PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2975, 28 August 1878, Page 2

PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT.

" [By Teleghuph.]

n „ Wellingtons Tuesday. 0 TheJHpn. Mr Macirfdrew lommeLed the delivery of his Public Works Statement, : |hi£ ? evening \hyp alluding to ] the changes he had made in the organisation^ of the department in placing the wording of the railway! under the management of a Commissioner for each island, asj recommended by the Bail way Committee of last session.. The other, principal recommendation of that committeeßrelatinij to *he leasing of one ' of the' Auckland li acs, bad not been acted on, and' requ rea s .gray* consideration. > Iri the meantime he was'tnuch in favor of the State retaining hands.-'^il^yiV^lceW' 1 fUXt shortly than ; railiray, ts\ffiag 2 £lthottgh< the'-'return j/i 'fynl 'o&er^r tw£ J£mall line*/ ■k»ye;n^;pAia : .^tong expenses,,; yet taey wjjl on,,the .whole, be regarded,as satisVf factory.:,,;,. ;U ,:V,;; ■«:>, . ; :.!^«-n)3. ' !■ '... XHB WOBKINO Ei.ILWA.TB, JCIDDLE ISLAND. ; 741 miles: were now open,: of which $4 miles; were opened during the past ypari' The net balance pf receipts over ezpetidiff ture available for-the payment of interest was £145y346, against £118,000 for j%., previous year,' showing a percentage 'pro,, the whole outlay r'for the 'feonsteutjtion of, 2"655. a riot'unfavorable 'r^Suft, seeing some of the lines included in t^e outlay have only | been opened recently, kn4 } ; others are still\ unfinished.,., total number of passengers was 1,15&»147. The working expenditure on the Dunedin section: had been, heavy,rowing to £30 per mile haying to be spent: on new rails and fastenings. The working ■■ expense* on the Christchurch section^ had been considerably reduced.' It was not intended to create a sinking fund for wear and tear, but change repairs as seeded | to current working expenditure. 1 The earn* ingsll per mile hat 1 fojeen,!! CMstchutcjv section, £764 10s 7d per mile pec annum'fjDknedin s»btipn;'^ijP7l l9s|d,,stto; and' Inverc^i^e^(m^33J.^a;.id^; : ditto. I ,r.,, '■■^^^'BAJ^W^LYfi|— NQBTp,' ji^LANli.^,,. !, Jtlli'miji^s for trafifo of which 99 were constructed during t,he .pastydar; The net balance of receipts over expendk ture, available] for payment of interest*' was £18*656, against £1,356 for the previous year; showing a percentage on the; whole outlay fdr Ihe construction of fifteen shiUjngsA 3?he; total number of passengers was 313,728. I ■''"' EAILWAYS TXNDEB COITSXK|rpTI6ir» '■ "'<! . The rednctiM'ih the>heaa 3office~silaries by substitution of an engineer-in-charge for each Island, instead of an engineer-in--chief, and other changes, would amount to £3000. The change is likely to work well, and be beneficial to the service. It had been alleged that the changes by which the construction |qf the: public and the working j M railways itfeacHlslai^, hiad-:been plaqeff under distinct heads was the forerunner of some deep and sinister design on this ? part of ■ some person ot ipersoiiß, and iti was studiously intended nto leadkup; tb the political separation ot the two Island^. l.Hef/rie«Jd scarcelyM»y 'tha# sufch nai !BUE'mise was absolutiely withoutvrfoandation. One of those,changes,.at least, had'be|en the result ■'•of careful inquiry by a committee of' the Houle; arid,- ih'ib far as ihe 'was concerned,' both 1 had'been made solely and simply with a view to the more efficient and economical administration,' altogether' irrespective of the political opinion which -he had long held as to what would have been the best and most, suitable! 'fottribf 'gbVirnment for New Zealand.- He would even' '^fo further, and !sayl that,'in 'hill 1 opinion, it would have been well for the Cotoiyito hafe!'i• hid■-•»'-two 1» M;irii«e> *!fi* ijPublic "Works—one for each Island—both bei^g members of the Cabinet, with seats iin and responsible to the House. He ventured to think that had- such been .the cake there would have" been much' (ftore to,show for. .our," money-. than^ rthere now was/ TBere must; be inourre'd to complete -ther; portions) ( ofx(raywayj already authorised £958,000 to complete 425 miles in the North Islandr and £1,087,000 to complete 874 miles in the Middle Island. Out of a total expenditure of £2^045,000 requiredfor this purpose, it is proposed to spend this 'Tear £1,176,500. ' ■•>■■.-■> / ? ...'-.'-vfTi,Tijffij. ' -THB FtTTTBB IfOETH :>iin^Vvi&tmM§, It is proposed to fill up the gaps in fthe ;Nbrth Island systemi as follows;—' " '' ( W^llingtoia to:-Fbada^';^ l^nla^iup t .61 mijes"!..',' *-' •' ':;U v!i -■'. %'^ "'':, ,'?.',<!°':" I '*':'. WwtotaTa'.E^r^tJpper" .PWea'Cro.ssing, 51 miles, v ;'■■y::?.', ; :: r v^'iv' ■]' i - iI X \ Te Awamutu (Waikato)' to Inglewood ;(Taranaki), 125 miles. , , -„1 " ; This will complete an unbroken 'line from Wellington toy Auckland of -476 miles. ■ ..:■•'•■ ,<■- ■; ■'. ■ : '■'-/'■■■■ ■:■.<•,}■>-? \ Masterton to Woodyille, 50 milesi - . Woodville to Papatu, 40 • miles. This will :establish an unbroken communicacation from Wellington to Napier by |a line of 220 miles. aiw ,; h.A ; :->l,-/' : ■ yf^iKkTO ;TO::*HB'THAMESr J.y' ( . ! ; 30 miles. Branch line to Hamilton, 2^''miles.' 1'" "'::: '"■'.' ""U^-.-".'X'^u- 1 > , HelensvilletoKaukapakapa Kiver, 2| .mijes. '■'"" ' " .- """■' ' "■ ■ ;i:,. : , ; ;:i^i j . Except as regards the line from Waikato to the Thames, there are no actual surveys, and the following cost is estimated on the basis of a mileage rate :— Wellington to Fdxtori, £440,000;' Waitoitara Biver to Upper Patea crossing, £357,000; Te Awamutu ; t6 Ingle^opdi £1,115,000; Masterton to Papatu, via Woodville, £630,000; Waikato tb Thames;, £168,000;- branch line to Hamilton, £10,000; Helensville to Kaukapakapa Eiver, £25,000 ; Wangarei to Eaimd (H miles), £30,000.—Total, £1,775,000; or a total, including the amount required to complete the lines already authorised, of £3,773,000. ' . ■..-./ro.v.;,^: „-«.--.) The Hon. J. Macandrew continued as follows :-r aThe construction of the line through the Waikato, country,.estimated^ as I have'said, to cost £1,115,000/ will, if; is hoped, be fully warranted by the acquisition of considerable areas of land suitable for settlement. ,1 understand that the line will run through some of the

finest land in New Zealand, and from 'what''has passed between the Hon. the Pr,emier T the Hon. the Native Minister, and 1 the natives concerned, good reason to hope that the acquisition of the necessary lanH will be successfully no-' gotiated. If those natives have a just conception of the vast revenue which will accrue to them after parting 'with sufficient land, whereby to construct this railway, they will not hesitate for a moment to enter heartily into a transac-■tion^hioh^is^lWtttfd'te-in'creas^Kervaluß'' 1 of the land which will be left to them very manifold. Moreover, they may earn a large amount of money by devoting their labour to the construction of the line, and, thereisigopdcreftaonito believe jthat, large numbers of them will gladly aoicept the useful ..employment which, the, icon>!s«uction^ol?:this 4in« will''afloraj v The construction! f£;ritto t 3i!^ellingtoir and Foxt©^ wjjll.Qtorr some extent" be contingent upon the' acquisition of land from tGe "native owners. In odds{ < mm an^a of » ( JO/H)O ..icW* ;of:>rnor! land, 180,000.acres of which hare been «uV^r InVg^i!i6¥lor <>sbWW, theiline will render aVAilible for settlement ICOiOOO acres,-How' in the hands 6fthPOfWn, andthere can be tto'doubt that, taitenWg^the^ these lands; *ill ultimately ;,realiso »»> amount wHich 1 will go far towards 1 cpver'A' 1 of opiniq^.4mojigst hon. members!with /Q (|ij|£line; {k^li yield by enabling the country betweeir Wellington and^rqxton tobe,,Den)eficially occiipie^diMt'is' eitrem'elj'ie^rkW^ it '.h'oulii W aWe'as'imrt'of thW m«in truiit ilifl^wh^hSist^cbAectSW^ffingtonVith Auckland. If the two great centres? Wellin^tMahdAtwklaDl!, are to bejffil; ciently connected by railway, this Welj wejUJhatiwe^s^p^JdAOcepttheuCQii^udion 3 tb«^hjß!j^snjßoiK>jyJ|f sjtp fee^adenanli if <fo,;I tttin^-.theisP^rjyiawfniijandjpaople irill tagceefiwith me thafcthe iioonar-oit-is :dbne the b«tteriit Willihe/for,..tke.i countrjri J It witl be^seeh(from o»e:bf',tbiiappendices to thii Btaten»tit!that during the redess the question of the bett route ftom' Waii! /lington t6 Eoxlon has pooupied -tl» mlfen-, tion. of (the Public Department, and ; <if thisf'Hon. fgentlemeA may r;s^ assured thatrassdming the Government should be;enabled^undertake the wolrk, itwill riot be commenced 1 unSl there. h&* b&n'a.furt^ tigationas'tothelbest route tobeadbpted. embraceirone maj£ line p^qcjmipunicat ion [and, and, |l|e Thbpes; aod ,anp^her on i ;h*< .B^>i!^st[.jEtan>i,iWe.lUQgto^ To niak^^the'system complete/dturieftiaim' . but. tor establish • a connection bstwien;. : these tw.ojaaain lines by meanspfa shbrt (link .lofr 12nmiles ( between ißunnythoipe and Woodville. : This would place Napier; ind> nearly all,fche East Obast country in communication; «dt>merely«with':'Wbl--lmgton, but afsd With' ManaWattti 1 Winr ganui, Ne^(!'PMm6^tfe'?%^a h!JKu«kland. Fi I'l h* probable cortfof thif^iikr'W&ld be. £119;Ot3i:ana ffiift m BT'liftfe "d6i ibt Auckland, it will b^;seen. 1 by, ) the|propjjß Is that if the station can be advantageously ' selecteti. railway com-, mufaitfatitin. ior f a^diltaffeF of ;i/4¥ miles« #ill (f'e^ineeti! ift& T6i# 'witk^e'£^at Kaipara estuary, at a point accessible to vessels of-ordinary- tonnage; —The sh< »rlk> line from Wangarei to.Kamo, opening tpi* as it will dp, the important mineral ai 4" agricujturalrejKrarpes pfltl AtMistrict, wklf; 1 come in as a portion A afjtb c Main Noith line, wliich) ifiJJi when con pleted, epnn< ct Auckland with the Bay of {jhlaj|djjV c' /■fl!O/jrlM>tB;I*LiMfii Railways. . ' •Now, as to the Middle Island, tie works «i^pßp^seW^':!!fttture < are :- .Otegoi (c«ntral)—Dunedin to AlWeWbw n, J Lske-WnndEi; HtJOntnffe^riei7in;oop: Amberley to— Brunnertonj— H<) • do, £950,000; Greymouth to Hokitika, &6 do, £220,000; Canterbury (interior) — tension, 20 do, JBrLu^XX); Tapanui exte asion to Heriot—Burn, 10 do, £40,00 3; Fortrose to Edendale, 26 do, £110,00); QtftUto to; Nightca^/'ilßf'do; £75,00 V; Clutha to Catlin's River, 18 df,t£95,00); Waimea to Bwitaer», p!6 do, £70,W ); Lumsden to Mararoa, 35 do, £180,00); Shag Valley branch line, rd do, 1 £35,00)'; Tapanui to Heriot Burn, 10| do, £40,00); Wair^ka b^hch lL#irtgirtoh', 16 dit o, £105,000; making a total length,of proposed railways for the Middhrlsland of 576^ miles, at a total cost of £3,565,0C0. Adding to this an amount of £1,087,0C0, already authorised and opened for traf ie in the Middle Island, we shall have a regards tne Otago central, hon. membe -s c las^isessio i, both by resolution and by Act, affirmed^ tb^^.ffl!sM9^M^.n4 tk* QJJwteStratl iTaieri to Clyde should be proceeded with, and theTlouse also passed a wroJS^oiia^riliiis»iwW»' -which 396,000 acres of Crown lands have; been reserve*^ .fwm^taJeit with the s view of devoting the proceeds, wheh they are sold^torthe construction of this portion of the line.' It is now propose 1 to extend the line from Clyde to Lake Wanaka, a distance of 60 miles, for som s 50;milef of; jwhi©^ijhe.joup,t3rjr/isi fs level* as a bowling green,-the whole of it bein j in the hands of the CrflWn, and available for settlement. My o Relief is fr tha.t m) other of' the' line! now'proposed will; pro - mote settlement, and, increase the ductive power of theVcplbnyi to tjie sam j • «not^s t w^t^u)tjth^me/p|^mj[ ! ,^xien f ded t tp. Ho;kitika >r^4the,,i Haait r g a«a, hTJie length , r ojf c ! thatj.ftxtensip^nfronv,)Alber; Town, the now contemplated termination of the line, •is only; 190 uniles;'and tho highest point of -the- rafage: to be crossed is only 1700 feet, as against-5000 feet: ill the next line we^prop^se rundertate[ namely,! that 1 from Ainbbrley to Brunher• tbn^' a diitSiice of 110 niilei; ' A'ttho^b!it "does'('npt;;appear, ifiait^'th'w jAiWbefl|yi Brunnertoh lirie," 1 in';p^bpsrub"n vs to rf^ts length and cost of CAnßtruction, will open up a very large extent of country, suit] able for settlement^ yet the i aria of such land that will be opened up is, by no means inconsiderable, . an^ .the ' proceeds of its sale will go faY towards defraying the cost of the works. There can-be no room! for doubt thafcj,the .traffic between ■ thd East and West Coasts will by this line bo de'velopedf enormously^ 'It!4sf«st'mated that even now, were the line ai. work, there would be at least 1000 'tons of coal alone brought across weekly, and it, as I believe, this coal, which is quite equal .to the best Newcastle, can be pat into ships'

holds at Lyttelton for somewhere about £1 a tpn, it is difficult to place any other limit tfhan that of the carrying capacity of the line upon the traffic which would be developed. There is almost an unlimited quantity of timber, which would find its way to market by this railway. Hon. members will gather from the engineer's report that much careful exploration will be required before the exact route can be determined. From Brunnerton to Grey mouth, as members are aware, there ia now a railway in operation, and we propose to continue it to llokitika, a distance of 26 miles. In accordance with a resolution of this House last session a reserve of land was made in the Aorere Valley, -. in ..the. Nelson ii district, With a view of the proceeds being applied to railway construction. A filing survey "of' the pVbpb'sed line is bbw being completed." The. Government! is, ho^^^^fff^-bpKooytharjTbefore any eipenaiturein "tfiis* direction is incurred Itjii jfle|irabl^ &$ fciTrjfreAiM^ be 'bridged, and the district rendered accessible by MdVfor wh'ictt purposes £4J700 t b>s"fceetrplaced 6n the! kg/indiat<Ss. It Will be recollected that last session the Ho^ae 4 , ob *4h«f motion Ttif thfei' hbn.- 1 merifblr for !Alt^'oa:(Mr Mdritgom*ry)i airectea that supveyarl should ticr'taijfrf afia^eitim*t##> prepared" fbi" a 'number! of :bf art eVHilQrlays asWderH 'to the taaitf lib*." Those 1 "plkiir ;btr*j been ;mtdff,;«rtif th'ei Mttotfis Are ready, but it f ht« bepn suggested that the general interest, of, settlement wouldJ be better served* and lie i&sttirces of Canterbury, bo developed; to a aaph greater extent,, if insteadr of, thoserbranches, we obtained authority to construct an lqtenor Wtfinlitfe bf!*bbWSs m-HeVln leffgfn, by means .of which * a very good, area of ftVailabl* country' w6uM be ;dpeW up saWd !!maW f£rqduetis;' 7.r.nlis?]|£mit w.w € "t° v the South Asbburtpn.ipj^shpf^ton.jj^yfs; and the Albury, .extension lines, which; will;facilitate,the beiie.ficra}, occupation! of jdpwards of ,2CD,<pOQ acres of land, which must add largely to the exports of Can^ terbury, and to the revenue of the main line, Ofithis lattd'3o,ooo;tcre»»re in the hands of the Crown. Some hon. meanl¥ers> may to dispriie'd' t6' thihFHhat, tbaviag uegard.; to the,s length Tot .the railways which Canterbury already pbsour proposals r) bu,t a slight reflection TJill show that such"an objection cannot {be fairly-sustained. -When we consider the. large amount which the coffers of the of Canterbury, and-the amount which, itj is hoped tim|;to come con* tinuedb Wcferiveafrom the same source; I maintain tfiat the district is'¥atitl*d; to even more than is now proposed! - \^Te are; in fectrbnlyintehdingto' obnTeiruppn #e,people .of, Cantyrbury .benefits able from applying to a colonial purpqse their own money—only prßjJbsing°lb"exbenefit of those ud<j» the land from which that teyenurmk^TOen derived—by de« Ywhibh.itrottghtral ways'td have tteenTh'eld sacred. The same remarks will apply jto the;, pth ; err< railways which -are^o, depend for'their construction, upon' the proceeds bf'tfie 1 'sale of 'lan^/t'q 'be' 'Mder*d tkliiabldbythem. 'ATery'importnntlibe Lake> fillesibere' linei Government hopethittnetrust who««:powers will b* prolbnged Bndeitended by the bill'wtiich £as oT'thtf l^gislfttn^rinaTfin^'nTß^nsWh^Wihis evrf should V-fbKfta thatthe'Wuit is unahletqdp/so, tEe. Government wiJL at CTturV^^ the^mattor^spepiajty^.m^i.: *]jfjs* to th[s important ' ujide.rJt£Jypg being pushc d forward. As regards , r th* Nbr^ncbtT-Hi c as far as Tapanui. It TOted bO mbney f< r the work, but resolved that it should I c paid for out of land to be set aside for tt c Wttfi. l WMpkM JWjWOfr ■ branch is now under way, and that njo money wilttiS Required' until after its oon - pletion, the terms of the contract bein 5 that payment ii "to be made in cash, i a three, instalments, *at two, four, and si 1 months' lifter the line is completed. The Unouiit is £61,600, and the time for conjjgetibn,. twenty-two month* from <$*iie <f tpntrapt, ao^that we shall have {jtw<i^f eaijst and upwards in which to realiwiUppri the 40,900 acres of land reserred. The j*pba| •! Iglity is, that this land* owing to tttgeonftru^npf th&railway, will; realisft-from' X 2 to;^3 r and upwards aq acre, and wii 1 thus yield.double the amount of the contract. I mayJaddijihat there wese five tenders for the work on the above terms, am I aodjthe <>je accepted, being the?,l«wesl,. WJ^&O^undel 1 tMo/engit^r's B e|HJnatt. This fact is worth any number of argusratmnt mt!N&g%' f®W%^l^W ll9ttnfc.pAo.S1 DP uWjcJ^bto^ adding to the annual burden in refppct thereof. It is now PropSffdntp. qttaaU the line ten miles furjhij^ x ßr so ff QJ [ the growth s ,of^»rpj|lj^ lwi|l be largel]' fareasggf'atycl produotiv* i dia|ri^ts in the cojo^y fully developed. I bnVflh(Bard?it.objected that now, when the land fund has beeo-oolonialised, it is un larg4^rti(«rf^«BrUttifetf4iia^ fo{ Local .purposes. r Tome such an objeotioii MJifl.lfiP*Phftl *'biwdr,jMW,e;>;,afe no^ alienating landed est^|e,s. / We are change ing the form jof... parts of it, and bhereby vJtreatljj uine^eaiing j the value| ibr/sw far as 1 the Colony is concerflea, the railways constructed out of the proceeds! remain, and if ,we manage our affairs Iri'sely' we'shalli derive la-muebf i(Jarg«i| income; from those railways thw^er we iid br'coufd derive from Jthose portions of land. We do not propose \b deal excepjionally with, the "proceeds of lands, set ipar't for''the construction of railwaysJ Phose proceeds will-be dealt,withas,ordi^ lMrJr'irevenvie, while from the enhanced ralueof fthe.landp to be affected' by the ines so constructed we may fairly assume! it is a fact that the ordinary revenue will $ailby:year be greatly, iupieutitiilfi'i ■ itTMMAEY OF PBOPOSALS. —AIDS TO TH* 10.) ■ PUBLIC WOBKB ACCOUNT; 1 '-'-'i i up the.proposals I,have had; he t nor to submit, they' will be; 'bund 1^ to involve an expeHditure !nforj *ailways in the • North!';'lsland; .01 £3,733,000, and in the Middle Island.of 64,652,000; altogether £8,385,000. Asj E T have already • observed,; the; eatimateai inder (which these. figures { have been! irrived at are, to a certain extent, approxi- £ : nate —my belief is that they arc more >ver the mark than under—that with udicious and careful administration, mlesi oircumstances alter very much

within the next few years, it will be found that ii much less sura will suffice. We • propose that the expenditure shall be extended over five years, which, in my opinion, ig the shortest period within which we could cany out works to this extent, unless we are prepared for the importation of labour to a greater extent than can be really absorbed in the permanent secernent of the country. Our ob* ject will be so to regulate the administration of the waste lands.of. the Crown as to afford c very inducement and facility to men who .labor in the construction of railways to invest their" earnings in land by laying off allotments for sale aloof the.- various lines as they progress. r I am disposed to think^Kit'mnich kpay'be done in this direction, and that a fair proportion of ; the . money Q expended~oa porks l^Tsury. Out of, t^e loan authorised last session, there remaiied^BtTfhe'BMi June available <*<*&&* MTwmtivmmtio. we f«t* f/«a> ordinary revenue during the next fiv3 yean , available will beincreased to £5,500,000, ani-^hajfft wUI mw:*i*h*»fe «kflWtf)OO» to be raised by, further loans, in order to meet the estimated'iost of the whole pro- > p.mkri ftwa7,^«liaip«,^eiijkid, is not £3,500,000 too large a sum to expend to ite-spared-from revenue f ~™li thenravenue likely to^e in a positian to meet such a de|g|ndjr| In|ofl^ (t^t hp^., members may be enabled to form an opinion as to this, I shall enumerate the different areas of Crown'iatfaV/Httfe Value which will be and the saTe^rwhwli nqbilMiS ib be consequent upon those lines being oon* r^^^^'i'f l^nl'W -Middle Island, the Ofago central to Albert, Town, will past throughrgmff ?}a,li&i /a»d open up the most valuable public estate in the colony. I(tr!wiß«flWtraa4area;.a)fTa,-96(»^0 acres, all in the haod«-of the Crown. From Amjberley to (^runge^tojß, # Jjrilk P»s» through W »t|jr : 3oo,opo acres of" frfShold, and' render ayailab)e, n ,4QO,GC3 acres of :^wn>md'/ 7'\Ffo*i&Wife7^Mtn^toHoki. tika it will affect 85,0W!«bres of forest land belonging to4b^^rpjj|itf>jCj»nterbury subsidiary main luu/.wuV^pus chiefly through freehold lanu,!bwaVnreuts across all the valley a^kttttle!ba«*>af the hill country, its eonslmsji^jml^h* of considerable value to the'jwttiement of those valleys, and render an area of Crown Mutfof 560,000 acres. The LSoJKlbv A*bwt«KWloA3Pht«T<wr;forks and Alhmi»|tofsio9; k frj^ enhance the value of 30,000 acres.. fl Portrace to Edenifale-i'a- p¥§nSma^ fliarfSy of this line r has o beeDT^made llT in terms of sion, and land has bi&m&rm'foT its construction in 4ooordance with the pr^kkfebJcMpa6afa:oßil6)oWAcres of land, 40,003 of which are in the hands of the Crown.. Dtautau to Nightcaps— :fliJi; : is)adl eSftflsioivTe?JtheHMsAdJliw from Eiverton; it will render availiMe a veryfraittftle-faialffieM,!**)* the _cultivation..j9Lj)yejr..60 J Op^jMresJO agricultural land, 10,000 of which is in line which. jpapeiTthf ongb? a district containing. $O.fQQQ 'p.!. f pf. fine, agricultural freehold'lan^ llt'wiTi imko the oeeuhb,CK> acres of Qrown land, onieny^Wst. mhytoMmto^foMh^ ! }^ufth Ji M^|tt in the hands of the Crown. The Lumsden Jtd Mararoa opens up 200,000 •#•*§; of -Qjcpwnjand of the finest qualityj,.abortion of which wMIa I £eUerey {k> occupiedlind cultivated Vety^brtljrnter it is rendered jcceiaible by rail. The Shag Valley have been made by the Provincial Government ofiPtigo.)jSipr|eys and working plans were prepared, and public tenders applied for JUicLreceived, when abolition intervened. It commands a rich mrie*lea»alr tuAApwtorfbg^M^^ of 45,000 acres, of which 10,000 aores belong .t»o,<*e t j'iJr#CTliJ9d will be one of the best paying feeders to the main line betweeaJDunedin and Oamaru. It will, moveover, greatly facilitate access t^th)BttMp^Vl|bld||iwiyrj(i^pid increasing agricultural distnots oinEaeraefl and Uyde. It will thus be seen that an »ifi»a] of leirlK 4kOQQ£C% a«rpwo| tfrown land in the Middle Island will be affected by the prqp«jMdt«fota,fl Much of this land, if aooessible by rail, and in the ;s»rtet(Bowv **ollmkt*& mmnmi upwards. Probably we shall not be Bwk,rtm>fe»lk»tiofdthaiUt will realise to the State, at a moderate (b6Wii««ationVlrttt«'r*hort k>f» itw-irtdle estimated cost of the railways, namely, £4,650,00, now"fibpms°td bs»'iti&o in ihe r .^Middle,, lajand. As regards Crown lkndFiS ftnfe North Island, I ha^fi, A first of all,, to direct the attention of hbn. -members to the fact 'that atfbtit 120,000 aores of the best land on the $v~estTCofflst pWtion\ of .Che oOnfiwated territory is now -being surveyed for\s|le. >Fs6 ftttf wish to r»ire^he(exp«Uti«af;.of hon. memberrunduly, bit JL believe that I am.: irtuttittffii «eokjmii||^4iat from under negotiation~on the same locality) iiM»majr>«p^t teßewive* v&mmftft three quari«tikrfr *)B»Hion\ sterling. In addition to this s*e-the very large areas of UMiKHWmtiiiV*U& Pl»kf ck«^»t», whioa'will(at^o«(*.'aiJ(}uire^gn«tly inc*e«s«d rvalue fi^Mh* ©rpt||ect«£TaiJjr«>y ! oommunieation bffw^ilftejy^to WMOyened , betweea , GMhamatAwn r.aw, Waikato. Other large blookfcofilavdsilt. Ahftnßay of Pl«rity;OK(vwty;B«y,xiadWfeUißita«idisittfots 'will be'Mme kvaiMble^ ttiAuwa »U«U 'have the^giWffieatibff- of 'JNhoidinf ike 'NortH Islattdi'ib'r^^flirit.'tirfeflor taaay VearsT yielding k iabrtantia| laad mane. for mor^ particulars 'and'informfctk«iaa to area, ipcaUty, *c.,.and probable raHWoi refer-.hpnfimember^ fo'the- tmjjjgtoment on Native;^nds, .waicii wul^be i^horttyj-.dinade,! $Yr&jh!iQs£jQibfj tike nNative Miaiiter. nloseforeao^rtpsjictof tfaoso lands:w are ( sitnaUd, <m ikei'wtmt fcoast of> this Islands ibrmi%,{»art,^| [,pw 1 confiscated 'territory?*! have, lanpropoaal to make te' the; Hoose wbjchi while it ' may, appearito be a oorisiderabifcawliiwation if not a reVßrsalfot the financial arrangemenls' of last Wsidoil, is really a me«a| bf giving a practi»ilUfl^t!tb those „aco t uiced o at ri an i ..offtnto' (iof, Wckid ■ and -*>EWSU^( wWr^r.>«»'f 9»r,,'opikipii, jdstily exceptional, Hreatmenii, in ap'p^prtltffij> the proceeds. IniclditibVtd the 25' per cent, payable to, theA New Plymouth, Harbor Hoards the, Cpuuty ii» which they are with ( th«, legis,iasvpn of last sessionV would reVeive 20» per cent, of the amount realised from the sale, while the colony, which had already paid so heavily for the land would be* called upon to provide the means of con*

atruotihgthe main line of railway. We r propose, then, to apply 15 per cent, of the, i 20 per, centi,? otherwise .;payable to the County, ' to the construction of the railway through the district. As the land will Shortly be i n the .market, there will be a considerable sum at no distant date specially available for this work, .which can be commenced immediately. The County will in this way receive the whole ■ of the 20 per cent., while the colony will be assisted in work which will contribute to enhance the value of property in the district, and to iucrease the financial resource* .s£ i the. c country;. Assuming ' these proposals to be approved by -the J legislature, it becomes animpWtaiit ques- i ,!■ tionj what ,is to be :6ue procedure'with „; regard tothework nbtalrtadyisauctionedP n .mxe<S<me> will, -"tf !i o; the impossibility'of WWing to'iifay'coti. J •atisfactory to alir/ Kab^ di ?^» tyfo Tide^witn'^ifw'aysV' Jat v tne co*EpJJh£ State ranks at lm^^^JKl-Anf of any other district; and none probably admifcthaf any such sqlaim, bughfr to u-.%Von*r before it's 1 6w in.'' lTh'is; Min°tru|h^ is a great difficulty wlii^i^^Oy ' itii'/pa'sriegislatidnlad. brought; W>ft> ! tlii'ffieiiierit; when % legisraturerepealed that cardinal.,. condition > pf v! jthe;, public,■: " j*oceed« of any railway failing to meet /» jjateteslfjind jinking ; fund ionl the fcQStiofi M&Mfo** propettjuin *he district ■hould be rated to make up the deficiency;l san.T&eilii&ralfrpis pn&.wbich I confess I'cah- 1' not solve, as things stand. The Government are desirous to distribute to ( tfre"b"esF r^adVan'toge'wWtevejf funds 1 mj%f %f&l ; able for the qo«(st^^W^ifbW;%|?v 1 the circumstances we shall endeaypurJa. carry on, M^a^yffr^^lH'"Wfs taneously the^a>idtfkVo|rfc» th]at r may.te .KaßtidfcSed, .and 1 fa 1 ,ap|}(jf tibti;'the *|^. penditure each,vea?;ffl:StioOttticliofts;.a,s,, &ym lik'etyWp'^^lihe r»Sfpeedy settlement and beneficiallftcci^ar. —-tioiroffFe "wast'e'Tah'ds of the Colony. Mucn.cd^utthß r^ifficuliy oiP '{he situation arises from the-fact that here in Ntew Zeali^lweVare^eip^cted^to'do in a row rears what it has hitherto taken centuries o {••lather* td'akcdmplish;_'.A/fe^'hnnidiied;, , ikbowwndi of ■people are' Writ ■upbti doibg; .-^i in^Uf«*im«*that i:whi^ ■ : /H-WtoHh»W<rtk'4f-ttHSii.^pf.Weß;^ri^« her first cente^arj.git J> }s : hM^toi^ecide Tkmm '?M» hW 3 , l mado.^luoh?-^ren T;J i-iSwA* fPi wpftliflpfndfithb-MKardi /toi ".^jltt^r^ipi^gress^fnd'ithi* impatience,,rsksm Mi *W ejril,! against->theo possible,, effects of which we must jealously 'gttaijd.--anJjEßtfd *cWoely^»y that theW'ar^lines' of railway in each Island. besideOhbse: •nibodied ita/^Jp>bp'Mils/ o,th 1 e ain»pqr- 1 tance of which is fully J'the' t SiQomrsamt? a[fid fl#Hiisb %' imoiild have, ri btee*R^*'w»av'rm teltt'daa.\ proposal'^^^olve ''In'''^expenditure of «^tteefTiOOfr 'a^year .^tij'^^ines ; ,,menjf. (/ Fe can .come hi [!to' ra^lrTan!ge^ent jis" between: ourselves OfiljM r Jan Ci iiiider*ianding^ which V" bughji fm^6s^M > Ending as, the laws; t r of th&Me4ej,and ; the Persian!, that upon, > Wfi^PVWWtiW' °* &o»6 lines "aufflimilarH '^ f! am,qun[t, shall continue to be expended on! "oil p|»dflo#freiwiwaysi; >It is< only a imere iKqnestiono of it timei f»when l «11" the" land i rio*W«gkdut«bthe: colony,' which Jit:is £lrej.<3 i muiredi toocctipy^and 'reiiaer avfeila'BM by• railway cb.mmunicatiori, shall bje "■r,io^*deW!d''tfW*ilablel:'-Bif r !tfi.B j^me ; "ttia,t: 1 'tlill 1 nb' V?bti&r fiidcthat .manyvbranph "Kne'l'Wtia tinMtaken'by.prxyate e ntei«ilia^enj^njhaia^t^de^ the provisions ofthe, npw^fw^Vw Aofeftfjilasfc session^ an^ ;it |p (itbjtqbyd jligit^iamendini s^tiat).Acl;;iadjra»tagauwiH«ibentakflii'bf- JJitb j, the Govern men t!w;ll thereby be relieved of eonstructinginiany lines- which .sootier lOTlatflymutb'othwwise'de'yolv^^pM ildoM4»ob this avto-of^rf-Stidit glratif LOCAL WOBJES.' , ' | ,<,{■.. !■ ''»*I mist r r BolMt!'tfe^ar^e,^ altentipri >hlC^Vp^.^»Wn;a^PV foW '^M*. icppp pit. of,the^.colony^ "^w^fib, > [^,belief,,smay^argely; ;^ufnfieiJbe»l«WctiOW-*i»d({thft eharaoter of thii J^wse^iul ,to 'the-'qaestibn! of roads and bridges. Although the! gradual extenli&tf'dflitliSi railway system! il diminisliiof,j'tli)Biweitent:which 1 money' tßUitne^dswexpendeddn^iitm works ,cS^omp»*«*^% ''■■mitt te^aavogabl^ itt^the past, Ihefe"irfe; fAfll orina'ny'dis|tji;i^fe! in-which such works will continu^fcoi be lff6r*pi*#to cSmef es/sfen'tial'/ 1 ' I ne'wmt remind you that one of the'*greatj ;idf anlages which Ja : be secured by 'the recent &]ssasam*i>*m that the namer of a road or ■&^bridge was nerer^any ■(jßJwfwfeiil|«'i ftr^ *& this Hooseiai connected wi<*, L ffeeiai^ing;fbr was to be^vanftfjOfi s*«esultf i of thei^fboljtidnij»f rfcho: province*' As it is, fhotrofwrwriewf' thedff otiie-is^prepred totmakfwa d?c>ded| yitarij, .itj>|tl{B be feared that roads^ bndges, and culverts will become su^ets^ tHe most ( anxious i aM reSeilel diWmibiiff|d;be;heai?dwithin i theie r wafe^4,#efi>i* f^**e^ur foW w«?Hft» t(o' these' Wo'rka ? Tfe colleagues, r and, myself »re ol^a^ y vof dpinitohlt Jthey l?%ht >", be who \h Swolv»datffWttl6Bll'bodWtl By wliofaf'the requisite funds fflp?,t"Wo&nd% One tbin» seems to me.^y gyotid^aoubt or : ques. tion—the cdlSn^irfusr^ J undertake l such works, or must refuse to, fridertalre any. Any oth#r bourse rnusf'bd brimfulof jnlUttice. Last session we passed; ¥irioUs ioW***£roa<!s Jand; bridgerrwitli;the'un- tderstanding that the amounts 'were to,be provided oftt?dP the-loan^ Those Votes will, I apprehend/haVe trf<be; made good in Kafumtfi (Many^ are now in course of expenditure,- <and we propose^ to renew aU the-tinexpehded portions by Dutting Ahem upon'this yeWsi estimates. Wh\* will in round numbers,*mean the a^propriatio; T^&^f^ works in the Wofth OEslaild? andj^bout £166,000 for similaf Works in the Middle Island. Vfh'efcafterwe'propose tdffinally close the acuounty arid tb confine/public works operations to_ railway, cbnISuctioL^'l^dmit; tbatnif we,arersus. tamed in this^course it will bejprQdactive dfliara^hiptothosVP^^ which 1 we're not'fortunate enough, to parttS&:in:ti&^ramk>^ SPUa^ /l!I^ seems to me,;lioweirer, »n I have, said, that in. fairness we hare no itrucfc arterial roads and bridges we must Jake charge of a 1 such works, Mid subsi-

dies in aid of them which are noif paid toUocal bodies must cease. | ■ *■, -. ''■. J : ■ CONbII^SION. tJ I~''- '- j , .. ;■ \ Much as the public works and immigration policy has conduced to! the prosperity of liTew Zealand there .cm be no question that if it is followed up as is now" proposed the future results will very largely exceed those of the past. We know the extent to which railways have helped us to increase of settled population, our agriculture, and our trade; and we know that for some of those railways w,e have^, paj4 very dearly,: —althougn" riot all in money. Butj our experience, whatever it has cost us, should at le^st have taught,us in. what;directions : a,nd,,in s w.b«t),:taanner.,we can best -spend the iinonfty! hereafter* available for such undertaking*. l!<iNiot'only: ought we', fesolutely to resoWd'thatiwenwifl 'iieVer' again sanction the oomm'enQ&m'eri^ of riilwa; s as ito'wbieh'We haVe.-inl.drll at'le^st^easonable 'eVideiiee ffchU(rirwiii >uld;; equally resolve, that as one point of our erpe'rieri'c6 tends shall be made to represent as much Work as 1 '20s! have unfcfrtunately> in > too many cases, represer ted > heretofore/: iJiWel'*bir :il«ee^clfearly > "in any i thiofes aftrf wjhitih wW c^uld .^iy^bliitdly,,; /grotfe 1' Wh'^n r"^betfan 'tb.ebnstrucfc our '^ilwaysll were then wholly, wanting,jm<£ weiava in ;^if"^ia^ rf'f es^WlibJißj jarid'fcap'ftbip) < onir&clMlot whom at the outjje^.if L'to gpfer..^a i ,%l t d.o .fe a.ddjjiw n {jhft pr ces ..CrfSiWft maKmtifr ?^du(»j}doindieed D redoetioaiia *pigieat u^h^p@Wt!reia|foi^}|Rt;<|iribeotov^rchase';| all we sliall.Wftntilfor.vou'M'bonte'iriplated lines we should save probably £600,000 iRSi compftred^withi'prices^w^ an *, rule had to pay. Advantage hair Be : etf to a .limited.extent takfn'bftboldwßtatb of the rmaifke't^y I oW^riti^ I^,ooo^Mi'Stii eelTails, at £5 14s delivered at Cardiff. In .'eJcpreilfiiri^tb^sS'opTtiions I desire to (is-, vplaim faititig 4nfy>lreflecti6riß 'upoii' th >se' whoflhave: hitherto had the professioial overthaVgei <*F etirputiltcw^rifs. 'If thfere' 'have been blunders they have been chiefly incidental "to^" «irouTmstancei rlind r-to ' the nature of. .thin«s,~ lajQji bejief4b*yilia>(' "beeLWrllolieal WB p^fe^ffl.J I; do not think tlmtil* need opeuny the tiiae. of ttie&M&krimf a A:yp&Ued to the] Statement are reports,,, all of whichrembody much Valbable jrifofma^i'qln, andfVill.l 'nO doubt-be 1 ftiu^d^iFtise^i, ( in- ! Msitt a\c»ilii^dV f !* "X' qoijSltijld^.Sljur;,, jc'lojcj^qe /jcaoKre cbtiimeriding tip thd,approval of members the prbposajs, I, have had, the WM»W B^toit..H hif^k'd'pfe Sk too in aubmitting'^ueiff, for 1 believe they are ■ calfculated-to meet'\tho reqairerrierits >of settlement A&Ver a vjcr&St vtofifHP. o;f' Ja jh. 'Island. '!to &;^e^f|Jst]tsn' ebriViriife'd/be tbjiriicrease •enprmbu«ly M the i ■m&Mm "lower, i ,^and J>he .pj^l^ {f ,b < nrd^n,-,,thcMe)»tpnrb- Jl ;^<dov 3!,pb'sala/9ur ipopulation ought to ü b^ r /i|' l^|it> ,^offbieiid^rin^ii4heonjßXt' ,years,:and the,greatprqportionof the!iicomers jought- tobo;and may b& soilbdai* d that, whilelabbririglovinglytosubduetl e~ earth until that which is barren yields its kindly and; n'alui'aEfruit'sV'th'ey may labi tr stubbornly because their names'figure t en [no man's rentroH."' It? ti'iii «ueh k 'spirifc that most of us have!Btruggled; to create a great nation ib'this favored lahd. Siioh' was the spirit iri which wejßtrbvethrotigli the! aiyef tmiir aass^'^ac»M! WheS upp|.alt (i tha^e,tm4e^)?« Jij9PPWW that I. [atg^jealous shwe, With th,bseo,f; whomit»b^l .fee.reafiliertbe said. thijt they,ha4 ; influQnoe utupremoting prosperity and the greatness of Keu ; ri gealaiid.>r) v^s - t0 ( smo.%^s ,\aK«-./* ni • .