PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2688, 20 September 1905, Page 32

PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT.

&KOPOSABS FOR THE YEAB.

[Bt Telegraph.]

WELLINGTON, September 15.

The Hon W. Hall-Jones, Minister of J?ublic Works, laid on the table of the House of .Representatives this afternoon the Public Works Statement^ which reads : — Mr Speaker,— lt is my pleasing duty to >lace before hon. members my tenth conjecutive Public Works Statement, and to report that good progress has been made with the various works undertaken. The jross expenditure upon the North Island Main Trunk railway (including the value »f permanent-tray materials issued to the line] during the year amounted to £154,426. The sum voted tor all classes of roads was £4-10,975, against which authorities were issued amounting to £469,44-4. The exceptionally wet weather experienced in the early summer considerably retarded the -progress of some of the works, particularly road-construcfcion works, and consequently the expenditure up to 'the end of .the -financial year was not so large as I .bad' anticipated. Since the period referred io good jprogress has been maintained. In view of the New Zealand International Exhibition, which is fo bfe held next year, I desire to say, so that the information maybe circulated for the benefit of likely visitors, during the Exhibition season, that the Government- anticipates that, either prior to the opening of the Exhibition or during the season, it will be practicable to take the through journey from Auckland to Wellington by the route of the North Island Main Trunk railway, and also to travel by road and rail in one day from • tSreymouta or Hokitika to Christchurch. The programme at present in course of execution and in contemplation for the tfarfch. Island Main Trunk line provides for the rails at the north end reaching the Waimarino Plain, and probably, up to the site of the Makatote viaduct, by the date referred to. By ihe same date the rail•head at the southern end should be at _ Waiouru. From Waiouru to Raetihi a mail-coach road already exists, and the service road between Raetihi and will be completed, so that a -coach could travel from rail-head to railJjead. As regards the Midland railway, hon. members are aware that the contract for *he Staircase viaduct and Broken River Jbridge is now being carried out. The oonjfcract time for- completion expires on October 12, but the work is not likely to fae finished for some" little time. I am, urging the contractors to use expedition in finishing. The instructions issued to the departmental officers are that the rails must' be laid across Staircase and up to and across the Brojken Sliver bridge 'by. the commencement of the _' Exhibition v season,' and a good service road iis in . course of construction from. Broken Sliver to' the Cass. It will therefore be ipossible to rail passengers from Oforist•chureli to the' west side of Broken River, Eeaving a, coach journey, of only 40 miles Wrom - there to Ofcira, which-, as already -stated, will enable the through journey to he accomplished in one day. In addition to the above, the Otago Central railway should be completed to Clyde by the date mentioned, thus placing further facilities in the way of tourists visiting the beautiful cold lake scenery of the Middle Island. •> TOTAL EXPENDITURE. The " expenditure during last financial . frear was less than during the previous rear. The following table shows, as reeach class of work — (a) the total Expenditure from the inauguration of the .public works policy to December 31, 1890 ; |b) the similar expenditure between January 1, 1891, and March 31, 1905; (c) the gross total expenditure to March 31, 1905 ; <and (d) the expenditure for the late financial year: —

of ways and means for public works purposes was £393,802; and further funds were received as under: — Balance of £1,000,000 raised under the act of 1903, £416,050; amount raised under the act of 1904-, £717,063 ; to provide for debentures fallingdue, £755,200: transferred from revenue, £600,000 ; miscellaneous receipts, - £11,633 ; — making a gross total of £2,893,748. The ordinary expenditure of the year amounted to £1,219,838. In addition to this, £62,540 was transferred to the credit of the State Coal Mines Account in respect of the Point Elizabeth railway; debentures to the amount of £365,600 were paid off, and others to the amount of £384,100 were renewed ; thus bringing the total disbursements up to £2,032,078, and leaving a credit, balance at the end of the year of £861,670. For the current year it is proposed to provide additional funds as under: — Balance of 1904 loan, £32,937 ; new loan of 1905, £1,000,000; transfer from the Consolidated Fund— For publio works generally £500,000, for development of water 1 power £50,000, for irrigation water supply £50,000. This will give a total available ways and means of £2,494.607. The esti1 mated expenditure for public works for the current year (excluding separate accounts having their own ways and means) amounts to £2,286,719. thus 'leaving a balance of £207,888 to be carried forward to next year. RAILWAYS. As we are now in the last session of a Parliament, it would not be out of place to review what has been accomplished in the matter of railway construction during the term of office of the Liberal Administration — namely, since the 24th of January, 1891. During this period 461 miles 75 chains of railway, constructed by the Public Works Department, has been opened for public traffic, while a length of 105 miles 61 chains has been acquired from private owners and added to the Government railway system; the total increase in the mileage of the Government railways duiing the period being 567 miles 56 chains. The different sections are as under : —

this lino has to be ."rushed, and the rate of progress is therefore slower than would otherwise obtain. The railway will bo completed to Waihi and handed over to the Railway Department for regular traffic at' an early date. The expenditure on this railway last year amounted to £39,676, all of which was charged to the bpscial account established for this line. At the close of the financial rear a balance of £8861 remained at the credit of this account, but a*- some additional works arc necessary that sum will not quite meet the cost of completing the line, and it is proposed to take a vote of £6000 to close accounts in connection with it. GISBORNE-ROTORm. The section between "Kaiteratahi and Karaka was opened for public traffic on the 13th of April last. The survey of the extension authorised last year has been proceeded with, and several miles of same are now located, so thai it has been possible to make a start with the earthworks. The trial survey has boon carried as far as the summit on the Gisborne side of the Motu Valley. This summit is 1964 ft above spa level, and the distance from Gisborne is 43.5 miles, and 25^ miles from Karaka. Before permanently locating any further portion of the line beyond the section, which has just been commenced, it is considered advi?able to remove the survey party to the Opotiki side of the main range, as the question of the most advantageous point to enter and cross the Motu Valley is largely influenced by the question of the best point to leave that valley and to make a vlcscent to the low lands in the Bay of Plenty. The expenditure last year amounted to £16,068. This was in excess of the vote, but under all the circumstances it was thought advisable to push on the works to completion so as to make the expenditure interest-bearing as soon as possible. For the current year a vote of £20,000 is proposed. Mamaku-Te Puke. A rough exploration of a projected railway route between the above points has been made. Mamaku is the summit, sration on the Rolorua line, and the projected rail-

Railway. ~ Section. Mileage. M. eh. M. ci. Kawakawa-G-rahamtown .. .. .. .« Kamo-Hukeremii 16 0 Kaihu VaJ.ley .. .. .. Opaaake-Eooms 0 55 Helensville Northwards .» Kanohi-Woodcooks .. .. 13 40 Waikatc-Tuain.e3 •> Te Arohar Thames 32 3 Thames Yalley-Rotorua .■ .. Puta.raru-Roto.raa .. .. 31 56 Gri-sborne-Ro'torua .. ..1 , Gisborne-Karaka 18 15 North Island Main Trunk Mokau-Taum^runn.i .. .. \ North Island Main Trunk .. .. -.., ... Funterville-Taihape .. .. f^ '" Woodville-Palmerston N-cxth .. Woodville-Palmerston .. 17 21 We-llington-Naipiei- .• .. -..i .. Eketalnma-'Woodville .. \% 7 69 Wellington-Napier .. « ... .. .• »• To Aro Extension .? .. / Stratford-Ongurue .. „, .. .. ..„ .* Stra.tioi.cl-Oiui.il 11 18 Midland « .» ..i Jackson" s-Otira 10 12 Westport-Ngakawau Extension ... *,> Kgakawau-Mokihinm .. 7 12 Slate. Colliery ling xc. Gr&yiruouth-Ccal Creek .. 5 1 Greyrnouth-Hokitika ,„ ... ... ... .. Greymoulh-Hokitika .. .. 24 37 Bleoifoeim-Waipara .. ..■ .., . v .. .«, Blenlitiim-Sedclon .. .. Igg 0~0 ~ Blenheim-Waipara *■ .. .. .. ._« ... Waipa.ia-Scargill .. .. / Inoh Valley .. .. X .. Inch Valley-Limykilns .. 2 29 ■ Catlin's River . .. M ,, >, .., ... Roniahapa-Owak v .. .. 11 38 Waipahi-Heariot Extension .». .<. < „. .. Heriot-Edievale .. .., .. 6 20 Seaward Bush .. ... „ „ .«. .. .. Mokotua-Wsimahaka .. .. 13 "A Catlins-Waimahaka ,„ „ ,y vp .. Owaka-Catdins .. . ., .. 3 ?>3 Otago Central -» .« .., <* v, „.. -.; Hiaidoni-Omakau ..- .. „ 96 20 For-eist Hill .., ,„ .. .. , v ... ... ... "VYinton-Hedgehops .. .. 12 40 Orepuki-Waiau •• .. . s .. .. »• Orepuki-Waihoaka .. .. 4 40 Total .. .. ♦. .. .. 461 75 Phivate Lines Acquired. Kaihu Valley .. , v .. ... „ „ .. Dargaville-Opanake .. .. 16 46 Wesfcport-Mokihinui , *f ... Mokihinui Colliery line .. 3 69 Fernhill Branch .. .. .., „ Fernhlll Colliery line .., ..-* 1 60 {Stillwater-Eeefton .. -.. 37 9 Brunncr-Jackson's .. .. 32 15 Springfield-Olarama .. .. 4 58 Belgrtore-Mottipiko .. .. 9 44 Total .. .;■ .. .. 105 61 Grand total .... 567 56

In addition to the above total of 567 miles 56 chains, we have 41 miles 21 chains upon which goods traffic is already being carried, and which will be available for passenger and other traffic in a few weeks. I will now refer to the different lines of railway that have been in hand during th^ last year, and state the proposals of the Government with regard to each for the current year. Kawakawa-Grahamtown. Construction work has recently bt>en resumed at the northern end of this line on a section about four miles in length, and fair progress is being made. The distance between the completed formation at the Kawakawa end and the terminus of the open railway at the southern end is rather under 18 miles. The Government is being urged to resume construction at the southern end— namely, from Hukerenui towards Towai.— and the appropriation proposed for the current year provides for a resumption of work at this end. On the section between Whangarei and Grahamtown the earthwork has been proceeded with throughout the year, and plans and specifications have been completed for the deep-water wlarf at the iatter township. When this wharf is completed it will be possible for vessels up to 2500 tons to lie at the berthage at all stages of the tide. Tenders for building the wharf will be invited in due course. The total expenditure on this railway last year amounted to £8610, and as considerably more work will be in hand during the current year a larger expenditure must bo anticipated. The vote proposed 13 therefore £20,000. Helensville Northwards. The section between Ahuroa and Woodcock's was opened for public traffic on the 12th of May last, and the formation of the next section — namely, to Kaipara Flats — is nearly finished, and the platelaying and ballasting is in progress. Formation is also well in hand" on the section between Kaipara Flats and Tauhoa. This railway is fully surveyed as far as Hoteo. but as a considerable extension of the line was authorised last session it is proposed to put further survey work in hand as soon as a staff location engineer is available. Some of the landowners along the route have offered to give the land required for the railway free, and as soon as the route has been definitely determined the necessary formal agreement to give effect to this arrangement will be submitted to them for signature. Last year's expenditure amounted to £9320, and for the _ current, year an appropriation of £30.000 is asked for. Paeroa-Waihi. Satisfactory progress has been made with the works on this line during the past year. Coal traffic is now being carried on as far as the Waihi Gold Mining Company's battery at Waikino. The formation is finished to Waihi ; rail-laying on the last section is well in hand, and the erection of the station buildings is in progress. As gravel is not available, all the ballast fin

way, if constructed, "would ctonnect the fertile lands of the Bay of Plenty with mio Auckland railway system. From the roug'i examination of the country that has been made, it appears that a very favourable route for constructing a line at comparatively small cost can be obtained. It is proposed during the year to have a trial survey made, and I hope to be able to submit the result to the House next session. Stk vtford-Ongaetje. The section of this lin-e between Tolco and Oruru was opened for regular traffic en the Ist March last; and formation on the Huiroa eection has been begun. The extension of this line will be of material assistance in developing a good class of country, and will eventually form an important connection between Auckland and Taranaki. The expenditure last year was £6217, and for the current year an appropriation of £20,000 is provided. Motjxt EcaiosT Branch. This is one of the new lines authoir?eJ last session. The earthworks were commenced in January. and have now been completed for a distanoe of four miles, and the bush felled for a mile and a half farther. A start has also been made with the platelayinsr, and machinery for stoneorushing has been ordered. Probably Ly about the end of the financial year the output of stone ballast from thia railway will have commenced. The expenditure last year was comparatively small, having amounted to £1986 otilv, but for the present year a vote of £15,000 is proposed. Th : a will complete the line to the point where the first deposit of stone is met with, nnJ will also cover the cost of the crushing 1 plant. Nobth Island Main Trunk. At the northern end the rail-head has been advanced to Owhango, 190 miles from Auckland. The formation is complete for four miles farther, and is in hand as far as and a little beyond Pukerimu, 198 miles from Auckland. The works on this section are rather heavy, and include two tunnelsone nearly five chains and the other 19 chains in length. Beyond this point the service road is in course of construction. The formation has already reached the edge of the Waimarino Plateau, and is being pushed forward to the site of the Makatote Viaduct so as to facilitate the work of erecting that structure. The contract for the Makatote Viaduct was let to Messrs J. and A. Anderson, of Christchurch, in June last, for the sum of £53,369. ThougK both longer and higher than the Makohine Viaduct, the structure at Makatote will not be' of so difficult or costly a character. The principal reasons for this are the shorter spans and the safer material on which to buikl the foundations. At the former the foundations were in papa, and necessitated: the use of enormous concrete monoliths, while at the latter the material ig much rarder, and less work and expense are necessary. The longest spans at Makatote will be 100 ft, whereas at Makohine they were 247 ft. A drawing of the M^katot^ Yi&duofc ig appended, to. t£i§ Statement*

] At (he southern end plate-laying between i Taihape and Mataroa is in hand, and ballasting has been begun. The "heading" through the Mataroa Tunnel has been finished for some time, and the work of enlarging and lining- is being vigorously pushed on, the parties working night and day. As soon as the lining of this tunnel is finished the platelaying on the section to Turangarere will be put in hand, the formation of that section Being now well advanced. Woi'k is also in hand on both the Waiouru and Murimutu sections, aiid preparations arc being made for taking in hand a further section of the unfinished portion of this railway during tire ccming summer. The number of men at present employed on the line exceeds 1300. and this ni.mber will be increased as soon as e.irting can bo resumed. The Gun-eyed line of the railway in tho neighbourhood of Raetihi is about seven miles distant from the Raotihi township. The Department has been urged to deviate the line so as to pass through Raetihi ; but, as it is desirable that the main_ trunk railway between Auckland and Wellingtoa should be constructed by the shortest and most direct route, I could not recommend the proposed deviation. A trial survey will however, be made to ascertain the cost of connecting with R-aetihi by means of a branch line, which branch line could ultimately be extended to Pipiriki if thought necescaa'y. The construction o.f the service road to donnect the works at the Auckland and Wellington ends will also be proceeded with during the ensuing summer. The expenditure an the North Island main trunk railway last year amounted to £154,436— name1y. £136,372 out of the ordinary construction, and £18.064 out of the vote for permanent way materials. A larger expenditure will be required this year, and a vote of £300,000 is therefore asked for. Blenheim:- Waipar^. i Formation wcrk* have been resume.] at | the north end tof this linr — -namely, o>i i the section between Seddon and Flaxboun.^. The work having only recently been commenced, no great progress has yet been made. At the southern end considerable work wet weather experienced the line would has been done, and but for the unusually ere this liave been opened for traffic to Hurunui Station. I fear it will now be ! impossible to open it until about the Ist October. Work in the Hurunui Gorge is in hand. | Tenders for the station buildings at W-esr lands havo been invited. This station wnl : be upon the Cheviot main road, and I 4ope to bo able to have the railway to that point opened for traffic, at a reasonably early date. Last year's expenditure totalled f:> £23,195, and for the current year (it> meet the cost of works at both ends of the line, a vote of £45,000 is proposed. Midland. At Jhe Nelson end the rail-head has been advanced to within half a mile of Tadmore, and the ballasting is in progress, so that we should be in a position to carry goods to Tadtfior at an early date. A further section of this line, 102 miles in length, was authorised in the Railways Authorisation Act o: last session, and formation work thereon has been started. At the Reefton end considerable work has been done. A combined road and railway bridge has been built over the Waitahu River; and a similar bridge over the Lrangahua, at the landing has also been finished. Progress has been made with the earthworks, especially on the unbaukments approaching the Waitahu bridge. At the Otira end a contract has been lei; for the bridges over Goat Creek and the Rolleston River, and a start has been made with the earthworks. The surveys for the permanent location of the summit tunnel at Arthur's Pass are now well advanced. Honourable members will realise that a work of the magnitude of the Arthur's Pass tunnel demands much more accurate survey than is ordinarily required in railway undertakings. In view of the special rnture of this tunnel and the plant fhot will be lequired to carry it out expeditiously, the Government has determined to imito tenders for its construction. While tl.e surveys are going on, all necessary data is being obtained for the utilisation of a waterpower plant to generate electricity for use in working the traffic on the tunnel section of tha railway. At the Springfield end good progress has .been made. The line as far as Staircase Gully is regularly _ used for the conv^jance of goods ; the Staircase Gully viaduct is in. course of erection, and making good progress; the formation between Staircase and Broken River is well advanced ; the piers for the Broken River bridge have been begun ; and the earthworks between it at point and Slovens' Creek are in Land. A service road is also in course of coi'stiuction between Broken River a.id the Cass. The total expenditure on the Midland railway last year was £55,468. This year a larger vote will be necessary, and an appropriation of £100,000 is therefore proposed. Westport-Inangahua. The first 12 mil-es of this railway was authorised last year. The survey of the whole line has been in hand for some time, and is nearing completion. It is proposed, as soon as the appropriations for the current jear are passed, to commence formation work at the Wcstport end, and a vote of £10,000 for the purpose appears en the Estimates. NGAHERE-BL ACKB ALL. The approaches to the Ngahere bridge Sustained some- damage during a heavy flood in the Grey River which took place a short time since, but the damage was speedily restored and protection works constructed. The formation of the railway beyond the bridge is in hand. Last year's expenditure amounted to £7249, and for the current j r ear a vote of £10,000 is proposed. Greymouth-Point Elizabeth. This railway was completed and handed over to the Railway Department for regular working on December 1 last. Some supplementary works have since been and are still in hand, but will shortly be completed. The expenditure last year amounted to £11,420, which, was charged to the State Coal Mines Account, but transferred at the end of the year, together with the expenditure during prevknis years on this railway, to the debit of the Publio Works Fund, as provided in the Appropriation Act of last session. An expenditure of about £2500 will be necessary during the current year to complete the work, and a vote fo£ this •xnawt k EEs\jd£d, gso<>jdinsl&

CUsdg of Wo<rTr. Expenditure Railways — New construction t« ••- •••; ••• •• \ddifcions to opea lines ,„ ».. >.i „t, *« '" Qtilisnldon of water «powec ..• „., .. "•' •* Reads . .. „ ,| „„ n ,, . .! »>i p»i •■• Public buildings <*. ». »., >„ »., »•> immigration ... .. B- „. ' ... „„ „ Purchase of Native lajads _ „ .., [iightliousos, hjivbo-ur -worlaai, and haa-boxir dofenoes rcmrist and healtli T«SOTts «.i ~ r.*i ... «.i Megxapli extension «n ..'« »« im, -.■* DovelopnMKnt of goldfi&lda ». ■,« /HW »- »w» w Defence works (g'oneml) «• v »*< n« ' ** ■»* »< Departmental .. .. ..«, »»i «-. Pfiymient to Midland railway bondholder^ .., «► i.« Minor works and services .« ••■ CJosfc and dieconnt raising 'loans, otc. v« »v ■"' i*»< Totals „ ..' '„ j mm , ,„• «.i HM p Paeroa-Waibi railway account *«' •„.!, »» i-.i ti.i A— Total to B.— Jan. 1, 1891, Dec. 31, 1890. to Mar. 31, 1905. .. £11,975,098 £3,867,814 2 092,002 2,869,261 , — 4frß .. 3,575,804 3,263,248 „., 1,776,003 1,410,221 o 144,386 10,089 ," , 1,191,137 819,509 * 880,035 128 112 11 600,849 532,141 _.. 561,101 187,327 429,720 389,432 r . v , 349.759 170,150 ,, v _ 150,000 '^, 300,689 18,168 .. 1,021,472 227,595 .. £26,898,145 £14,098,895 •• ~ 66,138 ,", £26,898^145 iIUeS^OSS Total to Mar. 31, 1905. £15,842,912 4.961,263 468 G. 539,052 3,186,224 2,154 475 2,010,646 1,008 207 55,360 1,132.990 748428 819,152 519,939 150,000 318,857 1,249,067 £40,997,040 68,138 D. — Year ended Mar. 31, 1905. £464,413 275,802 463 228962 117,328 0,482 6,281 5,990 17,508 79,295 6,258 46,588 12,814 3,423 10,763 £1,282,378 , 39,676 * 82 >H r-T 8