PUBLIC WORKS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3212, 6 October 1915, Page 8

PUBLIC WORKS.

MINISTER'S ANNUAL STATEMENT. I HEAVY EXPENDITURE j LAST YEAR. I NEED FOR ECONOMY.

The following ore the principal clauses in the Public Works Statement, which was delivered in the blouse of Representatives by the Hon. W. Fraser on Friday afternoon /

When I delivered the Public Works Statement last year the general impression was that the war would not last much more than one year. At present who will venture to predict when the war will terminate? It is a somewhat extraordinary fact that, notwithstanding the thousands of workers who have joined the Expeditionary Forces, some 5000 men still require to be engaged on public works to prevent the try of unmpioymcnt being heard. This in some measure is explainable during the winter months, but not so during summer and autumn, when shearing, harvesting, and the other operations incidental to _ the primary industries will require a considerable amount of labour. These primary industries mast be considered, or the country as a whole will suffer. That this labour may have to bo provided for by slackening off work on railways, roads, and bridges during summer and autumn is very probable. There is no intention to exploit labour on behalf of those carrying on such industries, but employment on public works cannot bo found for those to whom work at fair rates is offered elsewhere. It is generally recognised that it will not bo Aviso during the continuance of the war to expend more borrowed money than is absolutely necessary. The expenditure during the financial year ended March 31, 1914 —£2.949,992 —constituted a record, but the similar expenditure for 1914-15 was actually larger—viz., £2,953,368 —made up of £2,835,692 under the Public Works Fund and allied special accounts, and £117,676 under the Consolidated Fund. ’ WAYS AND MEANS. On April 1, 1914, the available ways and means for public works purposes' were £1,178,584. And further funds were received as under: —Under “The Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement Act, 1913,” £217,778; under “The Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement Act, 1914,” £1,525,000; under “The New Zealand Loans Act, 1908,” £26,114; premium on sale of 4 per cent, debentures, £3750 ; transfer from revenue, £350,000; other receipts, £9422; making a gross total of £3,315,648. The ordinary expenditure of the year amounted to £2,557,295, charges and expenses in respect of raising loans £35,495, redemption of debentures £II,BOO, and other expenditure £15,296, thus bringing the total disbursements up to £2,619,886, and leaving a credit balance at the end of the ypar of £695,762. For the current year it is proposed to provide additional funds as under: Balance of unauthorised loan moneys, £1,476,100; proposed new loan, £2.000,000. The above, with the balance brought forward, givbs a gross total of £4,171,862. The estimated expenditure for public works for the current year (excluding separate accounts having their own ways and means) amounts to £2,803.550, leaving an estimated balance of £1,368,512 to be carried forward to next year (1916-171. In addition to the above we have authority to raise, outside the Public Works Fund, the undermentioned sums: —Under the “Aid to Water Power Works Act, 1910,” £250,000: under the “Irrigation and Water Supply Act, 1913,” £29.900; under the “ Waihou and Ohinemuri Rivers Improvement Act, 1910,” £50,000. RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION. The following sections of railway were completed and opened for traffic during the la,st year:—Otiria to Kaikohe, 16 miles 25 chains. May, 1914; Kaihu to Tarawhati, 2 miles 35 chains, June, 1914; Oronadun to Inangahua, 13 miles, Juno, 1914; Oass to Arthur’s Pass, 14 miles 65 chains, July, 1914; Pohokura to Whangamomona, o miles 13 chains, July, 1914; Kaiwaka to Otamatea, 2 miles 45 chains, August, 1914) Otako to Matawai, 12 miles AO chains, November, 1914 j Big Hill to Beaumont, 5 miles 56 ohama, December, J 914; Houipapa to Tahakopa, IS? tsiloo 56 chains, February, 1915 j,—toW, 91 miles 5 chains. The following lengths are practically completed, but Aire not yet been handed

over to the railway authorities for traffic:— Otarnatca to Maungaturoto, 4 miles _lO chains; Maunganui to To Puke, 13 miles 4 chains; Mount Egmont branch, 2 miles 77 chains; Whangamomona to Kohuratahi, 4 miles 54 chains; Ward to Mills, 7 miles 76 chains.

The total expenditure on railway construction and improvement work curing last financial year amounted to £1,155,776, as under; —Construction of new lines, £646,878; additions to open lines, £499,875; railways improvement account, £9023. Whangarei-North Auckland. —The ffist four miles of formation work on this line is being carried out under contract, but the contract time, which expires in January next, is likely to be exceeded. The next length of nearly four miles to Oakleigh is being formed by co-operative labour, end machinery will be used to take out one or two big cuttings. North Auckland Main Trunk. —Formation has been completed, rails laid, and the line partly ballasted from Otamatea, through the Bickers taffo and Maungaturoto tunnels, to a point half a mile past Maungaturoto station. The country traversed is liable to slip, and gives a good deal of trouble before stability is secured in the larger cuttings and banks. A temporary goods and passenger service is carried on between Otamatea and Maungaturoto pending the final completion and opening of the • section. East Coast Main Trunk.—The Public Works Department still retains control of the completed length of over 13 miles between Maunganui and Te Puke, on which a regular train service is run, carrying passengers, goods, and metal for the department’s own purposes and for use by local bodies in the district. On the Gis-borne-Napicr lino the erection of a steel bridge over the Waipaoa River is in progress, and four temporary bridges have been built to permit of the transport by rail of plant and heavy material where the roads are not good. A quarry some distance off the line at Repongaero has been opened up, a temporary line laid into it, and crushing plant installed. Earthworks and the excavation of a short tunnel are in progress up to a point 14 miles from the junction at Makaraka, and the route ahead has been fixed as far as the Hangaroa. township site. Surveys have also been made near Wairoa, and two miles of the route located on either side of the town, with a view to construction work being started at that point in the near future.

Stratford-Main Trunk.—Since the opening of the line to Whangamomona construction work has been in progress over nine miles and a-half, between the terminus and Tahora. The work comprises two tunnels, road and stream diversions, and several small bridges, besides usual earthworks and culverts. One tunnel, 23 chains long, is finished, the other is being widened out, most of the bridges" are built, and the minor works are well in hand over the whole length. Rails have been laid, and the line partly ballasted as far as Kohuratahi, four miles and a-half from the terminus of the open lino, and a tramway has been laid from that point to the second tunnel to transport plant, material, and stores to the works, in preference to hauling over the longer and steeper route by road. Ballast material for this section of the line is brought bytrain from Mount Egmont. At the eastern end the contractor for the Okahu tunnel was unable to carry on the work owing to financial difficulties, and in April the contract, with the department’s consent, was assigned to Messrs Dillon (Limited), a company in which most of the parties to the original contract retain an interest. The new contractors have experienced much bad weather since they took over the work, but there is every prospect of better progress being made during the spring and summer. The contract covers two miles and a-half of formation, including the tunnel, 75 chains long. A contract has just been let for the erection of the steel superstructure of ■ a combined road and railway bridge over the Ongaruc River, where the railway leaves the Mam Trunk line at Okahukura. The piers will bo built by the department. Six small contracts for formation beyond the tunnel are approaching completion, and the work is well in hand up to Matiero township, 10 miles from the junction point. A tramway throe miles in length is being laid into Matiere to facilitate the transport of construction material and to keep heavy traffic off the Ohura road. Settlors’ stores will bo hauled over the tramline.

South Island Main Trunk. —Platelaying and ballasting over a length of eight miles, terminating at Mills station, is approaching completion under contract, and, with a little trimming and finishing work, this section will be ready for opening. _ Formation work, mostly of a light nature, is proceeding at a moderate rate on the section beyond Mills. The country traversed hero is bare and sandy, anti extensive plantations of marram grass have to bo made to protect the railway banks and cuttings from drifting sand. Midland.—At the Nelson end construction work beyond Glcnhope was resumed in November last, and is well advanced for two out of three miles, which will carry the lino to Kawatiri. The works on this length are fairly heavy, and rapid progress cannot

be expected. The only other section of the Midland line on which construction work was in progress during the year was the Arthur’s Pass tunnel, the excavation of I which was continued steadily at both the Otira and Bealey ends under the direction 1 of the department’s engineers. At the I Otira end the work is carried on by day i labour —three shifts per day, with an average of 37 workmen per shift. Daring the 12 months ended June last the bottom headi ing at the Otira end advanced 23.19 chains, j and the excavation and lining 24.17 chains. The face is now two miles 50 chains from the Otira portal. At the Bealey end the j work is being carried on by co-onerativo i contract, with an average of 17 men per I shift; the heading during the 12 months advanced 16.19 chains, and the excavation and lining 19.82 chains. The respective faces are now distant from the tunnel portals at either end—Otira, 2 miles 50 chains; Bealey,s4 chains. The distance between the two headings is 1 mile 64.45 chains, and | between the limits of fully excavated and ; lined tunnel 2 miles 17.06 chains. The rook ! encountered at the headings has mostly been I very wet, requiring heavy timbering practi- [ cally all the way. | Waimate Branch Extension. —Formation work is in progress over the first four miles j from Waihao Downs Station. Some protection work has been done where the line { comes close to the Waihao River. 1 Liwrencc-Roxburgh.—The section from Big Hill to Beaumont Station, five miles and a-half in length, was handed over to the Railway Department in December last for regular traffic. The expenditure on the 1 railway during the past financial year was £14,836, and contingent liabilities to the I extent of £4OOO are provided for on the Estimates. ! Otago Central.—The extension from Clyde : to Cromwell, 12g miles in length, was located and construction work commenced in July of last year. Good progress has been made, and the work is now in hand right up to the Cromwell Station site. The formation on this section is of lighter and less expensive character than the standard of recent years. Rails are laid for four miles, and ballasting completed over the first three miles. Catlins-Waimahaka. —Platelaying and ballasting were completed, and station buildings erected at the far end of the 17-mile section from Houipapa to Tahakopa, which was opened for traffic on February 1 last, i The terminus will remain at Tahakopa for the present. I Balclutha-Tuapeka Mouth.—Survey work to locate the best route for this proposed branch railway was interrupted during the year, and no construction work was undertaken. ; Winton-Hcddon Bush. —No construction ! work on this line was undertaken during the year, but there was an expenditure of £l7O on surveys and preliminary work, i Orepuki-Waiau Extension. —The route was located to Orawia, nearly 10 miles from the present terminus, and construction work has commenced at Tuataperc end. lire extension w’ill servo, a large area of fertile agricultural land lately subdivided into small holdings Total Appropriations For Railway Construction. —In addition to the votes already mentioned, an appropriation of £IOOO is required to provide for old land claims and other liabilities on construction account, . £SOOO for surveys of projected new lines of railway, and £IOO,OOO for permanent way materials. The total vote proposed this , year for railway construction amounts to j £700,000. j Other Railway Works. —Tire expenditure 1 during the financial year out of the vote i for additions to open lines amounted to I £524,591, and out of this sum £307,385 was spent on rolling stock, tarpaulins, work- ; shops, machinery, Westinghousc brake equipj ment, and petrol electric car. The balance i of £217,006 covered expenditure on improve- : ment to wharves, water services, station accommodation and yards, engine depots, Parnell tunnel duplication, installation of tablet, telegraph, and telephone facilities, also signalling and interlocking plant. Grade im. provemont works on the North Island Main Trunk lino involved an expenditure of £29,854, and the Mechanics Bay reclamation accounted for £37,999. This latter work forms an integral part of the new Auckland Station rearrangements and railway scheme. The Duncdin-Mosgiel duplicated line was i opened for traffic on June 1, 1914, and the ! expenditure incurred in this work during ; the year was £5273. The vote proposed I for the current year amounts to £500,000. roads and bridges. I The total amount provided on last finani cial year’s appropriations under all votes j and accounts (including the Consolidated Fund vote for maintenance, but excluding ! the Land for Settlement Assount—loading) | was £1,070,300. The amount authorised 1 for expenditure under tho same votes and ■ accounts during the year, added to the I unexpended balance of authorities at March 31, 1914, totalled £1,197,401. Tho expenditure for tho 12 months amounted to £666,237, leaving an unexpended balance at March 31 last of £531,164. In regard to ex-

penditure on road, etc., works under tho Land fer Settlements Account, the money is, of course, provided by special loan raised on the security of each block of land, and is not shown on the appropriations. Under this bead the amount placed at tho disposal of this department by tho Minister of Lands for expenditure during the year (including the unspent balance at March 31, 1914) amounted to £17,360, whilst tho expenditure for 12 mouths amounted to £8536.

For the curent year tho provision made, for roads and bridges has not been limited on account of prevailing conditions, but it must, of course, bo understood that tho authorisation of expenditure will be dependent upon tho Government’s ability to raise the necessary loan for public "works purposes. Moreover, it is not intended that the ways and means provided shall be expended by March 31. 1915, but they are expected to suffice till December 31, 1916, or even, if necessary, to March 31, 1917. TOTAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR ROAD WORKS. The appropriations last year were as under; —Roads, etc., £c57,700; backblock roads, etc., £201,000; goldfields roads, etc., £53,500; improved farm settlement roads, £10,000; opening up Crown Lands for settlement account, £173,300; national endowment account, £40,000; maintenance of roads (Consolidated Fund), £45,000; —total. £1,080,300. The provision for tho current year is as under: —Roads, etc., £300,000; backblock roads, etc., £160,000; roads on goldfields, £40,000 ; improved farm settlements, £5610 ; land for settlements account. £130,000; national endowment account, £40,000; new Hutt road, £250; maintenance of roads (Consolidated Fund), £50,000; total, £725,860. DEVELOPMENT OF MINING.

The value of the mineral output for the year amounted to £2,752,730, being a decrease as compared with the output of tire previous year. This was only to be expected. however, in view of the prohibition of the export of certain minerals during the term of the war. The output of coal was the highest yet recorded, being 2,275,593 tons, an increase of 387,588 tons over the output of the previous year. Splendid marble is being produced from the Nelson district, and to aid in tho development of this industry assistance is being granted by way of loan to enable the stone to bo economically transported to tho port of shipment. The expenditure under the heading of mining development during last year was £2584, and a vote of £10,060 is proposed to be taken this year. PUBLIC BUILDINGS.

The total expenditure on public buildings during the last financial year amounted to £595,562, made up as follows: —Now buildings (Class XXIII, Public. Works Fund), £417,000; sites for Government stores, etc., Wellington, £15,000; maintenance works (Class XV, Consolidated Fund), £65,387; maintenance works, schools (Class XV, Consolidated Fund), £99,175; —total, £595,562. For the current year the following appropriations are proposed ;—New buildings (Public Works Fund), £427,050; maintenance works (Consolidated Fund), £70,350; maintenance works, schools (Consolidated Fund), £lo2,lso;—total, £599,550. The new Parliament Buildings again absorbed the largest item of expenditure underfill's heading,’ but the work has been delayed owing to difficulty in obtaining suitable marble. This difficulty has now been overcome, and as the marble will soon be in Wellington, it is hoped that the work will then be carried on with more expedition than has hitherto been possible. The new departmental buildings at Gisborne were completed and occupied during the year. One (substantial addition was made to the Government Printing Office, and another one is in progress. The proposed vote for the current year includes items for the Parliament Buildings and printing office additions. < SCHOOL BUILDINGS. The expenditure out of the Public Works Fund on school buildings during the year was £122,940, of which about £117,500 was paid in grants to education boards and other governing bodies for public schools, teachers’ residences, training colleges, technical and secondary schools, and university colleges. The works represented by the balance, over £SOOO, were for services directly under the control of the Education Department, and comprised buildings and allied work at Native, industrial, and special schools. The extension of the buildings at Otokaike connected with the institution for feebleminded boys, involving expenditure of about £2245, is approaching completion. An _ instalment of a similar institution at Richmond for feeble-minded girls is also nearing completion. Demands for school accommodation must necessarily bo mot without delay ns they arise, and consequently there Is always a large outstanding liability on this account which must be provided for in the Estimates of the year. The total amount of this liability fluctuates according to the time occupied in thn nrosecution of the vari-

ous works authorised, and to meet this 15 bility it is proposed to vote £120.000 for the current year. DEVELOPMENT OF WATER-POWER. In November last the plant for the development at Lake Coleridge of electrical energy on a large scale was formally opened, but it was not until March of this year that the continuous service started, since when it has been in full operation. The plant has worked smoothly and efficiently, without serious interruption, and the country will learn with satisfaction that this important commercial venture on the part of the Government shows every promise of becoming a financial as well as an engineering success. The three units of generating plant now installed are capable of an output equal to 6000 horse-power; and the present demand, added to that in prospect, for which contracts have already been arranged, calls for the immediate installation of a fourth unit of 2000 horse-power - , and there are inindications that two further units of generating plant will have to be provided in the not-distant future. The tunnel and headworks already constructed are sufficient to provide for probable expansion during the next six or seven years,_ when it is expected that the output will adequately supply the district which can bo economically served from the Lake Coleridge scheme. The existing pipe-linos arc of sufficient capacity to drive the fourth unit of machinery now on order, and the power-house can accommodate this unit without additions. The total expenditure on this scheme from its inception to the 31st March last was £262,034, and the installation of the fourth unit is expected to place the business on a footing where interest on capital, maintenance, depreciation, and working expenses will all be defrayed out of revenue. Subsequent additions of plant to satisfy a growing demand should increase the margin of profit. IRRIGATION, At the Otckaike Settlement the construction of six miles of distributing race to serve settlers on the eastern side of the stream was completed under contract, and additional races of a total length of two miles and a-half were laid out. The settlers will bo able to take advantage of the supply during the coming summer. The development of the important scheme to irrigate the Ida Valley, in Central Otago, was appreciably advanced during the summer months. The large concrete dam at Manorburn was almost finished when work was stopped bv heavy frosts in April, and this part of the scheme will be completed during the ensuing spring. The excavation of the main races along either side of the valley proceeded steadily while weather conditions permitted, and it is hoped that these races will be out of hand before the end of next summer. The construction of the Poolburn dam and some concrete work at the Moa Creek weir remains to bo done, also some widening and lining of the old Bonanza race, which is to be incorporated in the scheme. Water was supplied to settlers in the valley during a limited period in the middle of last summer, and a temporary supply on the same conditions will be available next summer. Contracts were prepared for part of the work of bringing in the Manuherikia River water to irrigate the lands lying between Clvde, Alexandra, nnd Chatto Creek. After some delay, owing to unsatisfactory tenders, two sections were lot. The intake of this race from the Manuhcrikia River requiring particular attention in construction, it was decided to employ day labour, but it was found to bo almost impossible to obtain men suitable for thin class of work, and more especially \vas difficulty found in securing the services of a. competent overseer, owing to so many having gone to the war. A gang has, however, now been put on to do the necessary rock excavation, and as soon as the weather permits the concrete work will be undertaken. TOURIST AND HEALTH RESORTS. The expenditure under this heading amounted to £8232, compared with £14.981 for the previous year. The sum of £2J7I was spent in completing and furnishing ths now hostel at the Hermitage, where the chief guide’s cottage was also completed'. Improvements at Helcnsville and to electrical works at Rotorua accounted for £720 and £570 respectively. Additions to the Rotorua Sanatorium cost £671, and improvements at Waitomo Caves £583. The expenditure on the proposed new sanatorium at Hammer and drainage works at Rotorua, was held over. TELEGRAPH EXTENSION. The expenditure on telegraph and telephone extension during the year amounted to £288,395. The proposed vote for the current year amounts to £327,000, made up as under:—• Automatic installations, £110,000; submarine cables, £1000; new lines, £30,000; new exchanges and connecting now subscribers, £SO 000; material, £l36.ooo;—total, £327,000. LIGHTHOUSES^ The works undertaken during the yen* ■were i—Completion of lighthouse on Chan, nel Islet, Hauraki Gulf; the new Marinq Department Store at Pipitea Point; tbq continuation of the erection of the towisfr for the automatic light on Karori Robs,

■which is now almost finished; and the improvement of the road to Godloy Head lighthouse. The estimated amount required for the carrying-out and completion of the works already authorised is £2695, including an add tional amount for the construction of an automatic light on Flat Rock, and the cost of a heavy crane for the Marine Department store. CONCLUSION. In conclusion, the ability to give effect to the proposals set forth in the Statement will depend on the response: of the public to the loan proposals of the Minister of Finance. The great importance of developing the resources of the dominion by constructing roads, bridges, and railways will certainly not be lost sight of; but it is necessary to emphasise the fact that some reduction in the rate of expenditure on such works must be expected under the very trying conditions consequent on the war.