally connected on' Mangamuokao viaduct on 3rd Aiwu-t Hit., and before the date promised h my previous .Statement the first throng passenger train (the Fleet Parliamentary special) was run on the 7th and Bth August, and returned ten days later 4 large amount of work still'remains iV be done, however, and a considerable a id will be maintained there until complet.ou. I .hope to !x . in a ))osHiol| t „ carry passengers right throng!, bv about Ist November.. The vole taken "for th, railway last year was £330,000, and the expenditure amounted to £33o'»i To prov.de for the .work done sine,. 31st' March last, and for the completion of the works still remaining to be executed fir-redl '' V ° tC ° £ A ' m - m wi|l re-

BLENHEIM-WAIPARA. Ihe expenditure on the line last veir amounted to £20,501, but i„ view "of the proposal to resume work at C-e southern end, a larger vote will be nec-s-S.aT ""' " nd , d " : M'l"'«l'riation „f idOjOuO is proposed. ■

MIDLAND. Th c pxpenditurc on the- railway last year totalled .€05,433, but a imich "lar«e r vote will be necessary this year, andl.u appropriation of £150,000 is therefore provided.

WESTPORT-IXAXGAHUA. The expenditure last year amounted to £8505, and for the current year a vote of £15,000 is proposed.

NGAHERK-BLACKBALL. I hope the whole line will be available for traffic early in 1909. Last year's expenditure amounted to £1734' and for the current year an appropriation of £2OOO is asked for.

raSEYMOUTH-POIXT ELIZABETH. No appropriation for this work will b L , needed out of the Public Works Fund, as a vote of £3OOO out of the State Coal Mines Account appears on the Consolidated Fund estimates. HOKIKKA-ROSS.

The expenditure on the railway last year amounted to £13,54(1, and for the current year a vote of £15,000 is proposed.

OTAGO CENTRAL. The total expenditure during the year amounted to ,1;7763, and as there were, still a few outstanding liabilities on the 31st March last, a voteof £IOOO is provided to cover them. LAWRENCE-ROXBCRUH. Last year's expenditure amounted to £12,213, aud for the current year a vote of £30,000 is asked for. UORE-WAIKAKA. The expenditure last year amounted to £30,«09. the whol e of which was charged to the special account established in connection with this railway. As the balance to the credit of tlic special account will not be sufficient to complete the -workjQt vote of £l2,o')') to supplement it is asked for. CATLINS-WAIMAHAKA. The expenditure last year amounted to £19,311. An appropriation u. £BO,OOO is proposed. RIVERbUALE-SVYITZEUS. 'List year's expenditure amounted i: £.5004, and for the current year a vote if £IB,OOO is proposed. ORBPUKX-WAIAU. The. expenditure last year amounted to £10,720, and a vote of £30,0U0 is asked for this year. SURVEYS.

The most important railway survey works in hand at the present time ate liie lielensville Northwards Railway, Maungaturoto to Ivaikohe (permanent survey); Pokeno to Pacroa (permanent .-.urvcy); Waihi to Tauranga (trial survey); Xorth Island Main Trunk Railway branch line to Raetihi, and Stratford to Whangamouioua (permanent survey); Coal Creek Railway extension (permanent survey);; Gisborue to Mot ill (permanent survey); Doniiuett to Kaikoura' (irial survey of alternative routes). In addition to the above, trial surveys wilt be made iu respect of the following lilies as soon as officers ace

available to undertake the work; Khv kawa to Hokianga; Kaibu to Xorth Auckland railway system; Pukekoho to Waiuku; Kawhia to Main Trunk line; Tauranga to Opotiki; Rotorua line it Te Puke or Tauranga; Motu to Opotiki; \Yhangamoniona to Xorth Island Main Trunk Railway; Napier to Gisborue; Masterton to Waipukurau; Levin to Marton; Featherston to Martinborough; Little RiveT to Akaroa; Waihao Downs to Waihaoruuga; Winton to Heddon Hush.

TOTAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION.

In addition to amounts already mentioned, a vote oi £112,000 is proposed for permanent way material, £6OOO for surveys of new lines, and £IOOO for land claim s and other old liabilities and contingent payments on construction account. These items bring the total proposed authorisation for railway construction purposes to £1,000,000, on account of which a vote of £9(10,000 i* proposed for the requirements of the current year, which is a material advance on last year's vote. OTHER RAILWAY WORKS.

The expenditure wider the heading additions to opn line» was £304,005. Of this sum £261,740 was spent in the provision of rolling stock, and the iiaiauee '( £102,319) on additions to station accommodation, workshops machinery, and inauguration of signalling, interlocking, and safety appliances. The amount proposed to be voted for the current year is £350,000, of which £185,000 is for new rolling stock. 'A considerable amomnt of work has been carried out in connection with tlu | duplication of the Hutt Railway and road improvement. A large amount of work has been done under the Railways Improvements Authorisation Act of 1004 in connection with the Auckland-Penrose, AddingtoiRolleston, and Dunedin-Mosgiel duplications. • The amount expended during last financial year on the works above "e----ferred to are as follows:—Hutt Railway and road improvements, £40,221; Auek land-Penrose duplication, £54,302; Ad-dingtou-Rolleston duplication, £11,031; Dunedin-Mosgiel duplication, £74,730. For the current- rear provision has been made on the Estimates to the extent of £235,000 namely: Auckland-Pei-,-ose duplication. £25.000; WcllingtouHutt duplication, £70,000; AddingtonRollestou duplication. £35,000; Duil-edin-llosgiel duplication. tl03,(«)0. WELLIN'JTON-MANAWATU 11A1IV 1 WAY.

In pursuance of the announcement made in last year's statement, formr.l notice of intention to purchase the Wcl-lin"ton-Manawatu Railway under th" provisions of the Railways Construction and Land Act of 1881 was served upon the cmiipanv on 7th December last, ami negotiation- have since bc.-n preceding between tiie Government ami the company, as the result of which an arrangemeiit has been made to acquire the railway for a total payment of CU2.,,01,<). PUBLIC BUILDINOS. Tile total expenditure on I'ublic BuildI i,i"s out of votes'controlled by the ilinI ister for Public Works amounted dry-1 ing last financial year to £200.024. tor the current vear, votes totalling £02,0,W under the Consolidated Fund and £2O-,-450 under the Public Works I'iin.l are proposed. GENERAL The general expenditure on buildings coming under this class is steadily increasing, and seems likely to continue so to do for the next two or three yeais. j,! consequence of the late lire at larleiment Buildings, and the proposal to locate the „cw f Parliament House on the late Government House site, iiecessitnt- '„„ the erection of new Pamame mlihlings. also a new residence tor H rveelleiicv the Oovernor. Last J car. ; f„ r the current year a vote of £. ~,OIK h pr.MH.seU. The principal expeudit, ' P.,? vear took place in connection wit , ? -additions lo the old I'*- -amo Pmildin-. which were in progics at t" I .:.,,.. „f'the lire, but which have sine ™„ ,«« ,ended, and the additions f ,V iVnartiueutal Buildings at Aucklam J i„l Wellington, etc The vote propofor the current year makes I>r«^"»^ I new Departmental buildings at N. ■ !'|v„-,„„ih and other-places. t ' * .fUDICIAL. 's Conrthon-e<. - - The expee.litnv" « gleoiivthoiise buildings ,„,,,,, t I r.-iTSi (Mi the current yeai s 1.-tima.. d i made for adOnmuMo r«n ,l, m .ses at. anion,' other place,. N,« 1..

I ',.,., ami for dninaptc work* «l >•-* ' - i4 „'. ..rnviilc for new lm'.Minp!~ : >' Xcw Plymouth, etc. .„,.„„ POST \M) TELWRAPII. A larpe'jiuiriMT of Post and Tclegn.pl.

year, the expenditure thereon having amounted to £37,723. The works provided for this year are new offices at Rahotti, Toko, Manaia, and numerous otl'.er centres, and additions at Stratford. MENTAL HOSPITALS. The operations under this head were not very extensive, the expenditure ha .'- ing amounted to £7987 only. SCHOOLS. The amount expended on school buildings during the year was £181,205, c,f which £Sl,lniS was charged to revenue and £ 100,107 to the Public Works Fund. The greater portion of this money was paid to Education Hoards and oilier controlling authorities as grants lor the I erection of school buildings and teacher*'l residences, technical schools, training I colleges, secondary schools, and tiuivcr-]

sity colleges. For the current year, in addition to Ihe vote under the Conso'.idated Fund, an appropriation of £IOO.OOO is asked for i.e.; ..( the Public

Works Fund to provide lor school buildings generally, and for buildings for universities, technical schools, college, etc., as in previous years. OTHER BUILDINGS. .Hospitals.—Under the heading "Hospitals and Ciiaiitaible Institutions" there was expenditure of £15,570 for 'neiv buildings am! improvements. Public Health.—The principal works carried during the year have been the commencement of the new wharf and approaches at Motuihi quarantine station, Auckland, and the erection of tie wharf.at Soaiucs Island, Wellington. The vote for-the current year provides for completing the wharves at the quarantine stations ailiove mentioned, for buildings and additions at the similar stations at Quail Island, Lvttelton, and the Bluff, and at the Waikato Sana-

itorium, Cambridge. ROADS, BRIDGES, ETC. The amount provided for the year 1007-08 for the construction of roads'and their maintenance under all votes and accounts was £578;575. The amount authorised for expenditure was £til<),729, and the net expenditure £303,097. The principal cause for the small expenditure in proportion to the t amouiit voted was (lie great scarcity of labor of the kind required, the greater part of the men being otherwise occupied at what appeared to them to be more congenial employment. The bulk of t'.ie authorities for expenditure was issued somewhat earlier than usual, and abundance of work was ready for the men, but they could not be got. The scarcity was throughout the Dominion. However, the work done was fairly considerable, being as follows:—New dray road construction, 48li miles; dray roads metalled, 28(i miles; dray roads converted from bridle roads, 107 miles; dray roads' maintained, 2002 miles; new bridle roads made, 345 miles; bridle roads maintained, 1899 miles; engineering surveys 1 made, G4O miles; dray and road bridges]

of 30ft in length and over to the number of 185, unci of a total length of lflJoOtf, were ibuilt. The continued alienation of Crown lands for settlej ment purposes renders it impossible as i yet to come near overtaking the demand ; for road's of access. Selectors continue < to emphatically impress on'the Government the necessity for now roads and improvement to others. It is, however. . some satisfaction to note that by da- t grecs their wants in this respect are < being met, and notwithstanding the undoubted hardships and deprivations i which surround tbe early years of settlers' life in the bush country, the < demand for land docs diminish. It is < the plan of the Government to meet the 1 requirements of those who have energy < to enter on the arduous life inseparable i from that of the pioneer settler, whose t enterprise, to whatever motive it is due, 1 is praiseworthy, and should be fully re- f cognised by! all available, reasonable means for amelioration of hardships < should be extended to them as soon as I possible. It was with the object of ex- ' pediting relief as above that £250,0')0 ' for roads in the baekbloeks was referred '' to in the Financial Statement as the sum to be specially set apart for that I purpose.

The appropriations proposed in the Estimates now submitted are:—Roads Department, £23,200; roads (generally), 253,001!; backldocks roads, £2511,000; tourist roads. £28.194; Uans to Local Bodies Account, £50,001); total £005,000, and this amount, of course, in addition to C23,flflt) voted for maintenance of roads on the Consolidated Fund Kslinrates.

'ROADS OX COLDFIEUAS (MIXES DEPARTMENT). The expenditure last year under this head was £38,493, and the amount proposed to be authorised for the current year is £96,792, on account of which a vote of £45,01)0 is proposed. TOTAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR ROAD WORKS. Roads Department (under Public Works Department), £005.000; Roa;l-> Department (under Consolidated Fund), £25,000; Mines Department, £45,000; tot'ai, £U75,000. DEVELOPMENT OF GOLDFIELDS AXD MIXING. The amount expended during last financial year on works for the development of- goldtield* was £8632. It is proposed to take a vote of £35,000 for the current year. TOI'RIST AND 11EALTH RESORTS. The expenditure last year was £45,027. Of Hint amount new bath buildings at Rotorua absorbed £14,938; water supply, drainage, and electrical works at same place, £7981, £1233, and £1517 respectively. The gross authorisation asked for is £47,000 (as compared with £06,5-14 last year), on account ol which a vote of £35,000 is proposed. TELEGRAPH EXTENSION. During the financial year £155,401 was expended on telegraph and telephone extensions. New lines erected and under construction totalled 701 miles oi poles and 2307 miles of wire. Telegraph offices were opened at 104 townships, 2999 new subscribers were added to the telephone'exchange, aud a. Jiew cable of 42'/i knots was laid across Cook Strait from I.yell 13ay to White's Bay, thus providing additional communication between the two islands. The sum asked for this year is £125,000. This includes £103,550 of liabilities, principally for material under order.

LIGHTHOUSE, HARBOR WORKS, AND HARBOR DEFENCES. The total expenditure amounted to £1417. A larger vote, namely, £SOOO, is asked for this year. Under the head of Harbor Defences the expenditure was" £257!). _ For the current vear a vote of £7500 is asked. GROSS TOTAL APPROPRIATIONS., In addition to the votes already referred to, the Estimates include provi-sion-for the under-noted'services:—Pub-lic Works (Departmental), £23,800; immigration, £10.000; purchase of native lands, £4000; rates on native lands, £850: contingent defence, £20,000; lauds'improvement, £21,050; thus bringin" the total amount of proposed appropriations, including special accounts, up to £2,721,450, against £2,521,210 voted, and £2,100,3(i2 actually expended last vear. CONCLUSION. 1 have now placed before honorable members proposals lor carrying on t> public work* requirements of the country for the vear. AYilli the expansbu a lid di-vvlopmtiit that is going ou all round us a fairly vigorous policy is called for, and I feel conlidonl that the |,i-o«"raiii'iiie which 1 have submitted will conim.'iid itself to the favorable consideration of Parliament.