THE Inangahua Times. PUBLISHED TRI-WEEKLY MONDAY, AUGUST 13, 1877.

Inangahua Times, Volume IV, Issue 54, 13 August 1877, Page 2

THE Inangahua Times. PUBLISHED TRI-WEEKLY MONDAY, AUGUST 13, 1877.

At the eveuing sitting of the House, on Friday last, the Minister of Public Works (Hon. J. D. Ormond) delivered the Public .Works Statement. He showed that considerable progress had been made in railways durng the year-. Having briefly recounted the nature of tbe railwav works carried on. ie the North Island, he proceeded: "The Nelson and •Eox-hill railway would be connected with the city by •June next, acd it was intended to erect a workshop in Nelson*. The Weatport-Ngakawau, line and the works for landing coal would- shortly be finished The Gireytnouth-Brun-nerton line was working satisfactorily. River protective works would be proceeded with, steadily. The station accommodation would be improved and 1 a workshop erected during, the year. The total length of railways yet authorised was 1,227 miles-, of which 412' miles were in the North, and 815 miles in the South Island ; and there were open for traffic 212 miles in the latter, making a total of 860 mites. An additional length of 274 miles would be completed during the flnan** cial year ; about 132 miles being in tbe Nortb, and 152 miles in the South Island. Tbe total expenditure up to 30th June, 1877 waa £0,129,020. This amount included the liabilities of all existing contracts, some of wbich extend into the year 1878, and for plant and material ordered from Home* It was intended to push on tbe exploration surveys during the present year and main trunk lice, in both Islands,

mmmmmmmmmmmmmi I \mmmmmmmmm — mmmmmm. __i» mm together with definite proposals for their completion. The House would be asked to give further aid ia the direction of special provision made last session for roads in certain districts in the North Island, and for similar puposes in Westland and the Nelson Southswest golifielda, on the ground that these districts had urgent wants, which could not be provided by the local bodies, and that they had special elaims to consideration from being so situated as not to derive the same immediate and direct advantages from the Public Works Policy as other parts of the Colony. Including re- votes, of balances from last year, the total asked for these . works would be' £79,173, of which £17,802, including re-vote of £7802, was for roads in the Nelson South-west goldfields. The pecuniary results of completed water races on the West Coast had not been very satisfactory. It was intended to ask for votes for £86,36?, to complete the more important races in progress, of which sum £25,828 was required for the Waimearace, and £24,381' for the Nelson Creek race." The Statement for the rest is made up of a recital of the progress, present ' and prospective, of railway works in Canterbury, Otago, and tbe North Islaud, the details of which are hardly interesting to the bulk of readers here.