GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVII, Issue 5657, 5 January 1880, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Tuesday, DaeainEEP. 9.

PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT. ? The Hon. Minister foe Public "Wop.s, ' delivered the following statement to-night:— Sir, —On tha 7th of August my predecensor,. 5J.r. Macandrew, made a Public Works Statement to this Home, in nhiov" he shortly . summarised the work ot : department for the last financial Jez; bat avowedly confined himaelf to nncb facts as were, in his opinion, needed to accompany the app'ication for thi 1,- jan then authorised. I shall dor - , by tie p er . mission of the House, give a brief asccaat of the progress of oar Public Works up to a more recent date, and t'aen indicate the opinion of the Government on the cocrse wiiich it is our duty to pursue.

EAILWAYj, N'ORTH ISLAND. Taking the railways in their geographical order, we begin with the Kawakawa, that " being the mcst Northern. The first section of this line has been completed, and is being used iu conveying co%l from the mine to the what f, where the cosl is pat iiito barges and conveyed to ships lying at the deep-water anchorage, eight miles bc'ov.-. The first contract on the Whaajj.m-Kamo line is within a few weeks of C-a k'.r/3, anl the work of plate laying \vi J ij>: Lxrgua a3 soon as passible. The E arv-y .</: the proposed Helensville-Whatigart-j Rtuwty has "now been bggun, and irst- tummer the whole of this country will be thoroughly examined. It is expect'-d that the wharf at Hslensvilie will be completed in about a month, which will provide a v?ry necessary accommodation. Between Riverbead and Newmarkft work is iu progress along the whole 22 railrS, and should be finished in about 10 months. If in the same time the VcffrturksS juuctiou station could lie finished, railway communication between Aucklmdand the Kaipara waters would he completed. A reclamation contract is beinj carried out to obtain increased station accommodation in Auckland, and a site for railway workshops li*-6 been bought at New. market. The branch line to Hamilton has been op .-ned for traffic, and in a very short time the southern end ot the KaiparaPunui line will b; fiuished within 2 or :> milts of the confiscated boundary. Some works are carried o'i at Graharnstown and Saortlaud, and natives are employed on a piece on another section, about 2 miles long, further uo the Thames Valley. The works on the 2s Cpier-Manawatu Hallway are being pushed on south of Kopua, and 64 miles are now open for traffic. Railway workshops are bein-. builr. at Napier. Ninety.four miles of the Patea Manawata Railway are cow open for traffic; from Foxton to Kai Iwi, 9 miles north of Wanganui, and a further secti'tn of 13 miies is being constructed. In a few weeks the Stratford contract on the Waitara-Patea line will be finished, and the journey from New Plymouth to Wanganni willthenbean affair of one day only. Surveys are being carefully nude north of CarlysJe, and this liue, desirable fir ttragetic and other reasons, between Waitara and JNew Pfymouth on the north, ana Carly3ie, the port of i'atea, on the south, may be finished at no distant date. The works on the Wellington -Woodville Railway, in the \\ airarapa district, are being pushed oil vigorously. The contract haying been abandoned, its completion is being carried ont by the Public Works engineers. These works, and the formation of the Grey town braiiL'h, are so well advanced that the line may be open for traffic as far as the latterplace early in February. The railway whsrr at Wellington and the workshops at Pttone are drawing near completion. Machinery for thelatter has arrived, and will shortly be placed ia position, givica facilities for repairs as well as for the economical manufacture ot many articles at present bought at a high Surveys of the Foxton end ot the Welling-ton-Foxton liue are being proceeded witli, and some work has been done near edington by day labour over a length of neariy five miles. MIDDLE ISIAXD.

The original public works scheme for tht> Middle Island was fiimbed in the Uss financial year, communication by rail bei2£ established between Christcuurch and lpvereargill. The western railways in Southland, however, the construction of which was taken over from the Provincial Government and some small extensions of the Geceral Government lines, are not yet complete. With the exception of the Rivor-ton-Orepuki branch, these will ail lie finished duriug this financial year, _ A connection is beiDg made on the kelson and Foxhill line with the Port at Nelson, and inlaud an extension of 3 miles from Foxton i 3 in progress. The Pieton Blenheim line is being carried into the town of Blenheim. The harbanr -works at Greymouth, which may be regarded as an adjunct to the railway system, seem, as far ti they have bsen completed, to answer the puroose for which they were intended.. From the manager's report it would seem that the employment of a dredge materially facilitated the work and reduced the cost of these improvements. The works in progress during the year on the Ambe;ly-Bluff Kailway consisted chiefly cf extensions of sta- | tionp. and workshops at the large towns, and increased wharfage at Port Chalmers. A large expenditure has been propose! in relaying the main line with heavier rails ; bat after much consideration, it seems inadvisable to do this, as before the present rails could be lifieJ most of them will be so much worn that it would not be worth while to put them on another line. Short extensions are made, or are in progress, of the Malvern, Awamokc, and Green Island branch lines. The Waipahi-Tapanui Railway eonti-acc was undertaken oa terms of payment differing froia the usual ones, inasmuch 3gno progress payments were to be required as the work went on, all payments being deferred until the lina was completed. It was thought that the adoption of this method would enable us to indefinitely extend our railway system, and to obtain such an increase of price for Crown lar.ds in the neighbourhood of new lines, made under similar conditions, as would pay the cost of constructing. I grieve to tay these expectations have not been fulfilled. The works, which were pushed on with ereit vigour for some tiuie,are now almost entirely suspended, and the contractors have stated their inability to finish thei' contract without progressive payments made to them. RAILWAYS AUTHORED T.AST YEAR.

Contracts we;e let almost to the full extent of the v.tcs, to nearly a!i the line? authorised last year, and in several eases the votes were largely excee ieJ. Sections were let by piece-work aid day labour, at Weka Pass and Canterbury, on the .Livingstone branch and Otago Central R&iUviy, in Otago, and it Kaiwarra, csar Wo:i;ugton. On all these there were abiat 2300 men engaged at wage?, Somalia; less than current rates. It is certain that this rapidly becomes smaller as the work advances. ROADS.

Certain main !in-s of r ad in the ICorth Island are being maintained, such as the Gnat South Road (Auckland), tbe TaurangaTaapo ro:t J, the TVupo-Napic-r road, and sinie other shoit lengths of road in native districts. The Government expenditure on roids and bridges in t':e Middle Island during last year, was comparatively small, having been almost entirely confined to Westland and the Southern end of tLe Island.

■WATER EACE3. Detailed report 3 up to the 30fch Jane, on Government expenditure in aiding mining enterprise, have already been laid before you. From these reports and the accounts of the financial year, I fir*~l the co'ony has spent in these undertakings. £357,i<39 Os Id, exclusive of £'29,234 2i lid by -way of subsidies. Of the former sum, £79.02G 5a 3J has been handed sver to the Thames C mnty Council ;;s a grant, with aa addition of £10,000 from the vote of the current year. It has be. n arranged to hand over the debt of £11,000, due to the Government from the Government to the Carrick Water-race Company, to the County of Vincent. The total receipts from all water-races amount to £14,407 7s KM, exclusive of £2943 0s 21 refund of subsiui s and interest thereon, being equivalent to an average of about 1 per cent, per annum on the outlay from the date it first became productive, a very unsatisfactory result. Still the collateral advantages are- considerable. The .Nelson creek and water-races worked by the Government w-re the me-ins last year of obtaining 25S0jzs. gold, and employing 700 mea. COAL tXPLORATIO.N".

Tbe most important work of this class which has been undertaken during the past year is the examination of the coal keds of the Mokui district by Dr. Hector, who reports that the coal formation there is OS considerable extent, the outcrops having » width of two miles, and stretching from Kawhia harbour towards the upper part of the Wanganui River. The coal seams crop out on the Mokau River vary from 2 feet to 6 feet in thickness, and the quality is eiCiJ-

It for steam purposes, H tons of Mnkau ,1 having been - pro by l"r. Hector's lis fo do as much as 2 ions of tho 1 est ■inato coal. Iu conr.ec'io'.i with a district yhich coal and linestona aVoui:<l, an exsive deposit of brown heinotiss hai heon :overed by tho r»3ologic-il surveyors at unt Peel, in tho provincial district" of ison. It is 50 feet wide, and liafi b?eu ;ed for a distance jof over 2 m;le3._ I tcea-ures of the OtoUomftiro ■ district e also beeu riiit'-l an ir relation to atir:f* rous cemc' ts iVowished Creek- ;n.l 'I'uapeka, but P?,\v mines h»ve yet beer, opened his jje'il. A n»iv mine has b»< n opened .."enihiil, Gre-r, Island Ti.e Kawat.awa miufc at ;' e Bv- of Inlands, .is undei-po-"Steady <1< vclor ement ar.d the coal is feyjlfrapidly ac(j' i;ian jrositi'm !®m the market as a valuabis: steam coal. A Ipßliaft recently sunk has disclosed the existHgice of two seam.-', 4 and 9 feet thick, |§a§£ : superior quality, and at a greater depth any previous workings, in the SifVaikato ' liiver, fiid indication* of imwrovemeut in the quality of tho Ipgoal with increasing dep'.h hive also SWbfeen snown by recent dis:overie-. Ivlany &VTOI undertaken by the Weetpm-t Colliery JCon »•!>■ for developing the rich coaltield .of U Mount Roihf.rd district, are maki-ig S;|rapnl progress, ami in a fe-v montbi) it is ex-fgliit-d that the market will receive supplies Jp&OP I this source. The further development ifetlft'i' l principal coal rnines of the colony by r f-iJii i lag the facilities for shipment derger\ most careful consideration, as a means 'of f *-iricg industry tSat will probalily cm:he large sum of money vb'.c'n is at the pre tim- sent out of the colony for the jpcre eof foreign coal.

- WOP.KIN'O RAILWAV.S i;,' the firi'fc few days of J = ily heavy ■sajloous occurred in Canterbury and Otago, serious damage to the lines, p»rt<aUy jgksi nliuy traffic, and causing a heavy outplay jn repaii*3 renewal:?. 'I lie permanent I s reported to be in ;.'ooi4 working order, 1 me of t-ie beach lines which, owing to the ightaess of the rails aud sleeper* us ; d A&frtheir construction, are becoming seriously A very large number of sleepers liave required removal during the Jast : £ou r months, and it is worthy of note uMt they were chiefly Am- rican fcimI liflse sleepers were only imported at ane utrimeot, at a time when the pressure Wa treat and til? local supply whollv insdejiitE*. 'Jhe trafiic retur * f-«r July, *&Sgu t and September show * t;onsidf rable ••vfy?liTvr (fi, compared with the corresponding ■"DBXiod of last year. No douot this :a Wtin"t.) the financial depr.suon. but much ElB 1 expected from th" grain tr -ffic of ths sea-ou, which '. i'ls <air ! o be a J«^?o ? j»® r ous one. A. to - >d h:vrv* .®,t and the of trade, fymp'om3 of wli-ch »ve are f 'HWpareur, would speedily produces happier 1 am glad to >ay that we are attending the use of N» \v Z.-aland coal on >o)ir l 1 -ays, and after the expiry of existing c .tracts for the supply of Australian 'Coal, our arrangements will crable us to to a large extent, if not . imported fuel, aud save pcveal dbhousaud pounds a year. In the Public Storks Statement, which was lately made my predecessor, full particulars were igiyen of the lent'th of the railways open ' : for . ira;Ue, thi coat ot construc■Son, the gross r<Cripts. tlie working itScpinses, and the cir-t o£ maintenance Considering the headioog and rapid rat® itfcjwliich our railways have been conscrnct- d, 41<e uncultivated land through which largo jjjortions of nearly all of them pass, and the -gmalluess ot the population, it is no doubt a Si&tter for thst the BSnon= towards interest on the cost of conStrui'ti.'u are so large. It may, however, be SHweli to ascertain how the account really alanci-' : I fiud that the cost of railways onen [for tt;'.::io at the ea<i of the 1-.st financial sear is £5 ; 090,417 0* 4-J, iucludiog £633,229 of4ci fir interest to date of opm'ing. The gross tr-.ific reta-cs amonat co £1,720,053 7':. .from which mast he deducted ! Mi,s-0,537 5s 3d for working expetses ni;iii:ts>:ia:ic-', leavip.y £479,047 ISs, for paymeut of interest on the loaus of wtich thess were ma le. Table «. which will be appended to this etate|psr.t when printed, shows that the past Ijfear the receipts have been £755.000 S■ 2d, atid the working expens. s £545,47S IS?, igiviiig a surplus of £'21 "2,017 13j 2d. This amount represents £2 5s per cenc. en tiie co&t of constractioo, leaving 2"S4G Vj-v cent, to be suppiif i from '-'tile' sources. Sir, w« ali believe that New Zealand a country of su-?h grrat resources iu the "course of years, even thone which are now the farthest from Jjpying r ill become remunerative. In the [meantime, however, the inhabitants o£ the districts which have no railways are tixe.'i to gay for them as well as those who inhabit %>ore favoured plaoes. How burdensome chargcs bav-j become iait!v sho>vti my ho", colleagu", the Colonial Treathe duty is placed on us of con sideriug liow to make our railways pay n sSrcer contribution towards interest oa their by skilful and economic management sind submitting all future proposals lor new (railways to the same rigid scrutiny as private would m;ike, and firmly rejecting |$hem, unless ,i strong probability can he Shown that they will prove remunerative. It must not, however, be forgotten that ti.e Slemsnus of the pablic liave forced ou the s&cloptiou of a more expensive mode of coaistructiag railways and greater speed in transit than was at first intended, thus fiiecessarily iute ferjng with the paying 'cliarter of the undertakings. No doubt jgreat collateral advantages are gained by ilthe construction oE railways, but after Sll the practical test of usefulness Really is there being or not being sjjsed. If, therefore, it is found that on any Railway the traffic is so small that a great :fSC3B results from ita working, it may, I phink be assumed that either it is badly Managed, or that, being useful only to a few, pt ought not to have betn constructed. To j&uote from the statement by my predecessor an 1675: "Thedifficutty commmenced from the foment when the Legislature repealed that ijCardinal condition of the Pablic Works (policy that, in event of the proceeds of 3»ny railway failing to meet interest and Sinking fund on the cost, the property in the ffli3trict should be rated to make up its d<tficiency. The proposal of tbeGovernmenti*, His hon.uiembsis know, to devote the proceeds |if sales of lands to local and colonial public Ijvorks, but if this fund is to be supple gpjented to any great extent by additional [tkerrowieg to complete the geuer&l echcme ' railways, there is no dou!ji in my mind pthat either those already constructed must !jbe made to approach more nearly to a paypuig condition, el-e a systeL-J of rating the beneficially affected, must eventually bj resorted to. Sir, v. do not think Sjbhat the proposals for the various lines of Railway which are now in course of construction, have been subjected before their adoption to so cloie a itiny as their importance igtlemanjcd. It !.;a, moreover, become apthat the funds, which will bs at our for the prosecution of ihe e works P-nll prove inadeqt;ate to complete them. Ve t-hitk that tlie-. time has come when our gswhole future policy with regard to public sjfyvorksmust be reconsidered, aud it then is our gsute-ntior. to ask Parliarnerjt for authority to ijfcl'peiut a Koyal Commission to make a more Igfiill and complete investigation into the cost gao'J value of the several works commenced Saml proposed than it would be possible for ill'.- f'rovtrnment to complete. Before next Se=ii.,n of Parliament the Government hope, by means of the report of these commissioners, to be placed in a position to make proposals to Parliament for the prosecution ft public works upon a plan carefully adapted to the circumstances of the colony. Onr efforts must now, therefore, be earnestly directed to the economical management of our railways, and amongst other means, 1 think the keeping tire aecounta of the various stations separate and distinct, so that it may le seen what each is earning and spending, will have the good effect of arousing emulation among the ciEeers, as well as showing vrhich of the different systems of working should be adopted.

iS PBOPOSA.LS FOR THE FUTURE,

3.Sir my predecessor has had the gratification of proposing and initiating many new worki of! great magnitude. To me has fallen the uWelcomc task of showing that oar resources are isadeouate to hear the coutioued Strain n£ so rapidly constructing these « SenF-vc- works* Believiug that to oe the Sis-; -re do not intend to ask for authority io u.nn many new works. fund at I ©ur (Usposal for the new be I illy sufficient to mett the . works ffi (miremeuts for miscellaneous p , | I and for carrying on the ™rkß .already | authorised at a rate proportionate to our I ejources and to the point at which they I* mil be ox real use to the community. Our position is briefly this. In resp „-. 7 £5,000,000 loan and the balance of £017,1-■ , including credits, with which w J'.'.r, the positive engagements on co " trao entered into, and liabilities which must be met. together with the expenditnr J ? during the current year, will absoib

£.3,800,365, iaclndinp £1,210,802 for land purcba-o'*. and £ <)i payable to coanties in the .provincial districts of Canterbury and Otigo in Respect of • stoppages from tho surplus land revenue of those district. If liuiahetl in the stipulated cirau these works will require £2,559,032 nf thu amount to be paid before th-> SOcii of Jvne nc?.', and the remain-Jar of the liabilities, excepting a portion of those for land purchases, within the following I year. Tho I'alnnce, therefore, which is available out o£ the new loan is £1,872,0-IG, and the only method of adding to this for public workr, in addition to receipts from land sales, is> by diverting to this purpose a I nuin from fciia one of the other objrcts for which the loan w.-tr; authorised. I have stated generally cc? intentions, and the priuciples whicn we believe must guide our proposals whatever may be the opinion of the House, also the expediency of the course which wo propose That course most, to a' large extent, be guided by circumstances which we cannot control. It is my duty to inform tho House that the understanding on which the Loan Agents are likely to obtain the £5,000,000 loan is such as will preclude our going upon the English money market for further loans for .i pjriod of three years. It i.j iraperatirc, therefore, in the interest of settlement, that the expenditure of this Ion:i should bo jod-'cioosly spread over that period. Our proposals for expnndi--lure will be placed in detail before you. I regret to state that, ' although ail earnest endeavour has been made to keep the Estimates within reasonable compass, they reach a very much larger sum than I hon. members will probably expect. It will ) be seen, however, that no less a sum than | £2,356,729 7s in your Estimates is for liabilities' which we found in existence upon our assumption of cftiee, and a portion of the remainder 5s Jot worit» wiic/: -ire .necessary to make available those seriinns already in course of construction. Hoover much we dc3ired to contrast the large expenditure to which the colony in committed, wo have felt bound to ask for expropriations, which we are advised will be required for the above purpose. But, should Parliament ag r ee to our propos. 'it ~.l' be our anxious endeavour to limit the ".ctv.al expenditure during tlie current year considerably within the amount of the votes. I will proceed, Bir, to briefly indicate the principal works intended to be carried on chirm-; the current year : — Railways: Kawakawa—Ano'hcr section is nearly ready for tendering, and it i 3 proposed to go on immediately with the works ; its prosecution beiug an obligation imposed on tho Government, under an agreement between the Superintendent of Auckland and tlie proprietors of the Kawakawa coal mine, ratified by an Act of tho General Assembly. Hoover, this work would be very desirable, developing as it will, one of the most important co;J fields in the colon 3', Wlianga rei to Kamo—Plans have been prepared for the second section extending into deep water, and tenders will soon be called. Kaipara to Pnoiu—The whole of thin work is now under contract, with the exception of >the station at the Newmarket junction. Tenders have been received for this work and their acceptance is only awaiting the passing of the .Estimates. Tenders have likewise been, received for levelling and draining the feito at Newmarket on which it is proposed to erect the district workshops, ns soon as authority has been obtained from Parliament. Waikato to the Thames—lt is intended to construed a bridge over the Waikato, and a section from Hamilton East. Orders for the bridge material will be sent to London by an early mail. Napier to Woodville—Tenders have been received furthe platelaying on this section, south of the present terminus at Kopiia, the acceptance of which isawaitinsthepissingottheEstimates. Wellington to Woodville. It will probably not be possible to do more this year than complete the line to Mssterton ; but. arrangements will be made /or laying the permanent way on the Greytowu branch, and tenders will be called for the erection of the nccsssary stations so as to open the line and branch a3 nearly together as the state of the work will allow. Surveys of the extentiiision of the line beyond Masterton will be proceeded to Woodville—A proposal has been received from the Emigrant and Colonial Aid Company to construct a portion of the main line connecting the east and west railways, with the vii-w to open the valuable timbered lands through which it passes. The portion suggested i 3 from Bu any thorp'! to Manawatu Gorge, and you will be asked to give the necessary power to enable the Government and the Corporation to enter into arrangements somewhat on the terms indicated in the proposal now laid on the table. Wellington to Fox tor:—The necessary extension of the wharf and station at ( Foxton will be undertaken, and the wovk on the Crofton section, near Wellington, will be proceeded with by labour. The surveys now going ou from Foxton will be continued to completion. A line from Palmerston to join the Wellington and Foxton lines is also being surveyed. Foxton to Carlyle—The section from Kaiiwi to Waitotara is under contract, and the acceptance of a tender for the next section to Waverly is awaiting the passing of the Estimates. The gap of about nine mile 3 thence to C'arlyle will be surveyed and plans made ready for tendering as soon as possible. The formation of the branch line from Greatford to Bulls and the extension of the Taonui siding through about a mile and a half of timbered land is under consideration. C'arlyle to Waitara—lt is proposed to complete without the remaining sections between tha port of Carlyle and Hawea, and from thence to Stratford.' A portion of this line is being executed by piecework, it haviDg become expedient to do so, to the temporary unsettlement of the ordinary avocations of some of the residents. Waikato to Taranaki—While it is not at present practicable to survey or do any work on this line, you will be asked to grant a small vote to enable the Government to take advantage of any opportunity that may arisein that direction. Nelson to Greymouth—lt is intended to call for tenders for a section ateich endof this line, and carry on tho Greymouth harbour works mora vigorously than circumstances have rendered it possible during the past year. Greymouth to Kokitika—The continuance of this line will be ket steadily in view. Westnort to Ngakawan—The Buller protective works will be completed, so as to insure the whole district as well as the railway, against the encroachments of the river. There is every reason to hope that very shortly coal mines in this district will be in full working ordrr, and the expenditure incurred on this line turned to profitable account. PicJon to Hurunui—ln addition to completing the line to Blenheim. A section to the Southwards to Awatere will be surveyed and advertised for contract. Hurunui to Waitaki—The main line t.hrougli the Weka Pass to the H urunui Plsvins will be com pleted and the stations at the large centres improved. The branch lines to the upper Ashburton, Little River, and Opawa will also be proceeded with. Canterbury Interior—Three sections will be gone on with, namely, one at each end, one southwards from the White Cliffs branch. Waitaki to Bluff—Further station accommodation will be provided at the principal centres and increased wharfage at Port Chalmers. The branch lines from Oatnaru, Livingston, Palmerston to Waitemo, Clutha to Catlin's Kiver and Edendale to Toitoes will all bo proceeded with. WaipalietoHerriott Burn—ln ordc-rto facilitate the opening of the line to Tapanui, and thereby place the district in easy communication with a market, it is proposed to assist the contractor in the completion of his contract. Parliament will be asked to empower the Government to make < arrangement with the contractor, to ] ensure the completion of this work. Otago Central—Tenders will be advertised for further contract in continuation of the Wingatai and Hindon sections. This will finish tho heaviest works to the Taieri Gorge, and bring the line into the open country of the Sutton district. Western '< Kailway—The works on these lines, from I Otautau to Nightcap, Lumsdcn to Marawa, and liivcrton to Orepuke, will be steadily carried ott. iEast and "West Coasts—-This I line will not be lost sight of, and while no special portion c-i.a for the present be begun, tlie surveys will be continued during this year. Hitherto enly preliminary surveys have been made, and even these have not been completed oil the routes which seem to present the greatest advantages. In the absence of t h<j fullest iutormation, it would evidently ce impc-saV: to give a trustworthy estimate o£ the cost of the undertaking. I have abstained from burdening the above proposals with details of the milea"e and cost of the various works to be undertaken, but very full information will be found in the table No. 2 attached to the printed statement. This table is intended to form one of tho schedules to the Immigration and Public Works Appropriation Bill in compliance with the provision in section 9 of the proposed Public Works Act, 1879, and this bill, if adopted, will practicably provide the guarantees which ought to have been obtained by Parliament m the Kailway Construction Act of last year.

7 DISTRICT RAILWAYS, i H'-n. members will regret to learn that I nearly all the railway companies formed | under the provisions of the District Railways Act hav-e been complied to suspend their operations, owi'M* to fLo general financed depression, and the defects which have been found iu working fchoso Acts. Applications -have been received from most of those companies fov on the ground that unless the Government a<3* stirae th<?ir responsibilities*, the expenditure already made will bo lost. Some of these branches would form useful portions of our r.-ilway system* "with regard to these, the Goverumrjut propose to tuke power to treat with eucb companies as have begun work and are xinn,b!e to complete their lines, and, in the event of satis* factory arrany- m'-nts being made, to parchase tliom for the co'ony. As tberesidenti in the district interested have shown their faith in the remunerative character of these linen, _by laying themselves undo** obligation to submit to tho rating oz \ their properties if the railways do not clear working expenses and interest on the coat of construction, it may, I think, be assumed that there is overy prospect of the lines proving commercially successful. As the rating power is intended to be retained by Govetnoer';, the risk will be reduced to a minimum, the Government being already liable to pay interest at 2 per cent. p-»r annum. WAT3P iI.\CR3.

The rate proposed 1 > he taken for waterraces is £39,553. Thi-i sum will be expended asindico.teilin thcEstimfttes, on works which, while th*y promis j to be beneficial, cannot be expected to be directly remunerative.

2'itOPOSALS WITH .REGARD TO ROADS. 1 now coma to our proposals with regard to. roads. We lay great strees upon them, both us promoting a soiu;:'on of the native difficulty in the North Island and as fostering permanent settlement of th« country in connection with the admiuhUation of liberal land laws. Unless we steadily pursue a policy of progress by opening up the couutry with roads leading to our main lines of railway, aa well as in parts of the country where we are not likely to be able to establish railway communication, we can have little hope of a revival of the prosperity of past ye/\ra. This will only oe attained by enlarging the area of our cultivation and affording every facility for the occupation of our lands : by 5 a f»r larger p'jpui;-tion th*u is now j setUecl upon tueru. To the revi-al of immi- I and the encouragement o': an infl-'x I of small capitalists,-coupled with the active administration of our land law, we must looic uuder existing circumstances for a re-establi-shmeut of oonfidense and a healthy purauit of our industries more, perhaps, than to the extension ot works of a costly character, for which the funds may not be immediately available. The Estimates will show in detail our proposed appropriation uuder this head. . CONCLUSION.

In conclusion, sir, I have only to add thai 1 should liuve made this Statement much earlier in the session, if there had beou any certainty as to the funds which would be at oar disposal. Even now 1 should have liked to defer making it for a few days, until the result of our application for the live million loan had become known to us. But the advanced period of the seetion, and nf the year forbade aa;-' furllicr delay, .vv, I. have to tbauk ycu and tho House ii>- the patient attention which you have given me. THE BUSINESS OP THE SIISSION.

Tho following is the schedule of business of the Houa j oi Representatives, and of bills passed and lapsed in both Houses during the : session : —Select committees on public mat- ■ fcers, 11 ; on private bills, 13 ; standing committees, 62 ; standng committees on private bills,"10 ; public bills originated in House, 33 ; received the Royal assent, 71; reserved for signification of her Majesty's pleasure, G ; dropped, or otherwise disposed of, OS; petuliug, 3: total, 142. from the Council:—Received the Royal assent, 13; reserved for signification ot her Majesty's pleasure, 1 ; dropped, or otherwise disposed of, 3 : total, 16. Four private bills. Petitions presented: From Europeans, 331; from Maoris, 09 : total, 400. Divisions iu whole House, 52 ; in ei-oamittea, SS : total, 140. Days of meeting. 55 ; hours of sitting 418 : daily average, 7 hours 30 minutes. Votes and proceedings : Quettions asked of Ministers, 532; entries in journals, 200S : total, 2540 ; daily average, 40. Papers laid upon table, by command, 54; iu return to orders, 10 ; in return to addresses, 1; by Ac l :, 15 ;by leave, G3. Papers ordered to be printed, 107; papsrs not ordered to be printed, 30. Reports from Select Committees : from Public Petitions Committee, 212; from tins Native Affairs Committee, 93 ; trom Waat-3 Lands Committee. 93 ; the G an 1 JJ.aies Committee, 27 ; from other committees, 61 : total, 4SS. List of Acts passed both Houses—Administration (reservid), Alexandra Corporation Reserve, Ashburtou County Council Waterworks, Auckland Public Library, and Auckland Harbour Board, Auckland lin prove.'t'»'jt CommissioneisTransferof Powers, Awatere Shearing Reserve, Bluff Harbour Foreshore Eudowmeut, Building Societies Act, 137G, Amendment; Chrislchurcli Drillshed, City of Auckland Loans Consolidation, Confiscated Lauds Inquiry and Maori Prisoners Trials, Customs Tariff, Debtors and Creditors Act Amendmeut, District Courts,. Act, ISSS, Amendmeut; District Court* Proceedings Validation, DistiictLaw Societies Act Amendment, Elections Validation, Electoral Acta Repeal, Electric Telegraph Act Amendment, Fine Arts Copyright Act, 1877, Amendment; Forest Trees PJantingEncouragemeut, Hamilton Volunteer Hall Site, IS7S, Amendment ; Harbours Act Amendment, Hawke's Bay and Marlborough Rivers Act, ISGS, Amendment; Hawkt'sßay Rivers Act, 186S, Amendment; Hawke's Bay Reserve Act, 187G, Amendment; Hokitika Harbour Board Endowment Act, IS7B, Amendment; imbecile Pasaengers'Act Extension ; Imprest Supply, No. 1; ditto, No. 2; ditto, No. 3; ditto, No. 4; ditto, No. a; Intercolonial Probate, Kaitangata and Wangaloa Athemeums' Reserves, Kumara Education Reserve ; Land Act, 1877, Amendment; Land Tax Collection ; Leases and Sales of Settled Estates Act, 1805, Amendment; Marlborough River Districts Uaion; Masterion and Grey town Lands Management Act, 1871, Amendment ; New Rivera Pilot Station Reserve, Oamaru Harbour Board, Oamaru Waterworks Act 1575, Amendment; Onoliunga Water Reserves, Onewhero Grant Empowering. Oreti Bridge and Ferry Reserve, Qfago Hoards Ordinance, 1871, Amendment ; Ot».«o University Reserve leasing, Palmerstors Worth Reserves. Pat.nts .V;t Amendment, Prop<i;oy Assess-.sent, Prop."y Tax, Prisons Ace Amendment, Public Jit:seivea Sale, Public Reserves, Public .'h-

venues Act IS7S, Amendment; Qualification of Electors, Queonstown Racecourse Reserve, Rating Act IS7O, Amendment; Registration of Electors, Resident rates Act IS7O, Amendment; Revision of Statutes, lliverton Drill Shed Reserve Management, Sites for Working Men's Clubs, Slaughter Houses Act 1577, Amendment, Spccial Powers aDd Contracts, Thames Harbour Board Act, IS7B, Amendment, Timaru Harbour Board Empowering, Timaru Waterworks, Tobacco Manufacturing Bill, Triennial Parliaments, Wairarapa Racecourse, Waitara Harbour Board Land and Borrowing,Waiuku Recreation Reserves, Wangauui Bridge Debentures, Wellington Harbour Board, Wellinuton Proviucial Disriet Highway Boards, West Clivo Public Hall Site.

Private bills passed both Hous?s: Christchurcli Property Trust (Canterbury), Liverpool and Loudon and Globe Insurance Com-

jiany, Napier Swamp Nuisance Act Amendment, New Plymouth Gas Company, Primitive Methodist Temporal Affairs, To Aro Reclamation.

List of bills dropped or otherwise disposed of iu the Legislative Council :—Aahbnrton County Council Waterworks No. 2, Auckland ' College Grammar School, lileathcote Bridges Incorporation of, Kawaka,Vi':>, Lytteiton Harbour Board and Corporation of Borough of Lytteiton Exchange, .Miners 'lights r'ee3 Reduction, Mining Companies Act, IS7'2, Amendment, Napier Church Lands Trust, Otago Hfubour Bond Empowering, Otago University Reserves Vesting ; Protection of Auimals, 1573, Amendment; Registration of Dogs, Waaganui Eatic.Wfic!. ■•hjlhol. DrapfM in House of Representatively : — Abndtum of I l .ni'.Tieonmcut; for Debt, Alienation of Maori Lind ; Appeals from Justices Ac's, 1307, Amendment; Auckland Turnpike Acts .Repeal ; Canterbury Rivers Act, 1870, Amendment; Chinese Immigrants; Christ-

church Distric:s Drainage Act, 1575, Amendment; Civil List Act Amendment, No. 1; ditto, No. 2 ; Clutlia Harbour Act Amendment, Corrupt Practices Prevention ; Counties Act, 1876, Amendment ; Drainage, Duties on Deceased Persons Estates, Election Petitions, Elective Council, Election Acts Repeal, No. 2 ■ Execution against Ileal Estate, Fencing, Gaming and Lotteries, Gold Duties Abolition, Harbours Act Amendment, 1878, No. 2; High Schools Reserves,

Hospitals aDd Charitable Institutions in Christchureh, Clutha Act, 1878, Amendment ; Joint Stock Companies Act, IS6O, Amenlment; Kirks Land Road, Land Claims Arbitrati'irc, Land Tax Act, 1878. Amendment; Laud Transfer, Licensing Acts 4 meDdment, Licensing Laws Amendment. Maori Members Election Validation, Maori Representation Aai. ISG7, -Amendment; ■ Married Women's Property, Members of (General Assembly "Expenses, Munieip 1 Cor- ' I porations Act Amendment; Murihikn Xative Reserve orano'apier and Mcane Recreation Grounds, Native Lawsuits, Native Reserves, Vesting, Otago Boys' and Oirls' High School Amendment, Plur-i!ity of Voting Suspension, Prevention of Corruption, Rabbit Nuisance, Railway Construction Act, 1878, Amendment; Rating Act, 1876, Amendment Act, No. 2; Registration of Births Act, 1875. Amendment; Regulation of Elections, Representation, Sheriffs Act. 1538, Amendment; South Island Native High School, .Southland Boys' and Girls' High School Amendment, Special Settlements, Taranaki Iron-smelting Works, Land Act, 1875, Amendment; Town" nil "Private Lands Regulation, Wairoa Harbour Board Endowment, Width of Streets and Roads.

Bills Pending when return was prepared, (since assented to : — Appropriation, migration and Public Works, Appropriation, Public Works.