PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 2815, 29 July 1890, Page 3

PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT.

•- [CONTINCBD.I rur.i.rc lIMLUINGS. As regards public; buildings, the increasing leqmronients (if settlements, together with tin; necessity for renewing tlie old wooden structures creates continnons demands nn thn votes, and until many renewals still urgently required have been effected this demand must continue. The amount voted for public bridges out of loan last year was £13,351. In addition out of the consolidated fund £38,075 was also voted_ for public building* and domains, and L' 25,000 for school buildings. The total votes from both funds last year was £107,421 i, and the total expenditure £!)2,0!)5. Contracts have been entered into for the new sanatorium at Kotorua, new Custom House at Ureymouth, a sciunping-oltico in connection with the Government Printing Office in Wellington, and a central police station at Dunodin. The more important works proposed to be proceeded with this year, and for which provision has been made on the Estimates are as follows :—Out of the loan funds : New lunatic asylum at I'orirua, and further works at the asylums at Sunnyside and Seacliffe, and at the gaols in Auckland and Wellington. Out of consolidated fund : £-10,000 is provided for school buildings, also £2000 for native schools, and £8000 for an institution for deaf mutes. Besides these amounts, £31,000 is also provided for ordinary additions, repairs, fittings and furniture. HAlinOl'li lIEFKNVKS. The policy of carrying on the defence works by means of convict labour, announced m last year's .Statement has been followed during the year will) satisfactory results, and considerable progress has been made in the execution of several of the more important works. But while much has been done there remains a good deal to do. The amount voted out of loan funds last year for works of this class was £11152, but the expenditure has amounted to £72!13. The total expenditure on harbour defence to the end of last financial year has been in round numbers £158,000, of which £2118.000 represents the cost, of material from Kiikland, and £220,000 the Cost of works in the colony. Tho defence works, as proposed to be executed during the year, are the completion and armament of the batteries already in hand. The cost of these works is estimated at £13,000, of which £8000 is proposed to bo charged to loan, and the balance to tho fund, Beyond this year's appropriations it is estimated that somewhat more than a similar further amount will bo required to make our haibuir defences thoroughly eflicient. ruHciiAKK or xativk lands. The balance of the loan allotted under j'art I. of the public works fund available on thoiJlst March, 18811. for thn purchase of native lands in the North bland generally, as distinct from purchase of the Nori.h fsland Trunk Railway, was £!i:-!!l(i. But by tho raising of the North Island Main Trunk Railway L";tn Application Act Amendment Act, 188!), this amount was increased by £20,085, being a refund out of the North Island Trunk Railway Loan to the general fund. Of this amount £21,-12!) has been expended during the late financial year, leaving a balance, of £5252 still available. Tho transactions include the purchase of tho Pukeroa-Oruawhata (Kotorua township) Block, on which £8001 has been expended, interest representing 1021 out of 1100 shares having been acquired ; also the purchasing of shares in tho Maumat alloc and other blocks, and completing a number of unfinished transactions. The total area of which the purchase was completed during the year is :i3,i;00 acres. On Part 11. of the. fund there was available on the .'slst March, 18!I0, for nathe land purchases within the railway area tho sum of £1,500, but a further allocation of £100.000 out of the North Island Trunk Railway Loan was made last session for now purchases, in addition to the allocation of £20,085 already referred to. Tim total air.oont available for new purchases under I'art 11. of the fund therefore was £105,501), and of this amount £3,71)5 was expended during the year. As may be judged from the. small amount of the expenditure under this part of the fund, no great extent of land has been actually purchased, but considerable progress has been made with tho necessary surveys, and also in the matter of placing the titles in a position to be dealt with. Some legislation will be necessary to remove, the difficulties which have impeded negotiations in the past, and the (lovernuiont lias a Bill dealing with the matter prepared, which will bo introduced shortly, RATES ON NWTIVK LANDS. The amount voted last year to cover claims for rates on Native lands for the year ended the 31st March, 1881),_ was £.5595, the amount expended being £1)851. A sum of £10,000 will require to be authorised, of this sum £5000 is proposed to be charged to the public works fund, and the balance to the consolidated fund. After the rates for 18811-1)0 have been paid, no further sums will bo payable, the Act having been repealed. I.M.MIuItATION. Immigration is still restricted to exceptional cases of separated families, or near relatives who are more or less dependent upon their friends in the colony for assistance. Tho balance of loan allocation for immigration purposes at the 31st March, IHS!', was £3800. and the expenditure during tho year was £807, thus leaving a balance available on the 31st March last of £2003, against which there are liabilities to the extent of £2200. TKI.KGRAI'H KXTKNsrONS.. The expenditure on telegraph construction, and for the extension of the telephone exchange in tho colony, amounted during the lust financial year to £lii,3|ti, and of this sum an amount of £37.55 was expended on the telephone exchanges, making their capital cost at the close of the year £03,300, including the value of the material in hand. Of the now lines erected during tho year bathe extension of telegraph communication, the most important are those to Lichlicld, to Otorohanga, to Mokihimii, to (Iroendale, and from Ongaonga to Tikokino, from Riversdale to Balfour, from Cardrona to Pembroke, and from Palmerston South and Nenthorne. In all these extensions the lilies have been brought in the Estimates for the present year's expenditure. Provision has been made for the extension of the lines from Tologa Bay toWaipiro, Bbhfiold lo Morrinsville, Marton tolliintorvillc, and for the completion of the line from Mangonui to Maitai. C'ONCI.I.'SIO.V. In conclusion, I would again direct the attention of lion, members to tho necessity of lealisiug our position when borrowing ceases, a point to which. 1 alluded at the outset. PracticaHy wo aro this session dealing with the last of J'art f of tho loan fund, and this is the (source from which \va have

hitherto paid fur :i number of works and services that must in future bo borne by the consolidated fund, Part I embraces roads of all classes, public buildings, telegraph extension, unmicrntinn, p'U-chase of native lands, harbour defences, ami some other minor items. As already stated by myself, and irore fully by my colleague, the I'remier, in his Financial Statement, the expenditure on the purchase of native lands, and in making roads to open up Crown lands before sale are legitimate charges on the land fund ; but the problem of dealinu with the other items on the list is a very difficult one to solve. Although the averago expenditure for the seven years on the works named in the table is £121,4!)l>, it will be seen that the amount for last year is only £12.S,(>;">-">, as against £s!ir>.o!K) in 1883-84, and £.552,183 in ISBIJ-S7. The works on open lines are directly duo to the spread of settlement and trade, further accommodation being required at stations for the increasing traffic in country produce and general merchandise, as well as addition to rolling stock. Uigent demands for thpso works are constantly made to the Railway Commissioners by settleis and the public generally, and the demands are in many cases so reasonable that they cannot I e refused. As theie is no capital account in connection with our railways, tliis expenditure must in futtro come out of the revenue. In addition of the cost of new works and extensions which will fall on the consolidated fund, the charges already on it for maintenance will be considerably augmented, particularly as regards public buildings. 1 have had .1 return made, showing the history and condition of each of these buildings, from which I rind that many of the older wooden structures are urgently in need of extensive repairs. Not only havo they arrived at the age when decay proceeds rapidly, but apparently they have not been efficiently maintained, probably from mistaken motives of economy. The General and Provincial Governments have, from first to last, expended between £'3,000,000 and £-1,000,000 on public buildings throughout the colony, exclusive of those on railways, and thev are now valued by the Property Tax "Department at £2-50,000. The amount expended on the maintenance of these buildings has, for the last seven years, averaged £22,500, but for the reason just stated it will be necessary to increase the expenditure. The facts and figures will show that a cessation of borrowing will augment the charges on the consolidated fund to a. considerable extent, but the experience of the last few years proves that the resources of the colony are sufficiently elastic to bear the increase. The spread of settlement, which creates further demand, is at the same time providing means of meeting them. At a critical stage in the history of New Zealand, when the colony was left by the Mother Country with a Maori war on its hands, the colonials adopted what svas called a " selfreliant policy," and successfully fought their own battles. In the more peaceful operations of colonisation we may well follow their example, and meet the demands of further settlement from our own resources. Not only would this promote a spirit of independence, but it would be the surest guarantee of economy in the adminis tration of uur finances. Tlio usual departmental tables and reports accompany this statement. __^______