PUBLIC WORKS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 250, 18 October 1912, Page 2

PUBLIC WORKS.

__ ™ - ■ • -ii- — THE GOVERNMENT PROGRAMME RAILWAY VOTES REDUCED. THE WHAJf GAREI-TRUK X, CONNECTION. EAST COAST RAILWAY. SUSPENSION OF WORK AT THE WAIHI END. (By Telegraph.—P&rliauieaitary Reportex.) WELLINGTON, this day. The Public Works Statement and Estimates will he tabled this evening. There is good reason for stating that there will be no radical change of policy except that votes for some railway lines at present under construction will be disappointing to the districts concerned. Votes for roads and bridges throughout the country will be very similar to those of last year. Regarding railways, there are at present 17 lines under construction in the Dominion, and it is understood that the number of authorisations will be increased by two or three. So far as the North is concerned, it is practically assured that a vote will appear for starting a line connecting Whangarei with the North Auckland Main Trunk, while a fair amount may appear for prosecuting conatnictkni on the Trunk line to Kirikopuni. No vote will appear for the Waiuku branch line. There is good reason for believing, with regard to the East Coast line, that the Waihi-Tauranga section will suffeT, but that a substantial vote wfll appear for the Giaborne-Motu sedtion; in fact, indications point to almost entire suspension of work on the Waihi section during the coming year. It is likely that a sufficient vote will appear for work on the Napier-Gisborne sedtion to permit of fair progress. There are, however, indications that the Government intend to cease construction on this particular section for the time being. The aggregate of South Island voltes •will be less than that for the North Island, but money will be well distributed, except for the fact that the Otago Central line is unlikely to receive aji appropriation. All other works will be continued, including the mucb-discussed Lawrenco Roxburgh line, which, will be completed to (Beaumont. The irrigation scheme of Central Otago will not be neglected. The Government is urrable to provide as large a sum as usual for public works this year, and the statement will show that the effect of the shortage is being' spread impartially over the whole country.