PUBLIC WORKS IN AUCKLAND DISTRICT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11535, 21 November 1900, Page 4

PUBLIC WORKS IN AUCKLAND DISTRICT.

The Hon. Mr. Hall-Jones, who has been Minister for Public Works for several years, is now on a visit to Auckland, in order to inspect the public works in this district, and especially the north end of the Main Trunk railway and the North Auckland railway extension works beyond Helensville. Mr. Hall-Jones is assiduous in the discharge of his duties, but he has not been in Auckland since 1897. Possibly he considered it unnecessary to visit this district considering the very small extent of the public work's being carried on here, as against the extensive operations in the South. This condition of things has not changed to any material extent, but Mr. Hall-Jones must be aware that we are going to endeavour to have justice done to us or else to know the reason why. Mr. Hall-Jones will first visit the works now being carried on at this end of the Main Trunk railway. In the Public Works Statement for 1899, Mr. Jones referred to the advisableness of constructing a light railway between Kawakawa on the main line and Stratford. The sum of £10,000 was voted for the purpose of commencing the work. In the Public Works Statement of 1900, we have no mention at all of this light railway, nor are we told what has been done with the £10,000 voted to make a beginning. Doubtless it has gone elsewhere, but not on any work in this district. For several years past a road has been in process of formation to join Kawakawa with Taranaki, and the Minister for Public Works stated his intention of passing over it. It was found, however, that it is not yet passable, and a few weeks ago we published a letter from a resident in the district showing how settlement was almost impossible owing to the want of communication. The fine weather is now setting in, and the road ought to be complete for wheel traffic during this summer. Then there is the extension of the North Auckland line. In his Public Works Statement last session Mr. Hall-Jones stated that the expenditure fell short of the appropriation," which is a diplomatic way of saying that the amount voted was employed somewhere else. The amount authorised for the current year is £15,000, and we hope that Mr. Hall-Jonas will not be in a position to say next session that " the expenditure fell short of the appropriation." This is one particular in,which we hold that this district has been shamefully treated. It is by far a more important line

than either the Otago Central or Midland, and yet each of these lines has had £100,000 apportioned. They had similar amounts last session, but the Minister for Public Works took care that the expenditure did not fall short of the appropriation. However, that is now matter of the pasa. The present duty for the Minister is to see that the work is proceeded with as rapidly as possible during the fine weather, and that the most is obtained for the amount expended. Southern Ministers never can become convinced that the North contains potentialities. We daresay that Mr. Hall-Jones would tells us that twenty years ago he never thought to live to see the North Island rushing ahead of the South Island as it is doing. But if we would endeavour to clear his mind of prejudice, and if he -would go through the North in the line the railway is projected to take, he would probably next session urge that it should have more than £15,000 apportioned to it.