PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7693, 19 July 1886, Page 13

PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT.

Thk Hon. Mr. Richardson, in the House of Representatives on June 25, said: Mr. Speaker,—Although I am making the annual statement of the proceedings of the Public Works Department at a period much earlier in the year than has been the custom in previous sessions, I have no doubt that a good deal of the interest which is usually felt on such an occasion as the present has been allayed owing to my colleague (the Colonial Treasurer) having already given in his "Financial Statement—an outline of the proposals of the Government regarding public works generally for the year wo have just entered upon. It will not, therefore, be necessary for me to extend my remarks to such length as I did last year. DISTRICT RAILWAYS. Hon. members may remember that I announced last session that arrangements had been come to for the purchase of all tho railways authorised to be purchased except the Waimea Plains line, but wo had failed to arrange for that line. . During the recess, however, negotiations were agaiu opened with the Waimea Company, and, after a considerable amount of correspondence, an arrangement has been come to for the purchase of the railway, subject, of course, to the ratification of Parliament. The correspondence on this subject will be laid upon the table in a few days also. I think it right to mention that when 1 brought this matter before the Cabinet three of my colleagues—the Premier, the Colonial Treasurer, and the Minister for Mines—requested that they should in no way be consulted, and the negotiations between the company and the Government have been carried oil by tho other members of tho Cabinet and myself. Should Parliament see tit to ratify the agreement now entered into a very groat source of trouble and expense will be got rid of in the working of the Government railways in that district, and at the same time the public will be better served and the ratepayers greatly relieved. Although steps were taken immediately after the end of last session to complete the purchase and make payments for tho railways then arranged for, it is only quite recently we have been enabled to complete these purchases, the necessary completion having been delayed from a variety of causes, chiefly difficulties as regards title to land, and consequently the lines have had to be worked all through last year under the same arrangements as existed previously. These railways have to pay rates, and to make up any deficiency in interest on cost as fixed by statute. Separate accounts will have to be kept, aud the question of rates and charges will have to be watched with great care, as the ratepayers' interests do not always coincide with the interests of those who use these railways. The charges on all these lines require extension, and the matter is now being carefullyconsidered. RAILWAYS IN COURSE OF CONSTRUCTION' AM' VROPOSKD, INCLUDING ADDITIONS TO OPENED RAILWAYS. Whangarei-Kamo Railway : A survey has been made of the proposed extension of the through railway to deep water, and the probable cost is estimated at about £40.000. As an alternative to this project, inquiries have also been made as to whether the navigation can be in any way improved, and I am informed that a good effect can be produced by removing some of the rooks from the channel. If this can be done at a moderate cost the work will be put in hand, but till there is money forthcoming to extend to the kauri forest at I'uhipuhi, the Government cannot recommend the expense necessary to take the coal alongside ocean-going steamers. The railway to Puhipuhi and extension to deep water are estimated together to cost about £10,000. Extension ot Trunk Line northward from Helensville : The Government, has altered its opinion, as given in my Statement last year, with reference to the merits of this line, and, therefore, Government proposes that a vote shall be taken to provide for its extension of the first point which will be found remunerative, a distance of about nine miles, The line can then be continued northwards section by section, as funds are provided. As was also shown last voir, there are timbered lands and valleys containing considerable areas of rich agricultural land well fitted for settlement throughout the proposed route -of this railway, and'the cost per mile would not be more than the average already constructed. It is estimated that the cost of extending this line to Omapere, a distance of 110 miles, will be about £715.000. lam also assured that, if found desirable, the railway can be continued northwards to the Victoria Valley at about the same average cost per mile. The authority which I propose to ask the House for on account of this railway will provide for about 12 miles of formation, but, as no working survey has as yet been made, a contract cannot be got for some months to come, and the actual expenditure during this financial year will not, therefore, exceed £4000- Kaipara-Waikato : Several further improvements in curves and gradients of this railway have been made during the year, with the view of reducing the cost of working. The line between Helensville and Auckland : Plana have _ beea prepared for a considerable deviation in the vicinity of the Kingsland station, but the cost of the work is too much to permit of it 3 being undertaken at present. Between Mercer and Taupiri we have also cut down two steep grades that existed, and we have thus been enabled to double the work on that line with a lighter class of engines than has been used. A new siding has been laid on at the Newmarket Junction, which will be the means of making a considerable saving both in the time of running and the cost of working the traffic, and at the same time we have prepared ad at Newmarket for additions to workshops. The new passenger station at Auckland has been opened and in use for some months ; and, although long delayed, Auckland has now a station well suited for its requirements. It has also been found necessary to make large additions to the accommodation at the Kuakura Junction, in order to work the lines which are rapidly increasing in length in this district, and still further expenditure will be necessary at this spot. The inadequacy of this railway to carry the traffic between Auckland station and Penrose has long been felt, and the Government now considers that the time has come to lay a second line alongside the existing track, or else to construct a relieving line either via Remuera and Penrose, or via Freeman's Bay, to join the Kaipara line. The first of these plans would probably bo the cheaper, but the grade thai route is considerably steeper than it would be along either of the loop-lines, and the question of route has not as yet been absolutely determined. As it is necessary the works should be commenced very shortly, however, I have decided to ask the House to authorise the sum of £22,000 to cover so much of the work as may be undertaken this year. But of this sum not more than £5000 will be expended before March next. The survey of the branch railway to the coal mine at liuntly ha* been completed, including plans for a bridge over ,the Waikato river, ready to call for tenders ; : but as the promoters have not as yet been able to see their way to accept the terms offered in the Railways Authorisation Act, 1884, nothing further has been done in the matter. Hamilton-Grahamstown-Hamiiton-Te Aroha : This lino was opened for public traffic on the Ist March last. Grahamstown-Te Aroha : Considerable progress has been made with the construction of this line during the year. Some difficulties have occurred owing to land owners objecting and the surveys being proceeded with, but the officers of the .Native Department have agreed with the natives, and no further trouble ia anticipated. Authority which will be asked for in the Estimates provides for completing the two sections of this railway, on which work lias already been done, namely, the Kauwaeranga section, 4£ miles, and the Hikutaia section, 8} miles. Tne former of these requires stations, fencing, &c., and the latter requires bridges, platelaying, and stations. Morrinsvillo to Rotorua Railway : Thy purchase of this railway was completed on the 21st December last, and its construction is being carried on under agreement sanctioned by the house last year. Morrinsville to Bitchfield : On the portion from Morrinsville to Litchfield, the first length from Morrinsville to Oxford was opened on Bth March last, and the remainder to Litchfield is now practically finished. 1 found, on examination, that the works on the line had been very satisfactorily carried out, and the rolling stock imported is all of good quality. Putaruru to Rotorua : On the Putaruru to Rotorua division first section some eight miles is now ready for contract, and tenders can be advertised for at any time. A great deal of trouble

has been taken to locate this line, but although the route through it has been definitely determined upon surveys of a portion of the Rotorua line are not yet complete. The authority proposed to be asked for in this case will provide for the letting of two formation contracts of about rishfc miles in each, amounting in all to £80.000 cr £75,000, of which, however, only about £15.000 would be expended during the present year. The length from the Rotorua line to" Kotorua is surveyed, and should be ready for construction. It is not proposed to put this portion in hand, but the remainder of the line is well advanced ; and, owing to the recent changes that have taken place in this district, the location of of the Kotorua end of the line and the construction will be very carefully considered before any works are undertaken. Main Trunk Railway, North Island : As my colleague, the Colonial Treasurer, has already stated, there is now every prospect of the Government becoming po-sessed of large tracts of land along the route of this railway, and we consider that the work ought to be pushed on vigorously, and propose asking the authority of° the House to expend or to enter into contracts for a much larger amount this year than last year. The works which were in hand during the last year on this railway are as follows :—At the northern end, commencing from Te Awamutu, tho Puniu contract, length about 15 miles, including permanent way, has been steadily progressing, and is expected to become ready tor traffic about October next. The Te Kuiti section, length about II miles, which is also to include permanent way, was advertised for tenders in August last, but had to bn withdrawn iu consequence of the reduction made in the Estimates last session. Beyond this section there, is a section of the length of nine miles, of which working plans are completed and ready for contract. The Rurotorou section, length (including tunnel) about one mile and a-half, which Is distant about 4S miles from Te Awamutu, was let by contract in August last, to be completed in August, 1577. To the southward of the tunnel the work of survey is completed for a length of 41 miles. Contracts have also been let for 60.000 sleepers, and IS,OOO more have been taken over from the working railways department. In addition to these works, a large amount of work has also been done in the shape of approach roads to get access to the railway, and also a large amount of exploration and preliminary surveys to get the best line throughout the portions of railways which have not as yet been undertaken. For further details concerning these latter items I would refer hon. members to the report of the Engineer-in-Chief, which will be attached to this Statement. 1 would also wish to take this opportunity of stating distinctly that, iu cases where contracts have been let to natives, we have done a good deal of work very satisfactorily at a moderate price, and whenever they demanded excessive prices the contracts have been advertised and let by public tender. At the southern end of the' line the requisite railway station at Marton Junction has been completed, including such as will be necessary for public traffic. The Porewa contract, length about 12 miles, including platelaying, commencing om Marton Junction, was let in April, 1885, and has to bo taken out of the hands of the original contractor, and re-let to another contractor. It is now going on satisfactorily, and will probably be completed about November next. The re-letting of the work involved no loss to the colony, except in the matter of delaying the completion. Commencing at the end of the Porewa contract is the Hunterville section, length about two miles, which was advertised for tenders some time back, and had to be withdrawn on account of limited funds provided ; and beyond this section working plans have been completed for a further length of about five miles. At this end of the line also a considerable amount of work has been done in the construction of the approach toads and survey works. The work required for improving the navigation of the Wanganui river was commenced in August last, and an available depth of about two feet of water has already been obtained as far as Kaiwaka, forty-six miles from Wanganui, and between Kaiwaka and Pipiriki similar work is in progress. At Pipiriki a track will leave the rivar to go into the interior. The work and and survey at both ends of this railway were much delayed last year in consequence of reductions made in the votes, and although every effort was made to stop all the works which could be stopped in sufficient time to keep the expenditure and liabilities within the vote, it was found impossible to altogether attain this in consequence of the difficulty of communication, and there has consequently been an excess of about £12,000. The authority which 1 now propose to ask for on account of this railway will provide 'or completing all the work at present in hand, and also tor additional works as follows :—The Te Kuiti section, 11 miles, and the \Yaitet& section, 9 miles, at the north end, and the Hunterville section, 5 miles, at the south end ; also further improvements in the navigation of the Wanganui river, and the construction of further approach roads to give access to the railway. Loop-line connecting New Plymouth with Main Trunk line : During the recess, although no further actual surveys have been made, still a great deal of exploration has taken place both by the officers of the Lands Department and that of the Public Works ; and we now have every reason to believe that a very good line can be got, starting from a point on the main line about 00 miles south of Te Awamutu, following the course of Ohura and Tongarakau rivers, thence south-westerly across the range to one of the branches of the river, and along the river towards the coast and southwards to Waitara. This line would traverse a large tract of first-class arable land in the valley of the Ohura, and intersect the upper portion of the extensive coalfield now well-defined, and will make that coal available for use all over that portion of the Island from the Waikato to where the navigation of the Wanganui and Eao ceases. We have sufficiently reliable surveys and information to bo able to say that the line will not be exceptionally expensive. The length of the connecting line between Waitara and the main line would be about 75 miles. Tho coat will not exceed about £8000 per mile all through, and the greater portion of the very heavy country and the line reported upon from Stratford two years ago will be avoided. Whenever the House directs a survey of this line can be put in hand. Reconaissance survey of country between Napier and Opotiki, via Gisborne : During the last recess I instructed the Engineer-in-Chief to send tho Inspecting Engineer (Mr. Knorpp) to visit the district between Napier and Opotiki, traversing the country through Wairoa, Gisborne, and from thence to the East Cape, as well as from Gisborne to Opotiki. He has made a reconnaisance survey of the country with the view of ascertaining how it best can be opened up by railways or roads. His report contains a great deal of useful information, and shows that the district lying to the north and east of Gisborne can be best served by railway communication, while that between Gisborne and Napier is so broken that a railway would almost be impossible, and could therefore only be opened up by roads. This report (with maps) will be printed and laid on the table of the House within a few days. Napior-Woodville : The contractors for tho extension from Tahoraite towards Woodville are making fair progress with the work. A contract will shortly be lot for completing the line to Woodville, including the railway station there, to bo fiuished and opened for traffic in about twelve months. Woodville - Palmerston : A contract is now ready to be let for the construction of this line through the range. This section will take about two years to complete, owing to the heavy nature of the work, and while in progress the plans will be prepared for completion on to Palmerston. Wellingtou-Masterton : Very considerable additions have been made to the station accommodation, to the rolling-stock, and to the workshops of this line during the year, and much more will be required to keep pace with the increasing traffic. MastertonWoodville : Hon. members are awaro that the extension of this line has been very recently opened as far as Mauriceville. A further section of about four miles will be opened in October next. It is proposed to let a contract to extend this line as far as Kaitahuna, so soon as Parliament has saneitoned the expenditure. The large amount of settlement taking place along the route line between Mauriccville and l'ahuitua points to the desirableness of continuing • the construction of the line, and if funds are provided this will bo done, Foxton-New Plymouth : The branch line from New Plymouth to the Breakwater has recently been opened, and, with some slight modifications in rates, is sure to prove of great benefit to the district. [Mr. Richardson then stated what bad been done in regard to the Picton.

Awatere Railway, and also said that a new exploration had been made of the land on the Midland line. He then stated the position of the proposed additions to the railways in the South.] MANUFACTURE 0? PORTLAND CEMENT. It will be interesting to hon. members to know that the manufacture of Portland cement in New Zealand has been commenced on a large scale, and considerable quantities are now being delivered to Government for their various works, at a cost not exceeding that of imported cement, and the same time being reported upon by our Engineer-in-Chief as of good quality, and being capable to standing a fair test. I take this opportunity of drawing the attention of the various local todies throughout the colony to this matter in the hope that I may be able to help this industry, and so obviate the necessity of importing so much from England. WORKING RAILWAYS FOR INCOME. Hon. members will remember that on March 31, ISSS, there were 1477 miles of railways open for traffic, having cost the colony £11,810.194, and on March 31, ISS6, there were IGI3 miles of railways open for traffic, having cost the colony £12,472,814. In this latter result ia included 77 miles of railways purchased by Government from various districts, at a cost of £253,349. The total revenue from all sources was £1,047.415. and the expenditure amounted to £690,340, leaving a net profit of £357,078, taking the cost of the opened railways as the average for the whole year. In view of the dates at which the several sections of the new railways were opened for traffic, this represents a profit of £2 18s 6.1 per cent, on the cost, as thus reduced on tho total cost of all tho lines opened at the end of the year. Taking the whole year, which is scarcely a fair way of looking at it, then the percentage earned would bo £2 17s 3d. The total expenditure on lines open and unopened up to the 31st March, ISS6, including expenditure by Government on Greymouth and Westport harbour works has been £13,726,166, and the profits earned by the opened lines gives £2 17s Id per cent- Of this gross outlay, last year, with 1477 miles of open railways, we had a revenue of £1,045,712, aud an expenditure of £690,026. This year, with 1613 miles open, we have a revenue of £1,047, aud an expenditure of £690,349, and at the end of the year we have outstanding accounts amounting to considerably less than at tho end of the previous year. We have also, during the year, made many reductions in the rates of mileage on goods, all in the direction of helping local production, which, had our rates remained unaltered, would have produced fully £50,000 more revenue without increasing the cost of working. This amount represents the benefit derived by the general public using the railways. It will therefore be seen that, although we have had to provide for the maintenance of work 136 miles more railway, we have so curtailed the expenditure that it has only amounted to £314 in excess of that of last year. It should also be remembered that the railways do not get credit for the largo amount of work done for the other departments of the Government, the carriage of mails representing a large sum. The facilities given to tho Education Department are also groat. If full credit were given for all those services, it would make a perceptible addition to the railway revenue. On the whole the proportion of expenditure to revenue has been slightly reduced during the year, having been £6591 against £6599 the previous year. I think hon. members, when they realise these facts, will admit the result is a favourable one. The rates of profit have, as in previous years, varied much in different lines, having amounted on the Greymou';h eection to £5 9s 3d per cent. ; on the Napier section, £4 1 Ss 9d ; on the Hurunui, Bluff section, £3 5s 9d ; on the Welliugton-Masterton section, £2 lis 2d ; on the Auckland section,2 9s Id ; and on the Wanganui section, £1 12s 10d. The total number of passengers carried on the lines for the year 1883 4 was 3,272,644, and for the year ISSS-6 3,362,266, showing an increase over last year of 129,380. The total traffic in goods and live stock for the same year has been : — GOODS TRAFFIC. 1883-S4. 1534-S5. 1885-80. Tons. Tons. Toils. Wool ... _ 62,000 68,523 74,77 -i Timber .. 183,449 17*,909 20_',r-72 Firewood ... 81 ,'2.15 86,670 So,2Bt> Grain .. ... 43-,2-3 414,590 413.810 Minerals .. 674,313 tils,.Ml 1.09.081 Merchandise ... 360,260 305,023 368,225 Chaff, etc. - 10.470 17,' J 11,985 Total goods .. 1,7' 0,039 1,749,556 1,823,707 LIVE STOCK. IS.-3 84. ISS4 85. 18S5-S6. Por'C' . .. 9,855 10,368 9,518 Cattle".. .. 20,39! 1:9,903 34,1<>7 Calves.. .. 3,-82 2,776 2,:>27 Sheep .. .. 027.090 066.622 781,470 Pigs .. „ "29,522 30,208 40,658 These figures show, and a reference to the tables will make it more clear, that there is a substantial increase in the total carried, and also in all of the important items except grain, and that has remained almost stationery. Now a few words on the subject of the workshops. Much has been said during the past year as to the way in which they have been conducted. As far as I can judge, after again going very closely into the expenditure in three worshops, I can repeat the opinion I then expressed, to the effect that the colony is getting very fair value for the mon6y expended in them. The largely increasing mileage being worked is bringing with it large repairs, and consequently the necessity for further accommodation. It must be remembered that many of the locomotives have been running for a long time, and are requiring heavier repairs. Provision is being made for all this, and the shops at Petone and Hillside are now being largely increased, with a view of our being able to keep up the stock in firstclass efficiency. In Auckland also additions are being made. Both there and at Hillside much greateradditions will very soon be forced on the Government; also at Wanganui, to a smaller extent. Already additional machinery has been ordered for these shops, and provision to meet the necessary expenditure has accordingly been made by Government. No additions aro likely to be required at Addington except an enlargement of the erecting shed, which now hardly accommodates the engines working on the lines running through tho Hurunui-Waitaki district, which are constantly coming in for large repairs. Nearly everything in the shape of rolling stock is now being made in the colony, the orders sent to Great Britain being confined in some cases to the road materials, and some few articles which cannot at present be manufactured in the colony. By carefully arranging the work put in hand at the various shops, we have been able to bring about much economy in many directions. We have endeavoured to bring into useful operation the valuable machinery which had been provided by previous Governments, In the item of tarpaulins alone a saving of fully £3000 psr annum has been effected during the year by improved arrangements, and the use of improved appliances. Fair progress is being made by the contractors who undertook the manufacture of the ten locomotives last year, and judging from the work they aro doing the engines ought to prove to be of a very serviceable nature. The contractors imported some portions of the material required for these engines partially worked up, but sooner than altogether condemn these articles, a valuation was made, and reduction has been agreed upon equal to the amount of woik to be executed in England outside the terms of contract. Hon. members will see on reference to the table which will be attached to this Statement that the amount of work which has been done last year in the workshops throughout the oolony has been very extensive, both as to repairs and renewals. On the Foxton and New Plymouth line very heavy expenditure was incurred by way of repairs to bridges, and a still larger expenditure will probably be required in the current year. This has been caused by the mistake made in using rimu timber when constructing the lines, aud it is only fair to the Engineer-in-Chief to state that the use of this' timber was insisted upon against his strong protest; and it is now found that it would have been much better to have adopted his recommendation and U3ed more lasting timber. If that had been done these bridges might not have required much repairs for tho next ten years, instead of having to be rebuilt at this early stage in the life of the railway. In connection with the railways generally, I doubt if many hon. members realise the effect produced on their return by the works of the Harbour Boards of Otago, Oamaru, and Timaru. As these works progress, so the railways revenue suffers; and, to suoh an extent have the works of the Otago Harbour Board, by which most classes of vessels can now get up the harbour to Dunedin, affected the revenue, that it is estimated that the railway suffers this year a loss of fully £8000; and, from the information in the possession of the Government, it is not likely that by the end of this

year there will be any goods traffic from Port Chalmers cxcept that brought there by the large direct steamships. I am advised by those interested that, if the Government did reduce the rates by one half those now prevailing, the bulk of the goods would still go direct to Dunedin. Such a reduction would therefore only have the effect of throwing away a great deal of revenue left to the railways, which otherwise must remain, at all events for some considerable time to coma. No doubt the residents in those parts of the colony in which these great works have been carried out are reaping the benefits from them, but it must be borne in mind that the railways constructed by Government are suffering in proportion as the harbour works proceed. Since supplying my hon, colleague, the Colonial Treasurer, with the estimate of the rovenue and expenditure on the railways for the current year, the severe floods we have had will affect the expenditure in the way of repairs, aud should any considerable number of our population be attracted to the newly-disco-vered goldfields in Western Australia the traffic may be sonsibly reduced. It is very certain we are now losing the carriage of a large amount of farm produce, which has been destroyed by the exceptional heavy autumn rains ; but, on the other hand, we havo calculated on a much larger acreage of grain being put in this year than last, and consequently expect a larger revenue therefrom. We have also calculated upon considerable additions to our receipts from the extensions of the railways, which we hope to havo under construction in a few weeks. It is too early in the year to make any safe calculation, and there is no reason to suppose there will bo any serious falling off in the revenue. Should there be there will certainly be a reaction in the expenditure. It has been the custom tor some years to publish very elaborate statistical information with the annual Public Works Statement in connection with opened railways, and the same course be adopted on the present occasion; but it is matter for serious consideration whether it is worth while to publish these tables. Much discussion has taken place on the subject of tho system of charges now in force, and a committee of this House is now taking evidence on a proposal for a radical change. I shall not therefore venture an opinion on the particular proposal which that committoe has under consideration, but remind tha House that the system we now have iu force is similar to that adopted in the adjoining colonies, as also in railways in other countries ; and before making any change the probability of its success should be clearly demonstrated. The want that is felt is more in the direction of some authority to whom any member of the public can make their grievances known, and feel that they get fair consideration. I havo hesitated to reintroduce the Bill I laid before the House last year, as I feel certain that it would not meet with general support, and although two other Bills have been sketched out to meet the cases, I cannot see any practical good that would come from them, so long as this Parliament is not prepared to part with a . groal more of its control than it has done hitherto. The exigencies of the country are so diversified that to work our railways to tho best advantage some parts of tho country varies very different rates to those in other parts; but so jealous are those who use our railways in the several provincial districts of any changes made in the charges with the view of securing traffic, that one has always to hesitate in making such changes, and if a body, or several of them, were appointed in the country, such as that suggested above, I am of opinion that it would be found that it would take a considerable time for them to become acquainted with the necessary information to enable them to deal practically with the subject, and that uothing but a permanent Board, whose members would give their whole time to the subject, would meet the case. ROADS NORTH OF AUCKLAND. With reference to the sum of £70,000 allocated to the counties north of Auckland in ISB4 for these roads, the following table shows tho allocation made to each county, and also the payments thereon, up to the 31st March last Alloca- Paymont. County turn 1881-85 18S5-SG Total. Waltomata .. £12,000 £1,000 £6,360 £7,350 Kidney .. 11,000 1,000 5,815 6,815 Hobaon .. 9,000 2,000 2,500 4,500 Whwgaral .. 12,000 1,750 5,250 7,000 Pay of Islands .. 10,000 nil 5,000 0,000 Hokianga . - 7,000 nil 1,500 1,500 ilongonul .. 9,000 1,000 4,588 5,888 Totals .. £70,000 £0,750 £31,303 £38,053 The total expenditure for last year of these roads was £33,763, and the difference between this sum and the amount, £31,303, referred to above, represents amounts which the Government has had to expend in respect of liabilities incurred before the allocation of £70,000 was made. ROADS AND BRIDGES. The amounts authorised for works under this heading, which are inclusive of roads north of Auckland, roads to open up Crown lands, roads on goldfields, and roads under the Roads and Bridges Construction Act, have gradually decreased for some years ; and the amount which I propose to ask the House to authorise for them this year is, in round numbers, £79,000 less than tho amount authorised for the year 1883-84. Speaking still in round numbers, the amounts authorised for the last few years have been as follows : 1883-84, £175,000 ; 1884-85, £151,000 ; and 1885-86, £119,000; and tho amount which I propose to ask the House to authorise this year is ££101,000. It will be seen, therefore, that the works of this class, which have been undertaken from year to year have been gradually of less and less magnitude, but will not bo necessary to dwell to any great extent upon these which were undertaken during last year. A brief summary of those worth mentioning is as follows In the North Island the roads from Tauranga to the East Cape, and from Cambridge and Tauranga to Taupo, and from Taupo to Napier, and also the Manawatu Gorge road, have been maintained during the year in fair order, and subsidies have been given the local bodies as hitherto towards the maintenance of the Seventy Mile Bush. I Mr. Richardson hero made a statement with respect to roads in the South Island.] ROADS TO OPEN UP CROWN LANDS BEFORE SALE. The works and construction of theße are entirely under the control of the Minister of Lands. A sum of £6179 has been expended within the 12 months ended 31st March last, and the liabilities on works in' progress on that date were £61,372. It is proposed to continue the expenditure at the rate of £61,500 during the current year in further extension of road formations on the blocks of Crown lands under survey in the several land districts of the colony. ROADS UNDER THK ROADS AND BRIDGES CONSTRUCTION ACT. Main Roads.—One - fourth of tho cost of these works, to be provided or re-paid in 10 years by the local body, and tho balance to be found by the Government. Under this heading the total amount of the applications received on June 30, 18S5, when reduced in accordance with the Act of ISS3, came to £255,476, Of this application those that were for the completion of bridges already commenced, amounting to £5336, were granted in full. All the rest were refused, owing to the repeal of the Act last session. In addition to these ordinary applications there wero also applications for repair of extraordinary damages by floods, amounting to £7591 ; and grams were made on these to the extent of £5287 —namely, £4753 for bridges and £534 for roads. The total applied for altogether on account of main roads was therefore £263,067, and the total granted £136,231, of which £13,089 was for bridges and £534 for roads. [Mr. Richardson here stated the details.] It will thus be seen that the total applied tor under the Act for works on mam and district roadß has been £275,4G6, »ad the total amount granted £13,814. PURCHASE OF NATIVE LANDS, NORTH ISLAND. During the past financial year the Native Land Purchase Department has completed the purchase of some 20 blocks of land, containing in the aggregate 100,000 acres. Good progress has also been made in the acquisition of land adjacent to the Northern Trunk line of railway. The Waimarimo block of 490,000 acres has been passed through the Native Land Court, and awarded to about 1000 owners, the majority of whom have already sold their interest to the Crown. Over 1,500,000 acres of land in the Taupo district have also recently passed through the Court, and the Government is negotiating the purchase of several blocks within this district which are contiguous to the railway, and otherwise suitable for settlement. Sketch maps and returns, giving full details of the complete and incomplete transactions of this department, are in course of preparation, and will be shortly laid before the House,

IMMIGRATION. The number of immigrants introduced for the period between the Ist of June, 1885, and the 30th of April, 18S6, was 545. This shows a considerable falling oft from the numbers given in last year's Statement, but the falling off can be accounted for by the fact that the engagements with persons whose passages had been held over were, as stated last year, nearly all fulfilled ; and, further, by the increased rate of payment for passages required to be made on making the nomination in the colony. Fresh regulations for nominated immigration were issued on September 28, 18S5. By these, payment of £10 was required towards the passage of each adult, and £5 towards the passage of each child over 12 years of age. These sums, it is estimated, represent half the total cost to the colony of an immigrant, from the time he leaves his home in Great Britain until he becomes a settler in New Zealand. Since the date of the regulations 658 nominations have been received and forwarded to the Agent-General, and an average of from 50 to 60 nominations are sent monthly, on which cash payments are made in the colony of sums varying from £400 to £500. From this it wonld seam that the settlors in New Zealand are not loth to induce their friends to join them, and that they are willing to prove their earnestness in the matter by paying half the cost of the expenses to which the colony is put in assisting them. Under this system intending immigrants are assisted by the Agent-General to the same extent as persons who are nominated in the colony. They are, however, required to prove that they are possessed of £100 in cash, and a sum equal to £50 for each child over 12 years of age. The total number of immigrants of all classes introduced into the colony since the inauguration of the immigration scheme by the Colonial Government is 112,493.

TELEGRAPH EXTENSIONS. The telegraph extensions during the year consisted of the erection of 193 miles of new ine, 545 miles of additional wire (less one mile and a half of line), and SS miles of wire dismantled. The telegraph lines in use in the colony at the end of March last extended to a total of 4463 miles, carrying 10,931 miles of wire, of which 2820 miles is duplexed. Telephone exchanges were &et up during the year at Napier, Wanganui, and Timarn, making the exchanges now in operation 10, viz., Auckland, Napier, Wellington, Wanganui, Nelson, Christchurch, Timaru, Oamaru, Dunedin, and Invercargill, and they yielded a gross revenue during the last financial year of £112,294. The expenditure on new works and extensions of all classes last year was £36,000, and the vote proposed to be asked for this year is £21,700. rULLIC BOILDINGS. In my Statement of last session I showed that a decrease had been effected in the expenditure in this class of works as compared with previous years, and I am happy to say that during the last financial year a still further decrease in this class of expenditure has been effected. Thus, the expenditure for the year ISSS-S6 has been orly £SG,SS9 as against £117,361 for ISS4 85, £164,575 for 1883 84, and £153,072 for 1882-83. A very large number of buildings have been dealt with during the year to a greater or less extent, but most of the work has consisted of small additions and repairs, chiefly to police stations and Courthouses in the out districts ; and the only works of sufficient magnitude to call for special mention are prisons at Auckland and Mount Cook. Plans have been completed for the printing office, Wellington, and alternative tenders in brick and timber respectively have been called for, but have not yet been dealt with, pending the requisite amount being authorised by the House. In the estimate, which will shortly be laid before the hon. members, I have included amongst amounts for which authority is asked the sum of £13,000 for a portion of this building proposed to be undertaken at present, but if this amount is granted only £5000 will probably be expended during the current financial year. Competitive designs have also been obtained by the Government for a departmental building in Auckland, and have been considered by the Engineer-in-Chiof, who has selected the one which he considers the best for erection. The sum of £12,000 has been provided for this building in the Estimates, and of this sum £2000 would probably be required during the current year. The other important buildings proposed to be undertaken during the current year are considerable additions to the Auckland and Sunnyside Lunatic Asylums, and some further additions in the shape of outbuildbuildings, Ac,, to the Lunatic Asylum at Seacliffe, all of which are reported to be absolutely necessary works, in order that the asylums may be anything like adequate to present requirements. A sum of £2000 has also been provided on the Estimates for a building on the lunatic asylum reserve at t'orirua, of which about £1500 would probably be expended during the year. HARBOUR DEFENCES. During the past twelve months considerable progress has been made in the scheme of defence. The works commenced in April last year, and which were designed to temporarily accommodate the guns already in the colony, have been in almost- all cases carried to completion. At the same time they have been made thoroughly durable and substantial instead of temporary structures. Additions have been made where necessary to accommodate the guns now being constructed for the colony in England. Fresh works have also been added, so that, provided there is no further delay in shipping the guns, two-thirds of the number can be mounted in the next few months, and the batteries, on which they will be mounted, complete. Submarine mining stations are being constructed in each of the four ports, and arrangements are also being made for lighting the harbour with very powerful electric lights. The contract for the delivery of all these appliances are approaching completion, consequently, within two or three months, the colony will possess all the necessary equipment for providing a suitable submarine eystem of defence to supplement its other defence works. Owing to the delay in supplying the guns, submarine mines, and other material a sum of £72,543 out of the amount voted last year has remained unexpended. The total amount required to carry on the works during this year, including the sum abovementioned, will be £120,000. The work was carried out last year principally by the A.C., but the large amount of cheap labour which has become available from the commencement of the year has decided the Government to provide work for the unemployed on the batteries, and at the same time to make a considerable reduction in the constabulary force. PUBLIC WORKS FUNDS. The balance to the credit of the Public Works Fund on the 31st March last was £768,780, and in addition to this amount, and such further funds as may be required to be raised for the North Island Trunk Railway, wo propose a loan of £1,500,000, as described in the Financial Statement of my colleague, the Colonial Treasurer. As against the credit balance of £768, existing at the end of March last, we had liabilities then existing to the extent nominally of £1,094,590; but the liabilities included an item on account of purchase of native lands in the North Island, amounting in all to £238,600, and of this amount £202,145 is for prospective liabilities, which will probably not come in for payment for a very considerabla time, and which may, therefore, for the present, be disregarded. Deducting this £202,145 from the total liabilities above stated, the total liabilities with which we have to deal with amount to £892,445, of which £387,592 is on account of railways ; and the balance, £504,853, on account of works and undertakings other than railways. Of £387,592, liabilities on railways, the sum of £376,740 is on account of items covered by the proposed loan, as set forth in the Financial Statement, leaving £10,852 to be covered by other funds. The liabilities on account of works and undertakings not covered by the proposed loan sohedule amount, therefore, to £892,445 — less £376,740 —namely, to £515,705. In connection with this question of liabilities, I have also to state here that the Government proposes that the purchase of native lands in the vicinity of the North Island Trunk Railway should be temporarily charged to the loan for that line, and that the proceeds of the sales of these lands should be credited to the same fund from time to time. The liabilities at present existing on account of land purchase along the railway were estimated to amount to about £20,000. This, out of the £36,455 of actual liabilities on accouut of native land purchase, will become a charge against the North Island Trunk Loan ; and if this amount of £20,000 be deducted from the £515,705 of liabilities before arrived at, it leaves £495,705 as the amount of the liabilities which will be chargeable to the funds available for general purposes, In

addition to the £768,780 to the credit of the General Public Works Fond at the end of March last, that fond is also entitled to be recouped from the North Island Trunk Railway Loan to the extent of £60,780, for expenditure on that railway up to the 31st March last, so that the proper cash credit of the general fund, allowing for thia payment, was £829,560. Our assets for general purposes at the end of March last would amount to £768,780 plus £60,780 plus £290,000, equal in all to a total of £1,1 9.560, as against liabilities amounting to £495,755, so that we will have available for voting for absolutely new works other than railways, a sum of £623,855 in addition to voting the liabilities on the same, amounting to £495,705. Our votes for undertaking other railways can therefore reach to fully £1,100,000 for the two years. Of the total amount required £77,000 is for the North Island Trunk Railway, and the balance (£370,000) for the railways in the proposed loan schedule. Assuming that the new loan of £1,500,000 will be authorised for new railways, the total funds which we will have available for voting during the next two years will therefore be as follows :—l. For the railways included in proposed loan schdule, after deducting, say, £213,000, to be re* couped to the general fund for materials in hand, we will have available for construction of works and further permanent way and rolling stock (including the expense of floating loan) the sum of £1,257,000. 2. For the North Island Trunk Railway after deducting similarly the sum of £77,000 for materials (which are in hand), and £60,780 for expenditure already incurred to be recouped to the general loan fund, we will have available for construction of works and land purchase out of an allocation of £500,000 for two years the sum of £362,220. And for general purposes (including railways other than the North Island Trunk and Loan Schedule Railways) we will have £1,119,500, New loan £1,500,000, plus North Island Trunk Railway (allocation for two years) £500,000, plus balauce of general fund £768,780. As against these funds we propose to take votes for expenditure, including existing liability during the present year to the extent of £1,538,700; but we will not expend quite so much as this, and the actual expenditure will not probably exceed, say, £1,400,000. It has to be borne in mind that many of the votes appearing in the Estimates this year will, we hope, either disappear or be greatly reduced next year. Thus, for instance, we have this year to spend for defence £120,000, while next year the amount will be only about £40,000. In connection with the Roads and Bridges Construction Act, we have to spend this year £39,730, while next year there will be no further expenditure asked for. Then,for roads north of Auckland, £34,600 is required this year, and that practically fulfils all our engagements under that heading; and, if our proposals for charging school buildings to local loans are approved of, the £500,000 which we have been accustomed to vote yearly for school buildings will visibly disappear from the Public Works Estimate. We are also in hopes that, with the liberal provision which has been made for loans to local bodies, the claims upon colonial funds for roads and bridges will not be so numerous. It seems probable, therefore, that the £397, S6O here offered will be quite ample for all that is required for general purposes (outside of railways) and land purchase along the North Trunk line during the next financial year. ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE DURING THE CURRENT YEAR. The large amount of votes which have been asked for from year to year for public works purposes, in comparison with the amounts which are annually required for expenditure, having frequently led to misunderstanding as to the real state of the case, I have framed my Estimates this year in a form which, I believe, will be more acceptable to hon. members, as they show in one column the amount required to be voted for actual expenditure on the work during the current year; and in an adjoining column the amount which is required to be authorised in all to cover contracts which will have to be let before further votes are granted by the House, but which will not como in for payment till next financial year. AMOUNTS FOR CURRENT TEAR. The amount which we propose to ask the House to vote for expenditure during the current year are as follows : —For immigration, with liabilities at the end of March last amounting to £7000, we ask for a vote of £19,200 ; for departmental expenditure, with liabilities of £719, we ask for a vote of £2S,000; for railway works of all classes, with liabilities of £387,592, we ask for a vote of £709,400 ; for roads of all classes, with liabilities of £254,350, we ask for a vote of £327,600. This includes various classes of roads, as follows :— Roads north of Auckland, with liabilities of £32,147, amount asked for £34,G00 ; main roads, with liabilities of £14,277, amount asked for £24,100; miscellaneous roads and bridges, with liabilities, £34,551, amount asked for £52,600 ; grants in aid under the Roads and Bridges Construction Act and subsidies of local bodies, with liabilities of £66,854, amount asked for £97,000; roads to open Crown land,B with liabilities of £61,372, amount asked for £61,500; improvements village special settlements,- with no liabilities as yet, amount asked for £5000 ; roads on goldfields, with liabilities of £44,789, amount asked for £52,000 ; for waterworks on goldfields with liabilities of £14,962 we ask a vote of £15,100; for the purchase of native lands, with presently accruing liabilities amounting to £36.458, we ask for a vote of £100,000, that being sufficient to meet the probable payments which will become due during the current year, the further prospective liabilities on the item (amounting to £202,145, being left out of consideration as not applying to the presentyear); for telegraph extension, with liabilities of £3750, we ask for £21. ; for public buildings, with liabilities of £23,255, we ask for a vote of £12000 (this includes school buildings of £5500, as against liabilities at end of March last, £1400) ; for lighthouses and harbour works (including harbour defences), with liabilities of £164,411, we ask for a vote of £127,500. The amount included in this for harbour defences is £120,000, as against liabilities on March 31, of £160,752, but as all the liabilities will not mature this year a vote for £120,000 will probably be sufficient. For charges and expenses of raising loans we ask for a vote of £30,000. For contingent defence we ask for a vote of £12,500. This is for the purpose of supplementing the amount provided in tho Consolidated Fund Estimates for the A.C. field force, in consequence of their being employed on the the construction of batteries; we also ask for a vote of £31,400 to cover payments in respect of rates payable to local bodies on Crown and native lands. The total amount proposed to be voted is thus £1,535,700, which includes liabilities (comprising £36,455 for native lands) amounting t0'£592,445. It will thus be seen that it is contemplated to spend this year about £64,355 on new works outside of those included in the liabilities existing at 31st March last. CONCLUSION. I have trespassed on your patience to a much greater extent than I should have felt justified in doing, had I not been convinced that it was of the greatest importance to lay before the House a clear statement of the position of the works already in band by the Government, and also their proposals for the future. In conclusion, I venture to express the hope that before the time comes round for the next Public Works Statement, the rise which has recently taken place in the great staple production of the colony may prove to be the precursor of a general improvement in the position of all classes of the community, and that by careful administration during the year the Government may be able to come down to the House with a statement as favourable as that I have now delivered. It only now remains for me to thank you, sir, and the House for the kind consideration you have shown to me this evening.