PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 8053, 13 December 1887, Page 2

PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT.

(By Tjsusgbapii.)

Wklunoton, December 12,

'i'he Hod. Edward Mitchelson, Minister for Public Works, made the following Statement regarding public works in the House this evening :—

Mr Speaker,—lll tho Statement which I am . about to inuku this evening I shall not attempt, , in describing tho various works, to go iuto ■ minute details, as I find that all essential par- ' ticularß as regards the progress of the construction of the railways and other works are more ; completely giveu m tho reports of the engineers, which have been already laid upon tho table of j the House, than J could hope to givo them in any Statement of reasonable length in the c:ibu of the several railways which 1 p.hall have to treat upon ; therefore I shall merely endeavour , to state as shortly as possible the present con- , ditiuii of tha various lines, U;e funds already j available and now pioposed to be provided for them, the rale at which we propose to expend these funds, mill the condition into which the several railways will probably b» brought when thesr, funds lire expended. itAILWAYS 1H OOUKSH OP CONSIHUCTION AND I'IIOI'OSKD, INCi.L'DIKO ADDITIONS TO OPENED HAU/WAYK. To commence, therefore, with thy railways, as I lind it has been usual to commence with thnt class of works, I find tl.se fcko total length of i railways opened on tbe 3ist March lost was: — In the North Island, 032 miles; and in the South Island, 1000miles;—iotal,1722roile3. Oiithe3J.st October last there were opened for traffic 1734 miles, oL which 032 were in th« North Island and 1112 in the South Islarui. There were aUr, at that date 176' miles of railw.'iyj in course of construction, of which 87 w«ro in tho North island and SiJ in the South. 'J.'hu total exptuditure on railways, including cost of provincial lines and purchaseof district rnihvayE, up to 31i;t March last was LLI,OSa,7IL, and the liabilities ! on the 3Lst March were L486.37G ; malting iv all 1 LW,5(i9,087. Heleusville Northwards. —Ou the railway from Helensvillu northwards a contract is iv progress for the formation of four miles, and is expected to be linished during the present mouth. Until the line is completed to Kaukapakapa, a distance of seveu miles from Heleusville, it will not carry much traffic, aad it is therefore proposed to complete it to that extent as soon as practicable. liut it is not intended to put a terminal at ICaukapakapa, as it can bu worked as a branch from Helensville until further extended. The fuuds already provided, with the addition ol' L 25,000 now proposed, will complete thn railway for trafiic for seven miles up to Kaukapakapa, and will also enable the formation to ba extended for a further distance of eight miles. The expenditure proposed is LIO.OOO for this year, and L 27.000, L 20.000, and L 17,761 for the three following years. Total to end of March 1881, L 174.761. Auckland to Penrose Doubling Line.—Tor the Auckland to Feiirose doubling line, an allocation was made under the loan of 18S6, but it would have gone only a short way towards the completion of what was required. Nouo of the necessary works have as yet been put in hand, and as the balance necessary to complete the works, some L 77,000, caimot conveniently be provided out of the money now proposed to be borrowed, it is not intended at present to take any further steps in the matter. Grahams.town-Te Aroha.—On the Grahamstown Te Aroha railway the rails are laid from Grahamstown to Kauerauga, about five miles, and the formation without bridges is complete between Kauerauga and Hikutaia, about eight miles, and iv progress from thence to near Ohinemuri, about six miles. It is expected that the latter section will bo finished in July next. From Ohinemuri to Te Aroha, 13 miles, the contract survey is complete, but works have not yet been put iv hand. The total length from Grahamstown to Te Aroha is 32 miles. The tunds already provided will com- | plete the line to Ohinemuri, 20 miles from Grahamstown, and it is proposed to put the

remainder of the bridging and platelaying still

• required for this section m hand this year. The s rate of expenditure is: for this year, L 10.000; i and fir the throe following years, L 15,000, [ LIO.OOI, aJJtI L-JO2l respectively. Total, L 41.921. .Putarura-Rotorua. —OnthePutaruru-Rotorua I railway a contract has been let for forma- ; tiou and platelayiug, and stations from s Putaruru to JNgatiria, eight miles; and ■ the; works are progressing satisfactorily, and are expected to be finished in June next. At the Kotorui end, five miles between Rotoruaand Ngaongotaha have been set aside for Maori piecework, and s. considerable extent of formation hits already been done by tho Natives in a i satisfactory manner. The intervening distance i between Ngatiria and NgaongoUha, about 19 miles, has been surveyed for contract, but the works have not yet, been put in haud. The 3 total length from Fntaruru to Rotorua is 32 miles. The tuudu already provided, with the additional 1(18,000 (including L9OOO for rails) - now proposed to bs allocated, will complete the l railway for traffic from Putaruru to tho » Okohirilti Saddle, a length of 18 miles, that being tho shortest distance that can be opened with any real advantage, and will also enable ' communication to be established by road from f that point to Ohinemulu, distance about 14 x miles. The rate of expenditure proposed, cxi elusive of the amount required for rails, is 3 L 40.000 for this year, and L 25.000, L 25,000, and - L 7377 for the three following years. Total to 1 end of March 1691, L 97.377. s North Island Trunk Railway.—Coming now to 3 the North Island Tmnk railway. I find, with . very much regret, the original estimate of this line was altogether misleading; the probable cost 2 originally indicated having been L1,46'0,000, f whereas the present estimate, exclusive of j probable cost aud charges of raising the loan 3 and the amount allocated to purchase of Native 3 lands, is L 2,055,000. If to this amount there is added say LIO.OOO for raising loans and also the J LIO.OOO already allocated for Native lands, it .. brings ttse total to L 2,255,000, and taking the f L 1,000,000 already authorised from this shows a L1,255,00U as still required to be authorised in . order to complete tho whole line from Te Awamutu to Marton. 1 f the work is to go on 3 under thu altered circumstances now disclosed, r then the proposals which I have shown on tabk [ O attached to this Statement, and which I shUl presently describe, would, I think, be suitable - ior adoption insofar as regards the' amount oi 5 money which might reasonably be expended during the present and three following years af ; each end o£ the railway. But before any further ) works are undertaken, I think the House shouic have an opportunity of expressing its opinion or j the new aspect which the matter has assumed and in any case I do not propose to put any new . contracts in haud until after, next session 1 >Vith regard to the alternative route proposec for this railway, I find that the original estimati i for the line from Stratford to Te Awamutu wa> , 1(1,030,000, and at first sight, therefore, this i project might appear to have a great ad vantage as compared with completing the railway from Marton to Te Awamutu. Bnl expecting that the estimated rate per mile wai I much higher than that for the central line, we i have no guarantee that this estimate 13 anj > more accurate than that for the central route, . aud it would therefore ba premature to express any opinion on the subject until a trustworthy I estimate of this line is completed for comparisoi ' -with the revised statement now made of thf central line. It would therefore, I think, b< desirable that a survey should be made of the Taranaki route of a more accurate charactei than those hitherto made, in order that some ' thing like a correct estimate might be formed o: the probable cost of a railway in that direction The cost of this survey would not be lost even ii the railway is not made, as the information gainec could be utilised in locating a road which musi be made iv the future in the event of no rail way being made. Tho best point to diverge 1 from the main trunk railway in order to read: • Taranala would be at a point near Maramata i about C£ miles from To Awamutuj and the cost of conduction oi the railway, complete ami ' equipped for traffic, from Te Awamutu to this ' point, including a due proportion of the cost oi raising the loau ?.nd departmental and other expenses oi every kind, is estimated at L 500,000, ; This is inclusive of about L 250,000 for expendi- . ture and liabilities already incurred. The only doubt, therefore, as regards tho probable cost of a railway from Te Awamutu to Taranaki is as to the cost of the link between Maramata aud Stratford, or wherever might be the best place to join the existing Taranaki railway. 'iho present estimate of this connection is LSOU.OOO, but as there is no trustworthy data on which such au estimate, can be based, it cannot be relied upon as being even approximately correct. Iv connection with this phase oE thn subject it should also be stated that the expenditure and liabilities (with a reasonable margin for contingencies) on account of works already undertaken between Maramata and Marton includes surveys (L16.C00), reads (L 4000), and Native, land purchase (Li.00,000), and a dvi, proportion of departmental expenditure and costs u>;d charges of raising loans', which amcuni Ixi withm a trine of L8O,O0O; and if any intthß? contracts are let uS th. soath end oS! ih« Jino tfiis amount will of cours.'i be increased. Having thic ciealfc with fcbe subject generally, .< will nov prateed to stnee the vrooeiifc condition tf th-iii'i* and tlir. j raid of exptD'liti.tr'j jiur annum v/iii^h cnuiu vc.v { si'fl&biy bn undertaken upon it if uucmsJ tv Us j carcicd on, also the point to which ":!'<> e>:J peiKiiturH would probably uavty tlic ri-Ur.-ay r-h j oioh «nd by tho «ud or t'\n 'inih/isiiO. vtiuI IS&O-W. North Knd.—At the uoilh end tht railway Is completed and reedy for tiafiic from Te Awamutu tv To Kuiti, a oistance of 2Sj- raiies; and from Te KuiLi to the Manukau Valley, a length of,niu« miles, a .•mor.ict for formation and platoiayingi.-. in progress and e::;,?cted io be ftomplefced iv JleceotLip lo;ib. From thu Ti'iVtv Mok.va Vdle.v to fliol'ar^rjrcto i:.i^c ; I! iaiie^ thd COIlI'lTJli SUIVtV b COUl;llci.-3U. UUi. il'M WOl'is I havfc aoij j'Gt i)osn put iv txv.'d. 'XSivoUii'u ihj j Varat-oratr, Eacldio a coairict of Hi i^'ma ;c -■« | I progress including a tanni.l o! 58cl;aius:—Lo:;u j ier.j-th from To Awamutu -o i-nd or' tunr-al con- | tract, 47 miles. South of tiit- tunnel a eoutract survey has been made for about eight, miles to the Maramata junction. Daring the four years endiu" the 31st March ISM, which :< tho extent of the programme which I have ske .ched out so far, it is proposed th.it the line? Khali be carried on steadily from To ICuiti siid JMan.w,:,^, iv tjiu On-'ai-uh- V'p.Uay, .ibout 55 miles from Xc .•>vra.iH'tu,tl><'rleiiurtlie point nt which a hue ™,>H .!>-.-< o to Taranaki; aud tlio. rate of c-x----l'Mi.li'jiivu indicated is L 70.000 for this year, and LYf.OOO LHO.OOO, and £175,001) for the thrne Mi .win.; years ;—t-ctnl to fii.l of Jlneh 1801, L-100.000

Smith Eli'!.—At tao soi;l.!i iii'l uf tho ri-.i'hvay tile stjerii'U f.o:n iv'i'.r.oa !n llii.H-.ivvillc, 1!) miles, i., niiariy (.om|i!oi(..:, -a:ul ■vill be r»-;i.iv !': r opi.iiing aliout Christmas, from Huutrrvillu for about 25 miles to a point about live miles v.n the

Hautapu Valley the contract survey is completed and a contract for about eight miles of it is prepared, but the works have uotyefc been put in baud. 'I'ho contract survey is also in progresß for a further distance of about 19 miles to the end of the rough country at Turaugarere, near the head of tho Hautspu Gorge, 63 miles from Martou.

As in the case of the works at the north end of the line, the proposal indicated on table ois to I carry on steadily from Marton for the four years ending 31st March 1891, by which time it in anticipated that the railway will havo reached to Powhakaroa, uear the mouth of the Hautapu Valley, a distance of about 32 wiles from Marton ; and the rate of expenditure suggested is L 26.000 for this year, and L 35.000, L 40.000, and L 42.000 for the three following years—total to end of March 1591, L 143.000. After carrying out these proposals at both north and south ends of th» line, it is estimated that there will be a balance on loan still available for further works to the extent of about L 54.000. Further Works and Surveys.—Further preliminary surveys have been made for the railway to thu extent of about 12 miles at various places between the Murimutu and Waimarino plaius, and to the extent of about 20 miles between the Waimarino Plains and the Upper Wanganui Valley; and service roads and tracks in connection with thu railway have been made in whole or in part from Hunterville to TuraDgarere, 24 miles; Upper Rangitikei to Tarangarere, 4 [miles; Pipipirika to Ohakaure, 25 miles; MuriI mohi to Upper Wanganui Vallej, 40 miles; and Te Koura ty Waimiha, 14 miles. The Wanganui river has also been cleared of snags and otherwise improved from Wanganui to uear Pikiriki, tliout 50 miles. The expenditure and liabilities (vi the*' roads and river works up to 30th Septi!ni!)i;r last was L 39.239. Purchase of Native Lands.—Of the LIOO,OOO ! fillurated fur thu purchase of Native lands under , the- loan for the North Island Trunk railway, about L70,y00 wag oxptusicd last year, leaving about L2Q.700 for expenditure during the present y.si. The wix* dune up to 30th November ultimo coiuist':ii of the purchase of 49,000 acres, ft » coffc of LO-1,100, and there is now under i.e^otiHtioii th(; purchase of Mucks aggregating bbcul 750,000 acre-;, on whj.jh abaut L3'.),ofJo baa already been paid. The huds purchased and under negotiation are tituutetl mainly arouud ltuapehiiand Tongariro.with the Wanganui river as their boundry on the west. Thesurveyedline of railway intersects the purchased land for 45 mil's and that under negotiation for about 15 miles, or CO miles in all out of the total 216 miles between Marton and Te A-.vamutu. Napier-Pal naerston.—TheNapieraudPaloierston railway was completed and opened for traffic to Woodville (97 miles from Napier Spit) in March last, and now only remains to be completed from Woodville to Palinerston, a distance of about 15 miles. Of this distance four miles in the Manawatu Gorge is under contract for formation and bridges, and exclusive of tunnels, is ex jected to bo finished in October ISBS. t'roin Woodville to the upper end of the gorge (three miles) aud from the lower end of the gorge to Palmerston (eight miles) the contract survey is completed, but the works have not yet been put in hand. To complete this very important link in the railway system of the colony an addition to existing funds is required to the extent of L 120.000 (which includes L 32,000 for rails), and this sum is proposed to be allocated to it accordingly; and it is hoped that the work will be completed by March 1890. la order to get it done by that time it will be necessary to proceed at once with the tunnels in the gorge aud to let a contract for the Pohangina bridge as soon as practicable. The rate of expenditure proposed, exclusive of amount required for rails, is L 40.000 for this year, and LfiO.OOO and L 70.513 respectively for the two following years ; —total to the end of March 1890, L 160.813.

Wellington-WeodWlle, — The WellingtonWoodville railway is completed and open for traffic from Wellington to Mangamahoe, a distance of 83 Jnfles, and a combined road and railway bridge has been constructed over the Manawatu river at Awapurua, near Woodville. From Maugawaboe to Ekatahuna, a length of six miles, a contract for formation and platelaying ia progressing satisfactorily, and is expected to be completed in August 188 S. The total distance from Wellington to Eketahuna is 88 miles, from Eketahuna to Woodville 27 miles. The contract survey is completed, but the works have not yet been put in hand. The total length from Wellington to Woodville is 115 miles. The balance of the old loan will finish the line to Eketahuna, and complete some protective works which are required at the Awapurua bridge. It is not proposed to provide for anything further at present. The rate of expenditure proposed is £37,000 for this year and £24,421 for the next year. Total to the end of March 1889, L 61,421. In relation to the distance just stated [ from Wellington to Woodville by the Rimutaka I route, 115 miles, it may be interesting to hon. members to know also the distance by the Palmerston route, which is 105 miles. Blenheim-Awatere.—Ou the Blenheim-Awa-tere railway the; formation, without bridging, is made for four and a-half miles south of Blenheim, and a contract called the Dashwood contract has. Sl'so been let for the formation of three and a-h'alf miles further andis progressing slowly. It is estimated that the works will be finished in February next. From the end of the Dashwood contract to the Dashwood Pass, two and a-half miles, the contract survey is completed, but the works have not yet been put in hand. The total length from Blenheim to Dashwood Pass is 10J miles. A preliminary survey has been made from the pass to a convenient stopping place on the southern bank of the Awatere five miles and a-half farther. This makes the total distance from Blenheim to Awatere 16 miles. To complete the line to the Awatere would cost about L9(l,000, which is much more than could bo afforded for it out of the loan now proposed. It has therefore been decided to recommend an allocation of L9GOO only, by means of which, in conjunction with existing funds, it will bs pos: aible to complete the first five miles at the Blenheim end for traffic and to connect it with the Awatere by a dray road, and also to build the railway bridge over the Awatere for use in the meantime as a road bridge. This will be a J great boon to the locality, as the river is a very dangerous one to cros.-, and is also the only large river remaining uubridged between Picton and the Bluff. The rate of expenditure proposed fcr this year is L7OOO, and for the two following i years L15,01i0audL18,675 respectively—makiug in all £40,075. Greymouth-Hokitika.- -On the Hokitika and Greyraouth railway at the Hokitika end the line is finished and ready for traffic from Hokitika to :.ear the Arahura, 4 miles; and between that point and the Kapitea Break, 7 miles, the formation is partly made and the bridge over the Arahura river is completed. Ac the Greymouth end the rails are laid for llg miles, and the formation is partly made for a further distance of seven and a-half miles tojthe Teretnakau river, and a contract has been let for the bridge over the Toremakau. The total length fiuisned and under construction at tbe two endS is thus 20 miles. This leaves a gap ot four miles between the Kapitea and Teremakau on which no work has been done pending final decision as to route, and it is intended that exhaustive inquiries shall be made as to the best route to adopt throughout the distance, before any works along it are undertaken. The money already available, with the addition of L2OOO now proposed to be allocated for the purchase of further rails, will finish this line with permanent way complete forninemiles at the Greymouth end and four miles at the Hokitikaend, and will also complete the formation from the fourth to tho eleventh mile at the Hokitika end; and it is proposed to go on with the works to that extent without delay. The rate of expenditure proposed, exclusive of the amount required for rails, is—for this year L 24,000, and for the next two years L 20.000 and L 19.004 respectively, the total sum available for construction of works being L 63.904. Mount Soniers. —The Mount Somers railway is completed and open for traffic from Tinwald to Mount Somers, a distance of 23 miles; aad from Mount Somers to Springburn, a length of four miles, the work is in progress by the unemployed of Christchurch. It is estimated that this length will be completed in May next. The total distance from Tinwald to Springburn is 27 miles. The funds provided for this work under the loan of 1886 aro already exhausted, but itis proposed to allocate L 70.000, including L 20.000 for rails, out of the loan now contemplated in order to finish the line to Springburn, which is a very convenient stopping place. If this is authorised, the whole work can be completed by about the end of the present financial year. The rate of expenditure proposed (inclusive of the amount reqniredjfor rails) is L7OOO for this year and L 2027 for next year, the total sum available for the construction of the works as from 31st March last, including the additional sum now proposed to be allocated, being L 9027. Livingstone Branch.—The Windsor-Living-stone railway from Windsor to Karika (12 miles) was completed and opened for traffic in August last. It is not intended to carry it any further at present, the sum of LIOOO allocated to it under tbe loan now proposed being merely to provide for some additional accommodation required at tbe stations. Otaso Central.—On the Otago Central railI i»v thrt rails are laid from the Chain Hills to i Big Klou.it Allen creek (13 miles), and the forj c"J't")ii 'in) annels aro completed for a distance !of <v.v:!<. :« u-i-IBS to tho Sutton stream. ' f±'hroUi^boiii: ih?n -ii^ancc, also from Sig Alounfc j AWn:: (ireok io llv iVL'.:.fon, (he masonry of the I britf'•<■■s is uydejr ' oustruc-tion and making satisI i"seu.*y proisroif, -msi* a eimiract has also been | c-ii>r»u i'lto *-'*r tLc siii;ei«i-.""cture of the i ii. 1-j^alJ.is "»n'eu loiksof tie Jisti-.'icebetween i Bitf'iilount AHeu creek *t'.'.i the lies;- ,-itrearn. I It ?s estimated ihattfco lico will be ready for orii'-niii,' to the Dtvu strewn (20 mite from the cciacifiuning1 point) aboutßepteoiberiiast. From the Si;tlou°3tiream ro Middle-march the distance is seven miles, and from MMdlemarch to Lake Hawoa abcut 1-J3; and along 'he whole of this dijiauca fee contract survey is ci^iyieleil, but no wo':l>'s lirv/c- :'.5 >ci beer, put in na.'.ri. The vet.-.l iciijjbh lior.s Chain Hills i.o Laks li'uwea is VSi )C,':U:t Tii.i br.Ui.uec- of t'uo loiii or' ] Sao being li'iS'.!iT:e>i.fc i.o eoeijilets this railway to t!;e first point to- which it could be opened with asiy real advantage, it is pvbpjsed to supplement the i'lidis already provided by a further sum of liIOS.GGO, including L2OOO for rails., which it is estimated will enable tbe railway to be completed lor traffic from Chain Hills to MiddlemarcL, a distance of 40 miles; and if our proposals in this respect are authorised this work will be carried out with all reasonable despatch. The rate of expenditure proposed, exclusive of amouutrcquirfd for rails.is for this yi:ur.C7o,ooo, a.id for th« next two years JEtiO.fXJO and £ 10,971 respeetivrly ; the total amount available for construction works, including tho additional sum prowm! to lin nlloca';-''. !-ei-»: tlT'i.o7l ('■uiih's l-'im-.—•■'.•■</Caiii!.":- lliv<-r n.Uuny is r.)in"V-k-l i-.u\ <>|kmi for fr;ifiie from Jlslrinthf4 to Honviav!, v <iiv:i!.i-M i.f i-itht miii's. F^ni l(<ir.i:ih:.,-.. i..i !.!•.• Ai.rriri i-'l:ir,, :, li.'iijiih about, iiv.i sniln.-, tbe formation iJ under construction by the unemployed from Dunediu. and

is progressing satisfactorily. It is estimated that this length will be iiuishud in May or June nest. From the Ahuriri l'lut over the Saddle aud to the O wake Flat, about six miles, the contract survey is completed, but works have not< yet been put in hand. i The money already provided for this railway under loan of 1886 .will finish it from Romahapa to the Ahuriri Flat, and will also completethe formation for two miles farther. Tbe rate* of expenditure proposed is: For this year" L 12.000, and for the next two years L 15.00 and L 10.318 respectively; making in all L 37.398,. which was the total balance of the allocation • of 1880 on 31st March last. Riveradale-Swiizers.— On the Riversdale-' Switzers railway the rails are laid from Rivers- • dale to the llataura rjyer, a distance of two - miles, and the formation, exclusive of bridge, is■• constructed for five miles farther, and the contract survey is completed throughout. The' total length from Uiversdale to Switzers is 14 - miles. The balance of the allocation for this' railway under the loau of 1886 is only sufficient ■ to complete it with permanent way, &c. from Itivers(i»l<i to a point on the north side of the Mataura river a distance of three miles; and to do the formation from thence to Switzers township 11 mile> farther it would require a further sum of £15,000 to complete it altogether, and this amount the Government does not see its way to provide out of tho loan at present proposed, as there are so many move promising undertakings which also require to be completed. It is therefore merely proposed to go on with the expenditure of the funds in hand for this line so far as they will reach. The rate of expenditure proposed is:—For this year L3OOO, and for the next three years LSOOO, LSOOO, and £6646 respectively, which makes up the total available at 31st March last, viz , L19.64G. Seaward Bush.—The Seaward Bush railway is completed and opened for traffic from Appleby to Waimatua, a distance of about five miles; and f rcm Waimatua to Oteramika, a length of about six miles, the work is in progress by the unemployed, aud expected to be finished about ther end of March next. From Oteramika to Wainiahika, 12 mile?, the contvact survey is completed, but no works have as yet been put in hand. The total length from Appleby to Waimahika is 23 miles. Tho b&lance of loan of 1886, together with LIO.OOO (including LSOOO for rails) proposed to be allocated under the loan now contemplated, will be sufficient to finish the line for traffic to Oteramika, and it tho allocation proposed is approved of the work can be completed by April or May next. The rate of expenditure proposed, exclusive of amount required for rails is LSOOO, for this year, L 2508 for next year; the total funds available for construction works at 31st March last,, including additional sum now proposed to b* allocated, being £7508. Lumsdeu-Mararoa.—The Lumsden-Mararos1 railway is completed as far as it is contemplated, to carry it at present, being open for trafficfrom Lumsden to Mossburn, a distance of 10^= miles. Edendale-Fortrose.—The Edendale-Fortrose* railway is completed, and opened from Edendale to Wyndham, a distance of four miles, and. the formation is finished for three and1 a-half miles farther. A contract has also been, lot for another two miles, including atunnel 10 chains long. This brings tha line to the crossing of the main road at. Glenham homestead. It is estimated that' tho tunnel works will be finished by about theend of March next. The total distance from< Edendale to Glenham is nine and a-balf miles.From Glenham to the Waimahaka Valley, ninemiles farther, the contract survey is completed,, but no works as yet have been put in hand. Themoney already provided under the loan of 1886' will complete this railway to the crossing of the main road at the Glenham homestead already referred to, and it is not proposed to carry it any 'further at present. The rate of expenditure' proposed is: For this year L9OOO, and for next' year L 18.656, making in all L 27.656; and it is; hoped that the line will be completed to Glenham by about March 1889. ALDITIONS TO OPENED LINES. The expenditure on additions to opened lines, which includes a multiplicity of works, such as additional railway stations, additional goods sheds and engine sheds, additional sidings, and additional rolling stock, &c, as in the past, have been a very considerable item of our outgoings under the public works fund. The amounts thus expended have been: In 1883-84, L 174.160; in 1884-85, L 140.326; in 1885-86, L 90.962; in 1886-87, L 79.761. It will thus be seen that the expenditure has been continuously decreasing, the fact being that the railways in many cases were very poorly equipped previous to 1883-84, while they are at present fairly well equipped in every particular. I anticipate, therefore, that ' the expenditure which I have provided for during the present and the next three following years on this class of works will be sufficient, namely : For the present year L 40.000, and f* the three following years L 39.000, L 29.000, and L 19.239 respectively. And I am in hopes that after the year 1890-91 works of this character will have become so insignificant that they can be made a charge on the revenue. ': WOEKING EAILWAYS. Coming now to the working railways, I find that the receipts for the year ending 31st March last were L 998.768 and the expenditure L 699.072, the net profit being L 299.696, or L 2 6s per cent, on the eutlay of LI 3,017,567, which the lines open for traffic had cost up to the end of March last. The rates of profit on the different sections have varied from Lls 10s 2d on the Greymouth section to lid on the Picton section. In considering this profit, it should be, borne in mind that railways do a large amount of free work for other departments, probably to the extent of about L 35,000 per annum. The mileage open at the end of the year was 1722 miles, 124 mileshavingbeen opened or purchased daring the year. The tables attached to the report of the general manager, which nane already been laid before the House, show in what respect the traffic has fluctuated. It will be seen that in merchandise, timber, and grain there is a less tonnage; whila live stock, wool, and minerals have considerablyincreased. Hon. members will fiud it very interesting to study these tables, as there is no> better index to the business of the colony than what we have disclosed in the railway returns. The revenue is of course largely affected by the rates which are charged, but the tonnage very clearly indicates the volume of business in the colony. Thus in the case of the farming interests, its tonnage of grain being much smaller than in previous years, and being indeed less than in any year since 1879-80, while traffic in live stock and wool has largely increased, shows clearly that greater attention is being paid to sheep and cattle, and that the area of country under crop has been reduced. Again, as regards the building trade, the timber tonnage on railways having been very, much less shows that this trade during the year ending March last must have been in a depressed state.

During the year ending March last a large amount of additional rolling stock, which has been almost entirely built in the colony, has been supplied. Improvements of various kinds at stations and on various lines of railway have' been carried ou whereby the public accommodation has been increased or working facilitated. None of the engines which are being manufactured in the colony have yet been completed, but delivery of some of them is expected about the end of the year. The result of working during the present financial year up to the period ending the 15th October is that the revenue for the 28 weeks of this year is nearly L 20.000 in excess of that for the corresponding period last year, while the expenditure is slightly less. In the short time I have had at my disposal I have not been able to examine closely into all matters of detail, but reductions in expenditure are being made wherever I have seen them to be possible, and I believe that still further economy can be effected, even with the considerable addition to our business which I confidently look forward to, as I am assured that we may expect a largely increased grain tonnage this season. It may be well, however, to remind hon. members that economy can very often be effected by reducing conveniences which have been previously enjoyed but which are, in some cases, too liberal for the small population and the business which requires to be done. All such endeavours to economise are, however, generally stoutly resisted in the particular districts where necessary economies are attempted to be carried out. Under ordinary circumstances there would be many other matters which- I should properly be expected to deal with, but as circumstances at present stand I shall not attempt to indicate in detail the direction in which I may think that the management can be improved, the revenue increased, and the expenditure reduced. The Government has already stated that in its opinion the groundwork of the system is defective, and that it is essential for proper administration of this valuable property that commissioners should be appointed who can act independently and who will deal with the railways and conduct their business unfettered by political control. For this purpose I have prepared a bill which is now before the House; and I believe that great as are the benefits which the colony has already derived from its railway system, much better results may be reasonably expected if the proposals now before Parliament are assented to.

Before leaving this branch of my subject, however, I would wish to repeat what has already been said by my colleague the Colonial Treasurer—uainely, that I have 110 fault to find with the present representatives of the Railway department. While the groundwork of the system, however, involves continual change and want of finality in any principle of action, no good can come of it. But I expect to learu that under the commissioners the officers who have served the faithfully for many years will do much more useful work in future than the surrounding circumstances have admitted of their doing in the past. KOADS. The next subject which I havo to Iroafc upon is that of all classes, and before going into the details of this subject it may be interesting to hon. members that I should give them the results of a return recently prepared showing the length of roads constructed and improved in the colony generally out of the public works funds from the commencement of the public works policy. These I find to be as follow:—Dray roads— North Island, 3234 miles; Middle Island, 1108 miles;—total dray roads, 4342 miles. Horse roads—North Island, 2152 miles; Middle Island, U2G miles; — total horse roads, 3578 miles. Grand total of roads of all classes, 7020 miles. Mostly in connection with these roud works, but in tavaa eases as separate undertakings, a number of large bridges have also been constructed—not to mention smaller bridges and culverts which hiv.Mxj'ii taltui tin special ncoomit nf.-and I find t!)i.,-. tl'.MinMW ..f t!io.-,i. ]argi: bridtfra in tin; North Isliu..l is Gil bridges, Jiavin ( ; 0 total t.:ni;t:i(if 4S,^.»y;t, ard n. the Ko-ith IslmuUM uiijg'.-.s,having ,\ total luiif.'ih of .'i:\7soft. Total for both islands 7C5 bridges, having a total length of So,9S9ffc. '

ISOADS NORTH OP AUCKLAND. Main Roads, Miscellaneous Roads and Bridges, and Grants Paid on Roads North of AuckSand.—On roads north of Auckland tho expenditure for the year ending 31st March last was L 80.738, and from the end of March to the «nd of September there was a further expenditure of L 2957, leaving a balance then available out of the amounts provided for this class of works to the extent of only LOl3. Of this sum 3L420 is due to couutics under grants already made, so tbat there is only L 493 remaining for any further undertakings. A further allocution for this class of works will not be very desirable, but the area of country requiring development is so great, aud the counties requiring aid aye bo numerous, that nothing short of L 50.000 or 1.60,000 would be sufficient to attain any material benefit, and the Government has not seen its way to make an allocation to anything like that extent. Main Roads.—The works undertaken by the Government under this head consist principally of the, maintenance of these roads from Oxford *D Rotorua, Tauranea to Ba-it Cipe, Tauranga to Napier via Taupo, Nelson to Weslpcsrr-, Greymoutb, and Hokitika, Hokilika to Christchurch, and Haast Pass track. The amount expended on this class of works during the last four years has ranged from about L 32,000 to 3j22,000, and the amouut proposed for tho present aud uext three years ranges from about L 19,000 to LSCOO; the "intention being to gradually reduce the charge for this class of work agaiust the public works fund ur.til it disappears altogether at the end of the fourth year, handing over such of the works as cau reasonably SO be handed over to the local bodies, and providing for the others out of tho consolidated fund. Miscellaneous Roads and Bridges.—Under the head of miscellaneous roads and bridges a number of new works have from time to time beeu undertaken, varying in extent duriug the last four years from about LCI.OCO to about L 40.000 per auuum, and wo have thought it necessary to make provision for the completion of such of these works as are incomplete, and also to some extent for works of a bimilar character in future. It is proposed, however, that the ex- ■ penditurc shall be gradually reduced for the present and the three following years from L 35,000 to LSOOO per aunum, and it is intended to stop such expenditure altogether at tho end of the tourth year. The principal works in baud dur- 1 icg last year havo been: Improvement in road ] from Lyell to Westport (cost about LG000) and : bridge over the Bailer river at the Lyell, for I which a contract is in process, estimated total i cost about L 8500; bridge over the Waiau at the i Hanmer Plains, cost about L 15.000; bridge over i the Clarence river, now completed, cost about 1 118,600; road from Kaikoura to Clarence, esti- l mated cost L 12.000; road from Kaikoura to ] Waiau, also now completed, cost about L13.5C0; j and the bridges over the Clutha at Beaumont i and Roxburgh have cost respectively about < L 12.500 aud L 9900. c GRANTS IN AID t (including roads under the Roads and Bridges I Construction Act, subsidies to local bodies under I the Finance and Powers Act, and provisiou for [ work for unemployed). s Roads under Roads and Bridges, Construction s Act.—The transactions under the Roads and li Bridges Construction jAct havo been brought I almost to a conclusion. The ouly grants made r< during the past financial year were for com- o pleting some bridges iv Colliiigwood and a Tuapeka counties that had boaa commenced I uuder the provisions of the act, and the amount fi thus granted came to L 314. The liabilities out- tl standing on the 31st March last were L 12.932— ir namely, L 11.648 on main roads, aud £1284 A on district roads. Since the 31st March L these liabilitias have been largely paid off, a and the only important undertaking that is a: etill unfinished is the bridge at Clyde, which is P well advanced and expected to ba completed by la about the end of March next. The remaining ai liabilities consist of sundry small balances, sc several of whichhave b:enoutstanding for aloug is while, and it is considered that the time t< has now come when all transactions under the c: Roads aud Bridges Act should be closed. The G local bodies have b:en informed that these fii balances will be shortly written off unless good cl reason fe shown to the contrary. in SUBSIDIES TO LOCAL BODIES. As regards subsidies to lor-1 bodies under the 3Local Bodies' Finance and Powers Act, my col- di league the Colonial Treasurer has already in his tr. Financial Statement alluded to this subject, so I bs ehall do no more than reiterate that it is pro- ai posed to reduco the amount of subsidies paid p* last year by onc-h-lf for the current year, ti' and provision has been me Je in the current year's iv Estimates for this purpose. Further provision of ■will also be made under the public works fund ai for half the subsidies due next year, in the event Is of its not being practicable to throw them en- wl tirely on the consolidated fund before that date, an In any cose they will cease to be a charge on the in public works fund after March 1890. te ■Work for the Unemployed.—lt is to be re- th grctted that owing to the depressed condition sh of the country it has been necessary for some isl time past to expend a considerable amount of in money on more or Iks unproductive undertakings in order to provide work for the unem- of jployed, and those amounts have hitherto been ah mostly charged to lor.p. The Government, gr however, does not consider that any moneys to ■expended on relief works are a proper charge on vn loan. fund. It is intended that for the sii 'future only such amounts for "unemployed" •shall be to loan as are expended on de ■works of a reproductive character, and if further Mi assistance than that is required to meet the un- th employed difficulty it is intended to provide for ex it Outoftheconsolidatedrevcnue. It is also con- wl Tndered that no relief worts that can possibly be th avoided should be undertaken, as we believe that an it is detrimental to the interests of the men of themselves to krep them employed on purely to relief works, which after all is merely another tv name for charitable a:d. One of the great difficul- gu ties in connection with the matter is to get the ofc men out of towns and into the country; but this rei difficulty must be got over, as it is out of the co question that we can continue to provide works th within the towns. We have therefore deter- ca mined that such further work as is provided de should be entirely in the country districts, snd as pa far as possible of an immediately reproductive en character. On the class of works hitherto undertaken for providing work for the unemployed of the expenditure last year was L 16,629, and pro- las vision has been made for further expenditure, if to requisite, to the extent in all of about L 30,000 ac for the present and three following years. ye BOADS TO OPEN UP CROWN LANDS BEFORE SALE, be ALSO VILLAGE SETTLEMENTS. sh Boadsto Open Up Grown Lands. —The important work of rendering Crown lands moro acces- m: sible to settlement by clearing and formation of re. road lines has been and is being promoted ex- I* tehsively throughout the colony, as will be seen th from the annual report of the Survey depart- in: ment for the year 1886-87. The expenditure nc on this class of works has been very considerable, th having been about LS4.OCO in 18S3-84, L49.0C3 db in 1884-85, L 62.000 in 18S5-86, and L 57.000 in ye 1886-57; and for the present year the expenditure will nave to be about LGO,OOO. In the two following years, however, it is proposed to con- gi siderably diminish the expenditure, the amount 1' proposed for ISSS-89 being L 45,000, and for M 18S9-00 L20.0C3, subject to some slight fn modification which I shall refer to presently LI under the heading of vilbge settlements. But to it is not anticipated in any case that the expendi- Bi tureoi the public works fund should proceed te bayond 18S9-90, as my colleagne the Minister flc t)f Lands hopes that by that time he will have >n sufficient revenue in the shape of land fund to wl cover works of this character which may have to in be done. L. Village Settlements. —The expenditure during m the year ending 18SG-87 on the basis of the Us vote of LSOOO then grauted for this class of Bi undertaking was Llß9l, a^ it ha? been found in necessary to make further provision to the of extent of L 72,000 to cover the expenditure of tb L 4032 between March and September last and to the liabilities of L 68.118 existing at the end of Ci September; total —L72,150,0r in round numbers re L 72,200. Under this allocation it was antici- at pited that the expenditure would be L 23,000 m this year, and L20.0C0, L 20.000, and L 9200 re- of spectively for three following years. But the Go- ta vernment has since been given to understand es that the liabilities as stated at the end of Sep- w: tember may possibly not all accrue, and tbat it consequently something less than the L 72,200 1>: may eventually be found to be sufficient; and if Si this is so, the balance thus saved will be made as available for further works in the shape of roads ac to open up lands before sale. - m Roads on Goldfields.—Coming now to the last oi of our very numerous classes of roads —between al some of which, I may say, the line of demarca- in tion is so very slight that they are rather apt to m overlap,—l find that on account of roadson gold- vi fields the expenditure for the four years ending la March 1887 has been in round numbers L 27.000, Iv U50.000, L32.C00, and L 320.000 respectively; N while for the present and two following years the cl amounts proposed to be provided are L 30.000, oi L 30,000, and L10.7C0 respectively. The amount ai thus allocated for next year is large, but most tl of it will be required to meet existing engage- w ments. bi Waterworks on Goldfields.—On account of ti waterworks on goldfields the expenditure dur- ci ing the last four years has been respectively in tc round numbers L16,0G0, LBO.OOO, L9OOO, and «•" £7000; while for this year and next year the ex- sc penditure proposed is only LI2OO and LBOO re- ™ spectively, the intention being merely to com- it plote certain works which are in hand, as it is tc considered that works of this character cau be di more satisfactorily carried out by private enter- tl prise. di PORCHASE OF NATIVK LANDS. tl North Island.—On the purchase of Native t< lands in the North Island, exclusive of land oi along the North Island Main Trunk railway, the re expenditure during the last four years has been w in round numbers respectively L 24.000, L 70,000, h L 34.000, and LIB,OCO. For this year the ex- w penditure required to meet engagements will f' amount to about L 12.000; but as LICOO will tl come to the credit of the vote from the fund ti provided for land purchase along. the North & Island Main Trunk railway,the actual charge P thi3 year will amount to only about LIO.OOO. d For the next two years the expenditure proposed li is to be LIO.OOO and LSOOO respectively. Tho 1< total allocations proposed for the purpose is thus L 16.000. The amount of land in respect of which transactions are complete under this heading, and which has consequently become the property of the Crown for the period from 31st I March 188G to 30th September last, was 207,000 acres, and the area of land in respect of which negotiations are still pending and upon which I more or less payments have been made is about 575,000 acres. 12111IUHATION. As regards the important question of imwigra- I tion, J find ilisi For ;!'.<; i.«.:r;o<l bul-wecn 1.-.', fliny JSaO and 30th Kowu;bf.r J.SS7, MfiO niir.iif.-Mcl imruiriv.nt.s arrive*! i:; Hie co'iony, t(rv-r.* ih-3 I 1 cu,t of whose iifssajjrs tin-, sum of L12.1C-' 15, h.-s ! hneii contributed by their fricneis in the colory. During the above period 80 farmers have ar- I 1 rived who satisfied the Agent-general that they

were possessed of thu requisite capital, amount■i, ing in all to L3J,105, us required by the regula- ;- tions of Uiu 28th September ISSS. The total ;- number of immigrants, exclusive of email it fanners, introduce! mubo the inauguration of tho iinini^Ciitiuii kllh-iiu*. by the colonial Uoverument is 113,953. ■ Details of tho nationalise and classes of the immigrauts introduced to tbo 30th April 1887 will be found iv " Parliamentary Papers," DB,l6B7,preseiitodlastsesMoii. ihcexpeuditurc on immigration dining the last lour years has been respectively, in round numbers, L 107.000, L 50.000, L 12.000, and L 12.000; and for this and the three following years the expeudituro proposed is respectively L 16.120, L 20.000, L 20.000, amILW.OOO, being a total allocation for immigration purposes out of the funds m baud and loan proposed amounting to L 70.702. TKLEOUAPII KXTKNSIOX. As regards tho subject of telegraph extension, I find that during the present liuancinl year telegraph or telephone communication has been established between Clevedon and Papakura, Pukekobb ami Mauku, 'IV. Honee, IMnevirki-, Spiingston ami Prebbletoi), Upper lliccarton and Middlctoii, and a line is now in course of erection from Masterlnn to Mauriccvillo and Mangamnhon. The proposals for further telegraph extension in the Kslimates for the present year include the construction of lines between Kaipara Heads and To Kopuru, Blenheim and Awaterc, Ophir and Tiukers (Rlatakaimi), Miller's Flat and Lawrence, Henley and Berwick, and tho erectiou of an additional wire between Wellington and Auckland by way of Foxton, Woodville, and Napier, as weU as a local wire from Foxton to Woodville. The expenditure for the last four years has been respectively about L 19.000, L2G.000, L 30.000, and L 19.000, aud for the preseut and three following years tho amounts proposed are—L2o,ooo, L 10,000, LGOOO, and LSOOO, the intention being that the cost of future extensions of the telegraph system should be gradually thrown on tho consolidated fund, and that affc-r March ISOI no further expenditure of this character shall be charged to loan funds. I'UBLIC nUILDIXGS. The principal public buildings in course of erection during last year wore some additions to tho lunatic asylumsiu Ohristchurch and Auckland, the construction of a new printing oflice in Wellington, and the continuation of the works for the new prisons at Wellington and Auckland. During the current year it is proposed to put in hand a gasworks aud n doctor's residence at Seacliff Asylum, a doctor's residence aud farm buildiugs, ko. at the asylum at Sunnyside, aud tho addition of a male wing to the asylum at Auckland. It is also proposed to ask for a vote for a new asylum at Forirua for tho Wellington district, and also for the long-proposed , public offices in Aucklaud. The erection of the j post office in Wellington will shortly bo under- i takeu, but as the Government consider that this 1 is not properly chargeable to loan it has been j determined to provide for it out of the consoli- * dated revenue. On public buildings generally t the expenditure during the last four years has been, in round numbers, respectively L 164.000, LH7.000, LS7,ooo,and L 59.000; and during the preseut year the liabilities already incurred are such, especially iv respect to lunatic asylums, P school buildings, and the printing office at Wellington, that the expenditure will have to beabout L 109.000. It is proposed, however, to materially reduce the expenditure out of loan on this class P : works daring the following three years, the ' amounts proposed being respectively L 69,700, JJ L 26.000, and L 7600. The total amount allocated "

for public buildings during the four years is thus L212,4).0, of which departmental buildings, including the Wellington printing office and the Auckland departmental offices will absorb L 40.000; judicial buildings, including the gaols at Auckland and Wellington, L 34.550; lunatic asylums, and including a new asylum at Porirua, additions to asylum buildings at Auckland, Christchurch, and Duncdin, L 77.000; and school buildings, L 60.000. As regards school buildings, I should mention that provision is only proposed to be made for this year's grant, together with liabilities which will probably exist at the end of the year; the intention of the Government being that after the end of this financial year provision should be made for this class of works in some way other than by drawing on the public works fund. LIGHTHOUSES AND HARBOUR WORKS. Lighthouses.—On lighthouses the expenditure duriug recent years has never been very large, the amounts expended during the last four years being resp:ctively about L 67.000, L74CO, £300, and L 3300 ; and for the next two years the expenditure proposed is L 4300 and L4OOO respectively, making in all LB3OO as the total amount intended to be devoted to this class of works out of funds available and now proposed. The amount so allocated is principally for the Cuvier Island lighthouse, the apparatus and lantern for which have already been received in the colony; and plans for the tower, which is to be of castiron, have also been prepared ready to call for tenders. Steps are also being taken to acquire the land for the buildings, and it is proposed to shortly commence the necessary works on the island to complete this long-promised undertaking.

Harbour Works. —For harbour works a sum of LSOO only has been allocated, and it has already been expended, being the balance of a grant of LISOO made under a vote of last year to the Hokitika Harbour Board, of which LIOOO was paid before March last and the remainder since then.

Harbour Defences. —The Cost of the harbour defences of New Zealand up to the end of March last was L 318.827, and I find that a further sum of L 130.000 is required to pay off existing liabilities andcomplete the undertakings which are at present in hand. This sura has therefore been allocated to harbour defence, and will be required for payment to the extent of LSO.OOOthis year and Lso,ooonext year. - Up to the end of September last the total expenditure was L 353.483, of which L 174.012 was for guns, ammunition, torpedo boats, torpedos, and other war material imported from England; the remainder, L 179.471 for works within the colony it-elf, including land purchased. Up to the 31st March last the works in the colony were carried on by the engineers of ihe Public Works department, but since that date the Defence department has taken it into its own hands entirely. ■ Rates on Native Lauds.—Under this heading of " Rates on Native lauds" the expenditure last year wa5L24,139, and the amount required to meet our engagements under the existing act will be—for this year, L 15.000; and for next year, L 10.700 ; beyond which nothing more has been provided, as it is proposed that the act should be repealed. Thermal Springs.—The expenditure on thermal springs last year was L7Bl4,and the amount required for this year is L 3200, and for nexcyear L3OO. This is principally for the completion of the water supply at Rotorua, and planting and improvements of baths and grounds. As it is not intended to undertake any further works than thoje at present in hand, no further funds have been allocated beyond the £3500 for this year and next year. PUBLIC WOEKS POND. —PAUT I. To sum up the proposals of which I have now given the details, they amount to this:—ln part 1 of the Public Works Fund we had on the 31st March last a balance of L 491.246, and wo are further entitled under this fund to a sum of L 83.814 under section 3 of the Government Loans to Local Bodies Act, making in all L 575.060. But as against this we had expended up to September 30 amounting to £243,953, and liabilities actually brought to book at same date amountiDg to L 280.495, and further engagements which, though not brought to book, were to all intents and purposes liabilities, amounting to L 184.836. The total amount of these engagements over and above actual expenditure and liabilities in point of fact amounted to L 205,446. But as against these there were credits to come in from the Consolidated Fund and parts 2 and 3 of the Public Works Fund amounting to L 20.610, thus bringing the net amount of engagements to L 184.836. As before stated, my colleague the Colonial Treasurer in his Financial Statement referred to these engagements as amounting to about L 150.000; but since then they have been more accurately gone into during the preparation of the Public Works Estimates, and now ascertained to be L 184.836. Adding together the expenditure up to the end of September with liabilities and engagements at that date, it gives in all L 709.284 as expenditure, liabilities, and engagements up to the end of September, as compared with the L 575,060 assets on the same date; thus showing that our actual expenditure, with liabilities and engagements, ou 30th September exceeded our assets on that date by L 134.224; and this, too, without allowing anything for recurrent charges such as immigration, departmental expenditure, roads maintenance, subsidies to local bodies, work for unemployed, completing engagements in aid of land purchases, telegraph extension, additions to lunatic asylums, school buildings, and rates on Native lands, &c. In view of these recurring charges, therefore, and also in view of tho deficit of L 134.224 already existing, it was considered, and it is still considered by the Government that nothing short of L500.C00 additional funds would be sufficient to admit of a reasonable sum being allowed for immigration and at the same time permit of our bringing our recurrent engagements in respect of the other services to a close otherwise than in an abrupt and unsatisfactory manner. Iv the case of the several main roads, for instance, for the maintenance of which tho Govcrment has made itself responsible, we cauuot abandon these roads to their fate, as we might thus become liable for damages in the event of any accidents happening through our negligence; and neither can we divest ourselves of the responsibility attaching to these roads all at ouce by handing them over to the local bodies or placing the whole charge on the consolidated fund. The same also applies more or loss to the class of buildings and other works. With great reluctance, therefore, as we had hoped to be able to do without a loan at all, we come to the conclusion that we must ask for further authority for L 500,000 under part 1 of the fund; and assuming that this is granted, our total assets under this fund, counting from 31st March last, would be L 1,075,060. We would propose to allocate the expenditure of this sura during tho present and next threo years as follows :— For immigration, with debits (consisting of expenditure, liabilities, and engagements at 30th September) amounting to L 13,702, we propose to allocate ... ... £ 70,720 For Public Works departmental services, with debits amounting to LGOOO, we propose to allocate ... 13,000 For railways (other than those provided for uuder parts 2 and 3 of !ho fund), with debits amounting to L 3500, wo propone to alluciite ... 3,500 For roads of all rl»ssi's, wilh debits io ■.luVcVic... " ' ..'. .'.. -r.28,'») |For-wat-r-.-...r!:,, m U" ;/nl,!iivl.;,, ! with Orbits aiiiwuling io LiOCO, we propose to nlloonto ... _ !}>ooo For purchase or Native lands, exclusive of purchases under the .North

Island Trunk Hailway Loan, with debits amounting to L 12.000 (less LIUOy which i.-s to come into credit ! from part 2 of fund), wo propose I to allocate... ... ... 10,000 lror telegraph extension, with debits amounting to L2(3,070, wo propose to allocate... ... ... 41,100 For public buildings, with debits amounting to L120,30'0, we propose to allocate... ... ... 212,410 For lighthouses, with dtbits amounting to L 2932, we .proposes to nllocato ... ... ... 8.300 For harbour works, with debits amounting to L6ooo,wu propose to nllocate ... ... .v £*0 For harbour defences, with debits nmountingto L 130.000, woproposo to allocate... ... ... 130,000 For rates on Nativo lands, with debits amounting to L 25,700, we propose to allocate... ... ... 25,700 For thermal springs, with debits amount ing to L3SDO, we propose tonlteito..; ... ..... 3,500 For charges aud expenses of raising loans, "with debits amounting to LSOOO. w« propose to allocate ... 20,000 Finally, for all tho services under this fund, with dubils (coiiFistiug of i:xpenditun', liabilities, and engagemeuts at 30th September last) amounting to L7O!>,2tH, wwproposo to allocate... ... ... 1,075,0G0

The following table will probably show these results in a form which will be moro couvenieut to hou. members:— S||| C1.v.6 or Work. •!«»! S § O g Ct3 t3 a ph Immigration ... ... £ 13,073 £ 70.72 a l'ublie Works-departmental 0,01)0 13,0110 linilwajß (oilier tuau thoio provided (or under Parts II and III) ... ... 3,500 3.500 lioadi of nil classes ... 3156.02U 528,330 Waterworks on KolulieMs ... 2,000 2,003 Purchase of Kativo lands, North Island, exclusivo of purchases under the trunk railway loan, £12,000 (less amount to come into credit from Fart II of fund) ... 1,000 10,000 Telcranb extension ... 20,070 41,100 Public buildiiiL'B ... ... 120,3(i0 212,410 Lighthouses ... ... 2,931 8,300 Harbour works ... ... SOO 500 Harbour defence ... ... 130,000 130,000 Kates on .Native lands ... 25,700 25,700 Thermal Springs ... ... 3,500 3,600 Charges and expenses of raining loans ... ... *8,000 20,000 Totals ... ... £709,284 £1,075,060 'Tbis amount would have; been required for expenses of raisijg sufficient loan for all services under this fund, PUBLIC WORKS I'DND.— PART 11. Coming now to part 2 of the fund, being the portion devoted to the North Island Main Trunk railway, we had unexpended on the 31st March last the sum of L67J,315, aud on 30th September this was reduced to L 015,258, with liabilities amounting to L 137.474. Starting with the balance at the end of theyear, namely, LG74,315, the expenditure suggested by the Engineer-iu-chief, if the work is to go on vigorously from both ends during the present aud next three years, is L 619.800, which would leave a balance unexpended on 31st March 1891 of L 54.515. PUBLIC WOBKS FUND. —PART 111. Under part 3 of the Public Works Fund we had unexpended on the 31st March last the sum of L 769.235, and by the 30th September last this was reduced to L 556.645, with liabilities amounting to L 304,004. The net amount available for further undertakings on the 30th September was, therefore, only L 252,641; and as this amount was quite inadequte for carrying the most of tho railways in hand to a point at which they would be even moderately reproductive, it was decided to ask for further authority of L 500.000, which sum is proposed to be allocated as follows: —

Holensville'northwards ... £ 25,000 Putururu-Rotorua ... 18,000 Woodville-Palmerston ... 120.C00 Blenheim-Awatere ... 9,000 Greymouth-Eokitika ... 2,000 Mount Somers ... ... 7,000 Livingstone ... f.. 1,000 Otago Central ... ... 105,000 Seaward Bush ... ... 10,000 Additions to opened lines ... 122,000 Surveys ..> ... 6,000 Charges and expenses of raising portion of the loan allocated to railways ... 30,000 Departmental (engineer and supervisor) ... ... 45,000 Grand total for railways ... £500,000

Adding this sum of L 500.000 to the L 769.235 before alluded to as existing at the 31st of March last will give a total of L1,2C9,235, the expenditure of which (including the expenditure which has already taken place) we propose to spread over the present and next three years at the following rate* viz.:—lßß7-88, L 442.500; 1888-89, L 437.403; 1889-90, L 298.917; and 1890-91, L 07.444; giving a total for four years of L 1,256,264, which will leave L 22,971 uuexpended at the end of the term.

Costs and Charges of Raising Loan.—As regards the item of L 30,000 for charges and expenses of raising the L 500.000 allocated to railways, I should explain that about LIO,OOO of this is required to supplement the amouut allocated to charges and expenses of raising loans and contingencies in connection with the loan of 1886, which will be exceeded to about that extent. The amouut actually required for raising the L5C0,000 at present asked for will probably be about L 20.000. TEE TOTAL EXPENDITURE PROPOSED UNDER THE PUBLIC WORKS FUNDS. As a whole, taking the whole three funds together, our proposed expenditure is : For 1887-88, L 1.127,550; for 1888-89, L 986.000; for 1889-90, L 577,077; and for 1890-91, L 248.994— giving an average throughout the four years of abont L 735.281 per annum. While on the subject of this expenditure I should explain that it was the wish and intention of the Government, if possible, to have distributed the expenditure more evenly over the four years, but it was found that we had practically very little control over tho expenditure duriug the current year aud part of next year, as that is fixed to a very large extent by existing engagements. There was also the consideration that if we spread the expenditure on each of the railways over the whole period, a work which might quite easily be completed in two years would bo left unproductive for another year or two, without any great good being done. In the case of several of the railways, therefore, I have put the expenditure in the year 1889-90 which I originally intended to have thrown into IS9O-91 with tho view of getting such of the railways completed by March 1890 as could then be reasonably completed. Even as tho proposed expenditure stands, however, it iudicates a very considerable reduction as compared with the expenditure of the previous years, which has been:—For 1883-84, L 1,409,558; for 1884-85, L 1,336,727; for 1885-86, L 1,475,356; for 1886----87, L 1,333,454. In actual practice, too, it is probable that the expenditure during this year and next year will be somewhat less thau I have estimated, the amounts set down being the sums necessary to meet liabilities which will probably come in for payment during those years; and if these liabilities do not fall due so rapidly as is anticipated, the expenditure will of course be reduced accordingly duriug the first two years, and can thus be spread more evenl over the whole four years as wo originally intended. As affecting proposed expenditure for the year after this one—viz., for the year ending March 18S9, which I have already stated will probably be larger than we wished it to be—it should also be mentioned that the amount required to be expended that year will include about LSO,OOO for charges and expenses of raising loans. The North Island Trunk railway loan of L 1,000,000 still requires to be be raised as well as the L1,000,0C0 which we now propose to ask authority for, aud it is estimated that the expenses for each £1,000,000 will be about L 40.000.

THE PIiOBABLE EFFECT OP DETERMINING THE RATE OF EXPENDITURE FOR THREE YEARS IN ADVANCE. In thus endeavouring to fix the expenditure over a series of years, I am quite alive to the fact that I may be met with the assertion that it is impossible to absolutely advert to any such programme or to keep the expenditure rigidly within the limits which have been fixed; but while that is to a certain extent true, I nevertheless maintain we shall probably come much

nearer what is the intention of the Government, aud I believe also the wish of most hon. members, as regards the so-called " tapering off " in borrowing by shaping of some definite programme to guide us such as I have endeavoured to do, rather than by leaving everything to the chapter of accidents. In the item allocation for rails, sleepers, and rolling stock, L 125,000 hon. members may possibly not be prepared for the large sum (L 12.500) which is set down in tho proposed loau for allocation for permanent way aud rolling stock, aud especially as regards the sum of £05,000 shown as required for permanent way aud rolling stock for additions to opened .lines. It may bo desirable that I should explain

that L 45,000 of this amount is due to insufficient provision having been made for this class of expenditure in the loan allocation of I860", and I have charged thisL'ls,ooo to additions to opened lines in order to avoid an uudue charge falling on any nf the individual railways. This was the only way to fairly meet the case, as some of the railways provided in 1880, and which have been already completed aud which consequently do not appear in the present allocation at all, have already received their full complement of rails; and the deficit, if chargedotherwisethanto additions to open lines, would have to fall entirely ou the railways which have still to b3 completed, which would manifestly be unreasonable. In the final accounts showing the cost of railways from time to time it would make no matter, as each lino is, of course, ouly eventually charged with the actual expense upon it; but on making an allocation if seems to me to be unwise to include ail amount in tho present loan schedule for a service which was purported to have beeu fully provided for in the allocations of 1886. Proposals as to carrying on formation works on railways beyond the points up to which the lilies can be entirely completed wiUi the funds ■jbtKiw.Mi!—Tlv firft int'iiH'in of th« Covwn;m;-!-.|. ii view of ih-idesu-!>.'')i!.:i'y of hUippiny all ! c:-;i;i-i!r:i!-ii".' iv!si<: :>Mr!ieaM'.' was (a r.-mit nr.v provision i\.r carrying <m rr.r.j.atiu:. v.-orks (ov:!i wh«n iilrer.dy provided for) beyond vhe points ta which funds area-;.'! ■! '■■ r.-r ci;Mri:ly i-nsnploMng the various railways; but-on further consideration

it was deckled that it would bo better to retain power to carry on these formation works in the event of its being necessary to provide work for the unemployed, and I have therefore shown the amounts authorised ns proposed to bo expended over tho present and next threo years accordingly in event of such expenditure being requisite. DEPARTMENTAL EXPENDITUKE. In connection with our future proposals to gradually reduce the loan expenditure on all classes of works, it will bo necessary to corrcBpomVngly reduce the departmental expenditure, which was L30.15G for 1881-85, L20.C32 for 18S5-BG, and M 5,835 for ISSG-87. The expenditure for this year will bo about L 20.000, which is Bometyhut short of 4 per cent, on tho portion of tho loan expenditure under control of tho Public Works department proper; and on tho same basis 1 think it is probable that the expendituro for the next threo years could bo reduced to L 20.000, L 16.000, and L 13,000 respectively, making in all for the four years Liii.UOO. it is also intended that this expenditure should be charged proportionately in accordance with the amount of works under the control of the department in each of the several fiubciivisions of loan Fund, which would give for the four Jems L13.00U ohargenbUs lo part 1; L 15.000 to' part 2 ; LIO.OOO to part 3; making in all L 75,000 as before. I'UIIMC WORKS ESTIMATES. As regards the general shape iv which the Public Works Estimates will bo brought down, I have not found it desirable to alter the form recently iv vogue, with ouo exception—viz.,in respect of tho estimates for the North Island Trunk railway, the amount required for which has hitherto been voted in one lump sum to cover construction works and surveys of all classes at both ends of the line. In that case I have made an alteration, as it seems to bo desirable that full information should bo given as to tho expenditure at each end of the railway—firstly ou railway works proper, and secondly on roads; and also that separato information should be given as to the cost of surveys as distinct from construction works. I have therefore now divided the Estimates for this lino into tho several items of " Departmental expenditure," " Railway construction " (north end and south end), "Permanent way and rolling stock," " Surveys," " Koads " (north end and south end), and " Purchase of Native lands." But as regards the roads I have already mentioned, no further road works are intended to be undertaken under loan for this railway. The votes proposed for road works are therefore merely sufficient to cover the liabilities already incurred, with a sight margin for contingencies. CONCLUSION. Finally, sir, I would wish to state that in approaching this task of dealing with public works expenditure of tho colony, the Government was convinced that, however much tho construction of public works may have tended to develop the country generally and also to meet the demands of growing settlement, it was nevertheless evident that our rate of expenditure in the past has been more than the colony could well afford, and that the time has como when we must really curtail. With that object iv view wo prepared the proposals which I have had the honour of laying before this House. I may say that throughout the wholo of this allocation our object has been to do justice to all concerned, and to endeavour when practicable, within the limits of the funds at our disposal, to avoid stopping ruthlessly auy works on which expenditure already incurred would be altogether thrown away or which would yield a reliable percentage on cost if completed. As hitherto intended,"to the best of our belief these objects have been attained by the allocation which I have deEcribed, and we therefore lay it before Parliament in the full confidence that hon. members will aid us in carrying these proposals out in the interests of the colony as a whole,at whatever sacrifice it may be to their individual districts. As a whole, the chief feature in our proposals is to steadily reduce expenses under loan from, in round numbers, L 1,100,000 per annum for this ysar to L 300,000 per annum for the third year from March next; and we believe that in this way the loan expenditure may bo gradually brought to an end after March 1891 without, on the one hand, increasing our burdens overmuch, or, on the other hand, putting tco sudden a check on the progress of colonial iudustries.

I would also wish to say in conclusion that throughout the whole of the investigations necessary to frame the proposals calculated to bring (about this result —and which I confess I have found to be a very difficult task—l have received the most cordial assistance from all tho chief officers of the department over which I have tho honour to preside.