PARLIAMENTARY. Per Anglo-Australian Telegraph Agency. PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT. WELLINGTON. Friday.

Waikato Times, Volume VII, Issue 343, 25 July 1874, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY. Per Anglo-Australian Telegraph Agency. PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT. WELLINGTON. Friday.

ill* Richarson made his Public Works Statement this cveniug. He suid ho liopod to satisfy the House that as much work had been put in hand as was likely to prove advantageous to the country. Some few works contemplated last spssion remained in abeyance. Tno reasons had combined to cause this. Fir.-tly, the great demand for labour throughout the colony rendered it unwise to enter into any nctive competition by the Department. Secondly, there had bran, a want of sViUed engineers, annng mainly from provincial and private requirements ; seven engineers had now been obtained from Englund. But while he acknowledged some delays, bo urged that it would be only fair that the House should recognise the fact that taken aa as a whole the progress of Public Works under the Department had been quickened during fcho year beyond what was contemplated last session. JJe had to report, as he expressed last yea-- y the energy shown by the officers of the Department. He n-nch regretted the loss by sudden death of two very promising engineers, Messrs R. Millet and E. Johnstone The eu^iueeiing cadet system was working excellently, and would be most valuable to the colony. He would first refer to the North Island railways. An amicable anangement had been made to lelieve Mr Edgar from completing the contract for the Kaipara and Riverhead line ; and it had been let to Mr Fallor, who was to finish in December next. A further appropriation of 14, 0001 would bo iequired for this line, mainly owing to the rise in iron ; this addition would make the total cest 44372 per mile, but better ballasting than was provided,, for would be necessary if there was much traffic, and the cost of such ballasting would consequently depend on the exi.ens'on from Riverhead to Auckland being made. Plnns for the extension were ready. It had not been commenced been use the Engineer-in Chief was unable to report that it would pay working expenses. The House would, howevev, bo asked this session to authorise its construction; for though it would not, taken alone, pay working expenses, and though the Kaipara and Riverhead branch would probably not do so the Government were convinced that a Kaipara to Auckland line would pay considerably more than working expenses. The Auckland and Merrer line was progressing satisfactorily and it wns hoped that the bonus offered Messrs Brogden, 5002 a month, would lead to its, completion three or four 1 months in advance of contract time, Ist September, 1575. | From Mercer to Newcastle the construction of tho line was in the hands partly of contractors, partly of the Volunteer Engineer Militia Corps, now consisting of three companies, j numbering in ail about 200meri. Its organization was effected by tho Hon Dr Pollen, the Government having at one timo supposed that an additional defence force was necessary in the Waikato. 'ihe corps had been working since December, and had worked very effectively. The vvoi k had been well done undor tho direction of tho District Engineer ; Major Cooper aud other officers in charge maintained such discipline and drill as to ensure an available defence if needed. It was proposed to charge tho defence with any excess of cost of the work done by the corps as compared with ordinary contract w ork. Materials for the Waikato bridge, for road as well as railway traffic were on tho way from England, and it was exported that the bridge would be completed about March, 1876. As to the extension of this line, it might be said, that if non-professional opinion could be relied on, there appeared be no engineering difficulties in carrying the railway in a nearly direct line South from Alexandra behind Mount Egmont. In the first 18 miles of the Napier io Waipukurau line, tl.a contractors would bo fully a year behind time. They had great difficulties to contend with in obtaining sleepers and other timber. Notice had been given ions to enforce penalties if found necessary. A further length of 27 miles win under contract and progressing satisfactorily. On the Wuitavft and New Pjvmouth lino the contract time ouuht not to be exceeded, but if it hud been forseen that the Court would sustain such claims for payment for land as it had fiistamed, tho Government would have delaj cd commencing the works until reasonable arrangements had been effected. A really good line behind Mount Egmont had now been found, and a working survey southward towards Hnwera was to bo completed. From Wanganui northwards the country had been found very difficult, iii>tend of favorable, as the Depaituient had been led to expect and despite all possible exertions no dnto ior commencing the formation of the lino could be fixed The heavy works would be mainly within the first 30 miles north of Wungimui. Tho budge over the Wnnganui river was to bo completed in March, 1876. Two sections of the Wungnimi and lUaiuiwalu Jino had been lc-t including bridges over tho Wangamu and Turnkma. For the remainder tho surveys are well advnnced. The conversion of this hue from a tiaimwr) to a railw uy was piovided '

lor by the Railway s Act '72. It was now found to be absolutely necessory, similarly to convert the Rangitikei to Manawatu section. It was proposed to contract with Mr Hilcombo, the agent ot the Emigrant and Colonist Aid Corporation to eoiisti net 9 miles of this railway. He having the right on behalf of the Corporation requiro employment for 200 of the immigrants at any time during the next three years — a condition which was found to bo very embirras3ing. The first section of the Wellingtou and Masterton Railway had been after three mont'is maintenance taken over from the c< n tractors. It had cost 3.093Z more than contract price, so tha the total cost of 8 miles, including a fair proportion o the charges for the Wellington terminus was 49,7132 The hurued collection of information on which the contract was based caused both engineers and contractors to be misled as to the nature of the stone m the hills alongside the line. The stone proved unfitted for sea-facing, and theie was a consequent charge for change of plan. T.venty-seven miles, including the summit tunnel, were under contract : six miles of this portion had been satisfactorily completed by Mr McKirby, and would shortly be ready to be opened. The work of the engineer in selecting the best route across the Rimutaka had been most arduous. The engineer had, iv company with Mr James Mackay, examined the country between Cambridge and Mauawatu ; he had reported, but nothing could be decided as to a railway line until it was known whether the line could be taken on the west side of Lake Taupo instead of the e.nst side. The land that would be traveised on the former route being very inferior to that on the latter. Coming to the Middle Island railways, the contractor for the Picton and Blenheim line were much behind time, but they had promised to complete it as soon as practicable. The Nelson and Foxhill works were progressing satisfactorily ; the date for their completion was November, 1875. On the Westport and Mount. Rochfort line, the section to Farndon was about to l.c let; and the surveys for the completion to Ngakawawau were in a forward state. Jle saw no reason why the entire railway should not be completed by the end of 1874, and that before the middle of 1875 the permanent harbour works will be put in hand. The commencement of Iheao works depends upon the completion of the contract for the first length ; the date of which is August, 1875 The G-reymouth and Brunner line, including the brid-jo of the Grey river are ;n » mid, but the railway works are not in such a forward tlalo as was anticipated. This was owing to the necessity for improving the line over the short length where heavy slips threatened. The Engineer-in-Chicf states that the steps he had taken were sufficient to ensure the safety of the line, and the cost of the additions would be met out of appropriations made last year. The protective works undertaken had answered all expectations, and had stood the te3t of some very severe flood-. The Kowai to Rangiora lino was all under contract and progressing satisfactorily. The line shonld open to South Kowai early next year. The extension from Rakaia to sonth side Rangitatoa included three large bridges, and a small one. The section to the Ashburton would be opened for general traffic in a few days. To the Hinds rivor would be opened about January, and the whole works would be completed about the middle of 1875. The continuation to Temuka was about to be let, and from Chri3tchurch to Timaru; the whole line should be ready far traffic about August or September, 1875. The Timaru to Youug'a Creek section could be opened in two months. From Timaru to the Waitaki was ready for contract, and about December, 1875, might be named as the time for completion. The branch from Rangioria to Oxford should be completed within contract time, the end of November next, from the Racecourse to South Bridge was to be completed by January next, and the Rolleston and Malvern and White Cliff lines were expected to be ready by December next. All the buildings for these branch lines were under contract, and would be ready in advance of the required times. Owing to tha high price of iron, the appropriation for these branch lines would not be sufficient by about the amount required for the Wymate branch, and arrangements would have to be made to provide funds for that work. All the rolling stock for the branch lines in the colony, and that for the trunk lines was either here, or its shipment had been advised. The completion of this is under contract to Messrs McGavin and Co., and should be finished about November, 1875. Every endeavor would be made to keep the contractors to their contract time, and a bonus was offered them to finish it earlier. It had been found necessary to add an extra six feet to all the cylinders now on the way from England, and a further appropriation would be required to cover the cost. Ho had alluded, last year to the great delay caused by the alteration in England of the design for the bridge and he must repeat his original design would, at very much similar cost, have answered the purposw. Passing to the O-ago lines— that between Waitaki and Oamaru had been much de'a} ci by the difficulty of getting sleepers Between Oamaru and Mauraki the works were not in as satisfactory a state as they shonld be, but the Government were not fiee from blame in the matter. The engineer over this section had to be removed in November, and since then Messrs Brogden hnvo been getting on more satisfactorily with the work. On the Moernki line, bulf a mile of works, costing about two thousand pounds, would have to bo abandoned. Tlusjnight have been provided against had more time been taken for the survey betwoen Moeraki aud Dnnedin ; the heaviest work was the tunnel through to Blueskin. It was progressing satisfactory. Dunedin to Blueskin Bay would bo completed concurrently with the tunnel, and from Blueskin to Moeraki would be let during the year. An extension of Port Chalmers line was contemplated to be made this year. The Dunedm and Clutha railway bad been recently opened to Green Island, about six miles. The work was progressing satisfactory. On the rest of the line, and with the view of expediting its completion, the Government hare offered Messrs Brogden a bonus of £80D per month for every month they saved in completion of the line previous to Ist Sept. next year. The Tokoman iro and ¥lorenco railway was all under contract, the date for the completion of the formation being Ist June next. The line ought to he finished by Ist September, 1875— but the whole of this work depends on the completion of the Glenore Tunnel. From Clutha to Mataura the only work actually in hand was the largo bridge over the Clutha river. It was intended to call for tenders [It having been half-past 2 o'clock when the copy of the telegram to this stage was received; we were compelled to hold over the romaiudf r till next issue, in order to catch the up country mails.]

(From the D. S. Cboss.) Wellington, Thursday. The Financinl Statement gives general satisfaction. Mr Sbeehan's motion for a re-nrrangement of representation was lost to-day, on the previous question. It is likely to como up again. In the summary of the Financial Statement, published on Wednesday, there was an en or. "He wovild explain whfn ho made his Immigration Statement the further rotes that would be required for immigration and for railway purposes" should have read '■ the further authorities." The Deceased Wife's Sister Bill was reported without amendments. Upon the motion for the third reading of Deceased Wife's Sister Bill, the Premier gave it as his private opinioa that the reputation of the colony would be injured by such a measure. It was quite true that a similar bill had been passed in the other colonies, but it was chiefly owing to the large amount of pressure in individual cases. There ought to be only one law for marriage, aud it would be quite time enough to alter the present law when the Imperial Government did so. A great deal of misery arose from irregular marriage laws, such as the Scottish. He would dissuade members from disturbing the social relations of the colony. He would like to see New Zealand attractire to all classes, but not to those persons who had desired to marry a deceased wife's sister. Mr Fox looked at the question from a different point of view to the Premier. What they had to do was to look at the requirements of the people, not at any religious aspect of the case. The question was ono that could not be subjuct to individual interference, and the State had no right to interfere with the liberty of the subject. The House could not have a better example than the House of Commons and other Australian colonies. It was only the pi eponderanco of the ecclesiastical element in the House ot Lords ivlnch kept such a bill from becoming the law of England. Mr C. O'Neil moved that, the bill be read a third time that day six months. A division was then called for, the result being — For the bill, 24 ; against it, 17. The bill was then passed.