PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT.

Westport Times, Volume VII, Issue 1097, 12 August 1873, Page 2

PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT.

(BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.)

On the eighth the House resumed at half-past seven. The Minister of Public Works (Hon. Mr Richardson) moved for leave to introduce a bill to amend the Immigration and Public Works Act, 1872. He said that he would avail himself of the opportunity to make the annual statement as to the progress of Public Works. He thanked his predecessors, Mr Orinond and MiReeves for the valuable information given as to the various matters, and he said that through the arduous exertions of the officers, especially Mr Carruthers and Mr Blackett, the Government had been enabled to perform their promises. The enormous work in the preparation of returns called for by members almost stopped the ordinary work of the Department during last session. The tables appended to the statement had now been altered in form, with a view to save time by supplying such information as was demanded last session. In connection with the North Island Road Works the Government had endeavored speedily to bridge all the larger and more dangerous streams on the lines of road ordered to be constructed. Natives had been employed on the Roads whenever possible. They had worked faithfully and at moderate rates, and a desire to enter into con~ tracts was spreading amongst them. Mr Katene had had charge of the works in the upper portion of the district north of Auckland, and the Provincial Government had taken charge of the expenditure of £IO,OOO in the more immediate neighborhood of Auckland city. The \rmed Constabulary had done work during the year to the value of £2620 The amounts expended in the several provinces during the year were: Auckland, £35,355 2s 5d ; Taranaki, £17,695 lis 9d; Hawkes' Bay, £8407 9s sd; Wellington, £22,047 6s sd, making a total of £93.804 10s. The total expenditure out of the North Island Road's Eand, up to the end of the year,£215,789 10s, divided thus : Auckland, £66,395 9s 4d ; Taranaki, £37,608 6s 9d j Hawkes' Bav, £30,956 9s Id ; Wellington, £798'1 13s 3d, ann unappropriated, £174 lis sd. The liabilities for contracts in

hand at the end of the year were: Auckland, £35,931, 18a 4d ; Taranaki, £5631 16s 7d ; Hawkes' Buy, £8927 10s; Wellington, £24,444 la lOd. There was then a total of £290,752 16s 9d expended or appropriated, leaving £100,447 3s 3d out of the £400,000 voted. The allocation of that sum was however subject to a balance of £43,270, 13s sd. out of the £60,000 set aside last session for coads north of Auckland. The £200,752 16 9d represented 1141 miles of dray road, and 470 miles of horse road opened or in progress.—The Patea and Waitotara bridges on the West Coast, and several other large ones would be completed during the financial year. The bridge at the Manawatu Gorge would be made suitable for railway purposes, and it was hoped that by the end of next summer there would be a good traversable road from Wellington to Napier and to VVanganui. The Scandinavians had done much good work on this road. On the Nelson South West Goldfields £26.652,19s 9d had been expended during the year, and the outstanding liabilities amounted to £9.233 Is 6d. During the year there had been opened in this district 83} miles of first class metalled road, 9 miles had been made passable for heavy traffic, and surveys for 50 miles of main road had been completed. The balance of the vote would be expended this year.—As to Westlaud roads, fair progress had been made with all authorised works and it was expected that the vote would be expended this year. The expectations raised by Mr Ormond's statement last year had been realised as far as possible, and except as to two lines in Wellington Province all the railways were now as forward, if not more forward, than it was last year anticipated they would be. Fair progress had been made with the River-head and Helensville Line. There had been delays as to rails, but it was hoped they would be received in about three months. The line was to cost less per mile than many others, but the gradients were heavier than on any other, excepting the Wellington and Masterton. At the Rimataka Ranges there was no ballast in the ordinary sense of the term provided for, and if there proved to be much heavy traffic on the line considerable additional expense would have to be incurred. A satisfactory arrangement would no doubt be arrived at, but at present between the Provincial and General Governments the contractors had more or less suffered, He expected that the River-head and Auckland line would be ready for contract in September. The entirely new survey would result in lessening cost and increasing accommodation. From Auckland to Onehunga the line would be ready for opening in about six weeks, and between Auckland and Mercer the works would be doubtless be completed within the contract time, Ist Sept. 1875. On the Napier, Waipukurau line Messrs Brogden would have to exert themselves more than they had yet done if they wer.. to complete the Napier to Pakipaki section by the Ist Dec. 1573, according to contract. The remainder of the line would be advertised for contract as soon as surveys, now in an unfinished state. were completed. On the line between Waitara and Wanganui, Messrs Brogden had a contract for a section of eleven miles. From Waitara to New Plymouth, it was proposed to push on survey of lines generally, and to incur additional expenditure of £IOO,OOO. The greatest care would be taken not to let other contracts, especially for any portion in rear of Mount Egmont until the engineers were satisfied that the best possible route had been obtained. The cost would be about £SOOO a mile, as many bridges would be required. A satisfactory account of the progress of the first section of Wellington and Masterton line could not be given,except that Messrs Brogden had given an assurance that its completion would not be much delayed beyond the contract time, Ist Sept 1874. Works on second section were progressing favorably. Despite the uneasiness felt that more of this line was not in hand he was convinced that as yet every day's delay had been for the benefit of the country, and that there had been no more delay than was necessary to satisfy the Government that the best and cheapest means of crossing the Rimataka had been ascertained. This had now been done, and the line to Featherston would speedily be put under contract. The best route for Wanganui and Manawatu had at length been settled, as far as Turakina. The point for crossing the Wanganui river had also been decided, and designs for a large bridge, which would be necessary, were being prepared. Time had unfortunately been lost at first through not getting good surveyors, but the delay had enabled the Engineer-in-Chief to reduce the cost very considerably. The Provincial Government of Wellington had agreed to hand over Paraikaretu block of 46000 acres as part security for additional cost of making this line, as a railway instead of a tramway, and they will hand over additional lands as the works proceed. The speed of construction will depend upon the progress of settlement under Emigrant and Colonists Aid Society. Coming to the South Island, the Nelson and Foxhill line ought to be finished in about eighteen months. It was at present intended to take the direct route but the Government are determined to hear and judge of all that could be of advantage in favor of more expensive routo The Picton and Blenheim line would no doubt be finished with'n the contract time, and for somewhat less than the authorised amount. The llangiora and North Kowai line

would probably be completed in eighteen months. Considerable progress has been made by the contractor with works for a Very heavy bridge across the Ashley. Tile Rakaia and Ashburton section Of the Great Southern .Railway of Canterbury, was so far advanced that its completion depends upon supply of sleepers, which were now coming td hand. There had been difficulty in deciding the best route for Ashburton to Temuka section df same lind. The 1 greater portion of it had been offered to Messrs Brdgdeu, under their agreement, but the offer had been refused, and tenders would soon be! invited for smaller contracts. The TirriarU and Teniuka line was under contract td be) completed in January 1874. Tile Waitaki Bridge had. been delayed by change of design in England. Tenders would be called for.erectidn as soon as some preliminary enquiries could be made. Satisfactory progress was being made with Waitaki to Mderaki line, and the Dunedin to Clutha line had progressed so far as to enable Messrs Brogden to complete it within contract time. The line from Tokoniairiro to Lawrence was under contract and would in all probability be completed concurrently with that from Dunedin to Clutha. The Invercargill and Mataura line was not progressing satisfactorily. The first section of the line, Wintori td Kingston, had been let, and it was intended to let another section about the end of the year. The only coal railway in the colony was that from Brunner to Grreymouth. The deed of purchase of the Port Chalmers railway was upon the table of the House. When contemplated improvements were completed, the £175,000 paid for line would be increased to £210,000. The House would be asked to vote the additional sum. A substantial offer to lease the line for several years at a rate which would have given 7 J per cent on outlay was received immediately after the purchase. The line was now under lease to the Provincial Government from year to yeai and the Province was being charged with interest on the cost of the railway. Considerable progress had been made with Canterbury branch railways. It was estimated that in addition tri 31 miles now open in Canterbury, and eignt miles of Port Chalmers line, 125 miles would be opened and in full forking order by end of financial year, making a total of 164 miles. Audther 42 miles would probably be opened during May or June next though not in full working order. Apart from lines now open, 401 miles were under contract, and 160 miles more would be let in coUrse of a few months; surveys and plans for' which misrht be said to be complete. There would then remain 168 miles of authorised lines for which plans had to be prepared. The Government believed that al I authorised lines would be completed within cost specified by the House, and also within times named last year, excepting the short length between Ashburton and Hangitata River in Canterbury. All the railways the Government we're bound to offer to Messrs Brogden had been offered, and after that length had been offered to the firm every work would be advertised for public tender.—Of Goldfields Water Supply Works four were in progress of construction or survey; namely, Thames Race, estimated cost £48,59*4 ;• Waimea Race, £61,435 ; Nelson* Creek Race, £30,446 ; and Mount Ida Race and Sluicing Channel, £42,375. The following subsidies had been granted to Companies : Hohonu, Westland; £1533 ; Hibernian, Westland, £2OOO • New River, Westland, £3333 ; Arrow River, Otago, £602. Seven applications for subsidies had not been finally dealt with. The examination aud develdpement of the coal resources of the Colony were being prosecuted as vigorously as was consistent with due caution, so as to avoid the misdirection of capital. The Government were in treaty for purchase of several large blocks of Native land, and they had secured other large tracks on long leases. The expenditure for such lands during the year had been £36,535, and total amount was £86,319. For this sum 771,819 acres have been purchased, and 556.560 acres were under negotiation, the purchase of which was estimated to absorb all the remainder of the amount appropriated for the purpose. The additional railway works proposed were, Mataura to Clutha, 54 miles ; Dunedin to Moeraki, 55 miles; Timaru to Waitaka, 41 miles, these were in South Island. In North Island a survey had been completed from Mercer to Newcastle; and a crossing place on the Waikato River had been fixed. The Waikato bridge would be used for road and railway purposes ; drawings had been prepared, and an order for cylinders was sent last mail. A flying survey had been made to ascertain whether it would meet with the trunk line south from Auckland. The report shows that there is no engineering difficulty in the way, but action would be unwise until direction of truuk line had been settled. The Greymouth protective works bad so far resulted well, but to provide for anticipated coal and ordinary railway traffic, a further appropriation would have to be asked. The unappropriated balance for surveys would enable a route for the Foxhill and Brunner line to be explored, and would also enable the Engineer-in-Chief to survey for a junction between the West Coast and the trunk line on the East Coast of the South Island, as well as for the continuation of Waikato railway. The Government proposed to construct a railway from Ngakawhau river to Westport, aud to carry out gradually

Mr Higginsou's suggestion for protective works on the Buller. Works which it is believed will protect Westport and improve the means of shipping. coal, &e. Up td June 30th, 1872; the total expenditure for all purposes under the Immigration and Publid Works Act Was £678,683 10s 6d ; and during the year 1872-3 there was expended £1,116,249 3s 2dj making a total of £1 J 794,942' 13s Bd. There 1 wore on the 30th June last liabilities in the Colony, and For railway materials and rolling stock ordered from England sufficient to complete all the railways already authorised except the coal lines; amounting to £2,035,511 15s 3d; There was thus a grand total of expenditure and liabilities amounting to £3,830,454 Bs. The additional works now proposed formed part of the original scheme adopted in 1870; and without them much of the work in hand would be of comparatively little Value. The Government would,to the utmost; endeavour to bring all these works to a successful terminal tldn; and that termination cduldhave no Other result than to add enormously to the wealth and prosperitv of the Coltiny. Leave was given td introduce the Bill which was read a first time, and was ordered td be read a se'cdhd time) on Friday next.