PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT. [PER TELEGRAPH.]

Waikato Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1564, 13 July 1882, Page 3

PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT. [PER TELEGRAPH.]

The Miniate* for Fulfyfi^W^rks, the hon. Walter Woods Johnston, delivered his first statement to me House of Representatives on Tuesday nignt. We are in receiDt-ei-fcbe full text of the statement,' Hhf%tkhche' limited , space at our di«posi44^ caW'only give a precis of it. We shwij hotyeverVgive prominence to those portions of special interest to Northern readers. After referring to the difficulties attendant upon compiling a satisfactory statement in the short time he has had at his disposal, Mr Johnston alluded to the • recommendation of the Railway Commission in 1881, that a board of management should be appointed to administer the railways. He approved the plan, but was averse to a too hurried adoption of it.

LAST YEAR'S KXPENDITURK. The appropriation was taken for L 1,892,554,, 892, 554, but from consideration of economy and the inability of the colony to borrow (luring the year, only L935,50S was spent, leaving a balance in hand, on March 31st, of L 924.865. The liabilities on that date were L 540.525. The current year was begun with L 924,000 in hand, and it was proposed not to incur liabilities in excess of that sum until after the loan has been floated.

RAILWAYS. Although the amount voted last session for survey and construction of railways, including additions to opened lines, was L 1,026,636,, 026,636, yet the amount spent was only L 454,333, and the liabilities outstanding on the 31st March were L 320.234. Of the expenditure L 166,086 was for additions and improvements to lines already open, and of the liabilites a sum of £122,520 was on the same ac- I cout, but this expenditure was not sufficient for the purpose. Heavier mils, enlarged buildings, stockyards, &c, had been required which tended to show the traffic was increasing, but the extra expense must be kept in mind when considering the question of reducing the rates. The length of railways in progress during the year was 234 miles, of which 23 miles in each Island has now been opened. The total length now opened was 458 miles in the North, and 875 in the South Island. The statement then proceeds to deal with some ot the lines in detail. After stating that £100,000 more is required for reclamation and station at Auckland, &c, the Minister proceeds to speak of theWaikato-Thames line. The formation is nearly completed for a distance of 1 8 miles, with the exception of the bridge over the Waikato river near Hamilton, with which the contractor is not making proper progress, while at the Grahamstown end the formation is completed from Grahamstown, to Te Kopu, with the exception of about three-quarters of a mile at Kauaeranga. The working survey will be ready in about three weeks, when tendrs will be called for the completion of the formation and the plate-laying. The branch line fiom Hamilton to Cambridge is in progress, a contract having been accepted for the for the formation of the first live miles. Reference was then made to Napier, Woodville— Wellington, New Plymouth -Foxton, and Manutahi, and Wavcrly lines. A company had been formed to construct the Manawatu — Wellington line. On the Hurunui — Bluff line, the section through the Weka Pass from Waipara to Waikari would shortly be opened, and a contract had been let to Hurunui. The amount spent on this line including improvements, additions to station, &c, was £208,020, with liabilities L 95.000. About L 28.000 more would be required during the next three years. On theOtagoCcntraltheexpenditnre was L' 21,268, and the liabilities Lll.OBO. The total expenditure up to the 31st March was Ll 3(3, 392, and the lining of the tunnels would cost L 17,000 more, the Minister expressed a hope that with some slight amendments to the Railway Construction Act more companies would be induced to commence operations.

WORKING RAILWAYS. The increase in revenue was L 50,57 2; that of expenditure only LI 142; tonnage, i 19,931 tons, and passengers, 61,910 over the past year. Membeis were referred to tables to show that while the revenue had increased the expenses had decreased during the last three years. Mr Johnston quoted figures to show that the traffic had increased at a. higher rate than the revenue, a fact which indicated that liberal reductions had been made in freight charges. The passenger traffic had not increased to the extent anticipated, and it would be desirable to consider M'hether the rates should not be lowered. The total expenditure on railways had been L 10,974,00 0; upon lines open, L 9,443,000., 443,000. In the North Island the expenditure was L 3,194,000,, 194, 000, yielding L 2 2s 8d per cent. ; in tbje South Island, L 6,249,000,, 249, 000, yielding L 4 16s 3d per cent. The increase of revenue over expenditure during the past year was in each case 10s ncr cent.

ROADS. Exclusive of votes for opening lands for sale, LI 16,815 in the North, and L 88,539 in the South Island had been voted for roads, and the amounts appropriated had been L 101,974 and L 57,964: respectively. Referring to the progress of works, Mr Johnston said the Waipa had been bridged in two places, and a third bridge is in course of construction at Alexandra, leading to the King country. In the district lying between the Waikato and Rotorna work has been done in improvement of the Cambridge to Taupo road, and particular attention | has been given to the Cambridge-Rotorua road, which will be the future highway from the Waikato into the Rotorua country. Various contracts have been let, and 200 Armed Constabulary were transferred to the Rotorna road after jv, their services were no longer required at *- Parihaka, and thtfy are now, actively , . engaged on that work. For the improve- ' ment r of the road from Cambridge to Taurauga a 'subsidy has been given to the local body. , Road works in other parts of the colony were, then referred to. Mr Jonnson then proceeded to' deal with harbor works and public buildings, and, reference was made to the extension of the colonial coalfields and the construction of eoldfields water races.

**pe6posal fob the ..future. " • After providing for all • liabilities arid land' purchase, 'the 1 Governnient , would have a balance of the public works ; fund in hand of ( fftr nnpn r/iilwaVß dudOCt the'^Xtf ' WW*

years, exclusive of fencing, &c, was estimated at L 376,000. After referring to the loan, the Minister proceeded to lay down the probable cost of completing the connection between Auckland and Wellington, and Picton and Invercargill, and other trunk lines. This cost is estimated as follows :— -tfrdm Te Awamutu southwards, LI ,000,000 ; to complete Napier to Wellington and to connect with New Plymouth-Foxtou line, L 670.000? to complete New Plymouth-Foxtonline,L7s,ooo; to connect Picton and Christchurch, L 1,200,000 } to connect Nelson and Greymouth, Ll,200,000 ; to connect Helensvilleand Kawakawa, L82,000j to construct the Otago Central, Ll,000,000; total, L 6,125,000., 125,000. Considering that lines now being made will cost L 700,000, and that various other works were required, a loan of L 10,000,000 would not be excessive, but it was not prudent to do this. A million a year was sufficient, and that only for the length of the present Parliament. It was proposed to recommend the House to make special provision for the construction of line from Te Awamutu southwards. Having decided to limit the loan for railways and immigration to L 3,000,000,, 000, 000, the following apportionment was recommended :— Railways, Kawakawa, to complete) L 17,50 0; Whangarei-Kamo, to complete, L 70.50 0; Hamilton-Cambridge, to complete, L 50.000 j Hamilton-Te Aroha, to complete, L 92.000; Thames-Te Aroha, Grahamstown to Kopua, L 23,000 ; main trunk line, from Te Awamutu southwards, L 10,00 0; Napier- Woodville, to complete, L 160,000 ; Wellington- Woodville, extension from Masterton, L 200,000; New Plymouth-Foxton, to complete line of 195 miles, L 75,00 0; Nelson-Roundell, extension from Belgrove, L 40.000 ; GreymouthReefton, extension, LI 00, 000 ; main trunk line through South Island, extentension southwards from Blenheim, L 90,00 0; completion of Weka Pass and Horsleydown sections, including bridges over the Hurumu, L 75,000 ; main trunk line,' extension northwards, LlBo,oooj Upper Ashburton branch extension, L 15,00 0; Lincoln-Little River, to complete, L 30.000 ; Albany Creek branch extension to Budger's Pass, L 35,00 0; southward to Sheffield, to complete, L 12,000; Liviugstone branch to complete first section, L 22,000 ; PalmerstonWaihemo, to complete, LlB,ooo ; Catlins River Branch, to complete section from main line to Port Molyneaux-road, L 22,00 0; Waipaki-Heriot Burn, to complete section to Swift Creek, L 12.00 0; Edcnsdale to Toitois, to complete section to Makareta, LI 3, 000 ; Otago central extension, L 300,00 0; Lumsden-Mararoa, branch, to complete to Centre Hill, L 35.000; Riverton-Orepnki, to complete, L 16,000: total, L 1,650,000., 650,000. Purchase of native lands, L 200,000 ; public buildings, L 300,000. Immigration, L 200,000. Roads to open up Crown lands, L 200,000; roads and bridges, L 100.00 0; roads, wharves, and bridges north of Auckland, LlOO,OOO ; goldfields, LlOO.OOO ; harbours, LlOOjOOO ; telegraph extension, L 50,000: total, L 1,350,000. Grand total, L 3,000,000. The LlO,OOO for the line from Te Awamutu southwards, was to be applied to making surveys, &c, the Government to introduce a special loan bill of £1000,000 to be solely applied to the work of constructing this line as soon as circumstances will permit. After referring more in detail to these proposals, Mr Johnston said the immigration proposed is solely a nominated immigration except for single women. He referred to the benefits which had accrued to the colony from immigration. The population had increased from 240,400 in 1870 to 504,900, and the revenue from railways and Crown lands had increased from £935,000 to 2,414,000. Referring to the settlement of Crown lands he said the system of improving these by draining and previcling roads and bridges had worked very advantageously. The Government proposed to make no further provision for road works except by means of the measure to be introduced. Referring to the expenditure on goldfields the Minister said the reefs at Te Aroha gave considerable promise for the future, and the estimates contain a provision for assisting a tramway for the carriage of quartz from the mines in that district, Alluding to the great benefits conferred on the colony by the railways, the Minister took occasion to regret that the State did not, from the commencement of the public works policy, take possession of considerable areas of land in the vicinity of proposed railways, in order to cut them up and sell them on small homesteads, thereby aiding the settlement of the colony and increasing the traffic of the lines. In concluding, Mr Johnston said the Government were thoroughly convinced of the advisability of completing the railway system in the sure faith that by this policy the colony would make progress.