PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1261, 17 October 1911, Page 6

PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT.

RAILWAYS AND IRRIGATION PUBLIC BUILDINGS, ROADS AND BRIDGES. HEAVY EXPENDITURE PROPOSED.

At a late hour last ovening tho Minister for Public Works (the Hon. R. M'Kenzio) laid on tho tablo of tho Houso his annual Statement of tho operations of tho Public Works Department and the proposals for the current year, of Which tho following is a summary:— The total expenditure, though not quito equal to that of tho previous year was still very satisfactory, being no lesa than .£2,190,954—name1y, under the Public Works Fund and separate accounts je2.i0p.851, and under tho Consolidated Fnnd .£81,103. . At March 31, 1910, the available ways and means for public works purposes wore 312,366 And further funds wore received as under — Under tho Loans Acts of 1909 ... 350,002 Under the Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement Aot, 1910 „ 1,568,350 Under tho New Zealand Loans Act, 1908 66,390 Transfer from Consolidated Fund - 800,000 Miscellaneous receipts 6,506 Gross total 3,103.61* The ordinary expenditure of the year emounted to JE1.892,851; debentures redeemed, .8225; charges and expenses in respect of raisin? loans, ,£66,307; other charges, .£4126; thus' bringing the total disbursements up to ,£1,963,569, and leaving a credit balance at the end of the year of .£1,140,045. ■ _ ' ' Fot tho ctoient year it is proposed to provide additional funds as under:— Balance of 1910 loan 181,650 Proposed loan of 1911 1,500,000 Under tho Aid to Water-power .WoTks Act, 1910 500,000 Transfer . from Consolidated Fund 500,000 Special provision for irrigation works (Section 20, Appropriation Act, 1910) 100,000 Tho above, with tho balance brought forward, gives a gross total of ,£3,921,695. The estimated expenditure for public works for the current year (excluding separate accounts having their own ways and means), amounts to £2,921,000, leaving an estimated balance of to be carried forward to nest year.' RAILWAY WORKS. NORTH ISLAND LINES. PROGRESS OF THE EAST COAST MAIN TRUNK. Eleven sections of railway, totalling 91 miles 35 chains, were • opened for traffic during tho financial year and since its close,. In addition to the above, the following sections are approaching completion, and will bo ready to hand over to the Railway Department for regular working shortly:— M. ch. Waikohu to Otoko 7 75' ' Te Wera to Pohokura . 8 55 Kiwi to Tui 3 17 Westport to Te Kuha ...... S 74 ~ Cronadun to Landing 8 40 ,; Houipapato'Papatupu 3 42 Total 37 63 The total expenditure on railway works Inst year amounted to £1,183,933, mado up as under:— £ Construction of new lines 743,1-15 Additions to open lines 360,926 Wellington-Hun railway duplication 19,511 Railways improvements account 60,351 Total 1,183,933 Auckland—and Beyond. In a detailed statement of what has been done on the several railways which have been in hand during tho year, and what is proposed regarding each for the current year, the Minister states that the Kaihu extension lino, carried out some years ago by tho Kaihu Valloy Railway Company, has all been rosurveyed and the lino relocated. The expenditure was X 2327; for the current year .£15,000 is asked for. Very . satisfactory progress has been mado with tho works on tho Kawakawa-Hokianga line, and tho second < section of the line —namely, from Kaiko-he to Horeke—should be authorised during the present session, and jrovision for this ■will be made in tho Railways Authorisation Bill. The expenditure amounted to .£13,11!), and for the current year a vote of JGGO.OOO is asked for. Last year's expenditure on the Kawakawa-Graiamtown railway amounted to X65,93(>. For tho current year a vote of .£15,000 is required to meet tho expenditure which has taken place since March 31 last, and to provide tor a few finishing works. The Northern Section. An exceptionally good year's work has Seen done on the North Auckland railway. It is proposed to ask Parliament to authoriso a further

extension of the line to connect with the Wairoa River, and thus enable waterborne freight to bo brought to the railway from a considerable distance. Tho expenditure on tho-North Auckland railway during the previous financial year was stated to be a record, but last year's expenditure was even larger—uo less than £13fii2. Por the current year a voto of .£120,000 15 proposed. The Royal Commission appointed to imniiro as to the test Ton to for tho extension of this railway north of M'CarroU's Gap reported that the Tailway should be. expeditiously constructed to a junction with the section of tho Kawakawa-Hokianga railway, now in courso of construction between Kawak.wa and Kaiknhe, by a route lying to the -westward of tho Tajigihna Rango. "With regard to tho Huntly-Awaroa line, the first section of which w.is.authorised last session, it is proposed to authorise a further section of the line, about four miles and a half in length. For the- present year an appropriation of ,£20,000 will bo required. Ractihi-Main Trunk Branch Line, Urgent representations have been made to tno Government as to tho necessity of r. branch line of railway from either Ohakuno or Rangataua to enablo tho numerous sawmills to gain access to the railway system, and also to connect the agricultural district of Raetihi with the Trunk line. Provision will accordingly bo made in this year's Railways Authorisation Bill for tho construction of a branch railway for a distance of about nino miles. A voto of .£15,000 is included in tho Estimates to mako a commencement with ths work. Up The East Coast. The formation works on tho Maunganui Bluff-Te Pnko section of tho Bast Coast trunk lino are now nearly finished, rail-laying has been begun, and a locomotive and ballast-wagons have been sent to Tauranga for use in ballasting tho line. An extension of tho line from To Puko to Pnengaroa was authorised last venr, and this section is now being sur.•eyed. As tho construction works will bo ■f an easy character, it will not take '■iv long to complete the formation, and :« consequently dveirable to have a i-Hwr section authorised during the pic•it session, and provision for this will • mado in the Railways Authorisation It is also proposed to put in hand a • .-etiori of tho line between Waihi and Tiliiranga—namely, from Wnihi to Athen;re; al?o a westerly extension of »he line already in course of construction, near Tanranga. es far as the right bank of the Wairoa River, a length of about; eight, miles. Provision for these extensions will bi- inailo in the Railways Authorisation Bill. In tho Authorisation Bill of 1910 provision was made for tho coastruction

of a section of the line from Gisborne towards Napier, and sinco its authorisation a considerable amount of survey has been done, and during tho present year it is proposed to put formation work in hand. It is intended this year to ask the Honso to authorise a section of tho line from Napier towards Gisborno, and in anticipation of this being approved a surveyor has been sent to undertako tho location of the first , section. The expenditure on tho different divisions of tho East Coast Main Trunk railway during last financial year was as under:— X Tauranga-Paengaroa 15,292 Gisborne-Motu 6g.e(!S Napier-Gisborne 131 For tho current year the following votes are proposed:— £ Waihi-Tauranga 15,000 Tauranga-Vaengaroa .._ 3(1,000 . Gisborne-Motti ■ 85,000 Napier-Gisborne— North end : 15.000 South end- 20,000 Stratford Main Trunk Line. Very good progress has been mado with the works on the Stratford Main Trunk lino. Tho section between Iluiroa and To Wera was opened for traffic on Juno 20, 1910, and tho further section to Pohokura is finished, but is being retained by the Public Works Department" in eonsequonce of its being required in connection with tho construction of the next section. Goods and passengers are, howover, being regularly conveyed r.ot only to Pohokura, but to the foot, of the Whiingamomona saddle on tho next section, so that the settlers are reaping the benefit of railway communication. The Whangamomoiu Tunnel over 30 chains in length, is proceeding satisfactorily, tho bottom "headings" having already met, and enlarging to full size- and lining is now being pushed on. Clearing and fencing on the Tahora section havo been commenced, and tho location survey of a further extension is in hand. Survey work has also been in hand for some time at the eastern end of Hio line, and construction operations will be undertaken as soon as a section of convenient length has been finally located. Tho expenditure on this lino last year amounted to X7fi,23t, and for tho current year £100,000 is required. Tho survey of tho extension of the Mount Egrnont branch to the quarry site is now finished, and clearing work has been undertaken. The expenditure last year ■ was £882. For the current year .£15,000 is provided/ THE SOUTHERN LINES. WORK ON THE MIDLAND. The Minister gots on to review tho condition and progress of the southern railway systems. South Island Main Trunk. Provision will be- mado in the Railways Authorisation Bill for extending tho South Island Main Trunk line to the south sid? of the Kekerangu River, about eight miles and a half beyond tho Ure River. A commencement has also been mado with the formation of tho Msndip section, authorised last session, and provision will bo mado in tho Railways Authorisation Bill for another section, about (en miles in length, extending as far as the confluence of tho Charwell and Convoy Rivers, last year's expenditure on the railway amounted to XSI,SS7— namely, ,£21,111 at (he north end and X30,47(i at the south end. For the current year it is proposed to ask for a vote of .£ss,ooo—namely, .£20,000 for the north end and .£35,000 for tit? south end.

The Buller and Otira. At the Nelson end of the Midland line the section between Kiwi and Tni has be*n finished, the work on the Glenhope section is also approaching completion, and a commencement will shortly bo made on the further section between Gknhopc and the confluence of tho Hope and Buller River?. It is proposed to ask for an authorisation of another section of this line, abont nine miles in length to the confluence of the Owen and Buller Rivers. • At the Reefton end tho section between Cronadtin and the Inangahun. Landing is practically finished. In tho Arthur's Pass Tunnel the "heading" has bsen driven for a total distance of Im. 68ch., leaving 3m. 37ch. yet to be pierced, and nearly a mils and a half -has been enlarged to the full sisse and lined. Tho expenditure on the different sections of the Midland Railway during th-5 year was as under: — £ Nelson end 23,861 R-eafton end 15,675 OtiTa-Bealey 73,179 • Broken Eiver-Bealey 38,913 Total 151,623 For the current year, the folloiring appropriations are proposed:— £ Nelson end 35,000 R-eofton end 20,000 Otira-Bonley 00,000 Broken River-Bealey 50,000 Total i 195,000 Other Railway Works. The remaining works in tho southern systems may be summarised thus:— Expended R'q'r'd JiSst Current Year. Year. £ £ ■Westport-In.-mgahua 18,557 311,000 Ngaherc-Blackball 11,000 2,000 Greymouth-rt. Elizabeth 47,031 25,000 lloss-Mikoiiui Exten — 5,000 Waimnte Branch Exten. — 5,000 Lawrence-Roxburgh 3,894 20,000 Catlins-Waimahaka 56,592 80,000 Winton-Heddon Bush (new lino) - 10,000 Orepuki-Waiau Exten. ... — 5,000 Permanent Way and Rolling-Stock. In addition to the votes already mentioned, an appropriation of is required for permanent-way materials for all lines; also .€2500 for land-claims and liabilities on account of votes of previous years which have not been renewed; also a voto of JJ2500 for surveys of new lines, making tho total proposed vote for railway construction purposes JC1,053,000. During the year under review tho sum of £218,075 was spent in providing additional rolling-stock and workshop machinery for the working railway?, and ,£112,851 in tablet appliances, signal?, and interlocking, telegraph and telephone extensions, water-servicea, sidings, wharves, reclamation work, dwellings, reduction of grades and improving of curves, and additions to station accommodation, making the total expenditure un/lor.tbe heading "Additions to Open Lines" .£300,926. Duplication Works. Tho expenditure last year on railway duplications and contingent works was .£95,317, mado up as follow:— £ Wellington-Hutt duplication works 19,511 New Hutt Road, including land for same ; 15,485 Aucklnnd-Penroso duplication works .' 75 Addington-Rolle9ton duplication ' works 1,805 Dunedin-Mojjiel duplication and deviation of line 58,471 .695,347 Tor the current year provision has beon made on the Estimates to the extent of £85,324, namely:— £ Wellington-ITiitt duplication works 1,,'!24 New Hutt Road 11,000 Duncdin-Mosjjiel duplication and deviation'of line 70,000 ' ' . £85,321

The amonnt proposed to 1» voted for the current year for "Additions to Open Linos" is £370,000 of which the. sum of .£223,000 is for new rolling-stock and additions to workshops machinery, and ■£'20,000 for the now steamer for Lake Wafcatipu. HARNESSING THE WATER. RAILWAY ELECTRIFICATION. PROGRESS OF IRRIGATION SCHEME. Passing on to the Government's scheme for tho conversion of the. energy stored up in tho lakes and rivers of the country into electrical power, in connection with which ill , . Li ran i'arry was appointed supervising engineer iu July last, tho Minister states that with regard to the preliminary work carried out in connection with tho Lake Coleridge scheme, that the availablo market for power in tho Canterbury district has been investigated, the requirements ascertained, plans and specifications arc in cotirso of preparation for works to provide for nn ultimate demand of 10,000 horse-power, and tenders will shortly bo invited for a first instalment of tho plant. Arrangements are being mado for completing tho first section of the works in two years. * It is estimated that a capital expenditure of about £375,000 will be required (o efficiently instal the full 10,000 horse-power plant, and that when installed tho district hetween Rjingiora in the north and Timaru in the south can be supplied with electrical energy, with branch tines to the different fanning centres. The estimates of capital outlay and operatingexpenses indicate that power can be supplied at about .£6 10s. per horse-power per year for wholesale supply for distribution and for factories. Although the Lake Coleridge system is the first in importance owing to tho urgent demand for an adequate simply of power in the city and suburbs of Christchurch, other available sources of electrical energy are receiving attention. An investigation of the available market in the Whangarei district, whero hydro-electric power is available from the Wainia Falls, has been made, with satisfactory results, and preliminary stops are about t obe taken for tho development of power from those falls and from Lake Waikaremoana. The Electrical Engineer will visit both sources of power at an early date. ELECTRIC RAILWAYS, REGRADING MAT BE AVOIDED. Tho conditions pertaining to the electrification of the Christchurch-LytteKon railway are being investigated, and tho requirements ascertained. It is anticipated that with a supply of power availablo from Lake Coleridge, the conversion from steam to electile working will be nrofitable, and tenders for tho work wilt be invited in due course with a, viow to its completion as soon as possible after the suddlj- of current becomes available. After tho application ot electricity to the working of this line, its application to other stations will be considered. Tho Department is studying tho application of electricity not only to subnrban sen-ices, wkero its usefulness ia tuidoubted, but also as an alternative to regrading, wliich is proving necessary on many of tho main lines in order to cope with the increasing traffic. The use of electric traction would dispenso withtiio necessity of regrading in a great many cases, inasmuch as steeper grades can bo worked with electric haulage and at higher speeds than with steam-engines. On new lines also it would be possible to roduco the cost of' construction considerably, and to expedite the work by the adoption of higher ruling maximum gradients than are possible with eteam haulage, but which con be advantageously operated electrically.

FOR THE PARCHED AREAS. IRRIGATION AND WATER SUPPLY. Tho surveys and explorations in connection with irrigation works in Otago have been rigorously proceeded with during tho year. As tho rainfall in tho Ida Valley region has in the past shown remarkable fluctuations, being in the years of greatest precipitation as much as two and a half times that of other years, it is probable tliat the dams which will be constructed will not fill all at once, and possibly not for a year or two; but when once filled there will be a largo surplus from wet seasons available to assist during dry years. With the water availablo wo expect to irrigate about 16,000 acres bv gravitation. It will bo possible, by pumping up the enrplns water which will ?un off after the irrigation of the higher parts of tho valley, to irrigate a second "block situated lower down the valley; and, after somo years of constant application of large bodies of water have caused the ground-water level throughout tho valley to rise, a third area may even bo served by pumping from the same source. In Cromwell Flat the water oi the Roaring Meg has been retained by tho Government, and can be used by direct gravitation to servo practically the whole flat ; the water-rights of the Last Chance Gold Mining Company have been purchafed, which will render water available for the irrigation of such country as is suitable in the locality of Bald Hill Flat; tho flat ground between Clvdo and Alexandra, also tho Jloutero flat and the Galloway Flat can probably bo served from tho llanuherikia River, and without expensive impounding reservoirs. The irrigation of tho Jlaniototo Plain is also being considered. With tho water that could l>o impounded in the Serpentine R-osorvcir (10,000 -million cubic feet) it would be possible to irrigate at least G3.000 acres of land, after making a liberal allowance for prob-.ible loss by evaporation, seepage, and waste; and, in the conveyajjce of this water from . tho reservoir to the land to bo irrigated power to the extent of about 9000 horse power can be generated, which could Iks transmitted electrically to pump residual water to irrigate a further area, or used for industrial purposes. Tho expenditure last year amounted to .E79SO, of which the expenses in connection with tho Steward Settlement and Otekaiko schemes, amounting to X6llß, were charged to the Lands and Education Departments, and J!ISG2 spent in survey work in connection with (he Ida Valley and other schemes to the special vote for irrigation and water supply. Tho vote proposed for the current year under this latter heading in the Estimates now submitted is .£30,000.

PUBLIC BUILDINGS.

BIG VOTE ASKED FOR. £119,000 FOR NEW STRUCTURES. Tho total expenditure on public buildings tost year amounted lo «£132,750, a considerable increaso on that of the previous year owing to tho great expansion of business throughout tho Dominion. Tho amount is made up as under:— X New buildings (Class XX, Public Works Fund) 325,613 Maintenance works (Class V, Consolidated Fund) 49,566 Maintenance works (schools), (Class XV, Consolidated Fund) 57,571 4432,750 For the current year the following appropriations are proposed:-- £ New buildings (Public Works Fund) ; 419,000 Maintenance works (Consolidated Fund) 53,977 Maintenance works (schools), (Consolidated Fund) .' 90,300 .£593,277 Provision is inado for continuing work on the Christchurch and Invercargill Departmental Buildings; for new Govc-rn-niont Buildings at Hamilton, Gisborjie, New Plymouth, and Jlaslerton; for tho eoinpletion of the Government Buildings at Hokitika; for new offices for the Sf-.imps and Native Departments in Welliiii;(.:>u; for making a commencement wkh the new Parliament Buildings; and for sundry other items. Courts, Gaols, and Police Stations, Votes are iiskod for new building.? at Kaitiiia, Kflikohe, Waipu, Auckland, Otorohanga, Ohokunc, Raetihi, Wungnniii, Masterton, Takaka, Greymouth., Cheviot, and Mothven; for additions at Hamilton and New Plymouth; and for converting tho police station at Wnrkworth ilijtn n cuiivtlioiise; for wnviljTs" cottages' ;it Invercargill and Wellington, and provision for a reformatory farm; and tho erection of n. number of very necessary station buildings, some of them to rcnla.ee rented preinusis, which

are frequently inconvenient, and are responsible for a somewhat large annual chargo against the Police Department. Post and Telegraph. The expenditure on po-t and telegraph buildings is on (ho increase. Tho largest outlay last year occurred in connection with tho new General Post Office in Wellington and •the new Chief Pe«t Office iu Auckland, tho expenditure on those two buildings during tho year having amounted to .£60,777. There are largo appropriations oa account of the new buildings at Auckland and Wellington; .al-o votes for new buildings at Wellcaley Street (Auckland), Ponsonbr, Te Aroha, R-otorua, Manaia, Blenheim, Wesiport, Sydenham, Akaroa, Balchitha, and JCaitangata, and for a bulk store at Wellington. Provision has alfo been made lor new buildings at a number of other places. Votes arc provided for the pnrclia.se of new sites and buildings- at Kawakawa, Tlikurangi, Otahuhu, Raglan, Tokaanu, Wellington North, Adelaide Road (Wellington), Little River, and Ravensbourne. Hospitals, At Tokanui buildings for the new mental hospital necessary to relieve, but not to replace, the existing institutions are about to bo erected. The area of land is 5000 acres, and the intention is to build separate erections for tho accouimo- . dation of each class and bubchiss of patients. At Porirua the limited extent of land available will preclude any considerable extension of the buildings, but it is contemplated to make a moderate addition on the lines of tho Wolie Bequest Hospital in Auckland. The current year's estimates provide for a renewal of tho vote for a site and buildings for a now St. Helens Hospital, Wellington; for a new St. Ifejcns and site at Christchurch; for additional hospital accommodation at Kotorua; and some other minor works. Workers' Dwellings. On the supplementary Estimates last year a vote of ,£15,000 was taken for workers' dwellings, and considerable preliminary work was done in pursuance of this _ appropriation. On tho curront year's Estimates largely increased provision has been made—namely, for the acquisition of suitable sites, for road formation to give access to same, and for tho erection of suitable buildings. ■ Experimental Farms. For the current year provision is mado for tho purchase of land for an experimental farm which it has been decided to establish in the South Island. Sew buildings required on experimental farms are also provided for. This is in continuation of the policy of gradually replacing tho original buildings on" the farms with buildings more m keeping with tho character of the place?, and bettor adapted for economically working them.

ROADS AND BRIDGES. EXPENDITURE BY LOCAL BODIES. NEW SYSTEM ON TRIAL. Liberal provision was made on last year's Estimates for roads, and every effort has been made since tho votes were passed to push on energetically with the works. No time was lost in offering to local bodies fclie expenditure of such votes as it was anticipated they would be prepared to undertake. V.'lien the offers to local bodies were made, they wore invited to submit pronosals for expenditure, at as early a date as possible, and informed that authority would bo issued, so soon as such proposals had been approved. Between November 30 and March 31, JE225.7C8 was authorised to local bodies and Departmental engineers, and between Marcli 31 and July 31, authority for a further sum of X 70.945 was issued. Somo few local bodies declined to take un the items offered to them, othcra selected only thofo which presented little difficulty or expense in carrying out, and in almost every ea.-N3 where the local body was unwilling to undertake any particular work, authority was promptly issued to ttio Department's local engineer to carry it out. On tho whole, however, the resnoivso may be regarded as quite satisfactory, so far as tho willingness of local bodies to undertake work is concerned. Despite the fact that votes were made available at the earliest poaiiblo date, the expenditure at March 31 had not reached tho amount anticipated. There wero many thousands of pounds worth of work in hand under grants, much of which has since been completed. In connection with the stated intention of the Government to give consideration to applications for grants where the local pconlo were prenored to help themselves, a largo number" of substantial votes, on a pound-for-pound basis, wtre provided. The expenditure of these items has not so far reached anything like tho amonnt offered, in many cases doubtless attributable to tho fact that when tho votes were providsd local bodies bad not completed their arrangements for loans. An increased number of applications has been received this year for grants on this basis.

The authorisations last year for roads on goldficlds were .£86.795, on account of which a vote of .£53,420 was taken. It. is proposed to continno to assist local bodies by means of grants and subsidies towards the construction of roads and tracks to onablo plant and stores to bo convoyed to mines in course of development, and also towards tho construction of tracks in new localities po as to better enable prospecting operations to be carried on. ' Total Appropriations. Expended Vote for last current year. year. X £ Roads, etc 312,545 253,865 Backblock roads 230,720 296,135 Scads on goldfields 53,420 50,000 Opening up Crown Lnnds for Settlement Account 100,000 100,000 National Endowment Account 15,935 19,350 Land for Settlements Account 20,865 20,000 New Hiitt Road 20,000 14,000 Maintenance of roads (Consolidated Fund) ... 30,000 35,000 Totals 783.455 788,350 ' VARIOUS VOTES. ' Briefly, the remaining proposals include:— Vote. Goldfields Development SiCoflO Tourist and Health Resorts 15,000 Wireless, and Land Lines 175,000 Lighthouses (.£8885) *4,500 Harbour Works (£14,670) *8,500 Harbour Defences 3,000 Ifivers Improvement 20,000 'Vote on account. Requirements in parentheses. THE GRAND TOTAL. In addition to tho votes specifically referred to, the Estimates include provision for the undermentioned services:— Departmental 45.000 Immigration 20,000 Lands improvement 20,000 Contingent defence 20.000 The total amount of the proposed appropriations, including special accounts, is X3,14.y>74, against X 3",215,210 voted and X 2,039,508 actually expended last year.