PUBLIC WORKS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17026, 6 December 1918, Page 7

PUBLIC WORKS.

* ABffUAL BUMMABT SHALL RAILWAY VOTE. LABOUR NOT AVAILABLE. I jfljGE GRANT FOR SCHOOLS. '> TOTAL FUND £3,520,540. [51 TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL OORPJSSFOXDENT.J 0} ' WELLINGTON, Thursday. IP The Public Works Statement was preM eented to the House to-night by Uie Minister, Sir William Fraser. '<:** The principal items of expenditure for 111 the year ended March 31 last and the H appropriations for the current year are J'.;, thus summarised:— App:ropri- Expen- ::: ' tions. diture. 1918-19. 1917-18. | £ £ :.;>. public Works. Departmental 100.000 127,898 W Railways— Railway Con- • struction £455.000. addi- ">•■■■■' ditiona to Open Lines - £185,000 670.000 495.771 V.'- Publio Buildings .. .. 648.500 229,288 ;' : Lighthouses, Harbour til-:. Works, and Harbour (&t : .Defences .. .. 11-.600 2,976 W ; Tourist and Health Resorts V.500 931 9 Immigr lion .. .. 20,000 8,856 :: '■:. Construction. Maintenance. r- ->!;.: sod Supervision of - •"■''■■ Roads. Bridges. and n*. other Public Works .. 480,000 135,642 >i'M Development, of Mining .. 1.450 27 *?•: Telegraph Extension .. 280.000 117,266 %'■ Contingent Defence .. 15,000 6,714 HI Lands Improvement . . 7,000 1.838 >1 Irrigation and Water Supply 20,000 11,650 •':'•." Plant, Material and Stores 25,000 6,811 f§ Electric Supply .. .. 150,000 |33 Services not provided for 64 ;: Public Works Fund .. 2,460,050 1,140,732 <-;. Land for Settlements Accounts 'Roads) .. 100,000 43,996 n. J . Electfw Supply Account 55.000 26.734 $£ Railways Improvement .*«•'■'■'. Authorisation Account 125,000 111.720 -'■•';. iWaihou and Ohinemuri gp 'Rivers Improvement Ace. 25.000 12,025 ??■ Telegraph Extension Ace. 96 : 689 HPI The appropriations for particular rail" >*;.. yays, compared with the expenditure lot ■ K the past year, is thus stated:—

ti ? Statement of Ways and Means. *-■>;■■ .. - §f £ On April 1, 1917, the available ways and. means for public works purposes ||: weir- £521.525. Further funds were re--1 ceived-Under the Aid to Publio Works M and ; Land Settlement Act, 1914, £45,100; under Finance Act, 1916, section 49, m £700,000; under Finance Act, 1917, section m 77 '£125,000; other receipts and re--1 coveries, £44,643; making a gross total of I £1,436,273. The expenditure of the year amounted to £1,140,733. This left a balance to the credit of the Ways and 1 Means Account at March 31, 1918, of

I £295 540 I For the current year it is proI mmA to provide additional funds as | Folol:-In P terms of section 77, Finance - Act 1917 £725,000; under Finance Act, 1918 £2,500,000; making the total ways and means for 1918-19 £§,520,540. I The estimated expenditure for public- ' works for the current year is £2,460,00), leaving an estimated balance of £1,060,490 to be carried forward to : ; 1919-20. In addition to the amounts described there is ; authority to raise the. following sums:— - Under the Aid to Water-power Act, 1910, |. £76,000 f under the Waihott and Ohine- '■> muri' Rivers Improvement Act,' 1910, £50,000. •{■' '., ;Sections Opened During Year. i Tour short sections were opened for ./., r. traffic' during the year, and construction •■' • weft-has been carried on with all the - Wbd- available at 11 different places. Supplies of rails, steel,., and hardwood .'• timber for bridges have been practically tiiobtainable owing to conditions due to the war, and the absence with the Expe<iitioMry Forces of more than half of the '> [Department's engineers has had the |l|f|§ect*of delaying some of the location -and survey work, which must be done in • '.advance of construction. , pl|iThe following sections were. completed ■"• »nd handed over to the Railway Depart- ... ment for traffic during the past year:— ' Paerata to Patumahoe, 4 miles 7 chains; '. '' Matawai to Mottihora, 4 miles 78 chains; ''< ! Whaugamomona to Kohuratahi, 4 miles j;'.:,63!chains; Ohakune to Ractihi, 8 miles r|»v].s3;chains; making a, total of 22 miles 31 £,-' 'chains. " The Culverdea-Waiau Extension —13 ■'- * miles—and Clyde to Cromwell Section— -'•- 12£ miles—are sufficiently advanced to -~ permit of train services being run daily ;.'/" over their whole respective lengths. The expenditure on railway construction £ ..and improvement work daring the last I ~ financial year amounted to £607,491, as vjj under:— Construction of new lines .. £295,605 .. .• ' Additions to open lines .. .. 200,195 i K ; , R«i!ways improvement account 111,720 !$.; ■ The following is a summary of the mj& principal works which have been in prodigress during the year just closed Eawakawa - Hokianga. Work has been in progress throughout ||f| the year on the eight-mile section between Pp|Aaikohe and Okaihau with reduced manllppower.'but results have been affected by §£■: •continuous wet weather and frequent ,tlipr> of the unstable material in cuttings gKifter-formaion had been completed. It ffipFill/ require about another year's work || aader prevailing condition* .to complete |M&B ? iEsin9£»* to Pkaibauj,

The terminus of the open line remains at Ivanganui, on the Otamatea waterway, 87 miles from Auckland, but a temporary goods and passenger service is in operation from that point to Huarau, nearly seven miles beyond. Formation-work has been carried out over 13 miles of route from the terminus of the open line, but weather and labour conditions have been difficult during the year, and tho diminishing number of workmen available led to the cessation of work in the Huarau and Golden Stairs Tunnels, as well as on earthworks farther ahead. The clay country traversed is very unstable, and slips in cuttings are very frequent. The headings in each of the tunnels mentioned are 12 chains apart, and until these are pierced rapid progress with works farther North cannot be expected. East Coast Main Trunk. Northern Section.—Construction work with a small number of men has been in progress since January last on the 'section trom Waihi southwards towards Tauranga Harbour. Tauranga Section.—The line has for some time been open from Maunganui to Paengaroa, a distance of 20 miles, and a regular goods and passenger service has been in operation over this length under the control of the Public Works Department. During the year the goods service has been extended to Matata, 20 miles beyond Paengaroa. The banks over swampy "parts of the routo still show a little settlement, and have to be added to from time to time as required. Steelwork for the permanent bridge over the Kaituua River has arrived after long delay, and the contractor has resumed the erection of the bridge. Tie construction of the bridge across the Tauranga Harbour, alongside the town, has been carried forward as far as material procurable would permit, but progress has Deen very moderate. Gisborae Northward.— section from Matawai to Motuhora, five miles in length, was handed over to the Railway Department for traffic on November 26, 1917. No construction work is being done beyond Motuhora.

Stratford-Main Trunk. At the western end the length frdm Whangamomona to Kohuratahi, four miles 53 chains, was completed and handed over to the Railway Department for traffic on January 7 last. Work In a beenjn progress during the year over the rive-mile section to Tahora station, earthwork being nearly finished, rails laid, and line partly ballasted to within half a mile of the station site. Beyond lahora the line is beinp laid out with a view to the vigorous prosecution of construction work when financial and labour conditions return to the normal. The heavy works on the 10i-mile section from Okahukura to Matiere have been kept fairly well manned throughout the year. The concrete work on the bridge which is to carry road and railway over the Ongarue River is finished, but some time must elapse before < the steel superstructure can be built, owing to the impossibility of obtaining materials. The Okahu tunnel was taken out of the contractor's hands on June 20, 1917, since when the excavation has been carried on by the Department with a small number of men. Better progress is looked for in the future. The other works on the section are not heavy, and will give little concern once the completion of the Ongarue Bridge and Okahu Tunnel is in sight. For the present, construction work is rot in progress beyond Matiere. Other Railway Works. In addition to the votes for construction of specific lines of railway an appropriation of £500 is required to provide for old land claims and other liabilities on construction account, £1000 for surveys of projected new lines of railway, and £80,000 for permanent-way material. _ The total vote proposed this year for railway construction amounts to £485,000. The expenditure out of the Public Works Fund under the heading Additions- to Open Lines" amounted to £200,162. Of this sum, £149,081 was expended in the' provision of additional rolling-stock, Westinghouse-brake equipment, steam-heating gear, and {Workshops machinery. The balance covered* expenditure upon improvements to _ station accommodation and yards; additions to Workshops, tablet, telegraph, and telephone facilities, interlocking, improvements to wharves and bridges, and purchase of land. OoldSelds and Mining. The total allocations under the heading of "Roads on Goldficlds" last year amounted to £28,458, on account of which a vote of £20,200 was taken. The actual expenditure during the year, however, amounted to £6912. only, as it was decided to hold over the expenditure of all votes except ', those for urgent works. The expenditure under the heading " Development of Mining" was quite email— £72— against this there was a credit of £45, thus leaving the net amount at £L* only. A vote of £1450 iB proposed to be taken this year. The total amount voted and expended on construction of public buildings during the last financial year amounted to: New buildings— £31tT,940 ; expended, £229,288. For the current year an appropration of £648,500 for new buildings is pioposed. Vote for Buildings.

New buildings for St. Helens Hospitals are contemplated at Auckland, Christchurch and Dunedin, but probably only that for Christehurch will be commenced during tho current year. _ In consequence of arrangements made with the Defence authorities in connection with the treatment of soldiers, extensive buildings which were proposed at Otaki. and Te Waikato sanatoria are not now necessary, although some expenditure at both places will have to be incurred.

There was an expenditure of £15,505 during the year for workers' dwellings, also a liability of £95 for dwellings in course of erection. Expenditure during the current year will be on a similar moderate scale.

The expenditure out of the Public Works Fund on school buildings was £63,082 out of a vote of £100,500. Of this amount, £55,000 was paid to education boards and other controlling authorities for the erection of new buildings, additions, etc., for the purposes of primary, secondary, technical, and university education. The balance, £8000, represents the cost of works carried out directly under the control of the Government, including native schools and industrial and special schools. For the current year a much larger sura will be needed. .During the past four years, the cost of buildings being abnormally high, operations have been confined to oases where extra accommodation was absolutely necessary to cany on, and, as a consequence, a large sum is required to provide for buildings the erection of which can no longer be postponed. Increased votes are being provided for buildings for public schools, technical schools, secondary schools, and university buildings. Applications ioi; gums • amounting to. oyer

The line which will connect Whangarei 'i autrict with the North Auckland system t at Waiotira Junction is just 20 miles in . c length, and construction work is com- 6 ?fii 11* in some stage of progress over loi miles, commencing at the Whangarei I end. The first four miles was let in one i contract in May, 1914, and the contract c baa only recently been completed, about two years after the stipulated time. A further length of 1} miles has been completed for some time, and the section • from Whangarei to Portland Station, 6s' ' miles, is practically ready for traffic i There is a gap, on which little work has , beon done, of two miles to Oakloigh, j where there is a wharf, and where the t projected Waipu branch will some day : j come in ; but from that point onward for- „ mation is complete, rails laid and ballasted i for nearly nine miles, and a ballast-train , v operates over this length. There have' been many small slips in cuttings on this line, but no serious damage, and the rate . of progress has been affected by the un- { usual rainfall and the dearth of suitablo i t labour. Over the last three miles to the '■ r junction-point formation-work is is pro- 1 t grew, and will be carried to completion r as early as available funds and labour , r will permit, so that the new line from ! Oakleigh to Waiotira may be used a c means of conveying materia] and supplies for construction-work on the Main Trunk line, north and south of the junction. North Auckland Main Trunk. ' r t t i f t « c V t i 8 J i: ( 1 i i It S d i« II I f 1 V i If. t I v 1 r a 6 a t; ii a

2400,000, including grants; made during he current year, are now before the Equation Department, . and provision for this urn has been made.' The total public works expenditure to klarch 31 last -was £71,548,333, of w },i,li 225,471,965 was tpent on railways- ... ; w onstruction. Waihou and Ohinerauri Rivers. The dredge has been kept fully employed luring the year completing tho excavation if tho Ngararnhi Cut, formation of a stop : rank at Thorp's Bend, near Paoroa, and emoving a shoal near the old wharves at ?aeroa. Two miles of stop-banks designed o protect valuable dairying land in the Vetlierton district have beon completed, nd extensions to wharves and- goods sheds wilt at Ngahina. In deference to tho vishes of the settlers chiefly concerned, orae modification of the original protecive scheme is being made, eliminating the proposed straight cut to divert the river >etween Waimarie and Hikutaia. Proective walls of a modified height will irobably be built where required along he present river channel between tho wints mentioned. Much work still renains to be done before finality is reached n carrying these improvement works into fleet, and the end is not yet in sight. Development of Water-power. The business of the Lake Coleridge lower supply'is still growing, and applicaions for most of the 4000 horse-power of he additional plant have already been eceived. It is probable that in the near uturo the growing demand will call for he installation of still another generating init at Lake Coleridge, which will about :xhaust the capacity of tho present headvorks at.the lake. The capital expenditure now amounts to £389,754, including 314,320 interest on capital during contruction; the gross revenue during the ■ear amounted to £32,092, and the workng expenses to £14,449, leaving a balance o net revenue account of £17,643. Deducting interest charges, amounting to 314, '871, there remains a balance of 02772 towards depreciation. Having retard to the fact that this is only the hird year of working, and also that the rrowth of tho business has been checked or the last two years because of the lifficulty experienced ■ in getting machinry, the result is to be regarded as a nost satisfactory one. During . the year investigations have wen made of suitable sources of supply or current to haul trains through tho Arthur's Pass tunnel, the completion of vhich is now within measurable distance. Vlternative schemes have been evolved or carrying the train servico through tho unnel only, and over considerable rnglhs of the mountain section of rail' fay on both eastern and western sides, >ut no definite decision has yet been cached as to which scheme will bo dopted. Referring to the hydro-electric schemes at the' North Island along the lines of Ir. Parry's report, the Minister states hat the sum of £150,000 is provided for :iitiatorv work on the proposed Auckland nd Wellington schemes.

Labour Still Scarce.

The difficulty of procuring a sufficient supply of labour was only too manifest during last year. Indeed, as time went on it became increasingly accentuated. The fact that on March 31, 1918, the unexpended authorities in the hands of local bodies and of the officers of the Department amounted to £203,962. for roads and bridges alone, clearly proves that it was scarcity of labour and material, and not of money, which accounted for only £135,642 having been expended during the financial year on B'jch work. ' Happily tho war is now brought to a victorious conclusion, but a considerable period must almost necessarily elapse before any appreciable number of soldiers will return to New Zealand. Should this period prove to be shorter than is at present anticipated, ample provision is made, both on the Estimates and in the Public Works Fund, to ensure that work will be available for all who need it. . In the meantime no appreciable increase of rate of expenditure can bo expected. i In conclusion. - Sir William Fraser i states" We have every reason to rejoice at the victorious termination- of this most barbarous war. New Zealand has 'done its share right nobly. It may well, be proud of those who have taken part in this struggle for freedom! It remains now for all of us to bind up our wounds and exert our utmost energies in building up the prosperity and hamiiness of this Dominion. Good roads, railways, irrigation, and an abundant supply of cheap electric power throughout the land are each and all important factors in this direction. May they soon be accomplished facts."

fH i Appro- Eirjenr$ £ priations. diture. 1 1918-19. 1917-18. Hf ■•' ■ £ £ k3j f»a.n Bailway Extension .. 6,000 Cr. 35 M awakswa-Hokianga -. — 11,621 v - If, Auckland Main Trunk— ?»-•. Biaganci. Northwards .. 20.000 17,655 r; : Waiotira. Southwards .. 20.000 £;•:•;•:■ Waiotira. Northwards .. 10,000 65 ■''■'■■ '■' Njfapubi, Northwards .. 20,000 !;;<..WWi»! Branch .. 30,000 43.238 Waipu Branch .. ' .. 2,500 5'aiuku Branch .. .. 15.000 10.754 j. ■ Haiitly-Awaroa .. .. 5.000 253 m Eut Coast Main Trunk— Waihi. Eastwards .. .. 15.000 2.774 !*:-■ Tauranga-Te Maunga .. — 2S69 ■ Maimganui-Taneatua .. — 52,585 :-:. . Taaranga. Westwards .. 10.000 j'. v Tauranga, Eastwards .. 45.000 '.?.*; &ount Branch .. .. 4,000 !: '.Gisborne-Motu .. .*. 500 10.619 5-' .' Nipier-Gisborne Ci. i Gisborns-Wairoa .. .. 15.000 4.135 t' ; v Wairoa-Gisborne .. .. 6,000 7 Wiroa-Napier .. .. 3,000 £'." Napier- Wairoa .. .. 15.000 9,341 m^ Mount Egmont Branch .. 100 Cr. 19 : Opunake Branch .. .. 20.000 12,667 . Stratford-Main Trunk— iffi'. clast End 52.000 31.306 - ' "West End 15,000 10.001 ■•- Raeiihi-Main Trunk " .. 500 15,307 - Swne Quarry Line, RangitikeT River .. .. 100 " Featherston-Martinborough.. 2.100 M South 'Island Main Trunk ... 5.000 252 !« Midland— "■■, Nelson End .. .. 5.000 Cr. 88 path Island Main Trunk .. 5.000 252 Nelson End .. .. 5.000 Cr. 88 ,*' Reeiton.End .. .. 4.000 58 Otira-Bealey .. .. 40.000 42.911 Wm Broken River* to Bealey.. 1.000 1.329 ■ •Westport-Inangahua .. 100 250 -. Greymouth-Point Elisabeth — 27 Cuiverden-Waiau .. .. 15,000 10.690 H ajaimate Branch Extension 4.000 Cr. 17 Lswrence-Hoxburgk .. .. '"— '49 mOasp/ Central .. ... 15.000 18,519 PtJaldutha-Tuapeka Mouth.. 600 Cr. 18 itf Caifins-Waimahaka .... " — Cr. 9 • Winton-Heddon Bush .. 2,500 " Orepuki-Waiau Extension.. 2.500 46 • -. LaEd-ciaims. damages or losses on * goods in tranMF%.tit, and other liabilities 5,500 ■ 79 |y Surveys, new lines of rail- ■ Safe;-.-way -. ■•' •• •• 1.000 Hf Permanent-way materials .. 75.000 • 7.845 ' ■ • Totals' .. " .. £485,000 £295.609 JllteThe- figures in respect to open*lines are-— £ i Way and Works Branch P' Wrth Island Main Lines SS ' and Branches .. .. 21,070 35,654 '; South Island Main Lines '■-? and Branches .. .. 35,330 15,015 - , Whangarei Section .. 6,600 658 Picton Section .. .. - 2,199 ;>;.* Interlocking signal gear, fixed signals tablet 'v*; installation, telegraph)!, |-:" f ! ' and telephones .. *.. 13,000 1,430 Locomotive Branch— M Rolling-stock .. ..105.000 141,119 \J Workshops machinery .. 5.000 6.129 :"'• "Totals £185,000 £200,162