PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT, 1890,

Temuka Leader, Issue 2078, 29 July 1890, Page 3

PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT, 1890,

The Bon. the Minister for Public Works delivered his usual statement in the House of Representatives on Friday evening, of which the following is a synopsis. PUBLIC WOBKS POND.

The amount standing to the credit of the Public Vv orks Fund in the Treasurer a books on the 31st March last was £959,492, but there is a further sum of £87,974 due to part 1 for advances under the Government Loans to Local Bodies Act. The debentures of the local bodies are negotiable at any time, so the amount to the credit of the Public Works Fund is really £1,047,466. Against this there are outstanding liabilities to the amount of £314,933, which leaves a balance of £732,533. The Public Works Fund has been divided* into three parts. Part 1 w comprises . miscellaneous items of ex- ’ penditure chargeable to loan,; Part 2 deals with the North Island Main Trunk Railway ; and Part 3 with railway works generally. The amounts to the credit of each of these are as follows :

§•§ O’S S S a, a g . « §T.o 5 S m a « o • ®gj § r-fe® J) r~i OO °»3H c!MH © tS • J 2; Parti. £233,675 £114.309 £119,366 Part 2. £386,985 £9,694 £377,291 Part 3. £426.806 £190,930 £235,876

Totals £1,047,466 £314,933 £732,533 Expenditure on Public Works.—The expenditure during the past year has been on Part 1, £167,513 ; on Part 2. £48,832 ; and on Part 3 (exclusive of credits on account of previous years), £194,885; making a total of £410,730. The amount voted for actual expenditure was £635,721. The additional authorisation for further liabilities amounted to £280,816, so the Government had altogether £916,537 • at its disposal for expenditure and commitments. The expenditure and liabilities amounted to £725,663, so here we are within our authorities to the extent of £190.874. The annual expenditure for the last seven years has decreased steadily from £1,419,000 in 1883 4 to £410,700 in 1889-90. Our power of production is increasing; at an extraordinary rate, and the unemployed,” who iu 1886 numbered -1800, have ceased as a body to exist. Including the purchase of Provincial and District the total expenditure to the i 31st March, 1890, on works and services throughout the colony, chargeable to loan, was £27,774,93#, the principal items being Railways, £15,028,353 ; roads, ,£3,552,999 ; water-races, £510,280 ; telelighthouses and harbor works and harbor defence, £879,152; immigration, £2,143,327 ; purchase of native lands, £1,158,554; cost of raising loans, £1 ,#21,472; defence, £427,719; and departmental, £341,905. The ; of ordinary roads, telegraphs, public buildings, lighthouses, and other less important works, hitherto charged to loan, must in future be charged to the Consolidated, Fund. The following is an absiract of the state of the Public Works Fund on (be 31st. March last, and an estimate of what it will be on the 31st March next: —■ Cash balances on Slat March, 1890: Part 1, £233,675 ; Part 2, £386,985 ; Part 3, £426,806 ; total. £1,047,466. Amount proposed for, actual expenditure during 1890-91 : Part 1, £184,284 ; Part 2. £108,800; Part 3, £230,888; total, £530.972. Estimated cash balances on 31st March, 3891. nva’lable for expenditure after that date : Part 1, £49,391; Part 2, £278,185 ; Parts, £195,918 ; total, £523,494. Caab balances on 31*1 March, 1890: Part 1. £233,675; Part 2, £386,985; Part 3, £426,806 ; total, £1,047,466, Total appropriation proposed for expenditure during 1890-91, and -to cover liabilities at the end of the year :. Part 1, , £242,275; Port 2, £191,544; .’Part 8, £310,719; total, £744,538. Estimatrd balance on 31et March, 1891, available for future appropriation ; Part 1, (Dr.), £81,600; Part 2, £195,441; Part 3, £118,087; total, £302,928. It will.be observed from the above table that'Part 1 of tbe fund will ap< .patently be overdrawn at the end of the year to the extent of £B6OO, but tbe credits that will come to account during the year under “ The Ellesmere Lake Lands Act, 1888," will, it is estimated, flioro-than cover the apparent deficiency.; - Working railways—lncluding tfce district Tines purchasethere were 1813 miles of Government railways in operation throughout the colony on the 31st Marcji, last, 684 miles in the No-th Island, and 1129 miles in the South Island. Fortythree m»les have been opened during the yuar. The total expenditure on railways, including provincial and dis*r ot linos, has : been £15,028.353, but of this £774,214 was for sections under construction, and £203,404 for surveys of new lines, permanent w«y, materials in stock, and minor 1 changes. The balance of £14,050,735 gives £7750 as the average - cost per mile of the NewZj«laod railways made and (quipped. The Railway Commissioners return the cost of the open lines at £13,899.955, which is £150,780 lees than the amount just given. The r port of the Railway Commissioners ebowa that during the past year the earnings have been £1,095,569, and the working expenses £682,787, showing a profit of £412 782, which is equal to £2 19a 5J per cent on £13,999.955, the total cost of tliH open lines ; but if we examine return No. G attached to the Commissioners’ report, a still m rre gratifying sta'e of affiira is disclosed. Out of tbe total of 1813 m les, 1193 mi es show a return of over 3| per cent on the coat of £8 888,733, and of these again 124 miles

pay over 4 per cent on £1,882,798. Among the longer lines the best paying is the Napior-Woodvilie section, 97 miles, which returns £5 4s 3d per cent; then the Hurunui-Bluff section, 1069, miles, with £3 10s 9d per cent. The passengers have increased from 3,132,863 to 3,376,459, and goods from 1,920,431 t0n5102,073,955 tons, The three more important district railway lines—Rakaia-Ash burton Forks, DuntroonHakateramea, and Waimea Plains—are now returning a considerate surplus ovar working expenses, and in the c-ise of the Waimea PI j as lines the surp'ns last year was equal to £3 16s 4i per ceot. on the cost of the railway to the Government. The increase in the traffic last year is to a considerable extent due to the Exhibition at Dunedin. The Railway Commissioners have applied for £54,000 for necessary works on open lines during the year. As the balance on the loan a location for this class ef work was only £12,928, we have been unable to see our way to propose a vote for more than that sum. RAILWAYS UNDER CONSTRUCTION. Helensville northwards—Contract for three miles, including a tunnel 627 yards long, was let in March last, and a contract for a wharf at Mount Rix. After providing for all liabilities, the balance on the allocation for this railway is £21,042. It is proposed to let a contract for the Tahekeroa section during the year. Grahamstow r, Te Aroha—lt is not in. tended this year to pat any now works in hand.

Pntaruru-Rotorua—A contract bringing the lino to a point 12 miles from the Rotorua township was Ut in February. North Island Trunk Railway—With the exception of the Porotaroa Tunnel, the works on the North Island Trunk Railway are at present at a stundsli 1, the Waitati section having been handed over to the Railway Commissioners in May last. The tunnel is just approaching completion. The cash balance of the North Island Trunk Railway Fund on the Slat March last was £386,985, against which there were liabilities to the amount of £9694. There is also a further sura of £97,744 set apart for the purchase of native lands under North Island Main Trunk Loan Application Acts. The balance at our disposal for for fresh undertakings is £279,547. It is proposed to devote a further sum of £40,056 for constructing roads to and through the native lands recently purchased. This leaves £239,491 at present available for the extension of the railway. The total expenditure on land along the North Island railway, to the Slat March last, has been £122,541. Of this amount £89,247 has been paid for 630,283 acres, of which purchases are complete, and £33,294 on account of blocks under negotiation. It is proposed this year to proceed with’the section of the railway between Rangitira and Mokohine, 5| miles. There is a considerable extent of good land and valuable totara forest around Mokohine, consequently it would under any circumstances be desirable to continue the railway te this point. The surveys are in anything bat a complete state, and it is proposed to continue the surve) this year. It is intended to carry out a complete system of roads in connection with the North Island Trunk Railway, particulars of which will be given further on. . '

Woodrille-Palmerston.—This line ought to have been pushed, but the original contractors got into difficulties, and a fresh contract had to be let. Tt is confidently expected that the whole line will be finished about November next. Owing Lo the treacherous nature of the ground in the Manawatu Gorge, it is necessary to supplement the funds by about £70,000. The completion of the WoodvillePalmerston section will establish through railway communication between Napier and the West Coast and Wel'ington.

Wellington-Wnodville.—The Welling-ton-Woodville railway was opened at Ekfetahuna at the beginning of the financial year; £16,000 additional will be required for this line. Blenheim-A watere. —A contract has been let on the Blenbeim-Awatere railway for 2f miles of heavy formation. The works done have not cost so much as expected, and it was a question whether funds available should not be naed in extending the line from the Da hwood Pass lo Awatere River.

Westport-Ngakawan,—lt is proposed to extend the Westpcr'-Ngakawau line to the Mohikinui River, 7 miles, taking the costout of the funds allocated to the Westport Haibpr. Grey mouth-Hokitika,—-The principal work in progrets was the Teremakau bridge, and it was comp'eted early in tire year. No other contract lias been let, pending the issue of the negotiations with the Midland Railway Company for its completion. Mount Somers Branch,—Tbe extension to Springburn has been completed. Otago Central.—Tbe first section of tbe Otago Central Railway from Chain Hills to Hindoo, 17 miles, was handed over to the Railway Commissioners, and opened for traffic in October, 1889. The mils are laid to the 29th mile, and tbe formation is complete right np to M'ddlemarch at the 4#:h mile, that is 48 miles from Dunedin, it is expected that the line wll be opened to M'ddleipnch before Christmas,

Gatlin’s River, —It is proposed to extend tbe lipe through the saddle tj the Owake side, whsch:w} I absorb afi the available funds. A contract for miles is bqw in progress, Edendale-Fortrope.-swThe section of tbe line, between Wyndham and Gleohom-road crossing has been finished, aad opened for traffic.

Midland Railway.—Although not a Government Jins, it is advisable that this Statement should show the position of the Midland Railway woyks, Qo the West Coast-Nelson line section, between Brunoer and Ngahere, § miles, has been opened for traffic, and the remainder of the distance ioßeefton,lß miles, is under construction, and progressing favorably. On the East and West Coast line the section between Stillwater Junction and Kiarnate is completed, and a further section of miles is in progress. A contract fias fieeii entered into for 6 miles qt the Springfield end, Tfie M|dlanfi Qo.mpaqy haye applied for perqfi Sß ' o D t 0 divert the line from the west tp the east side of th« Lake Brunner. It has been arranged to refer the matter to Parliament, The company have also applied for permission to subr stitute a rack railway on the Abt system for on ordinary loeomo'ive line over the •Spooner llnnga at the Nelson eqd, but the Government did not see its way to agree to recommend the House to grant the request. Greymoulh-Puint iSliz.beth. —A railway from Greymoutb to tue coalfields near

Point Elisabeth, a distance of 6 miles, is Oting constructed under the District Railways Act, This line will open up a very extensive coalfield. harboks. Greyraoutb.—The whole of Sir John Goode’s first instalment, which is all that was estimated for, is practica ly complete, The works .consist mainly of two breakwaters carried about 1700 feet into the ?ea to confine the river and direct it square on to the bar, with in'ernal walls to guide the river down to the breakwaters. The expenditure on the Grey ; hoibor daring the year ending the 31st December last was £19,130, and the expenditure since the passing of the Act io 1884 was £165.000. Prior to that the Government had expended £127,000 on wharves, river walls, and a section of the ruth breakwater. The total cost had therefore been £292.000. The vorks have so far been perfectly successful, The output of coal for the three years ending'December, 1889, has averaged 162,840 tons, an increase of 133,000 tons per annum. ... Westport.—The general plan of the Westport Harbor Works is much (ho same as that for Greymouth, but on a larger scale. 3930 feet of the Western breakwater have been completed out of a total of 4200 feet, and 3960 feet of the eastern one out of a total of 4735 feet. The total expenditure on the works has been about £300,000, of which £15,000 was expended before the works passed into the hands of the board, £173,000 by the board, and £112,0000 since the Government resumed control. The works promise to be a complete success, the water on the bar having been deepened by several feet. The last three years the annual output of the mines has averaged 137,920 toes.

SPECIAL WORKS,

The principal road-bridge works in progress during the year have been the Lyeil, Mokohinui, and Teremaknu bridges, and alterations and repairs to the Rabaia Gorge bridge, all of which are either completed or well advanced. Exploration surveys hayo been made for a road to Milford Sound. Roads north of Auckland.—A small vote of £4SB was taken last year, out of which certain repairs have been executed at a coat of £267, and a liability of £2Ol still exists. main roads. The amount voted last year was L14,©00. Of this amount L 12.799 was spent, and liabilities incurred to the amount of L 2588 in addition. It is proposed to ask for a vote of L 12,639 for this year to cover these liabilities and the curreot year’s expenditure on a reduced scale. The jjoan fund for main roads will be expended at the end of March next.

MISCELLANEOUS ROADS AND BRIDGES. Under this heading a sum of L 28.912 was voted last session, of which L 19,998 has been expended, and liabilities incurred to the further amount of L 10,015. For the current year ws sh»ll ask for a vote 0fL17,096 to cover liabilities and to aid in continuing some of the works. GRANTS IN AID. The transactions under the Roads and Bridges Construction Act during the past year were limited to the payment of a sum of L 227 in respect of outstanding grants, the liabilities under the Act on the 31st March last amounting to L 273. During the year Llß7l was spent out of the LBOOO vo ed for work for the unemployed. It is proposed to ask for L2OOO to this year to provide for further work of this kind should the necessity aiise. ROADS TO OPEN UP CRBWN LANDS BEFORE SiLE. For these purposes Parliament voted last year L 47.502, out of which L 28.160 was spent, and liabilities incurred amounting to L 18.696 in addition. To cover these liabilities and provide for the extension of works in hand and others necessary to facilitate the settlement of Crown lands we shall »sk for a total authorisation of L 42,370, of which L 35,000 is proposed to be expended duriog the current year. VILLAGE SETTLEMENTS. Last year the sum voted under the head of Village Settlements for actual expenditure being L 48.177, the expenditure has only amended to L 7347. It is estimated that L 8032 will be sufficient to meet the requirements of the current year. A further sum of L 21,881 will be probably sufficient to cover the liabities under the arrangements made with the village settlers.

ROADS TO GIVE ACCESS TO THE MARTONTEAWUMUTU RAILWAY.

Under this heading a sum of L 1692 was voted last year for three items, and of this amount L 248 was expended during the year and liabilities incurred amounting to L 666. JWe shall ask this year for a further allocation of L 46,056 foe these road works, some of which have been partially made. L 51,500 will bo expended during the year. ROADS ON GOLDFIELD

The expenditure on rqqda and tracks on goldfields last year amounted la £l3 290, and on the gist March last the liabilities amounted to £16,524. For the present year we ask for a total authorisation of £27,000 to coyer the existing liabilities and to QQmplete roads, This will absorb the balance of loan allocation.

FURLIC RDILDINqa,

Th© amount voted lor public buildings out of loan last year was L 48.351, of which L 35.473 was expended, and liabili ties existed at the end of the year to the amount of L 10,086 iu addition. Out of the Consolidated Fund 134)072 was also voted for public buildings and domains, and L2g,QOQ for school buildings, the expenditure being L 32.182 and 124,434 respectively, while liabilities existed at the end of the year to the amount of 1 3976 and LlOfU, in addition. The total votes from both funds last year was 1107.426, and the total expenditure L 92.089. The i»ore important works proposed to be proceeded with this year, for which provision has been inad<s on the Estimates are ss fallows ; -Out of Loan Fund, a qew lunatic asylum at Porirua, apd further works at ihe asylums at Suucyside and Sencliff, and at the gaols in Auckland and Wellington. Out of the Consolidated Fund 140,000 is provided for school buildings ; also L2OOO for Native schools, and 18000 for an institution for deaf routes. HAKJtOE PEFKNOE. The amount voted ont of the loan fund last yesr for works of this class was L 6552, hot the expenditure has amounted to L 7293. A considerable saving has, however, been made on the vote out of Contolidated Fund for this class of works, the amount voted having been 110,000, and the expenditure L 8459 only. The liabilities existing on the 31st March last were

LIBSO, upon material of war from England and £lslß upon works in the colony. The total expenditure on harbor defence to the end of last financial year has been in round numbers L 458,000, of which L 238.000 represents the cost of material from England, and L 220.000 the cost of woiks in the colony. The coat of the works proposed this year, completion of armament- of batteries, is estimated at LIS,OOO. MISCELLANEOUS CHARGES ON LOAN FUNDS. Purchase of Native Lauds ihe oital amount available for this purpose binder Part lof this fund was L 29,681. Of this amount L 24.429 has been expended during the late financial year, leaving a balance of L 6252 available. The transactions include the purchase of the Pukeroa Whata (Rotorua Townahip) block. The total area, of which the purchase was completed during the year, is oo,eOU acres. On Part 2of the fund (tor expenditure within the railway area) there was available L 101,509, and of this amount £3765 was expended during the year. KATES ON NATIVE LANDS. The amount voted last year to cover claims for rates on Native lands for the year ended 31st March, 1889,, was L 8595, the amount expended being L 5874. ihe sum of £6OOO will require to be authorised this year. After the rates for 1889-JO have been paid no further sums will be payable, the Act having been repealed.

IMMIGRATION.

Immigration is still restricted to exceptional cases of separated families. Eightytwo immigrants were introduced during the year, the total cost of their passages being L 1035, of which amount LSGO was paid by the nominators in the colony and LBS by the immigrants themselves In London. Since the Ist May last 24 persons have been provided with passages, and the number of nominations now on tho books of the Department is 133, The expenditure during the year was L 867, leaving a balance available on the 31st March last of L 2963, against which there are liabililiea to the extent of £2200. WATERWORKS ON GOLDFIELDS. L 284 was expended during the year, leaving a balance available at the end of the year of L 645, with liabilities to the extent of L 241. LIGHTHOUSES, Cuvier Island Lighthouse has been completed. The total cost of lighthouseanJ appurtenances was L 7407. A lighthouse is proposed to be erected on Stephen’s Island, and a vote of L 3500 as a first instalment has been placed on this year’s estimates. The total cost of the work is estimated at LBOOO. TELEORAFH EXTENSION. The expenditure on account of telegraph construction, and for the extension of the telephone exchanges in the colony, amounted to £16,346, and of this sum an amount of L 3785 was expended on the telephone exchange, making their capital cost at the close of the year L 63,466, including the value of the material in hand. CONCLUSION. In concluaion I would again direct the attention of hon, members to the necessity of realising our position when borrowing ceased. Many of the works hitherto paid for out of loan must come out of the Consolidated fund, and the question will be a very difficult one to solve. The expenditure under each head for the last seven years has been

Showing an average annual expenditure on works of the classes named of L 421.496. Add to this L 85.647, the everage expendture for works on open lines for the same period, and we have a total average annual expenditure of L 507,143. In future expenditure for additions to rolling stock, &c,, will have to come out of ordinary revenue. The General and Provincial Governments have from first to last expended between L 3,000,000 and L 4,000,000 on public buildings throughout the colony, exclusive of those on railways, and they are now valued by the Property Tax Department at L 2,250,000. The amount expended oo the maintenance of these buildings has for the last seven years averaged £22,500, but it will be necessary to greatly increase the expenditure. These facts and figures show that a cessation of borrowing will augment the charges on the Consolidated Fund to a considerable extent. The speaker concluded by advocating the adoption of a self-reliant policy. The usual departmental tables and report accompany this statement.

Class of Works. 1883 84. 1884-85, 1885-86 1886-87. 1 1 1887-88, 1888-89. 1889-90. Total for Seven Years. Average per Annum. Roads (other than £ £ £ £ ;£ £ £ £ £ roads to open up Crown lands) ... 24.401 267,729 27,410 221,460 15,V*03 84,486 55,966 1,305,793 186.542 Public buildings ... 164,376 117,361 86,859 89,598 90,5l29 34,502 35,473 638,788 88,308 Telegraph extension. 19 532 25,799 36,010 18,952 22,98. 4 12,047 16,346 151,670 21,667 Immigration 107,041 57.148 11,675 12,454 15,859' 8,791 867 213,574 31,511 Harbor defences ... 7,292 9,601 127,167 139,429 73,450 50,089 7,293 414,251 59,179 Other items 52,917 32,461 40,840 70,290 21,916 20,256 7,710 246,390 35,199 Totals 595,090 510,099 557,666 552,183 382,517 iU0,261 123,655 2,950,466 421,496