THE PUBLIC WORKS' STATEMENT

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXVI, Issue 8260, 23 October 1901, Page 1

THE PUBLIC WORKS' STATEMENT

(BY TBLIOBAIH.T Wellington, October 22. The Public Works. Statement delivered.in the House of Eepresentetives tlns wening by the Minister for Publico Works :(theHoiT.'w: : Ball-Jonesas fdlows:-. , ' Mr Speaker,-—lt. is.with feelings of pleasure" th£r I lay before ion. members my sLrth'Statement,' especially as it has not fallfen to',the lot of anyone of my sors to deliver six consecutive Public Works Statements. The work undertaken last year '■vfis of a inore extensive character thaa during. any of the past few years, and the total expenditure, consequently reached a higher figure. ,;'A large amount of very useful work •has been accomplished, and the extent to which- the improved conveniences are appreciated by our settlers is well evidenced the demands made for further roads, railways, and" other facilities. •' Indeed, had. these, demands been complied with to any. like their full extent, the estimates of expenditure which I submit , this evening mmld have been swelled to twice their present" dimensions. In dealing with the-ques-tion of .public works it is well to remember S it is only just over sixty years since New-Zealand became a.British colony, ™d when hon. members- bear in mind ; .that at that time, there were no roads, railways, r bridges, no telegraphic communication, n post /offices or other- pubUc buildings, that education beyond that supplied by the mas sionaries was practically unknown, and that the islands were only visited at rare intervals br sailing ships, it must be admitted that : the progress made ■been most satisfactory, establishing a re cord of rwhich we may justly b e I>r°uxl. 21 miles of-railway have been constructed and opened for traffic, thousands, of miles of road bavins been formed,, hundreds of bribes (built,-7250 miles of 'telegraph lines established,'th* necessary public, buildings, (including schools) have been ejected at great cost, and a large fleet of ships are now L carrying to all parte of the world the products of our enterprising settler?. this good work has been done_ durin p vears -we, who for (the time being have the welfare "of "the, country entrusted to< oui rharee must not ignore our responsibilities in seeing that steps are taken for the furt r development of our colony, and.that ev ry o-DDortunity is thus afforded for our. to forward their products to the markets and'in the shortest-.reasonable time. . T ATiable this to be -done, notwithstanding what .pessimists may say, we.must continue our policy of road and. railway .construction, ■We must further improve our existing lm I communication,- which, if done with due rereard-to economy, will result in placm our country is a stffl-more satisfactory position, wwhnnt proper means-, of communication niir settlers are hampered and handicapped, jitid ifc is our duty to-remove the disabilities Ste 4kli they labor, bearing in mind that 'as the .-work progresses each. ™ leo * Say completed and each cham of road tomeJ is so much toward the end we have making provision for the urgent requirements of the colony, the I are of opinion that it) would be extremely inadvisable to enter upon a large borrowing policy; for public, works,. and that we should adhere to the course followed, m recent years and make provision for a fair rate of nrooress being maintained, .both in railway and" road construction, and provide accommodation and . conveniences necessitated by the development of the colony, including renewal with" more permanent material of the old wooden buildings, many of which are vast-repairing. The. sums-pnmded the lSimates...wiU admit of. the several works being, continued at a reasonable speed, it is hoped ■ that the following sections will be open for traffic More flm end of:the current financial years.— lines Helensville northwards,'- section laAhuroa, length four miles 69 'Giabprne-Karaka, Gisborne wharf-nivmn-nf?- -10 miles 43_ chains 5 Stratford-chr-ms- Korth Island mam trunk, PorooIsland main' trunk, Mangaonoho-Manga-Omafe-Seddon 12 ® Wafeara-SkargiU Ift nulw

40 - chains ; Otago Central,"t "WedderfournBlackstone Hill 12 miles 23 chains/ total, 86 miles 16 chains. Considerable progress was made with the more important) of the works under construction, the principal details of which I will give later on. Before outlining my proposals for expenditure, I will briefly state the ways and means available for public works (purposes at 31st March, 1900. The balance.of the ways and means of the Public Works Fund amounted to £839,749, and further sums .were .provided last session as under: New loan, £1,000,000; transferred from revenue, £500,000; there were also . miscellaneous receipts to the amount of £1787,-"thus making a gross total of £2,349,536. The expenditure last year amounted to >£1,309,021. So that at the close of the year the 'balance of our ways and means was £1,032,515, and

it is now proposed to provide the following additional funds:—New loan, £1,000.000; further transfer from revenue/ £500,000 ; making, altogether a gross total of ways and means.of £2,532,515. The estimates of expenditure for the current year- total to £2,196;364''(in addition 1 to £46,577 under the Government Loan-to Local Bodies' Account), thus leaving an unallocated, 'balance of £335,181. .. TOTAL PUBLIC WORKS EXPEXDI- ! - TURK. , The following table fehtors the total ex- ; ion Jnill'Tvotkis iSii services' tErotafchodt.-tfije-colcmy up to the 31sb D ecember/1890, iiid also up to ,/tihe 31st March ini a separate' itlhe' ^ 9 \ - f '?", " ; v ClassofWork.

: Railway Construction— Total expenditure to 31st"Dec., . 1890 iu... - r , ; . !, 1 ;.-i- !£14,067,100 Construction from Ist January; ..t, t jaa rj'ttii 1891, to 31st March, ■I9QJ, oi £,,^025,391 Additions to open lines 1,075,535 Totsl"to 31st March, 19011? '!<.17,K85026 jSeay.-ended 31st MarchJl£©lrb v : . Constraption; r ;. Tr ?nou-<-. Ji n r £392,691. m : Addition toopen lines: -:.., . r;., i 325,032 : ! : Roads— : T "-i.-F' -:or''-: IT Total .to 31st Dec., 1890 .... £3,575,804 Ist January j • 1891, to' 3ist' - 1 ""' : - J "" : March, 1901 .'1,988,145 ; Total to 31st March, 1901 ... 5,563,949 Year ended 31st March, 1901... lublic Buildings- , jf, i-i ; ? fp Total to 31st December, 1890 V". £1,776,003 'lst January, 1891-, J td -Sfstr' •' /. 1 March, 1901 ...' 733,647' ■Total to 31st March, 1901 ... 2,509,650 ! Year ended 31sfcJVlarch,; 190,1... , 120,'3j54 ; ■> .R r ''i ■' Total to 31st December, 1890 £2,144,386 Ist January, 1891, to 31st March; 1901 ... - ... : •S.SSS Total to 31st March, 1901 ... ; 2,147,71.9 : Year ended 31st March, 1901... ; 214 vPurchase of Native Lands— ■ ' ■ Total to 31st December,;; 1890 Ist January, 1891, to 31st-'i- J-O;'.- . March, 1901 ... . -773,833 Total to 31st March, 1901 ... 1,964,970 Year ended 31st March, 19,01... 28,688 Lighthouses, Harbor -Works, : ■ • ; and Harbor Defence—. •. : Total to 31st December, 1890 £880,Q95 Ist January, 1891, to 31st ' Mairch, 1901 -... \ ' 85,518 Total to 31st March, 1901 ... ' 965,613 Year ended 31st March, 1901..., 6,517: Telegraph Total to 31st December, 1890 ' 600,849 Ist January . to 31sfc-. : March, 1901 ... 305,309 Total to 31st March, 1901 ... 906,158 Year ended 31st March, 1901... 50,101 Development of Goldfields — Total to 31st .December,., 1890 , £561,101. Ist January, - 1891,1 to/ 31§t y >j? •, March, 1901 ... f "...' ±'' 125;252 Total to 31st March, 1901 ... 686,353 Year ended 31st March, 1901... 15,997 Defence Works Total to 31st December,' 1890 £429,720 Ist January, 1891, to ?lat - . , March, 1901 .-V 120,240 Total to 31st March, 1901, ... , 549,960, Year ended 31st March, ;1901j.. f i ; 37,050 Departmental— Total to 31st Deicember, 1890 £349,789, Ist January, 1891, to 31st March, 1901 , r 109,528. Total to 31st March, 1901 ... 459,317 Year ended 31st March, 1901...

Minor Works and Services — - Total to 31st December, 1890. £300,689 Ist January, 1891/ no b >3 March, 1901 ../ ... Total to 31st March, 1901 ... , 308,161 Year ended 31st March, 1901... ' -' "'673 Cost and Discount Raising

Loans, etc— ' Total to 31st December, 1890 £1,021,472 Ist; January,- , 18 t 9l,'_ to I ]3lstr -•: % J" • -Mirch,-.1901., .;.;7;j .'><.] Aa' Total to 31st March,: 1901;;- . ...] . 1,057/771 Year ended 31st March, 1901... Ij4QO

l|Vvf glo_— . . . , \ , f 1 / r\'X* ' " ' ' "' J Total to 31st December, "1890 426,898,145 Ist January, 1891, 6n . n J March, 1901 , : Total to 31st fiTarch, 190 V _ Year ended 31afc March, 1901— 1,309,021 RAILWAYS ijnder oonstructiox. The railways under were, tih® same ais during itflio pi'eViouis! jeair, but watih two additionsr— namely, the btratford-Kawa-kawa and.Heriot extension lipes. The expendiitni're amounted- tto comsicteably more 3han im the previous hdb'A,bSI against £193.580, the increase being .£lO3lll. ®ie improved progress on all the more = important lines £as-bfiea teined, especially in the ©ase of tihe N>oirtih Island Maiin Trunk Railway ; so tihat for several 'of itlhie- principal liines substamitoal votes m-usb be. asked for. I will mow briefly describe what has 'been done on each of the railway works in' hand; dtramg last and also our proposals. for the current year. Kawaivawa-Grahanistowil— The • on the southam extension of tihe nortuierii portion of itihis (railway: has Ibeeni' con'tmued, the 'operation now: extending.over.tilie whole, e&aiht -mites lauitharisedj in -1899. : Ran laying 'has. not'., yet been., started, but rails have been procured, so thai. tie work can be m hand as soon as a sufficient I'engtlh. of foimatiorii is available. -No suitable badasfc iuis "been discoveired? imlmedia/ttely la-dtjlaceinit' to •the .work in hand,, but a deposit of scoria '.ash exists :at a distance iof a male and threieonarters from: the line.' It would be neces:saasy to icon&tiruct a (branch;'to enable ' this to be -utilised. It is .expected -that tihe first section of the iime\:wiU:be'tested aaild isuitable -for traffic itihii itomei wejct year , fuTtiie-r -in tfihe• .; ■es'bensioii. The 'southern portion ; of the: I'ine was' completed during the year—namely, a short section, of one milie and .twenty-six chains between Waiotii and Hiikcrer.ui, whitfh was opened . for traffic on the Ist of March last. '■ A survey of the intervenin'0 * between the ino-rt*heTn 'and southern portion otf .«s railway ihais been proceeded with as opportunity offered, the liinie halving he-en definitely located foir six miles and a trial line run for three iniles farther. The completion of /tjhi's survey will be -entrusted to an 'officer whose- attention will be solely devoted to it, so as to ©nsui-e its being finished at an le-ariy date. Preparations have been made to start work on the extension from Opaii to Gra-hanustown. Ifc was found Aat tihe 'Original survey could be improved upon, and a new survey ihas been made amd plans of the .bridge over the Whangarei -River have been prepared. The total expenditure on tihe railway last yeaa* ■amounted! to £13,301, and for itfhe cmrent. ■near an authorisation of .£15,000 is asked .for. ' ' EDelensville wards—Tihe Tafcekeroa section -of this railway, threie miles eighteiein chains in lengtlh,. was conupJeteid, and banded over to the Railway Departmeari. for regulair traffic on tiius 19i3i D-ecember last. Work •on: tihe Komtokoriki section ihas been; actively proceeded with 1 , and (tihe line as far as tihe •south end .of itito tffimel is completed and tihe rails laid. More thaa of tihe .excavation 1 -in the tumnel is completed aind .the rails laid, and the rest 1 .of the formation ftjo Aiiuroa .is -Wie3l in hand and 1 should .mob ibalke faag..itio ; !A coatjact heis heeai l«cti focr:ftttiie supply of (baidka far lining tibie

i'fvmnlel. I aim iopetfuLof being, able to open J •tihe section to 'Ahuroa' by about the 31st I ■ March, next . The final location of ;tih.e line ? [ b'Syo.nd. the 'end of the Komokoriki. section is now necessary in order to avoid any dtelay taking place in: the completion of the ivories on that section, and. the survey has according- been put in hand. The question, has been raised as to wih either i)he route foaytihis . railway is really the best that could be f,olio wed. Another route has baen examined by a "committ-ee of the local settlers, and considered by tthemi to be .supe'rior. Id order to set this point at! rest, instructions htwe been issued for the newly-suggested route to be 'examined, and on /completion; of sucli lesanimatdon its merits ■will-' be Carefully compared with those .of tihe route previously m-opoised. The expenditure -of this railway last year amounted t0£11,933, and for tlbe current year aa appropriation'of £15,000 as: proposed'. - *■ Paeroa-Waihi —-Only preliminary work had been done on tide line up. till tihe close of •'•.the financial; ?year, -,1898-1900.' .pruning last. yeair,;: ; |iOTrey£|r, ~jpogcess. ivasiiintidev and work; now ••mends for a das-.. fca.nce of eame sis miles fifteen. eliains. Tihie' 'excavation' of tihe loam tunnel. is* well in hand.. The. (positi-oii iof jthia /wxttfc; «it tlie. efftd of September was as follows.:; —West .end, ■ 751-ieefciboititom'-'hadiing!.67s-;feet,' bricking: 359 feet; tasfr «-iid, top 'hading' 469 feeW, bottom 'hading 457 feet. An air shaft has also.: been sunk at .'the. west jfi-nd of ibhe tunnel, about 600 feet from the mouUb.. PlaJte-lay-ing faias bwn sttofced (£iwm-.'tihJe. j'unotaoin siding; at Paeiioa, -awl is well am,; towards Karangeth-aike. A comttract has been let for :tih;e. construction, of a:Combiae .dray aind' railway bridge ov-eft* the - - 'Ohinenvii'ra 'K-iver a-u Kamamgaha-kej iithe coniti-aiob , price being £B7.7l.:|,jTlie; expenditure ott Wie line last : rrwas wiae £12,259, but tihSs year it will larger. An. authority for £20,000 is asked for. , aGrisborme-Ka.raika—'ln Itfliei case of _:.ittois .'railway! also the .only work ; done prior to ; t/h,'e. comlnHen.cfenieii'fr"(>f. tihe iMe" financial year, Tv-as of -a preliminaiy nature.- :DuriDg:.t3i®. : late year, however, veirv substantial progress ! has been made, so -that at the present tinnei ttihie. formation is finished for about; 12j miiles. 1 All itih'e bridges for ithie 'same distiaiice lhiava ' .fefflt erected and the fails' laid.' A" ballast is-busy •widening' itfe ibaMks; ;3g "itte;'Kteti,gn yards, .and .ballasting. The Sttution (buildings are ils'o dm pro.jjress, said I.'esp-ect jbo'Jhave itihe 'line to Or:imohd -ready for regular traffic by February next. -The final location of itSi-s bala-mce of •t'tue line to Karaka ■•will be taken in- hand as -sdpn.r-as a; suitable -officer lean be detailed for. the •work. , The: expenditure ouj tihis railway__last year exceeded tlhe vote by £3498, ■having amounted ito £l-5,498. This yeaa 1 it -Will be even larger, -land aai autihorisatioii of £20,000 Trill '• ' Stratf ord-Kawakawa'—This is .one. of the last session. Tibie Habd soon affer Pairlia'inemt roser arid 1 'construction, work started in 1 i April. ''•'Such 'good progress- 7 lias, b'eeni m.'ad'e tlhat a large -part, of the first section 1 - otf: Toko,- .six miles/and :a .'half dai i length, iis -now iready for : iplate-layinig, _ apd .tih'e. mails which .have -recently •arrive'd aire now being sent up to -the, iwoT'k, . I. have every .confidence that this section of itihe -railway wiill be open -for traffic by Christmas' next-. Sur■vey'"work is in iprogTess on t'he next section of .' t3ie line, so that- by itihe time tihe forma-td-o-n to Tdk'b is completeid we shall be in. a position, to'determine the be'st routs to be -•bajhen b.ey-ond that township. The we itikein for tlfe rail-way last yea-r -wasi £IO,OOO, tab scarcely :any lexpendatuire itook piacs prior to 31st Maroh. For the current year ao au-tlhorit-y for £l-2,000 -will be iieoessairy, Hoit. members are. awiaire .that in my last year's Stflftememt. id was suggested t£at, itihis railway ishotdd)- be' conisti*ucted as a miarroiw Igiaugef line, but as exa-mlinatlLon of the coumitry showed 'bliat tihis was inadvisable, ,aj.d lavdn-g to, view the. .probaible traffic ,as •the line .iis extended, it was decided to construct it .■a®, (a ilight railway, buti -vrifliou't departing frooi-' -the New Zealand standard' igiaiuge,

amount of work has been performed on 'tJiis - railway -during the year. The engineering staff employed upon the line .|has fimy. realised the desire of the Government the work shou'l'd be pushed to completion with reasonable expedition and every effort (has been made, despite sundry adverse circumstances, to forward the work as rapidly as possible. Regular as - carried on by the railway department as far as the Poroot-arao t-unnel, .the('watershed 'between the Waikato and Wangamui rivers, a-rad- from that point to Kawaka/wa or Ongarue th'e rail's are already laid and. the ballasting and' erection o£ station r buildings is. in progress, lheplatelaying party i s still at work extending its operations to Tuaniaramii, to which point the "formation work already extends, and -bush - felling is in hand' beyond the crossing of the Wanganui river..Xhe railway at .the northern end, therefore, jas now commenced to tap the celebrated. Waamarimo- foa-est.. A contract was; let in May test'for-a steel and timber bridge! 465 feetlong over the Wangan-ui river at Tuamaranui, and contracts have also been let for steel girders for the -three bridgesover the Ongarue river. The majority"of the piers -of these latter bridges will be of timber, and', a--contract has been let for the_ supply of iron cylinders for tihe remaining piers. At the southern end; of the line -the earthworks now extend nearly to. Turangarere, -a. distance of 39 miles from the terminus of the opened line at Mangaonoho, and 51 -miles.-from -the' commencement of the -railway, at Marbon. Considerable .progress; ihas been made with these works during the year, but still greater progress would have resulted if .the road in the district- had been in sufficiently good order to admit. of iheaw carting being done in the winter. As .much. carting ias possible was done -during the: summer and autumn, but it wais impossible for the whole of the plant and supplies required during the winter months to be carried up in advance.. Advantage will 'be taken as the weather improves and the roads are aigain fit for carting to send: forward the necessary plant and material for -the work. The Makohine viaduct is now nearly completed. A view of the structure appended to this' Statement will show the position of the work at a tolerably recent date. Plate-' laying between-Makahine and Mamraweka is about- to foe proceeded with. Princi-

pa'lly, all rfjhe rails and sleepers 'required for itUids section are now ion the forther side of the Makohine ravine. A locomotive and a train of ballast wagons have also been arranged for, and are now in- process of being conveyed to Parerawera.; I. fully expect to have trains running over the Makohine viaduct by the 31st March next, and hope to lave the whole section: to Mangaweka ready 'for traffic about th© same time. The Maraga-weka viaduct is in ■hand, the concrete for foundations being in progress at the site, and the ironwork in course of manufacture at the Makohine work shop. This viaduct, though longer than Makohine, is not so high, and not nearly as difficult or expensive a structure. With favorable weather its erection will probably not itake more than four "months from tiie time the finished materials can be railed through Makohme workshop, so that at. a comparatively earlv date after the opening of the line to Ma,ngaiweka 5t will be possible to proceed with pktelaying beyond the township towards Taihope. Contracts have been let for steel superstructures or bridges over th® Toitoi Creek and Baufca-pu River, and all steel and iron required for the remainder of the bridges up to Ohakune_ has been ordered from England. Instructions have also been issued ior the fcen.vier portions of t'he eairtihworks on the Murnmitu and' Raetilii sections to be taken in hand!' when the necessary plant and' supplies can be conveyed, thither. Showing tHie North Island Maim Trunk Railway 'as a ■whole, til?? position of the' works at the present time is as follows : Total length of railway. Marton to Teawamutu. 210 miles: lemrtlv open for public traffic, 169? males; .'additional i length on -wMoli.rails are laid. 18| miles; further length on jvlhich fornMion is com-

plete, 19i miles; still -further length oji' which work' is in .hand, 30^; making a total -length fimsh-ed or in progress of- 138 ; miles. Of the remainder a iiiral survey Las been made, 72 milestotal 210 miles. "Date of authorisation l of i\iihv;iy. lOtli 'November, 1884; amount expended to 36th- September, 1901, £8<1,067; estimated amount required to, .complete, £898,600; number of workmen 1166. I informed Parliarii&nt last 1 -session that if ways and

means were provided from time to tame as required this railway could be completed and opened for traffic within about 4 years from th« end otf last session, and I see no reason to .suppose that -that expectation is not-still capable of realisation. The total expenditure on the line during the last financial year, exclusive of the cost of rails, sleepers, and other permanent way material supplies, ;was • £109,832. -I T ji;i s- year w larger amount will bs required, and an authorisation of £160,000 will accordingly be proposed for it. Rimutaka Deviation—A detailed survey, of this proposed deviation of the Rimutalwt railwav between Upper Hutt and 1 Wood- , side, via the Tauhereuik&u, .has been conipleited. Application having been mode to have a trial line: run for a route iby way of the Wainniomata Valley, instructions have beisn issued to -tibe 'inspecting engineer to make an examination of this route, so that a comparison, may be made of its supposed advantages as against those of the Taulherinakau routs.

Blenh'eim-Waipaoa—The works of 'the northern end of this railway are approachand the station, -buildings •iib Sea don. are about to b& erscted. It is probable.that the line -will be ready to ihand over to the railway department for ordinary traffic shortly before the ensuing Christmas holidays. Representations having ■bee® made as 'to the-'necessity of provi-d'ing •Mme-protection to the trains while crossing the Awatere bridge from very strong wand® which blow up and down the Awia- . tere Valley, it has been decided! to erect a j suitable wind 'Scz'een, t'li'S const-ruction of ; which.will;be proceeded with immediately.. At the southern end of tie railway th© work has made substantial progress. The earthworks on the first 12 mile® are virtually oon-pletie, and (the few small ibri'digies on this length; which are still incomplete, ■are likely to be finished within a month or so. The laying of the rails' has already been completed, ■ and the ballasting and erection of station buildings will folloiw in due _ course. I fully expect that the first section at this end of line, 14£ miles iu length and extending as far as Skargill, will ibe ready for traffic earlv in, the New Year. The »rt!hkrarks have been started on the section- between- Skargill and .the ruirunui River, and are making satisfactory progress, and plans, etc., for the important bridge over the H-urunui River have been prepared and tenders invited 1 for its con-

straction. This bridge will be 378 feet long, and will include two' 'spans of 100 feet each -supported on concrete piers. Plans ars also beiffg prepared for tlve bridge over tha Waiau River, near Parnassus, but as this is beyond l the point to which the construction of the railway has been authorised it will be necessary to make provision for a. further section of the line before a contract for this bridge ca,ni be entered into. The total expenditure on. the Waipara railway last year was £33,280, white liabilities to the amount, of over £20.000 existed at the close of the year. This, year an authorisation of £45,000 is proposed. O.ta.go Central—Good progress was mad' 3 with works on this railwav during the year. The 'Section between Wedderburn and Bla-clistone Hill is rapidly approaching completion, and will be available for traffic early in December next. The heavy work in the Poolburn Gorge is -well in hand, and much of it is nearing completion. All tOia m/asonry culverts are complete up bo itlhe Mamuiherikia River, and' the work in the tunnels is about half done. The foundation .for the piers and abutments of tllie Poolburn viaduct are in progress, and ia contract for the steel- superstructure o'f both tliat viaduct and the Manulierikia, bridge has been l'et, and the majority of the cylinders for the l'at.ber are being comveyed to the site. Work has recently been, undertaken, on it-ha Manuberikia-Spethis section, several parties being now employed oh it. Altogether the work on ■ this railway has beem pushed along with vigor, .and the progress made is, satisfactory. Tlhe expenditure on the line last year, according to- the published account)!'," was £61,347, but in. l-eolity it was in'excess of this, as, owing to an unfortunate accident in the Dunedin office, accounts representing nearly two months' expenditure on the railway were shut out at the close of the financial year. For the current. year am authority; for £IOO,OOO has been provided. Heriot Extension—Work on extension of Heriot line towards Edie's was .put in hand shortly before the close of the financial year., .Some .little time, was lost tteo'ugh severity of weather in winter, and work has also 'been delayed by a difference .of opinion! a.mongsb local residents as to . the' route .which it- should take, wihich has rendered it laidvisitble to restrict operations to portion' of section about which there is no" division ; of. opiniou.; It will probably be to the. beat interest .of the district to adhere to the. route originally surveyed and' makethe .terminus of ,tlie line ait' Ediewale l , as tpron'osad originally. iSca.rcely 'any. expenditure was charged .against the- vote of last yeair, and 1 this, year £SOOO has b.een provided oni the estimates for this railway^ Catlins River-'Seaward'Bush—At the Catlin® River/end of this'railway an extension of three mites and ft half from Owaka has. beeii in hand! during Dhe year, and the former Works are well advanced and proceeding satisfactorily at the Seaward Bush end of the line. The survey to'-Tokomui which, was. in progress last.yesa'r has been completed,' but the result : iia.s. not -been -en'tirely satisfactory, and a further ' survey lhas, therefore, now been ordered to ascertain •definitely whicih of the routes' proposed for this, selction of the railway .presents the greater tidvantages. Owinp- to its having beeni impossible to ; comnrence construction works on this section of the line pending a definite decision on.the. question of route, the expenditure, laist'year fell considerably ibdlocw itlhe am'tmn't of tJtue vote. . This y4i.r ; it : will'probalbly be lairger, and authopissytion of £12,000 is therefore, proposed. : Riversdale-Switzers-r-A contract for the proposed, combined, road and railway bridge •over the Mataiura River, has been.prepared, but as the cost will largely exoeed the .amount of last year's .vote, I have not felt justified' in imvi'tintr...tenders until the mattier could again, ba'submitted to Parliament.

■ OrepTiki-Waii.au—The formation, works on the .first. fouir miles-of.' |tjhis ildnie .are approaching completion, and 'Similar work is now' in nand beyond that mileage. The rails, etc., for, the .permanent way. of the. first 'section, itove. been; proVid'ed," and:' as soon as the formation is complete the platelaying will be put in hand. The expenditure on the line last year amounted to £7764. and this year an authority for £12.000 is asked for.

Midland—Hon. members are aware from the report of the Midland Railway Commission. which has already 'been, presented to Parliament of the result of the inquiry into the cost and value of the railway works constructed bv the Midland Company, and of the contribution's made thereto by the Crown. Coming to the question of construction, the section of the line between Jackson's and Otira., which was 1 wholly constructed bv the Government, was formally 'handed over the Railway Department for regular working at tho end of November last, bub goods trains have been running over it for nesTriy a. year previously. At the Canterbury end -of the railway, where the works are of 'the heaviest, description, -iood progress has been made. The cuttings and banks on the first four miles and a half, are nearly completed, and the tunnels on the same .section are approaching completion- Tenders were invited for the completion of the viaduct over Paterson's Creek, and. that, of Messrs Seoft Bros., of Christ-church', accepted for the wort. Plans for the larger viaduct over Staircase Gully are now being prepared. The extension of the Nelson section -of -the lino to

ladmor, authorised last No-sion, has boon commenced, wild tillo earthwork* yj-e making 'satisfactory progress. Plans -worn prepared for tie large combined road and railway bridge ovwr the Motuek.-i, River <u K { tenders for its erection have rocwilly beoiu reeved and declined. The Enguieer-in-Ohief is now considering the design of th'B bridge, ¥iUi tlie view' of effecting soim* eoouomy in it® construction. The' survey of tlue proposed: esfeisicm from Reefton toward® linanga'hua will be put in' hand: as •son as a- siljtaiMe officer can be spared to t«k«;ch&fgi': of ;'the work. The line Jias been- jWhaanieutly'pegged for a distance o£ about eight mules, and longitudinal and! cross sections 'completed for about fivo miles. We hope, to be a!blie to rwumo constructionr at {ihie Re-efton end of tho line during the present year. Tlie fii-srt work to be put. in Oia.nd will, of course, flbo tiha •bridge over liisingalhm- River. . Considerabla work has 'been done dtu-ing the yoais in. making the necessary surveys in connection with thei propped long tunnel between Otira and the Bealey, Before definitely -undertaking construction of a work of such great magnitude, the ■Goveranwmti has considered it desirable to call im further expert advice, and in puitviiatioo of this decision we nmv a<re Sn oommunicatioß iWiltW_ miiwav atitihoribie® of itte 'Mghesto standing of America, with; a view of obtaining a report from an America/a oil rfJanadaan ■engineer of eminence and! of experience in the- construction of mountain railways omi thie different proposals tfha.ll have been, mode in reference to tJio construction 5 of this particular section of the railway. The total expenditure on ttlie Midland railway last' year lamionnted to £41,328. This year it will doubtless bo heavier, owing to work being an band tub the Nelson, end wind the probability of work 'being started between R&efton nnid Inangahua and possibly between Otira/ adutj the. Bealey. The proposed authorisation is, therefore, £IOO,OOO.

Giteymoubh-Hokitikn, lExbensioiii ttt' Ross—> This.'extension originallv formed fparb of itihs Grey-Hiokitika, and Midland scheme, and a .trial', survey was made of it. lib is nib,emit' miles in length, running itJurcvapfllx leval country, auidl taps over (half a million Acres of .the .fines!) forest iu the colony. Four saiwini.lls aire. now da operation, «ad Micro 5a a vast, qufuifity' .of .silver pine timber suitable for railway sleepers avilabfo. Tiro •estim'atleid 'outtputy of .sawn dftmber is 6,000,000 feet era.nmmni. Tire maiinroad.-from.Rowto t'he Waiho and' 'the Francis Joseph glacier is completed, and a. great , .tourist traffic 'would {iventuate 'if itihe line wore aiio.de, tf«r the mountain,, lake, «ind f6rw(b iscenery of iSoutlh Westland is ii'ttsurpaesed. Tllw present ipoputotlron, consistling; settta*, miners, suwmillens, and bushmien, wihicli •would! be .served by 'the railwary numbers 1000, and there 16 a. vast) area o'f .good land suitable which would be settled if this ffiiva weire constructed, fl.n.d the mineral deposits ircill known to exist were developed. ' THno amount asked lor the current year is £2OOO. .Ngaihere-Blackball—Tire selection of a. suitable site f-or the .proposed bridge over the Grey River has .proved to be a wotrk of much' difficulty, as- great changes in 'tiha river bed in the neighbarhood of the proposed -brid'ge (have 'taken place in recent years, .and similar changes may take plawa in, the future. A good site iluis aio\v (been selected, Jjowwer, bub it, is evident itfli,n,b the oosb of a substantial structure will amount to a -large sunt, and tlbo question sepimis to require further consideration before any definite undeiretanding is .entered initio. iotal Appropriations'foi\ Railways in addition to sums already mentioned'—Smaller appropriations totalling to £7500 are (proposed -under various dreads, and £76,000 for jwriraanent way and- other niiaiberials, tfliaw making the total authorisatdon fftr'taiiwaT T^' UC > :I ™y' lo S ,M £601,500, ona.ooount £56?000 .( > Xl f ° r ' of ROADS, 'ETC.—ROADS AND O'MM I.'T? WORKS UNDER THE CONTOoS OF THE MINISTER OF LANDS The amount authorised last year for roads and other works was £651,717, and the amount voted for expenditure' £433.997. Uf this sum there was actually spent durkie fcheyear £310,660, for which amount 621 miles of dray roads and 328 miles of bridle roads were 'constructed, 737 miles bf-droy loads and 175. miles of. bridle roli'ds wero widened and improved, and 2272 mifcs of dray roads and 1032 miles of bridle roads a a }? maintained. During the year the bridges constructed . were 323, of a total length of 12,448 feet, and the culverts 3497, of a total length of 70,632 feet. Out of tho sum of £310,660 expended, .£85,244 was disbursed through local bodies and £225,416 by the staff of tile Department. Ab tho end of the year authorities remained with local bodies to the .extent of £143,860, and with the staff to the extent 0f£292,386 a total liability of £436,246. .The largest amount paid DUafc year was. done' in tho Auckland district, the expenditure thero amounting to £92,255., In tho other dis* was as "followsßay, > Nelson, £9278; Marlborough, ±.13,933; : Canterbury, £8015; Westland, "'S 0 ' £15,902; and Southland, ±,&),299 With general expenditure of £3065 the total last) year' £29,535 nioro than in the previous year, being in the disitriets of Auckland, Taranaki, Wellington, Nelson,- Westland, Canterbuiy, and Otago, and a little less in the other districts. Tho very large numlber of roads which had to be dealt with—namely, 2067—involved great .labor in administration and arranging for the prosecution of the necessary works. The appropriations were not printed until the 15th November. After that the new items had to be considered, authorised, and the carrying out of the works /prepared for. The firsb part of the season up to the New Year was a web one nearly all over New Zealand, and in consequence it was found impracticable to begin several very n&Mssanv works, road mebulling especially. Indeed the summer season this year has been a short one for the execution of works which had to be done while roads were dry, bub this will be seen, that .the work executed was aJbout equal to what was done during the previous year. The expenditure was somewhat larger, which was partly duo to the greater number of roads which had to foe "maintained, dray roads totalling to 2273 miles, and 1033 miles of bridlo roads were kept in repair, as against 1896 of dray roads and 937 miles of bridlo roads in the. year 1899-1900. Out. of tho 2067 works for which money wiis voted, 1189 were begun, or finished during tho year: Olhera could noli be prepared in time for any -work being done before the 31sb March, although instructions liad been given for the whole of the works on tho appropriations to be proceeded with. Out. of these. 1189 works 405 hn.ve been done by tho local bodies ,'ind 784- by tho Department'., and tho improvement of the navigation (if tho Wamianiii river and its great tributary, Ilio Tangarakau. has been continued under the Wanganui River Trust, the. expenditure having amounted to £1250. This has enabled a, light draught steamer |o reach Pulikiluna, on tho Tangarakau, and goods can in this way be. conveyed to 'the Wahamramaimina settlement by water within .six miles of tho middle of the valley. Two lines of steamers now navigate the river as far as I'ipiriki, 56 miles from Wnnganui, greatly to the advantage of the settlers on its banks and inland. Out of the. Land for Settlements Account. there, was expended £5946 in the construction of 13 miFes of dray roads and. bridges and 73 culverts. In addition 10£ miles of dray roads.were improved and 28 I Smiles maintained. Owing to tin . .;t.en- | sion of land seiHeim-hi, ami | h. . . mi'iit; linerease.il] the depart un'iu.;, I (ni in . , : was i decided to sever i'roiii ibr t,;.ii l ,i; .i Sur--1 vey Department, at the end t i!.- Mn.nici.'i.l year ilio Work of <•(,:. I, •„■:an.i adi minis! ration of roads ~j-. • w.,i 1. hi accordance with that. ii<vi. -r,n. «.i the officers of the Lauds .md Si, ~ 1 Apartment previously enga.vl on i... ,i- an.i the offico work nppertainni. ■!i.■ i.• i.. .in /ransferred ; to a n»w der.a; ! :iiein. caltnl. l-ho (Continued on four.)

(Continued from page one.) Department of Roads. Under this Department is now placed the responsibility of carrying out ali the work for roads and kindred" purposes formerly supervised by the Lands and Survey Department, as well as the general administration of the laws relating to roads. It is yet too early to speak definitely, but so far the change has worked satisfactorily, and every confidence is felt for the future success of the arrangement. It is proposed to carry on the road worss with judicious expedition, and to endeavor to complete as soon as possible works already begun and those for which money has.been voted in previous years, without neglecting the equally important duty ot keepins up with the ever-advancing border of settlement with bridle tracks at least if with nothing better. ROADS OX GOLDFIELD.S—MIXES DEPARTMENT. The vote last year under this head amounted to £83,650, the expenditure iieing £48,417, with liabilities at the end of the year aanotnLting to £49,221. The sum proposed to be authorised for the current year is £115,989, on - accounc oi which a vote of £84,000 is asked for the development of coldfields. and mining. The value of gold entered for export- during 1900 was £1,439,602, being somewhat less 'than during the previous vear, but, as stated by my colleague "in~hii'" Mines Statement, notwithstanding this decrease there was an actual increase in the value of the general mineral -productions. . The increase in the value of gold entered' for export during die nine months ended the 30th Sept-ember last was £174,528 over the value for the similar period of 1900, and is was expected that the results for the whole year wiil equal, if they do not exceed, those of 1893, which were fthe highest- for the previous 26 years. _ For the first time the output oi coal and ngnite has exceeded 1.000.0G0 tons, the actual output for 1900 being 1,093,990 tons. The quantitv of gold entered for export jluring 1900 was 375,6160z, valued at £1,459,602, and'of silver 326,4570z, valued ao £38,879, as compared with 389.5580z of gold valued at £1,514,173, and of silver 349,3330z, valued at £40,838, for 1899, being a decrease of 15,9420z of valued at £73,571, and 22,8310z of silver, valued at £1959. Thtf Royal Commission appointed to inquire into the question of proclaiming rivers in the Middle Island to be water courses into which tailings and mining debris may be discharged under the provisions of the Mining Acts has completed its labors, and (the report has been presented to Parliament. ... Ai settlement of the claim of the farmers is .gradually being arrived at on the basis of. t£*e recommendations of the Commission,and it is expected that- before longmost, of them will be adjusted, and that many of the rivers which have been reported on will be proclaimed. The amount; expended last financial year on works for the development of the goldfields was £15,907, ■while the liabilities amounted to £2Oll. It is proposed to take a- vote of £50,000 for the current year. TELEGRAPH EXTENSION. The expenditure under this head was £50,101, which includes £14,016 for new exchanges and additions to existing exchanges. The new exchanges opened were : —Wellington district —Pahiatua and Woodville ; Dunedin district —Edendale, Lumsden, Xgapara. Riverton, Waikouaiti, and Wyndham. Trunk wires connecting the following exchanges have been erected: —'Wellington district —Mart on and Wangnn'ni, Pahiatua and Palmerstoh North; Canterbury district —Timaru and Fairlie; Dunedin district —Invercargill and Wyndham. Invercargill and Riverton, main line and Waikouaiti, Winton and Lumsden, and Wyndham and Edendale. The total number of subscribers at the end of the financial' year was 8210. The tmost important extensions to new districts were :—Auckland district— Dargaville to Tangiteroria, Howick to Mo,fniTi"i Island. Kauka/paka to Makantu, Ohaewai to Pukerata, Kaihu to Araaig-a ; Wellington district —Strathmore to YVhangamomono. Green Meadows to Taradale and Meanee, Alfredton to Pongaroa, Rongatea to Glenomaru; Nelson district —Westportto Mokihinui mine, ferry wires at Haast and Arawata rivers; Canterbury district— Christchurch and Port Levy, Christchurch to Gebbie's Flat, Waimate to Waihao Downs; Dunedin district—Dunedin to Maerewhenua. Georgetown to Ikawai, Georgetown to Bortons, Ranfurly to Weddexburn, Heriot to Dunrobin, Invercargill to Waimahaka, Riverton. -to Gummie's Bush. Additional accommodation to existing Tines has been provided by the erection of wires : —Auckland district —Auckland 'to Mahoeinui, Whangarei to Kawakawa ; Wellington district —Wanganui to Mahoemui, Wellington to Dannevirke; Nelson district—Nelson to Blerheim, Reefton to Greymouth; Dunedin district—Lawrence to Clyde, Invercargill to Gore. The vote asked for this year is £40.489, and provides for new exchanges, additions to existing exchanges, additional wire accommodation, and extension to new districts. PUBLIC BUILDINGS.

The expenditure upon public buildings again shows an increase over the previous year, but; the increase was not large, feeing onlr £11,306 —namely. £5937 under Public "Works Fund and £5569 under the Consolidated Fund. Appropriations proposed for current year amount to £254,000 —namely, £46,759 under the Consolidated Funds and £207,250 under the Public Works Fund. The principal -works carried oirt last year or provided for this year are—General fitting up of new library wing of Parliament Buildings, altering buildings at Mount Cook to adapt them to a defence depot, and sundry interior renovations and sanitary improvements at general departmental buildings were carried out under this head last year. The vote for the current year provides for new offices and laboratories for the Mines, Agriculture, and Public Health Departments, the acquisition of the land for soae necessary additions to the departmental buildings at Auckland, completing the alteration at Mount Cook defence depot, partial rebuilding departmental office at Napier. completion of fitting of new and of renovation of old portion of Parliament Buildings and sundry works. Judicial Courthouses New courthouses are in hand at Te Awamutu, Mangaweka, Collingwood, Temuka, Hampden, Dunedin, and the Bluff, and ex-tensive'-renovations have been effected at Auckland, Hikurangi, Whakatane. Taupo, and Wanganui. The principal works provided for "in the vote for the current year are the completion of the new law courts at Dunedin, new magistrate court at Wellington, new courthouses at Waihi, Opunake, Otrtram. Gore, and Orepuki, and additions, renovations, or improvements at Ngaruawahia, Wairoa. Napier. Waipawa, Patea, Feilding. Palmerston North, Carterton, Westport, Kumara. Hokitika, Christchurch. Waimate, Oamaru, Lawrence, and Invercargill. Gaols. —The-total expenditure under head last year only amounted to £1258. The principal Ntorb in hand was the continuation of new "gaol at Mount- __ Eden, Auckland, with-minor "works a.t ; _Nap_ier. Wellington, and Dunedin. Provision is in the current vear's vote for continuing operations in Aucldand. for additions to gaol building and new gaoler's house an- Wellington, gaolers' houses at Wesimort and Dnnedin, new warders' cottages at Lytte:ton, and .or a new gaol on a new site at Invercargill. Police stations—A large number of small Tvorks under the heading o: police stations have been in hand during the year, the principal items being as follows:—New station at HaTT.ntnn West. G'.sborne. Feilding. Westport. Arrow-own. and Invercargill: new quarters a: New Plymouth. Nelson. Queens:own, and the Bluff: purchase of land af'Kaiapoi r and additions or extensive renovation" as ' Ngaraawalua. Gisborne. Spit. Inglewood. Manaia. Waverley, Marton"'" lower Hutt. Blenheim. Lyell. Greymouth,' Bamriora. Christchurch. limaru. and Winton." The principal works provided for this year are —New cells, watchhouse. and efnarters at Auckland: additions at Mount Cook. Wellington : new stations at Onehunga. Tologa Bay, Ormondville. Patea; Taihape, Akaroa." Waikouaiti. Dunedin CKing street). Outram. and Roxburghj new quarters at; Waipawa. Denniston, Timartl.' and Oamaru, and additions or extensive rtenovations "at Aratapu. Kawhia. Clive, Waitara, -Stratford. Opunake, Hawera, Waneanui, Kimbolton, Hokitika, Cheviot, Botrtlibridge, Lyttelton. Ashburton, Glenavy, St. Bathans, Cromwell, Ophir, and Lawrence.' ." : 'and. Telegraphs—New post offices ■wete-Erected" at -Karangahake, Wereroa, Hamilton, Eketahuna, Misterton, Petone, Wellington (Newtown), Takaka. Sunnier, and the Bluff. Land and buildings were at Ponaonby and Papanni, «

new site at Inglewood, custodians' quarters built at Auckland, and extensive alterations and additions at Auckland, Otahuhu, Kotorua, Waionu, Christchurch' (telephone exchange), Clyde, Cormwell, Alexandra, and Roxburgh, and contributions towards new offices in railway stations were made at. Clinton and Morven. In the vote for the curent vear provision is made for a commencement with the new Pacific station at . Doubtless Bav. for new post offices at Dar- ; n-aville. Ara-upu. Paperoa, Onehunga, Mer- . cer. Kawhai. Xologa Bay Gisborne, Spit, Weber \ev Plvmouth, loko, Ingles ood. Ooiinake. Wangamii, Kaetilii, Havelock, Bulls. FeiMing, Levin, Pongaroa,_ Alfredtown, Carterton, Motueka, Denniston, Brunnerton. Hanmer Springs, Askburton, Temuka, Caversham, and Gore; for new quarters at Tarawera, Kaikoura, and Tapanui; and for additions, alterations, or extensions at Dannevirke, Woodville, HaIwera, Foxton, Picton, Blenheim, Renwicktown, Nelson. Collingwood, Westport, Grevmouth, Hokitika, Christcliurch, L.yttielton, Timaru, Oamaru, Dunedin (both te'ciraph and post offices), South Dunedm andlnvercargill, and for compensation that will be pavable for the land taken for the enlargement) of the General Post Office; also for new sites and buildings at Wellington and Timaru. Lunatic Asvlums—The expenditure on new works was slightly in excess of the previous year's fipires. (The iprincipal letxTienditiire was again in connection with the Porirua Asylum, which absorbed &lU,oof. An expenditure of over £3OOO also took place on additions to the Auckland and smaller amounts were spent- a-t Welling■fcon (Mount View), Nelson, S-eacliff, -etc. For the current year provision is to- be mft.de for completing" - tlie Porirua building, for completing the additions and' renovations at Auckland, for some necessary enlargements, and tike completion- of the electric •lioht installation at Seacliff, -and for minor works ait Wellington, Hokitika; -and Sunnyside. . . _ , Customhouses —Only '£B76 was expended under this bead -last year. principally m connection with additions to the Waniganui Customhouse. -This year provision-is made for completing* this work, -and others. now in hand at Auckland -and Nelson. Schools —The amount voted fop sdfroicfl. buildings last year was £90,665 —namely, £25,000 under the Consolidated Fund and £65-655 under the; Public Works Fund. The expenditure amounted to £58,681 . namely, £25,000 under the farmer and £33,681 under the latter fund. .As in former years, the bulk of -this monev was entrusted. to the Education Boards for expenditure, tie only works directly controlled b— the Government being the 'industrial and the native schools 'and a school for dieaf mutes, etc. Native schools were last year or are now in course of erection at Oromahoe. Omarumutu, Whareponga, Parectra, K.-eire-pihi. Whrukaxewarewa, Tapua-eharuni, Taumaranui, and Teharoto, and additions or repairs have been effected at Teahuahu Poroti, Kaikohe, and Koromiti. This year we ask 1 for a t'otal vote of £85,000 —namely, £25,- , 000 .under the iCJonsoflidabed Fund tarnd j £60,000 under the Public Works Fund. Provision is made for a commencement with the new school .for deaf mutes, also a home for weak-minded and epileiptdc .children, and for the following works under the head of industrial schools, namely Completion of. the talterations at Mount Albert (Auckland), clearing, draining', etc., mi the new site at tLsvin, and for a commencement, with the new buildings and additions, alterations, and furnishings at Teoranga (OhristchuTch), additional buildings at Burnham, and sundry furnishings at Oaversham. Miscellaneous —Provision is also made under the Public Buildings Vote, for erections Tequired by "the Agricultural I>epartmenfc at HunbeTville, Pailmsrston North, Carterton, Palmerston South, Roxburgh, and Invercargill, in addition to the new laboratories in l "WeUinglx>n already 'referred fto; .also ifor the Mlowing worlds funder the head of hospitals and other charitable institutions :—Grants in aid of the Waihi, Wairoa, Napier, Picton, and Greymouth hospitals, for a cottage hospital at Kaikoura, for special wards for the treatment of delirium tremens cases at- the four principal centres of population, and for a commencement! with Ithe proposed tsania tori urn jfor consumptives. Lighthouses, harbor works, and; harbor defences —The expenditure -on new lighthouse work last year was very light. This year provision is made for the. nsw light at ■Kaiourangt 'Point, for a commencement with a new and providing a new lantern at Cape Campbell, and for connectinglihe principal lighthouses with the (telegraph system!. The expenditure on harbor , works was also , (rather light, the principal dtems -beinig— Napier Spit protection, kiagging the Manawatu iHifd I Little W&ngairai Rivers,: and a, naw wharf at ;Karaimea. . -This year provision is made for new wharves at •Maungaturoto, Manukau, -Orua Bay, -Mokau, Paerawau. Bruce Bay, and Okutni, and for repairing and extending the wharf at Okarito; also for other necessary works at Oahamga, Wairoa, Mouteire, • •Mo-tuefca, onsd Collingwood, and for continuing the Spit protection works at Napier and -the Sticking Pcxiinft reclamation-works, at -LytiteTfcon. The expenditure under rthe (head of harbor defences was also less than usual Hast yeiar, but this tiar a much larger expenditure has been provided for, rthe amount proposed for sarnie •being £25,000. In the case of the vote for contingent defence also, the fell below the amount for 'the previous yeiar, but tihis year a teg-er vote is .provided for, principally to meet th payments for the field batteries, submairiiie mining vessels and material ordered which is expected to 1 oome to chaxg« during tthe:veaT. • " CONCLUSION. ;

In allocating the amounts proposed for the general purposes due consideration' has been aiven to what I'believe to be the wishes of hon. members—that the works should be proceeded with at a reasonable speed, and especially itihat .the formation of Toads to back blocks should 'be-puMred forward, tihe work toeing done at -a time when tlh'e best- results may be obtained. 'Every consideration/ has -been given to the urgent requirements of .the colony, and I -have confidence that the result) at -the end of the .year will givie general satisfaction.