E.—l

1877. NEW ZEALAND.

PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT, BY THE MINISTER FOR PUBLIC WORKS, THE HON. JOHN DAVIES ORMOND, FRIDAY, 10TH AUGUST, 1877.

Mr. Speaker,— In the Statement I am about to make, I shall endeavour to inform the House as to the general conduct of works under the Public Works Department during the past year, and as to the proposals of the Government in respect to works to be undertaken in the year we have just entered upon. In doing so, I would remind honorable members that my term of office commenced in January last; and I desire to take this opportunity of thanking my honorable friend and predecessor (Hon. Mr. Richardson) for the kind and cordial assistance he has rendered me on the many occasions I have had to refer to him for information and advice on matters connected with the department. The customary yearly reports from the Engineer-in-Chief, and other officers of the Public Works Department, will be appended to this Statement when circulated, together with Tables, as in previous years. Except were otherwise specially mentioned the word "year" is intended to mean financial year. RAILWAYS. I will first speak of Railways. My predecessor, in making his Statement last year, commenced his remarks under this head by stating that the railway works throughout the colony had not been pushed ou so rapidly during the year then ended as during the two years preceding; and, Sir, I have to state that during the past year, although considerable progress has been made, the votes for the year have not been fully expended. It will be recollected that, when last year's Statement was made, it was announced that the new works authorized would not be undertaken until the Government was assured that the necessary means were available ; and it was not until Eebruary, in the present year, that the monetary arrangements were concluded which enabled the Government to proceed vigorously with the different works authorized. I refer to this because in some parts of the colony complaint has been made that the Government has not pushed on the works as rapidly as was desired; but I think it will be admitted that the course pursued by the Government was the only prudent one open to them. I will now pursue the same course that has been adopted in past years, and give some account of the woi'ks in progress on the different lines of railway throughout the colony. The Kawakawa Railway is now completed to the shipping place, and has been provided with rolling stock. It is not intended to undertake any further work on this line at present, beyond a small extent of open bridging, which is necessary to secure against damage by floods; and this work is in course of construction. The Auckland to Kaipara Railway is being extended from Helensville to a new and more convenient station on the Kaipara River, and a section of 10 miles from Auckland towards Riverhead is now in progress under I—E. 1.