PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12698, 29 October 1904, Page 6

PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT.

REDUCED EXPENDITURE. SMALL VOTES FOR NORTHERN RAILWAYS. VOTE FOR THE MAIN TRUNK £150,000. £10,000 FOR NORTH AUCKLAND LINE. ' KAWAEAWA RAILWAY, £10,000. £40,000 FOR PAEROA-WAIHI LINE. . [by tkleObaph.] ' Wellington, Friday..

The Public Works Statement was P«sented to the Bouse to-night by the Hon. W HallJones, Minister for Public Works Following is a summary of the contents of the Statement:- ~ Satisfactory progress has been made m* the various works in hand. In my last Statement hon. members were informed ot the completion of 64 miles 60 chains of re* way. Since that date the following sections have been finished—Poto-o-tarao-Taumaru-nui, 27 miles 56 chains; Owaka-Cathns three miles 38 chains; Ida Valley-Opbir, 13 miles 30 chains; Manga weka-Taihape, ,13 miles 18 chains; Kawakawa-Konuru, eight miles Paeroa-Karangahake, four miles -30 chains; Taumarunui-Piriaka, six miles 48 chains; Otarama-Stairease, five miles three chains. The, following sections will probably be ready before the next Statement is ! delivered:— Ahuroa-Mahurongi, two miles 140 chains; Karangahake-Waikino, three miles 40 chains; Kaiteratahi-Karaka, favo mile» four chains; Toko-Oruru, Tour miles 11 chains; Motupiko-Tadmor,- 10 miles 28 chains; Reeiton-Boatman's, one -., mite ■W» chains; Greymouth-Coa) Creek, five miles one chain; Scargill-Hurunui, nine miles; Heriot-Edie, six miles 20 chains. INCOME AND EXPENDITURE. The expenditure during last year was in excess of the previous year, but .not equal to 1901-2. The total expenditure from the inauguration of the public works policy to December 31, 1890, was £11,975,088; the expenditure between January 1, 1891,, and March 31, 1904, was £3,429,864; the gross total expenditure to March 31, 1904, was £15,404,962: and the expenditure for the late financial: year £494,742. ; At March 31, 1903, the available balance of ways and means for public works purposes was £358,565, and further funds were received as under :.-— Balance of £1,000,000 loan, raised under the Act of 1902, £740,000; amount raised under the 1903 Act, £583,950; debentures ; issued under the Midland .Railway Petitions Settlement Act, £150,000; transferred from revenue, £350,000; and miscellaneous receipts,, £1665, making a total of £2,164,180. The expenditure of the year, including £150,000 .paid to the Midland railway debentureholders, amounted to £1,770,378, leaving a credit balance at the end oiE the year of £393,802, For the current year it is proposed to provide additional funds,. Ps under: —Balance of the 1903 loan, £416,050; new loan of 1804, £750,000; the -Consolidated Fund should be able to assist, with £6150,000. Ibis will give a total available for ways and means of-.'.£2,209,852. _\ The . estimated; extpenditura for public works; for ,the; year amounts to £1,403,100, thus leaving a balance of £806-, to, be carried forward to next year. No new railway works' were started last year, but those already in hand; were further proceeded with. The following is ft brief statement of what has been done on each of the lines since March 31, 1903, and of what is proposed ■ for the ■ current year: — . AW AKA.WA-GRAHAMTOWN. The section at the northern end of this line, which was approaching completion when the last Statement was delivered, has since been finished and is now available for the. carriage of goods. It is not proposed to open it for passenger traffic^ at present. ' : At'the southern end the bridge over the Whangarei River -• has been completed, and the approaches are -being filled in. The formation 'works between the. bridge and; Gr&hamtown are proceeding , satisfactorily. •■:■: ■ Extensive soundings at the wharf site have been made. Plana of the structure are now being, prepared. A survey of the connecting link between "; the present terminus of the northern section and the Hukerenui has been completed. The total expenditure last year amounted ;to, £10,914, and for the current year a. vote of £10,000 is proposed.

HELENSVILLE NORTHWARDS. Work on this line has again been considerably retarded by slips. The formation is Gom•plete, the rails are laid, and the line is ballasted to the Ahuroa tunnel. _ This tunnel has been pierced, and is being lined, and will be finished by • Christmas. Beyond the tunnel the earthworks are in hand as \ far as Mahurangi, and will be ready to'receive the rails as soon ; as ■ they can be transported through-'the tunnel. Tenders for the Mahurangi station buildings are also about to be invited. When the line is completed to,this point it will be of great use to Northern settlements. I<hope that it will be available for traffic bw about the end of the current year. The'authorisation of a further section oi line 20 miles in-length to the southern boundary of Maungafanere parish is provided for in the Railways Authorisation Bill now before Parliament" The expenditure last year "was £11,738. -A : vote 0f.£10,000-is asked for this year. PAEROA-WAIHI. \

The section to Karangahake has been open for goods,traffic, since the .beginning"' of the year, ,and considerable freight'has bi-*u. carried over it. Progress with ; rail-laying is : blocked immediately_beyond Karangahake by, the long tunnel which occurs directly .after crossing the Ohinemurj River, just outside the Karangahake station yard.; Work, in the tunnel is being carried .on day and night, and satisfactory progress is being made with it. Tim heading is now right through, ; and the tutinel will probably ..finished.: before the' end' of the vear. Contracts have -been. let to Messrs. J. .and. A. Anderson, of Christchurch, for the steel superstructure bridge* over the. second and third crossings of the Ohinemuri River. The concrete piers and abutments having been constructed .by .theDepartment's; own workmen;; The abutments are finished, and work on the piers is making good puieresi'-, some of the steel work having been _ delivered, and being now in course of erection. Tenders for the Waikino station buildings are about to be invited, and the line to that point, three miles and a-half from Karangahake, will probably be available for traffic 'by about May next. The amount spent on, this line last . year was £26.463. Durin™ the current year about £40.000 .will be reouired. The expenditure on this line is now charged to a separate account, established under the special legislation of "last session,. .■..-■.... - GISEORNE-RQTORUA. The bridge over the Waipaoa River was finished last month, and rails laid over it, and it is now in daily use for ballast traffic. The short tunnel between Kaiteratahi and Karakn is excavated, and now being lined, and will shortly be finished. The rest of the formation works to Karaka are practically oompletfed, and tenders for the Waipaoa'and Karaka station buildings will shortly be invited. Rail-laying has been resumed", and it is hoped to have the section ready for traffic about the,end of the financial year, The survey of the projected extension to Motu has been put in hand. The expenditure last year amounted to £14,330, and a vote of £10,000 is asked. STRATFORD-ONGARUE. It is hoped the line will be available for goods traffic soon after the end of the month, and passenger traffic by the end of November. Beyond Oruru somewhat extensive survey to determine the best route for the line to follow has been completed, and there is now sufficient information ia the possession .of the Department to enable a decision to be arrived at when the time comes for taking in hand another section of the line. The expenditure- last year was £8713, and, a vote of £7000 is proposed.,,: MOUNT EGMONT BRANCH. I): authorised by Parliament construction can be taken in hand as soon as surreys now proposed have been completed. It is not .necessary to make the whole railway: at one;, as a section of five miles will open -up sufficient rock to last for some time. Only £BJO was actually charged against last vear's vote, but folly £5000 will be required during the current year, and a vote for that sum is asked for. ...';-.■-■ ; '"-. .-;■.-•.:: ..." NORTH ISLAND MAIN TRUNK. Satisfactory progress is being . made at both Auckland and - Wellington ends. ,At Auckland end passengers axe now ; carried • a.=» far as Taumarunui, 175 miles from Auckland, and goods and materia! to E^ftkahi

bridge, 10 miles further. Wait*"; bridge M finished, and material train)' run over its. The Kakahi bridge is approaching completion, and as soon as ifc is ■ available rails will be laid across it and on to about 188 miles, •where rail-laying. will' bo stopped for a time by heavy work-in hand, there. The forir-a. tion works ; extend beyond Owhanga, and t'f<* construction of- the service road, which in beinf, formed to facilitate the works on the railway, is in hand to Oio. It is proposed during the current year to continue construction of thir road The works at th» Auckland and Wellington ends of the. lino are making such progress that the time k not far distant when they will be in touch,' A service road will have to be carried ' through sooner or latei, and as soon as it is completed a light coach can be run from the rail head at Auckland end to Eaetihi in "Wellington province,_ connecting with 'the existing coach service between Pipiriki 1 Waiouru and Taihape. The completion of I the service road, while also greatly facilitate ' | fug the railway, would open a new and j highly interesting tourist route, and facilitate travelling between the extreme southern portion of the Auckland province and Wellington. At the Wellington end of the railway the section between M&ngaweka; and Taihape has now been completed and handed oyer for passenger traffic. Beyond Taihape the formation is complete as far aa the tunnel. By the time the tunnel has been, lined it is expected that formation to the Mataroa tunnel will be ready for the laying of the permanent way, which would then ■'■■'■■'<■ extended to that point. Instructions were recently issued to make a commencement with some heavy cuttings a distance beyond Waiouru. The workti at the southern end of the lino are gradually getting into easier country, and rapid progress can then' be made. The expenditure on the line last year was £174-,480, being £62,318 in excess of % '■'■' ; * the previous year. For the current year a I vote of-£150,000 is asked for. BLENHEIMThe expenditure on the railway last vea* was £27,815. A vote of £25,000 is proposed! ' MIDLAND. -Expenditure on the Midland railway last year was £53,547. , A. vote of £60,000 is pro, posed. NGAHERE-BLACKBALL. NGAHERE-BLACKBALL. The expenditure last year was £19,538, and £10,000 is asked. COAL CHEEK. This railway, extending from the Government railway station at Greymouth to the State coal mine, has been completed, and.' considerable coal traffic is now being carried,] Last year's expenditure was £23,112. The» amount does not appear as a disbursement out of the Public Works Fund, as it is mada a charge _ against the State 'Coal Mines Ac- ! '', count, which is_ a separate account. T<s cover works carried out since March 31 last and complete- the line a vote of £10,000 u|i provided in the Consolidated Fund Esti«, mates. _ ' , 1

GREYMOUTH-HOKITIKAROSS, ' " Expenditure last year was £25,063, bui ft, , { smaller sum will suffice for the current year,' and £15,000 is accordingly asked .tor. OTAGO CENTRAL. ■ ....-■'.. Last year's expenditure amounted id £47,997. For the current year a vote it £50,000 in provided. HERIOT EXTENSION. Disbursements last year were £6057. Tc£ the current year £8000 is asked for. CATLIN3-SEAWARB BUSH. . "The expenditure last year was £6311, ut& '■ ' £8000 is asked for. ;,>■■■- [ [: -'''■'■. ■■■'Mi'ss:W^ } 0i TOTAL PROPOSED APPROPRIATIONS,] ' Including l ; the amounts for the Paeroa>-' Waihi and Coal Creek lines, which are both chargeable to special separata accounts, and the votes for old land claims (£1003), survey) of new lines (£3000), and permanent 'way.'' r materials (£60,000),- the total proposed appropriations for -railway construction p-ir-c - poses amounted to £484,000. APPROPRIATIONS PROPOSED, The appropriations proposed for tiro cue rent year are as under:—Roads Department, £18.605. < $iMofii Roads Generally, £246,439. Maintenance of Main Roads, £28,453. Tourist roads, ■ £16,498. , ■ Government Loans to Local' Bodies A« 'count, £35,000. :, ■ ,'r-'- : Land for Settlements Account, £6910. '*-*. i !' Total. £351,910. ; ' ■•■■"•■ • V ROADS ON GOLDFIELDS. '.The vote last year under this bead ?.ao n ■>, ed to £31,200. The expenditure, howeve*, \ considerably: exceeded this sum, having ■amounted-to £45.594,. with contingent liabili- % ties at the end of the. year of £23,375. The "\ c \ sum proposed to be authorised for the current ■ year" is £68.621, on account of .which it vote of £35,000 is asked;; for. ; ;; - " ■;■■'■. ;;!:'B&Bi?lsßi||| 1 ■■ ■■ DEVELOPMENT OF GOLDHELD3 AND MINING. _ The returns from gold mining contour to k ' i ' f increase," and the anticipated amount of over ■■■£2,000 as the value,of gold which would be exported during the late year, was realised, tile amount waving neon £a,037,&51, being an - • increase, on tho previous year of £86,333. The- quantity of gold for export Cluing 1903 was 533,31407., valued at £2,037,831, and of silver. 911,914 c*. valued at, £91,497, as compared with 503,0>150z of sold* ' valued at £1,951,433. aad of silver, 674,1b60«, * valued at £71,975, for 1902, being an incr««.3e of 25,2690z of. gold, valued at £86,393, and 237,71802 of silver, valued at £19,522. The amount expended last financial year on works for the development of the jgaln,{io<ds -■ 'r was £16,278, while liabilities at the close of ' ■'< the year amounted to £2039. It is propo-osi to take a vote of £14,000 for the current year. TOURIST AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT, The expenditure under this heading during ' •-, the year amounted to £15,643, a large por- •■ tion of which was spent in and around Roto-' rua This year important imjirovwuenls at'."! , ' Warmer, To Aroha, Waikpiemoautt, and itotorua have to be provided 'or, as well sa ' for'the enlargement of Pu&aki House and (dado House, To Arum. Prevision is also made for the oil launches purchased to meefe .., tho increased traffic on Lakes Tarawa .i lit jvAi'maiiai-.. The gross authorisation asked ! " . - for amounts to £26,648, on acooim': of which a vote of ■ £25,000 is proposed. v ''-:- ;; *'i:*'«. ; ?ps^{