PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 269, 21 December 1909, Page 3

PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT

m A REDUCED VOTE. VIGOROUS DEVELOPMENT POLICY TO BE PURSUED. LIBERAL PROVISION FOR ROADS BIGGER VOTE FOR STRATFORD-CiNGARUHE LINE. MT. EGMONT LINE TO BE COMPLETED.

The Hon. Roderick McKenzie, Mini ter of Public "Works, submitted his Pu! * lie Works Statement in the House < Representatives last evening. He said The period which has elapsed since tl last Public Works Statement was th livered has been quite an important on on the history ol the Public Works D< partment. After filling the position < Minister of Public Works with conspicn • ous ability for over twelve yean nearly twice as long as any other Min ister has filled it, the Hon. Mr. Hall Jones finally relinquished the office am ■was appointed High Commissioner ■» 30th November, 1908, and I had th honor of succeeding him| During th year, the operations of which I hav< now to review, the Department o . Roads has been amalgamated with tbi parent Department, so that the Publii Department now controls pracci cally the whole of the public works ex penditure ol the Dominun. The lengti of new railways,opened for traffic wai greater than during any similar period for thirty years past, and the gross to tal expenditure of public works was also greater than in any year for more than a quarter of a century, while the •mount spent on road construction con-

ns- stituted a record. It will, therefore, lie ub- -evident to honorable memoers that tlie of Department has experienced a busv id: year, and my task this evening is Co ,he give as concise an account U6 possible ile- of the work that has been accomplished, me and also the proposals of the UovernJe. ment lor the current year. o! " in- , TOTAL EXPENDITURE, rs, in- The total expenditure on all works .11- and services borne upon the public nd works estimate amounteu io no less. nn than £2,445,324, or if we exclude spahe cial accounts having their own ways he and means, and take into consideration ve only the actual charges against tli-e of public works fund, the total amounted he to £2,169,278, which is 'the largest exile penditure on such works for many ti- years. The following figures show lis x- regards each class of work (a) the th total expenditure from the inaugurals tion of the public works policy to 31st >d December, 1890; (b) similar cxpenuio- ture between Ist January, 1891, and is 31st March, 1909; (c) gross total exre penditure to 31st March, 1909; (d) exle penditure for the late financial year:— aEXPENDITUBE.

18,145 23,565,897 60,468,042 3,363,581 r NORTH ISLAND MAIN TRUNK. ; A number of liabilities remained at . 31st March, and a vote of £20,000 is L provided to cover same. BLENfIEIM-WAIPARA. > At the northern end, the section be-' - twen Seddon and Blind River has been ! completed, and goods traffic is being ■ carried over it by the Public Works De--1 partment for the convenience of settlers. r 1 At the South end the formation has been completed to Mina station, near Mackenzie township, which is as far as the line is authorised at present, Expenditure last year, £36,761; current ' year £45,000. MIDLAND. " At the Nelson end of this railway, the section between Tadmor and Kiwi has since been completed, and the section between Kiwi anu Tui is now approaching completion. The further section between Tui and Hope Junction • authorised last year has been taken in •hand. In 11)11 it is probable that the Reef- ■ ton-lnangahua railway will be compk't- | ed to Inangahua Junction. At the Reefton end of the line, good progress has been made with the section between Cronadtim and the Inangahua landing. ] Every effort will be made to have the . railway completed to Inangahua June- ] tion by about February, 1911. On the Canterbury-Westland section , of the railway, very important works | are in hand, and considerable progress has been made during the year. The | chief work, of course, is the Summit tunnel at Arthur's Pass. Considerable progress has been made with this work, the "heading" having now been excavated for a total distance of about a ' mile. Enlarging to the full size is also ' in hand and the concrete lining is following up. It is evident, however, that ' progress in the future must be much .] greater than hitherto if the contract is ! to be completed by the date stipulated, ' namely, Ist August, 1912. At the Can- ' terburv end of the line the steel viaduct ' over Sloven's Greek has been complct- ' ed, and rail-layiifg resumed ,the formation being practically finished as far as The Cass. There will be nothing to . . prevent the rails be'ine laid to thut point without interruption. As soon as ' - the line to The Cass is ready for traffic i ft will be handed over to the Railway ' i Department for regular working, thus ' i shortening the coach journey between \ the East and West Voasts to about 25 ' miles, and making the performance of ' the through journey in one day quite . an easy matter even during the winter months. Expenditure last year, £124,- ' 402; current year, £170,000. WESTPORTKAHU. . The section of this railway "between '. Westport and Kahu, 5 miles 60 chains in length, is nearly finished. Last year's [ expenditure £8507; this year, £20,000. t NGAHERE-BLACKBALL. i The line is now approaching complei tion. The expenditure last year was . .£33,804; current year £30,000 is pro- > posed, which will provide for the com- » pletion of the remaining work. r GREYMOUTH-POINT ELIZABETH, I ' Formation Tvork on the extension of 3 this railway to the proposed No. 2 State colliery has been actively in hand during the year. The expenditure on this railway last year (£24,984) was charga ed to the State coal mines account, but i it is proposed to transfer last year's e expenditure to the Public Works Fund,

Totals' "... 26,898 WAYS AND MEANS. " At 31st March, 1908, the available balance of ways and means for public .works purposes was £162,503, and further funds were received, making a gross total of £2,558,207. The ordinary expenditure of the year amounted to £2,169,279, and charges and expenses in connection with financing amounted to £5380, thus bringing the total disbursements up to £2,174,658, leaving a credit balance at the end of the year ot £383,709. i For the current year it is proposed to provide additional funds as under:— Balance of 1908 loan, £50,000; new loan, 1909, £2,250,000. This, with the balance brought forward, gives a total of £2,683,709. The estimated expenditure for public works for the current' year (excluding separate accounts having their own ways and means) amounts to £2,190,624, thus leaving a balance of £493,085 to be carried forward to next year. RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION. As I have already mentioned, the ' length of new railways opened for traffic, during the year was greater than .during any similar period for thirty years. This was principally due to the completion of the North Island Trunk railway, which was added to the Railway Department for regular working on 15th Feoruary last. The total expenditure; on railways works- last year •mounted to £1,349,110, which was (£69,301 in excess of the previous year's total I will now refer more in detail to several railways that have been in land, and the proposals of the Government in regard to each for the current . .jo*-1 . KAWAKAWA-GEAHAMSTOWN. The connection between the north and south ends should be effected before .. next winter. The expenditure last year • amounted to £32,616, and for the curtent year a vote of £40,000 is proposed. ', KAWAKAWA-KAIKOHE. A sfiort branch line has been constructed from the Kawakawa-Grahams- . <<towu railway at Scoria Flat to a good ' .scoria deposit in the vicinity. mediate construction of the line between Scoria Flat and iiaikohe is fully justified, and it is therefore proposed to provide for the construction ot this TaHway in the Railways Authorisation ' Billot the present session, and a vote Of £2500 to the work is provided. j NORTH AUCKLAND. A large number of petitions were pre- , tented to Parliament last session praying lor a westerly deviation-of the railway, and the Public Petitions Committee recommended tfiat' exhaustive surveys of the rival toutoa should be made. In pursuance of this recommendation, further surveys have been undertaken, and in February last 1 made a personal examination oi the ground. I came to the conclusion that the demand for a more westerly route was iwell grounded. Construction work on (the deviation has already been commenced, and it will now be possible to employ a larger number of men. The expenditure on this railway last year •mounted to £50,983, which was nearly ■ '" jdouble that of the previous year. For the current year a vote of £BO,OOO is proposed. , EAST 1.----- MAIN TRUNK. \ A trial, survey for a railway between Waihi and Tauranga which was in hand Jast year has since been completed. The ' survey was also carried on as far as Matata. The Government is strongly Impressed with the necessity for a trunk railway through the important

and also to make special provision for the estimated expenditure of the current year, which will probably amount to nearly £50,000. LAWRENCE-ROXBURGH. The construction of this line between Lawrence and Big Hill tunnel has been proceeded with during the year. The question of carrying the work beyond that point, however, is one that requires careful consideration. The Government at present is unable to see its way to take further steps in the matter unless an adequate guarantee is forthcoming ihat reasonable interest on the capitil invested will be returned. Last year's expenditure, £14,078; current year, £12,500. GORE-WADZAKA. This line was handed over to the Railway Department on 26th November, 1908. Last year's expenditure amounted to £29,549. For the current a small vote of £3OOO will be necessary. CATLINS-WAIMAHAKA. . I The section of line between Catlins river and Houipapa has been completed. | At the Waimahaka end of the line, a large amount of work has been done,| and the number of men has been considerably increased. Expenditure last year, £85,091; current year -s asked for. RIVERSDALE-SWITZERS. Excellent work has been done on this railway during the year and tie whole line lourteen miles in length, has been completed. Expenditure, £20,478; vote of £20,000 will be necessary this year •to clear accounts. OREPUKI-WAIAU. On this line also very .good work was done-last year, the railway having been completed. Expenditure, £15,840; current year, £15,000. SURVEYS. Last year the expenditure on _ surveys of new lines amounted to £5502; current year, £2OOO. TOTAL APPROPRIATION FOR RAILI WAY CONSTRUCTION. In addition to the amounts already mentioned a vote of £IOO,OOO is pni posed for permanent way materials, l and £IOOO for old land claims and other I old contingent payments on construction account. THese items bring the total proposed vote for railway construction purposes up to £790,000. OTHER RAILWAY WORKS, .-.-JThe sum of £260,731wwars r SPgattJ'!

Bay of Plenty district that will eventually connect Auckland with Gisborne, and the whole of the East Coast settlements, and considers that the time has now arrived to make a commencement with the work. It is therefore . proposed to include the section of the • line Ween Tauranga arid Te Puke in jttie schedule to the Railway Authorisa- -■' tion Bill for the current year, and if Abe Bill is duly passed by Parliament, arrangements will be made to commence fonstructiofl works as soon as ;" possible after Hie termination of the cession. Last year's expenditure on the Gifiborne section amounted to £40,601. v.- During the. current year a vote s ol IfWyJw i 9 asked. ? > STRAIORD-MAK TRUNK. • Work has been vigorously proceeded '•with throughout the year at the Strat--Imi end of the railway. The section J -tv-en Huiroa and Te' Were is now "V Mproaching completion. The construei <n of the Pohokura section, is also well i han3, the first four miles being al- >■ it finished. The whole section will ■ibably be completed in eight months. irk on the Whangamomona section • ' been commenced.' This railway now i • '5 the main Toad,of .the district, and ■» > consequently be -of very great benssii to the settlers; The expenditure last y«ar amounted to £4.},Q00, which is the largest amount spent on the line > 5n any year aince the work was started, i Much larger expenditure is anticipated f- during the year,- however, and £60,000 ie proposed for the, work. MT. EGMONT BUANCH. ' ■ Mention was made in last year's * -statement of the first section of this fex railway, including crushing station sit W- Manganui, having been completed, and |* <■ Jjandcd over, to the Railway DepartWfo »«rt. It also stated that it was proit nosed to extend fte rai'wav to the site £ of <the permanent quarrv on the slopes KA of Mt. Egmont at the head of the jpa«,-W*ingongoro river. Further exploraWS/M<a •no" surveys, however, have shown feiithat the quarry will probahlv not turn IP-* toot so satisfactorih a* unc to be nV at the head of the Mangamu ElsßYir, although on the auproach to the m incline tramway will be The' necessarv iHirvcw are in BBJfaJSapjjpwnfocannot be worked to the

machinery for_ the working railway and £128,941 on additions to station a commodation, wharves, signalling a] pliances, interlocking, tablets, workin telegraphs and telephones, making th total expenditure under the heading c "Additions to open lines/'£389,072. Th Wellington-Hutt duplication has bee completed and brought into use 1m tween Kaiwarra and the Hutt and th construction of the other portion is b« ing pushed on. The double line betwe? Aldington and Rolleston will shortly b ready for traffic. The double line be tween Newmarket and Penrose ha tan opened for traffic and a consider able amount of construction work ha been carried out in connection with thi Dunedin-Mosgiel duplication. The ex penditure during the last financial yeai on the works referred to was £227,942 and for the current year provision ha; been made on the estimates to the ex tent of £180.002". The amount proposed to be voted foi the current year.for "Additions if open lines" is £350,000, of which £250. <M) is for new rolling stock and additional -workshops machinery. PUBLIC BUILDINGS. The total expenditure on public buildings during the last financial year amounted to £350,015. For the current year votes totalling £00,145 under the (.onsolldatcil Fund and £300,930 under the Public Works Fund are proposed. CEXERAL. The principal buildings included in this class are the Government House, the Parliamentary Buildings, and the' general departmental offices throughout the Dominion. Lust year's expenditure amounted to £44.071, and for the current year a vote of £45,000 is proposed. The principal works provided for in the current year's estimates are the new Government House, and the new Legislative Council Chamber, the completion of the additions to the departmental buildings at Auckland, some necessaiy additions to the Government Printing Office new departmental buildings at Hamilton, New Plymoutn, Masterton Westport, Greymouth, C'ilristchurch and lnvercargill. JUDICIAL. Courthouses. The expenditure on courthouses last year amounted io £14,473. For the current year, provi»lon>3 n»de for new courthouses at Auckland, Taumaranui, Opotiki Waipiro Bay, Waverley, Masterton, Petone Ross, Cheviot and Fairlie; and for additions at New Plymouth. POST AND TELEGRAPH. Extensive building works were iu hand last year for the Post and Telegraph Department, the total expenditure having amounted to £62,262. The proposed appropriation for the current year provides for new offices at Rahotu, Manaia and other places; for additions at New Plymouth, Stratford, ajid other places. ' MENTAL HOSPITALS. The expenditure on mental hospitals during the year was £15,196. The proposed vote of £25,000 for the current year provides for the erection of the Wolfe bequest, reception nospital it Auckland, also accommodation for pthisis and special cases; for additional wing fo r female and an extension of the auxiliary buildings for males at Porirua; for a reception house, etc. at Christchurch, and for additions to'the upper building block and various other alterations and improvements at Seacliff; for additions and auxiliary building at Waitati, and the purchase of land for the site of a central ment-il hospital. Provision is also made for the erection of rooms in connection with general hospitals in which mental patients may be examined, instead .of at the police stations. SCHOOLS. The expenditure for the year out of the Public Wofts Fund was £102.340, the greater part of the amount being paid to education boards and other governing bodies for the erection of new buildings, additions to public schools, teachers' residences, training college, technical and secondary schools and university colleges. For the current vo«r i sum of £100,680 is asked for, as' set aut in detail in the estimates. OTHER BUILDINGS. Hospitals.—Under the heading, "Hospital and charitable institutions," there was an expenditure of £11,152 for nciv Duildings and improvements. A vote if £16,500 for the current year is simply i re-vote of unexpended balances oV last year's appropriations. Agriculture.—Last year's expendituic totalled £5543. ROADS, BRIDGES, ETC. i On Mr. Hogg's resignation in June last, it was decided to amalgamate tho roads and bridges work with the general work of the Public Works Department, and the administration of uci.' matters then came under my control. I found that the operations of- the Roads Department were neing carried out en i scale of considerable magnitude, the total expenditure during the last litianuial year having amounted to no less than £(194,657. A very large amount is represented by the above expenditure, which may be briefly summarised:— New dray roads constructed, 056 miles; dray roads metalled, 352 miles; bridl-> roads converted to dray roads, 335 miles; new bridle roads constructed. 45 miles; bridges constructed, 30ft in length or. over, 188, total length 15,331 ft; engineering surreys made, 989 miles; iray roads maintained, 3352 miles; bridle roads maintained, 2017 mile.;. Very few individual works of large magnitude were undertaken. The expenditure on road works during the quarter ending 30th June last was £186,128, or at the rate of nearly three-quarters of a million per annum. As it was impossible to continue at that rate, steps were taken to lessen the outlay, and the disbursements have been brought down '.o a more reasonable limit, although they arc still large, while the work of opening up new country and the location of settlers thereon is proceeding energetically. The general Government of the Dominion maintained during last year no less thin 3352 miles of dray roads. In the compilation of the estimates for the current year liberal provision has ibejn made for road construction. The coistruetion of new roads to open up THE BACKBLOCKS is a duty that may properly be regarded as devolving upon the general Government, and the improvement and metalling of roads that were original"}' constructed as bridle tracks.

ROADS ON fIOLDFIELDS. One of tho chief requirements of tin 1 mining industry is the construction r,f roads and tracks to open up back country. The expenditure* last roar under this heading was £47,374', and the amount proposed to be authorised f.uthe current year is £85,036, on aceoiv.it of which a vote of £50,000 is asked for. TOTAL VOTES FOR ROADS. The appropriations for road works in the estimates submitted are as under; £ Roads, etc 200,000 Backblocks roads, etc. .. 210,000 Roads under Loans to Local Bodies .. .. 500,000 Roads under National Endow- ' ments Account- .. .. 17,151 Eoads on goldfields .. .. 50,000 Maintenance of Roads (Consolidation Fund) .. .. 25,000 Total £552,151 DEVELOPMENT OF GOLDFIELDS. The mineral industry of the Dominion is almost entirely confined to gold, silver and coal. Other minerals exist, but have not at present attracted the efforts required for their extraction. The amount expended last financial year .on works for the development of. 'goldfields was £32,859, ami it is proposed lo ask for a vote of £30,000 for tile current year. TOURIST AND HEALTH. The total authorisation askcl is £24,545, or "£23,378 lees than last year, on acount of which a vote of £17,650 is proposed. TELEGRAPH EXTENSION. ■ During the year, 103,033 was expended on telegraph and telephone extensions. New lines erected and. in coursi of construction totalled 74'J' miles al poles and 3311 miles of wire. One bun dred and fifty-three telegraph and tele phone offices were opened, and 3552 nen subscribers were added to the tele phone exchanges. The vote asked thii year is £120,000. This includes £63, , 337 of liabilities, principally for mato rial under order at the cornmeucemoi of the present year. ■ LIGHTHOUSES. ■ The total expenditure for the iinan - cial year was £47,481. The sum n £6900 will be required this year. HARBOR WORKS. j Last year's expenditure amouhled (

s, HARBOR DEFENCES. C An expenditure of £7297 took place, it principally for the purpose of strength- '* ening fortifications. Some further works of a similar character and also e the construction of an additional bat- ' tcry, are now in hand, and these worlts, , including two new six-inch guns that '" are required, a vote of £BO,OOO is proposed. a GROSS TOTAL APPROPRIATIONS. ~ In addition to The votes specifically 3 referred to estimates include provisions . for tho undcrnoted services:— s £ , Departmental 4'j,500 . Lands improvement .. .. 32,744 r Contingent Delence .. .. It) ji.iO immigration 10 ;J .:O ■ Thus bringing the total amount of tbe . proposed appropriations, including special accounts, up to J12,475,308, against • £2,895,897 voted and £2,445,324 actui ally expended last year. DEPARTMENTAL. 1 have already mentioned that on my predecessor's retirement it was decided to entrust the roads and bridges worn to the Public Works Department. This necessitated amalgamation ol stalls, and at the sanm nine rendered it practicable to effect considerate retrenchment. The Public Works Department's gross saving which re-arrangement and retrenchment effected, including the estimated savings of travelling allowances and expenses, will amount lo £30,000 per annum. While effecting this large economy in expenditure every care has been taken to see that the departmental administration and oversight are in no wise impaired. Is is intended, however, to take greater advantage of focal authorities in carrying out minor road works in future than has been the .•ae.e in the past as it is tlear thai small votes for local roads can be much more economically expended under the supervision of persons present in the locality than would be the cast if the work were controlled by officers in the principal centres. CONCLUSION. In conclusion, I have briefly detailed the work of the past year and given a brief forecast of opinions in hand and fne proposed current year. The gross total expenditure proposed during the current year is not quite" equal to last year's appropriation, but still it amounts to a very considerable sum, and the carrying out of the various ] works, provision for which 1 am sure will result in great good to our settlers by improving their mean? of transit and communication, besides' increasing the conveniences. With the large amount of settlement gong on throughout th? ( Dominion, particularly in the districts opened by the North Island Trunk railway, and the developments which are taking place in the districts that will be affected by tho North Tsland and East Coast Main Trunk railways, a vigorous public works policy is called for, and I trust that the proposals « whfch' I have outlined will be considered by the House and by the country to I be of a sufficient 1 and satisfactory character.

A B 0 D Case or Wobe Total to 1st Jan. Total to Y'r ended 31st Deo. '91,to31s[ 31st Mar. hist Mar 1890 Uar.'09 1909 1909 Biilw»ys— v & £ £ £ New Construction ... ... 11,975,098 7,004,866 18,979,964 751,496 Additions to of en lines 2,092,002 5,803,312 7,895,314 1545,023 ... 3,576,804 4,755,212 8,331,016 469,548 Public baildings 1,766,003 2,314,1] 5 4,090,118 285,521 Immigration ..., 2,144,386 57,402 2,201,788 15 077 Purchase of Native lands 1,191,137 846,710 2,037,847 ' 2.099 Lighthouses, harhor works, etc. 880,095 163,642 1,043,737 19,217 IWist and health resorts . ... 182,853 182,853 24.286 Telegraph extension 600,849 1,041,920 1.642,769 163,033 Development of goldfields 561,101 258,415 819,516 32.859 Defence works (general) > ... 429,720 469,214 898,934 10,766 Departmental ... 349,789 243,108 692,897 24,512 Pavm't Midl'd B'lw'ybondh'ders 150,000 150,000 Lands improvement ... 44.117 44,117 19,642 Uinor works and services ... 300,689 20,266 320,956 27 Cost & discount, raising loans, etc 1,021,472 214,745 1,236,217 575