PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1928, 10 August 1889, Page 1

PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT.

The following is the conclusion of our report ©f the Public Works Statement laid on the table of the House by the Minister for; Public Works, the Hon, ! E; Mitchelson, on Wednesday evening - Railways in Course op Construction and Proposed, including Addtitions to opened Lines. i Woodville-Palmerston.—He expected this important line to be opened for traffic by this time next year. The full, balance of loan allocation, £90,328, would be required to cover the total cost, and £75,000 would have to be voted to cover expenditure within current year, Wellington-Woodville.—This line is open for traffic from Eketahuna, 88 miles, leaving a gap of only 27 miles between (Wellington and Napier. Thi,s line should be finished as soon as possible, but the present loan allocation is practically exhausted. A vote of £12,500 would be proposed for expenditure during current year. I Blenheim-Awaters.— On the Blenheimjkwatere railway the formation without fridges is done to the end of the Dash|vood section, 8 miles from Blenheim, tt is now proposed to complete this distance IVith bridges and permanent way, and also p form and complete a further length of miles, which will : bring the line to a oonvenient stopping place at the south side of the Dashwood Pass, and from that point it is proposed to construct a dray road to the Awatere river. The balance of the existing loan allocation is £27,363, of which is proposed to be voted for expenditure within a year, Greymouth-Hokitika.— On the Grey-mouth-Hokitika railway during last.financial year the embankment.and protective works at the Arahura river .have been completed and. the Teremakau bridge has made good progress and is’now nearly finished. At the Hokitika end the 1 railway is completed with [permanent way from the Hokitika wharf to about[the fourth mile near the Arahura river, and between that point and the Kapitea creek, near the tenth mile, the forraatioii is nearly done, and the Arab lira river is bridged. At the Greymouth end the rails are, laid for 1£ miles, and .the, formation without bridges Ip partly done, to the Teremakau river, 7£ miles further, and tjhe bridge over tha Teremakau .is,, as before stated, nearly completed. The Government regrets that as so large a sum of money (close upon £100,0°0) has already been expanded on this line, it cannot be at once completed, but in view of the fact that it would cost quite £98,000 more to complete and equip it, whereas there was only £26,178 available under the allocation, it was evidently impossible for the Government to complete the work. After haying given the matter full consideration the Government decided to ask the Midland Railway Company if they would ba willing to take over this railway and complete it, equip, and work it, as a part of their undertakings in the colony. It was not probable, however, that the company would enter into this undertaking without a subsidy of some .kind, and the Government had determined upon not granting .any further endowments ef land to;any company. If a subsidy was given,, therefore, it would have to be in the shape of the works already done or somaof them. On the basis of these proposals the amount required for expenditure during currant year would be £15,000. Mount Somers—The branch line to Spriogburh, 4 miles, was new approaching completion, and it was proposed to ask for balance of loan allocation, £6386, for expenditure during current year. , Otago Central—On the Otago Central Railway the rails were laid from Chain Hills Junction to Bare wood Creek, 21 £ miles. The formatieo, . tunnels, and masonry of bridges were completed . to, a_ point 3 miles,beyond the Sutton, or 30 from the Chain JSills. The bridge superstructures were finished as far as the rails laid, and under contract tojtha Sutton at S 3 miles. The Government expected that the lino would be completed to Middlerkarch before Christmas, 1890. for the works already in- hand or still to be undertaken for. the completion of the,railway to Middlemarcb the snm of £61,473, being the balance of the existing loan allocation, would ndw require to be. authorised, and of this amount £40,000 would be required fo.be voted to aetoal expenditure within the oarrent yeai. The total cost of the Rue when completed would be upwards of £500,000. ; Gatlins River.—lt waa proposed to expend £BOOO on this line during the current year. i Riversdale-Swilzers. — No vole was asked for as the Government couldlnotaee their way lo provide sufficient to complete the line.

j Edendale-Fortrose.—The vote required fbr aetual expenditure in current year was £BOOO. Seaward Bush.—No vote waa asked for. Expenditure on railways last tear anb VOTES PROPOSED FOR CURRENT YEAR ON ACCOUNT OP PHB RAILWAYS IN CONSTRUCTION, AS A WHOLE, WITH LIABILITIES AT THE END OP MARCH, 1888, AMOUNTING TO £261,577-

The amount voted for expenditure during the year ending March last waa £406,900, and of this amount £272,077 was expended withia the year, as against this, with liabilities at ths end of March last amounting to £207,483. Votes for the current year amounting to £316,745 were asEed, leaving £669,557 available for expenditure in succeeding years. Of these amounts £31,000 is for expenditure on the North Island Trank Bailway, leaving £352,810 still available for the same, and £285,735 is for expenditure on all the other railways provided for under parts 1 and 2 of the fuad, leaving £816,747 still available for the same. TOTAL LENGTH OP RAILWAYS CONSTRUCTED ; AND IN PROGRESS. The total length of railways open for Itraffic on .the 31st March last was, in the North Island, 662 miles, and in the South Island, 1108 miles; total 1770 miles.

There Write also at ! that ditto 164 miles' of railway in course of oons(|actiooj of which 72 were in the North Isllud and 93 in the South. The total expenditure on railways, jnqhjding cost. of. ( provUoial: lines and phrohjise of djstrict rail ways up to the. 31st March last, was £14,738,772, and the liabilities On the March Were£207,484, making in all £l4 946,266'. ! Additions to 1 opened railways. The amount voted tor expenditure during last year was £65,000, !kod of this amount £4B, t 440 was We ask for a,yote of £40,000.' PuHiPtfhi Tramway. : Government had come to the conclusion that . steps should be taken to provide hricess to the PuhipHhi kaitri forrist by tramway, in order that it May be'utilised; 1 and a Bill for that purpose would ibe aid before Parliament •fmb'iite during the current session.: ... \ Roads and Bridges. « . r The roads on goldfields ,were in charge of the Minister of Mines. The length of roads and bridges constructed or improved out of the Public Works Fund last-year was: Dray roads—North Island, 192miles ; Middle Island; 74 miles ; , total 4 ray roads,. 266 miles.; Horse roads— North Island,, 96 miles; Middle island, 93 miles.; total horse rpads, 119 miles; grand Total of roads of all classes, 385 miles. Bridges—-North Island, 9 bridges, 383 feet; Middle Island, 4 bridges, 340 feet ; total bridges in both islands, 33, 722 fset. The tbtil length of roads con-: structrid,. and improved in the coleny generally, from the beginning of , tbq Public Works Policy up to the 31st March last approximately was as follows -Dray roads, 4860 miles; horse rpads, 4003 miles; total, 8863 miles. B’idgts, 804, 83,817 feet. For main roads the amount voted last year ::was £15,000, of . whlchi* £10,968 was expended. B’or the present; |rear, with liabilities at the end,.of March last - amounting to £7380, a yo.te fpr ( £14,003 was asked for. For miscellaneous roads and bridges the amount asked "for was, £27,112. , ! ; 1 - Grants in Aid, &i. , ■

! The progress paymenia claimed and. paid last year; in pursuance of grants of, bid standing, amounted to £872, .and fpr this year,about. £4OO would be required, for similar purposes under the Local Bodies Finance and Powers Act. tfqder t ' the heading of work for the unemployed the araourit" expended last yoar ' was £34,631, 1 mainly on .ro»d*construction4 For the current year, with l liabilities rimountiog to £2525, a vote of £BOOO was, asked, for, to be devoted as far as possible, to forming country roads ; the. work to ,be done by small contracts. For Toads to open up lands for Tale t the. expended'last' year Was £20,953. :ili Fbr Übe present yeai, with liabilities amounting to £25,434, a vote for £45,827 was asked for. Village Settlements. r f .. ; * The amount voted, for expenditure, la8t ( year. was £26,000,;". andT qf)( thisTTum £10,770" JVM expendeflT For the current year a vote for £19,173 was asked for.') : ' Roads on, QriLDFiELris.) T.. ~ ! For the present’ year,' with liabilities' amounting to 1 £25,168, a vote, of £30,000 was 1 required.< *■ " ' i • : • Expknjktu rb on ; Roads of- all Classeb.i; I For the current;ye,ar, with liabilities,at, the , end of, March,,.jast, anaquuting.jto , £126,958, a vote of £1x5,127 was asked, for. ; WaTERWORBS ON. GoLDFXJjhpp, , : : The. total, expenditure oa thiWclasa ef, works Tip to 31sV Marqh iaSt,' t had been. £509,996. For the criri eri't^daFa’uillib'ritJf 1 is asked for the balance of the allbcation (£929). ‘‘ ■, i Purchase of, NATirs LANDS.-iNoRFH m: i Island. : -V) ■ I In the North Island genially,-; the heading .pnjrcb^se.,of natjjre y lands Tn, the North Island, as distinct from puF chase out of The loan for the North Island Trunk Railway, the expenditure during’ (he year ending the 31st March last was £5089. , The area finally acquired during the same period was 37,000 acres. The balance available for.forther was; 6nly. £1509,,.but the Goyerßmept.proppsqd, to ask the House to ; authorise a further allocation of £IOO,OOO. If these proposals' wer® assentod tool Vigorous efforts w'ould be made te acquire land along the line oLoaf railway at both ends. The total expenditure on . land along the North Island! Trunk Railway, To .the 31st March last hail, therefore, been £118,776. Of this, amount £87,499 fuel been, paid for 630,283; acres, of which the purchases are com-, r plete, arid £31,277 has been paid ; on ac : count of further areas of which the purchases are as yet incomplete.

IMMIGRATION. I Immigration was now discontinued, except to a very limited extent in favour of Separated families. The liabilities and dompitments both in London in and the riolony at this date amounted to £2830. J'his included the coat of passages for 58| dults. It was proposed to take a further Vote of £IOOO for the passages of separated tamilies. Since the date of last Statement 250 persons had arrived under the ordinary Regulations, and 14 persons under the Regulations for the introduction of small farmers, which are now in force, j Telegraph Extension.

i In the extension of the telegraph system j ©f the colony a sum of £12,047 was expended during the last ’financial yoar, and it was estimated that a sum of £13,700 Would be required to carry out the proposals for the present year. | Public Buildings. \ In connection with public buildings the 6ew prison at Mount Eden, and the. new departmental buildings, Auckland, hod Risen well advanced, and the Whau lunatic asylum additions completed. The new prison works at Mount Criok had made good progress, and a new post office is in course of erection at Palmerston North. Jhe restoration and extension., of unnyside Asylum, partly destroyed by fire, -was being proceeded with. Minor buildings, votes for which were taken last j 4 ear, had been erected or were in progress in various parts of the colony. Liabilities at the 31st March, 1889, amounted to

'£23,454, and to covrir these and to provide ■for farther works daring the present year a.vote of £48,051 would be proposed. It (was intended to pursue i he policy indicated last year that the whole cost of public puildiings,including school buildings,should Da borne on the consol dated fund. |. Lighthouses. ■ •On lighthouses last year the amount) expended was £2504, and for the current year the amount asked for was £2930.' Th : s exhausts'the loan allocation, j ■ i Harbor Defences. | Dtiring the past year the'defence works had been carried on by convict labor. (Considerable progress had been made bn the established . lines of the , scheme of defence.. The Total expenditure on (bei works themselves Was £15.010, of, which amount £2240 payments on for, I and ti^ken lip the batteries in 1885 The rixperiuilrire i material,, was £35,980, upon wrilk 12,770, and upon land £2240, making in I a total of £50,090. Liabilities at'theLat March last were—£37ls on English aterial and £2400 on works, or a total 3115. These liabilities, with coatigencies, would pbaorb (he unspent dance of £6452 above arrived at. The tal expenditure on “harbor defences up !o 31 starch, 3889, bad been, in round lumbers, £642,000, of which £233,000 opreseoted the C9st of material of war iblained, froin England and £209,000 cost <j)t works in the cplony. ’ Of this latter ium about £32,000 had been paid for land, and the balance, £177,000, represented the cost, of forts, batteries, subiiaririe 'defences, steam launches, special sports,' supervision, and til charges. ' . Rates on Native Lands. .‘For rafriaon’ Native lands there was a alance due tb'the extent,of about 1 £IOOO in respect of the year ending'3lat March, 1888, and the estimated amount required for rates during the yoar endihg 31st March, 1889,' but riot yet paid, was j iJIOOOO. and for the year ending the 3lst March, 1890, a further £IO,OOO, making hi ail £21,000) A vote of £8595 u wns asked for, with reaovertes covering rates to 31st March; 1889. i Thermal" 'Springs. j >At Rotdrui the extensive alterations and improvements undertaken -in connection With'The bathing accommodation wore completed, and invalids from ;all parts of our own and .other colonies, and even Furope were attracted by the marvellous (efficiency of these baths. On the Thermal Springs generally the amount expended last ybar was £936, and for this year a vote for £2359 for the Rotorua Hospital was asked. Expenditure on Public Works of All

Classes. On account of public works of all classes, with liabilities at the end of March, 1889, amounting to £471,695, the amount voted for expenditure during the year ending March last was ■ £895,807, and of this amount £633,365 had been expended. ’Of tha airidunt thus expended £104,911 rvasTpr costs, "charges and discounts .contingent on Taisitig f : the loans, j leaving £528,454 as fepfeseptiug The expenditure ion: pt her works and services. Apportion* iing this tofij ta several parts of the public works fund,'il'ahows ' , , ! Part ! af tha beginning bf (the year, £205,323’; Voted for expenditure,, £404,555; actually expended, £269,016. T ! ■ Part 1 2 Liabilitiea at the beginning of ItJ»0 y*ar, £75,91)4; vofed for exp-ndil.ure, ; actually expended, £B6; 188. | Pact B—Liabilities at the beginning of The year, £190,468 ; voted for expenditure, (£355,541; abtually expended, £278,166. a | As compared with the total expenditure ihst-yeaFit-may ¥e interesting to mention the total for a few years previous, which :are in round numbers (exclusive of the

; The Public Works Fund as a Whole. Taking the public works fund as a whole, there was available at 31st March last the, aurn,of £1,445,670, and,as against this, witF liabilities at’ The end of March’ amounting in all to £368,639, it; was proposed to .expepd. during the present year, the sum of £574,161, leaving £371,509 ‘available for appropriation 1 in succeridirri* (years as, explained in: last Public Works Statement. .The actual , expenditure, ihowever, which would be brought to book during the current year would not probably exceed f £445,000, leaving ' about £1,000,000 for expenditure in succeeding years. : . i x ;

ipurchase of district railways) for 188384 ... £1,409,000 1884-85 ... .., 1,336,000 1885-86 ... 1,287,000 1886-87 1,167.000 1887-88 966,000 1888*89 ... ... ... 633,000