PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 11122, 9 November 1907, Page 2

PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT.

TWO MILLION POUNDS TO BE SPENT.

REPORT ON; .-RAH/WAYS,

MANAWATU LINE TO BE TAKEN,

WATER-POWER FOR ELECTRICITY TQ BE LEASED.

The Hon. J. McGowan, Acting-Minis-ter for.Public Works, delivered the Public Works Statement in the House last night. He said : Air Speaker,— The somewhat serious indisposition of my esteemed colleague, the Hon. Mr Hall- Jones, has for a second time imposed upon me the duty of administering the Public Works Department in his absence. After an especially strenuous year Mr Hall-Jones* was suddenly seized with a serious illness in May last, and on July 12 left New Zealand by tlie s.s. Kaipara on a health-seeking .voyage round the world. Mr Hall- Jones reached London on Ajugust 26: and the cable has advised us 'his "health has already improved. I aan^ sure I am. voicing the feelings of every member of the -House in expressing* the hope that the leave of ' absence which has been granted to him, and the, temporary Cessation from assiduous devotion to duty thereby, ensured, together with an entire change , of scene and . environment which his long journey will secure, may be the means of comEletely restoring hjm to his former ealth and vigor, and* so enable him on his return to resume r : the duties of his high position, and to render the oountry many further years of -faithful service. The year that I have to review has been one of marked progress. Tlie total expenditure on all public works and ser; vices .bome upon public works estimates, amounted to no less than £2,205,605,_ or if we exclude special accounts having their own ways and means, and take into consideration only actual charges against the public works fund, the total amounted to £2,040,319, which is the largest pend jture on such works for many years •past. A very large amount of work hai been accomplished, and my task this evening is to, give an account' of the same in as brief a manner as possible. ' v TOTAL EXPENDITURE. . Tlie following table shows (a) total from* inauguration of public works policy to 31st December, 1890, £11,975,098 j (b) Ist January, 1891 to 3lst March; 1907, £7,615,905; (c) total to 31st. March, 1907, £19,591,003 ; (d) vear Vended 31st March,, 1907, £919,730. ■."■• *V WAYS AND MEANS. At March 31, 1906. the available balance of ways and means for public works purposes was £492,298, and; further funds were received as under: 'Balance of £1,000,000 raised under the Loan Act of 1905, £182,086 ; amount riased '•; under the similar Act of 1906, £943;600; premiums received on sales and renewals of deben- ' tures, £15,834; transferred from revenue, £775,000; miscellaneous receipts, £1560, making a gross total of £2,410,378. The ordinary expenditure of the year amounted to £2,040,319, and charges and ex-> penses in/ connection' with financing amounted to £10,659, thus bringing the total disbursements up to ,£2,050,978; leaving a credit balance at the end of the year of £359,400. For the current year it is proposed to provide additional funds as under: Balance of 1906 loan £56,400, new loan of 1907 £1,000,000 transfer from consolidated fund £800,000. This will give a total available ways and means of £2,218, - --000. The estimated, expenditure . for public works for the current year, excluding separate accounts having tlieir. own. ways and means, amounts to £2.106,951, thus leaving a balance of £108,849 to be carried forward to next year. • • RADLWAY CONSTRUCTION. .." "■ Tlie late financial year was the most active as regards railway works of any year during the last quarter of a century. - New construction amounted 'to £920,730 expended ; in addition to this the Railway Department's outlay in improvement -works amounted to £426,065. thus: Additions to open lines £308,150, Hutt railway and road improvement account £35,028, Railway Improvements Authorisation Act account £81,957, thus bringing up the gross total expenditure on railway works .for the ydar to the very large sum of £1,345,795. . Numerous requests have been made during' the present season for. new works to be started 1 , or for works in hand to 'be proceeded with at accelerated speed. In view of our present large disbursement, the Govern? ment have been compelled to adopt a caiUitious policy. The expenditure on the North Island Main Trunk railway during the year, including value of permanent way material issued for the line, amounted to over £400,000. For the current yeai* a vote of £330,000 is proposed. Next^ear will see the completion of. this great-work, with its very large expenditure, and the money will be available for other purposes. Since the last Public Works Statement was; brought down, 50 miles of railway hus been completed and opened for traffic; the rails* have been laid, and ballast trains are running over an additional 80 miles. I will now refer more in detail to the several/lines that have been on liand 1 , and the proposals of the Government in regard to each for the current year. Kawaka wa-Grahamstown, — - , Work on \. this railway has been in progress in three places, viz., an extension from Kuwakawa South, and from Hukerenui northwards; also from Whangarei:; to. Grahamstown. Tlie early "closing of the gap between Kawakawa and Hukerenui is very desirable, not only in the interest of settlers and to secure a thorough opening up of the district from a railway point of view, but for the more economical work of the line as "one undivided section. The number of men employed on the section northwards of Hukerenui lias accordingly been increased. * Tlie expenditure on the line last year amounted to £10,624, and the vote proposed for the current year is £15,000, k. Helensville Northwards. — The work done last year constituted quite - a record, the expenditure, including, 'permanent way materials, having amounted" to £46,---004. The section between Kaipara flats and Tauhoa was completed on June 11th lasts The next section to- Wabay is already in use for traffic, a further section lo Wellsford is well in hand, and a new section extending to Tehana is just being started. Beyond Tehana the line has already been pegged over ten miles. The vote proposed for the .-cMrent year is £40,000. ■ V Mamaku-Tauranga.— A proposed trial survey for. this railway has been in hand during tho year, and field \vork between Mamaku and Te Puke has.been completed,'but the report and plans are not yet to hand. As soon as these( have been •prepared, the -survey will be- extended to Tauranga, as promised. .■■-. yStrong representations .liave been made to the Goxvcrnment regarding an alt^rriative **line to Tauranga from Waihi, and there is a good deal to, be said in favor. of -the'ro.ute. |[ 'have decided to have a trial survey . made, so that a comparison can be made vith the route via Mamaku and Te*Puke. V New Plymouth-Sentry Hill deviation. — \Tlie deviation of New PlymouthySentry Hill line, covering a distance of about 1-| "miles, was undertaken with a view* of reducing the grades on the existing route, Bome\of whicli are as steep as 1 in 50, und also for the purpose of avoiding numerous level crossings at- present existing, more particularly that at Devon street, which is the main thoroughfare to the town. The new line is approaching completion, and will be ready for traffic at an early date. The expenditure last year amounted to £24,243, and the proposed vote for the present year is £1500. , Stratford-Ongarue. — The section as far as • Huiroa, nearly 16 miles from Stratford, is nearincr completion, and will shortly be available for traffic, and a commencement has been made with the Teweva section. The new section is an important one, as it will bring the line into touch with the main road from Whangaihomona, and will thus be the "means of drawing largely-increased traffic to the railway. Petitions have been presented to Parliament praying for a • commencement to be made with works at the Ougarue end of this line, and on completion of the North Island Main •Trunk railway (from which' this would really be a branch line), it would probably be convenient to transfer to this work a portfsn of the departmental staff, plant and a number of workmen at present em- 1

ployed on the larger undertaking. Before this can be done it will be necessary to have surveys made to definitely determine the point of the main line that it will best serve, the junction station, - and to exactly define the route of the first few miles of the branch line, whicli has not been definitely fixed at present. It is possible Kpuketutu, in the Mokau Valley, may prove a better point of junction. The expenditure on the StratfordOngarue' railway during the financial year was £12,881, and a vote of £20,000 is proposed for this year. Mount Egmont branch. — The work is nearing completion, and it is expected a portion of the line will be handed over to the Railway Department and regular crushing of. stone commenced at Christmas. Ihe expenditure was £17,258, and a vote of £15,000 is proposed. NORTH ISLAND MAIN TRUNK. A very large amount of work has been carried out on this railway during the year, the expenditure having greatly exceeded that' of any previous year since the works commenced. At the northern end the rail head has advanced to the top of the spiral, two miles and a half beyond Raurimu, 201 miles from Auckland. Rail-laying is now in hand southwards of that .point. Formation works beyond tho spiral are well advanced, so that rail-laying as far as Waimarino and Makatote will probably proceed without interruption. A great- deal of work has been dono on the Makotote viaduct, but the structure is still far from completion. Tlie contract time expired on June 15 last, but it is unlikely the viaduct will be ready for the rails to be laid over it until March next. The contract .for this work is held by Messrs J. arid A. Anderson, Christchoirch, who are also contractors ' for the superstructures at -, Manganuioteao aiid \Mangaturuturu viaducts further along the line. The I concrete piers and abuttments of the latter viaducts have already, been constructed, and the Department is awaiting, the erection of the superstructures. Messrs Anderson's contract time for these works expires in February next, but it seems unlikely at present that they will be completed on that. date. * The rails easily will reach .Makotote in March, so that if the viaduct is completed then raillaying can be carried ; ori to Manganuioteao, and as soon as the latter viaduct is ready, . can be continued to Mangaturuturu. At the south/end of the line, the section from Taihape to Mataroa six miles long, was handed <iver to the'Railway Department for regular working in June last. The section, Mataroa and Waiouru, 18_ miles, is nearly completed. A ballast train has been running on it for some time, and it will be ready to hand over to the Department afc Christmas. The section from Waiouru to Rangatauahas been used for goods traffic since May last. Tlie rails now extend to O'kahune, three miles further. Altogether the advance in the position oi the rail head at th» south end of the line during the year has been 26 miles. The permanent line along this section embraces some heavy earthworks. When the rails are laid oh the section now in hand'the whole line to O'kahune ~ will be handed over for regular traffic. Ballast trains between , Taumaranui and Raurimu and between Mataroa and Rangataua have been carrying [passengers for som e tin \\ and the running at the* southern end has now been extended to Okahune! It is also proposed to shortly commence the issue of through tickets ' between Auckland and Wellington. The gap between the rail .heads is now only 24 miles, and pver this length a coach service has been established on a good metalled road, constructed by* the Department in conjunction with 1 the railway works. By Christmas I expect we will be able to arrange to carry passengers at /hey north end as far as Waimarino, which will reduce the coach service to 18 miles; by March, ■' 1908, to Makatote which will further reduce the gap to 11 miles. The last link in the chain will still take some little time to complete, as the eleven-mile section embraces three viaducts, four, large bridges, and one tunnel .besides other heavy works. Two of these viaducts are ,' being- carried out by the Department's own workmen. That over the Toanui is nearly completed, and the _ Hapuawhenua (which is the longest viaduct on the line) is well in hand, but at present is only in its, foundation stages, though much of the steel work is already manufactured at the Department's workshop at Mangaonoho, and a \start with its erection will probably be made during the present month. All the work is progressing satisfactorily, and with favorable weather conditions, I confidently expect rails will be connected between Auckland and Wellington not later than Christmas, 1908, as previously, predicted. The expenditure on the railway last year exclusive of permanent way materials' was £362,101 i and for the current year an, appropriation of £330,000 is proposed. OTHER LINES.-Blenherm-Waipara.— Work at the northern end of this line has been proceeded with tliroughout the year, and fair progress made at the southern end. The section between Ethelton and Tormore was opened. for traffic in November, 1906, and a further section to Domett in March last. As considerable difference of opinion exists as to the location of the line beyond v Domett, it is inadvisable to proceed with further construction work at present. A survey party is now employed closely investigating the different routes that have been suggested, but the results will not be available for some little time yet. With cessation of construction work at the southern end, an increase has been made in the number of men employed at the northern end,' and I hope shortly to have a further section .at that end. ready for rail-laying. •'. The expenditure on tite line last year amounted to £46;076. and for the current year an appropriation of £40,000 is proposed. Midland.— Formation as far as Kiwi ■station \is approaching completion, / and rail-layiug will shortly be started. Platelaying between Reefton and Cronadon is in hand, and will shortly be finished. On the Otira section, Goat Creek and Rolleston bridges have been completed, some protective, groins constructed* and a good deal of earthwork 'done. Operations were discontinued for some time pending the receipt of tenders for the Arthur's Pass tunnel, but now a contract for that work has been entered into, and operations on tho Otifa section will at once be resumed, so as to complete the line to the tunnel mouth. The tender of Messrs John McLean and Sons for Arthur's Pass tunnel, 5 miles 25 chains in length, was accepted in August last, and the work is to be completed by August, 1912. The amount of the accepted tender, whicli M*as the lowest of three received, is £599,794. The contract includes not only the tunnel but completion of formation of the railway thence as far as Arthur's Pass station, 59_ miles from Greymouth. The section between Staircase Gully and Broken river was duly completed in time for tlie New Zealand Exhibition season,. as promised. The formation work beyond, Broken river, which for two or three miles is of a very heavy . character, is well in hand. On tliis length there are six tunnels,, and headings are driven . through all tliem. ■Two. are in process of enlargement and one completed. Tlie contract f or, the steel bridge over Sloven's Creek was let to Mr G. M. Fraser in July last for a sum of £21,451. The date fixed for the completion of the work is March 11, 1909. Tlie expenditure on the Midland railway during the late financial year amounted to £129,649. For the current year a vote of £60,000 will be needed. ( Westport-Inangahua. — The formation on the first section of this railway between , Westport and Kahu, 5 miles and 60 chains, is approaohing completion. Last year's expenditure amounted to £8575. and for the current year a vote of £10,000 is asked for. Nghere-Blackball. — Expenditure last ; year was £11,596, and a vote of £15,000 is provided on the Estimates this year. Greyniouth-Poiht Elizabeth. — The above railway has been opened for traffic. An extension of about four -miles is now proposed, to open up some very fine coal scams tliat have been fully proved in : that locality. I propose to ask the House i to moke provision for the extension proi posed out of the State coal mines vote, i Hokitika.-Ross. — The first seven miles of this line l viz.. to Ruatapu, near Lake i Mahinapua, was opened to traffic on Noi ve-mber 9, 1906. Formation of the re- \ mainder of the line to Ross is nearly l completed, and the whole line would have l been finished and opened for traffic ere [ this had it not been for the very great • delay which has taken place in complei tion of tho totara bridges contract. The ; timber first delivered by the contractor • for these bridges was "condemned, and

great delay has taken place in supplying other satisfactory timber in its place. Last year's expenditure amounted to £21,628* and for the current year we propose a vote of £20,000. Culverden -Hanmer. — It was mentioned in last year's Statement that a good motor car service was proposed to be established between Culverden and Hanmer. The cars have now arrived, and are running between Culverden and Waiau river. Practically no expenditure came to charge against last years' vote, but the current year an appropriation of £4000 will be needed. O'tago Central.— The section between Chatto Creek and Alexandra was opened for traffic in December, and a further section to Clyde in April last. On completion of line to Clyde, construction works were discontinued, and it is not proposed to take any further .section, of this line in hand at present. To remove any doubt as to tlie best route for the extension of .the line when the time arrives to continue the construction operations, an examination of the country beyond has been made. Tbe expenditure on the Otago Central railway last' year amounted to £38,274, which, with the value of; permanent way materials issued *, brings the gross total expenditure on the line up to £1,270,918. For , the current year a vote of £10,000 is required to meet expenditure since Ist -April last. Lawrence-Roxburgh. — Considerable, pro,- 1 gress has been madle with the works on this line. The expenditure oh' the line last year amounted to £15,959, and for the current year £20,000 is proposed. k-Gore-Waikaka, construction.— This^ railway was authorised by the Waikaka Branch Railway Act, 1905, the GoreWaikaka Railway Finance Company hay-' ing offered to take up debentures to the amount of £50,000' for - the "* purpose of defraying the cost. The company did toot, however, actually provide the money until April last, and "a survey line was at once put in hand, and 1 construction works. speedily followed. The formation is of so 'easy a character that it will pro^ baibly. all be finished in a few months, and rail-laving is about to be b^egun. No vote for this line appears on the.Estimates, however, as the Authorising Act established a special account, : against which all expenditure is charged. 'OatKtts-Waimaha&a. — Lnst year's expenditure- on the railway- amounted to £18,145. but it is proposed to shortly increase the number of men employed and to, accelerate the rate "of progress. A vote of £40.000 'is therefore* proposed for the current year. Riversdale-S'witzers.— Out of last year's vote a sum of £3551 was expended, and for, the present year a vote of £8000 is asked for. Orepuke- Waiau.— The formation between Waihoaika and Te Tua, Z%.i miles, has been completed and rails laid, but no ballasting has yet been done. The expenditure last year amounted to £9955; and for the current year a vote of £20,---000 is proposed*. TOTAL APPROPRIATION. Total appropriation for railway con^ structions.— ln addition to the amounts already mentioned, a vote of £70,000 is proposed for permanent way material, £2000 for surveys of new lines, and £1000 for land claims* and other old liabilities on construction account. These items bring the total proposed appropriation, for railway construction purposes (exclusive- of the Waikaka branch Tailway account) up to £775,000. Tlii K is less than last year's vote, but, is still a very substantial sum, and its expenditure will add to our existing railway facilities. : V ,'V. Other railway works.— Tlie amount expended on additions to open lines during the year was £308,150. The bulk of this expenditure was on railway stock, and the l-emainder on essential works. To enable the Railway Department to deal efficiently with its business for the current year, a vote of £350,000 is required, under this head. : DUPLICATIONS. \ Butt line.— Considerable progress has been made in connection with the Hutt railway and road improvement, hot* withstanding the fact thait unforeseen difficulties occurred in connection with obtaining suitable rock for the. sea wall. The quarries at Pencarrow, from which the bulk of the stone is obtained, are capable of supplying- ample quantities of suitable material, but the transport of the same by water to the -works is affected by weather conditions. The line has already been duplicated for about four miles , extending from the Lower Hutt to Paparangi Point. A. further extension of the duplication to Ngahauranga will probably ' be opened during the present financinl year, and when this is done the formation of the main rood will be completed, and the metalling of same put in hand. The ; vote proposed foi; the current year is £70,000. V ; / Other lines. — Work has been carried out between Auckland and Penrose, Addington. and Rollestoh; and Dunedin and Mosgiel. In connection with the firstnamed work provision has , been/ made for the substitution of bridges in place of level crossings over all) public roads* and also for the reconstruction of the Parnell bridge, which has been designed to cross the road in one span, instead of three, as formerly. The duplication is making good progress, and with the exception perhaps of Parnell bridge, will be nearly completed by the end of the financial year. Very good progress has been made on the Addington-Rolleston duplication, the formation being already complete, so that platelay ing can be put in hand shortly. An imnortant part of the work is the re-modelling of the Addington junction station yards. This is an intricate undertaking, and a little time will be occupied in carrying- it out, but the work wilt" probably be completed' by about the end of the financial year. The Dunedin-Mosgiel duplication is also progressing favorably. The foundation and! abutment of the bridges between Dunedin and Caversham are completed, and contracts have been, let for the superstructures. A large amount of earthworks has been done, and a commencement with the- new Caversham tunnel is about to be made. A start will also shortly be made with formation works between Caversham and Mosgiel. The line will cross practically th^ "whole of the main roads between Dunedin ahdMorgiel by means of bridges, thus obviating the existing level crossings^, Tlie work is one of considerable magnitude, and cannot be completed within the current year. The total expenditure of the- Railways Improvement Authorisation Act account last year amounted: to £81,957. For the current year provision has been made on the Estimates to the extent of £200,000, namely, Auckland-Penrose £60,000, Ad-dington-Rolleston £40,000, Dunedin- 1 Mosgiel £100,000. I WELLINGTON-MANAWATU RAILWAY. As the North Island Main Trunk line is expected to be completed by the end of next year, it is desirable that the question of the purchase of the WellingtonManawatu railway sliould again receive attention, as if it is decided to purchase in terms of the Railway Construction and Land Act, 1881, it will be necessary to give twelve months' notice to the company. Such notice should, therefore, be given at an. early date if it. is to mature before the Main Trunk line is finished. Having given the matter very careful consideration, the Government lias decided to at onee give notice to the company of its intention to take over tho railway in twelve months' time. ' 1 UTILISATION OF WATER-POWER. In the last two or three Public Works , Statements considerable attention has been, devoted to this matter, and some valuable reports by the late Engineer-in-Chief and others have been presented to i Parliament. The importance of the proi posals outlined in these reports is undoubted, as is also the practicability of i the 'majority of the schemes outlined. Whether they, would all bet remunerative is, however, more open to question, though . I think there is not much doubt that some of them would be payable , from the start. All of the schemes, unfortunately, involve very considerable expenditure, the total of the proposals run- ; ning into several millions. The Government considers that the time for embarking on the (undertakings, which would almost amount to a fresh public works policy, has perhaps hardly yet arrived. As soon, however, as the expenditure on the North Island Main Trunk railway ceases, and the demands on the public works fund generally are less pressing, it would doubtless be advantageous to ■ take action in the matter of developing one or more of the most promising of the

schemes outlined. In the meantime it is proposed to lease some of the waterpower available for actual use by piivate enterprise. An amount of £4664 was expended out of last year's vote, and for the current vyear an appropriation of £2000 is proposed ; . IRRIGATION. On the Estimates provision is , made for a vote of £3000 on account of £100,---000 proposed to be provided for the purpose of irrigation and water supply in agricultural and mining districts. The vote is primarily for assisting in opening up and developing fresh lands for settlement in arid territory. The appropriation is included in the "lands improvement class," and the work will be under the control of the Minister of Lands. Some p'rdiminary* work in the shape of explorations and- surveys has already been* done, but during the approaching summer season it is hoped, to proceed with actual construction operations. PUBLIC BUILDINGS. The, total expenditure on .public buildings out of votes controlled by the "Minister for Public Works amounted during last year t0. £259,031. This* is in excess by over £70,000 of the previous year's figures; and by over £100,000 of the figures for- 1904-5. For the current year votes totalling £39,007" under the consolidated fund and £251,902 under the public works fund are proposed. This is in addition to substantial provision for school ' buildings' -under; the consolidated fund in the votes under the control of the . "Minister off Education.* - ;■*.■" The buildings under the head, of general are* increasing. yDuring 1905-6 the expenditure amounted to' £23,033 only, whereas last year £15,263 was expended, - and for the current year a vote of £30,000 is proposed; The principal items provided^ for in the proposed vote are the adritions to t tbe . Parliamentary Buildings and to .'* the departmental buildings in Auckland and Wellington, offices for the Geological and Health Departments in Wellington^ and for other. departments at. Westportj Greymouth, etc. ' (&urfe.- L The under this head .wasy hot- exceptionally heavy. The present year's vote provides for a new building' at Tolaga ' Bay. -■• Gaols : For the current year votes are provided for a hew building atjGisborne. Police stations : A vote is provided for a new .'Station, at Tolaga Bay, and additions at Waipiro. Post ;and: telegraph) : A very considerable amount of^' work was carried out for the past year, the expenditure- having amounted to £43,860. The items include new offices, at -Tuparoa and .Tokomaru Bay and additions at Whakatane. The vote proposed for the current year provides for new^ offices at Port Awanui', Nuhaka, J Wairoa, and Waipiro Bay, also for making a beginning with the new post office at Auckland, and with additions to the General Post .Office at Wellington. '"' • ' ' Mental hospitals.— -The principal outlay during the year was not so , much upon additions and accommodation as towards bringine the various requirements .up to ? date at Ghristchurch and Wellingr ton. - ■ f . ■.•--.'• V ' School buildings;— The total expenditure on -school buildings during last year was £95,835, ofwh'ich £86,376 was debited to revenue and £109,459 to the public works furid.- In addition to the vote under the consolidated, fund, an appropriation of £ibojoo0 Vis asked -for out of the public works fund to provide for school buildings generally, also buildings for Native and industrial schools/ reformatories, home for defectives,, the Jubilee Institute for the , Blind (Auckland), and the school for deaf mutes, also grants for providing technical schools and other buildings. y r Hospitals.— Under the -head of general hospitals there was an expenditure of £1Q;259 -for new buildings and improvements. During the year the Mangonui, and Stratford hospitals were finished, and. are now open. The new hospital at Masterton is nearly finished, as are also the new wards at Palmerston and Greymouth. The. new Westport, hospital will be opened shortly. Tbe vote for the current year is .to a large, extent a re : vote of the, unexpended balances'on last year's appropriation, put provides also for further additions at Riiweha, Coromahdel, Hokitika, also for St. Helen's hospital at Wellington, and the purchase of a property for a similar hospital at Dunedin, and for a small, new hospital for emergency, also for wards for special cases at each of the four centres.! V AGBIOyLTUREV The work* 'ddrie under this head last year was shialL The expenditure was principally in connection with the buildings at the pathological laboratory at Wallaceville and a residence at Hamilton for the inspector of stock. A> fruit fumigating shed: at Wellington, an office at Balclutha, and dairy produce grading : store at the Bluff* were also erected. For the. current year a vote of £3000. is proposed to provide additional ■ buildings at the experimental farms at Rualcura, Oarataki, and Weraroa, accommodation for cadets at Ruakura, also some further buildings at Wallaceville. Provision is also made for residences for the Inspectors of Stock at Te Kuiti, Te Puia, Gisborne, Waipukurau, and Seddon, and for offices at Gisborne,, Wairoa, New Ply* mouth; and Palmerston North, and additions to offices in Auckland. PUBLIC. The principal work carried out during "the year was the commencement of the new wharf ( at the quarantine station at Wellington. Payments were, also made to local authorities, at Auckland and Christchurch for the purpose of an infectious diseases hospital juid a sanatorium for consumptives respectively. ;A considerable vote is also proposed sunder the head of subsidies to local authorities on the cost of erecting infectious diseases hospitals and- «anatorium and annexes for consumptives. ROADS, BRIDGES, ETC. Now to refer to the important .question of roads, including bridges and other works. Unquestionably, roads are one of the most important factors concerned in the settlement of new lands, and their maintenance and improvements in districts where settlement has already taken place is also of great moment to-.. the persons concerned. It is true that the construction of railways has rendered immense areas of lands available for settlement --in comparatively small holdings which: otherwise could only have been profitably occupied in large areas as stock br sheep runs. But for closer settlement, which is what should* be aimed at, roads must be supplied, and ; as closer settlement involves a dense population and a greater output per acre, it means not only more miles of road, but" also, to carry the greater traffic, a better class of road than, was necessary when" the land was held in larger areas. Most cf the land now available for settlement is of a more or less broken or hilly nature, which* entails more circuitous roads, owing to gullies and ridges which have to be crossed, or along the sides of which the roads must be taken to obtain reasonable grades in hilly country. There is also usually more hard material to excavate and more culverts are required than on compara-. tively flat land. All the foregoing circumstances tend to increase the cost, per acre of reading the land. In view of the great necessity for roads and their maintenance, both in new and recently-settled lands, it is .proposed to provide as large a sum as possible this year for their construction and maintenance. The total amount of expenditure for the late year by the Roads Department upon road works, etc., was £415,037. The work was somewhat restricted owing to iabor being scarce, and to most of it ic-jng in places remote from supplies and civilisation , which renders the life of laborers more arduous than on similar work more conveniently . situated. Tlieref ore, as other work was plentiful, it was very difficult to obtain 'labor for the back blocks. The work done during the year was as under* 1 ;: Dray roads made, 637 miles; 'bridle roads made, 512 miles; bridle roads.mintained,- 1891 miles ; engineering surveys niade, 612_ miles ; dray bridges built over 30ft span 7800 lineal feet. The average number of men employed during the year on road work was 2392. The appropriations proposed for ;the current year are- as -follows: Roads Department, £20,850:' roads generally, £390,238; tourist roads, £27,463; loans to local bodies account, £50,000; total, £488,551. This amount of expenditure is in in addition to £25,000 voted for maintenance of roads on the consolidated fund estimates. N Roads on goldfields (Mines Department). The expenditure last year under this' head was £38,970. The sum proposed to be authorised for the current year is £77,621, on aocount of which a vote of £41,000 is proposed.

SUMMARY

The total proposed appropriations for road works (Roads Department), under the public works Esitmates is £488,551,Roads Department under consolidated fund £25,000, Mines Department £41,000; gross total proposed, £554,551. MINING INDUSTRY. The value of precious metals and minerals produced during the past year amounted to £3,871,811, being an increase of £249,025 compared with 1905, The export of gold was the highest for a period of 35 years, and silver showed a corresponding increase. During the past year 563,843 ounces of gold valued at £2,270,904 was exported, and 1,390,536 ounces of silver, valued at £143,572, these two items showing an increase of £199,---998 compared with the preceding year. The output of coal also shows . a substantial increase, 143,780 tons over 'that of 1905. Additional collerijßS will shortly be opened up at Greymouth and Westport at Hikurangi, while considerable developments are contemplated in connection wjth the State coal mine. The three diamond drills recently imported, with a boring capacity of 1000ft, 1500ft, and 2000ft respectively/ are now available for hire. Tlie amount expendedlast financial year on works for development. of goldfields wa6 £11,065. It is proposed to take a vote of £33,000 for the current year. Boring for petroleum still continues at New Plymouth and Lake Brunner, on the West Coast. The development of the oil industry is: a* matter of much consequence to the country, as if oil can be produced: in sufficient quantities , a^fd of suitable quality to. make the enterprise a commercial success^ the effect on the industrial life 'of the'^ Dominion would be very marked. TOURIST AND HEALTH RESORTS. The expenditure last year was £42,217> The new bath buildings at Rotorua absorbed. £10,568, and the- water, supply works at the same place £14,776. It is proposed to erept a new stone building; at Mount Cook, costing- between £8000 and £9000. The electric light plant at Rotorua has; been, overladen for some time, and tenders are. being called for the.necessary additions. Estimates for the current year* include £20,000 for a newy bath building at ; Rotorua, £4000 for-Rotoijua drainage^ and' £9ooo for Rotorua waterworks, which sums should complete these undertakings. ' Provision .is also made for the cost, of the TePuia; Hot Springs accommodation house, which was recently acquired. The gross amounV asked for is on account of which a vote of £32,000 is proposed. TELEGRAPH, EXTENSION: During the financial year.£ll4;o6B was expended in telegraph aqd telephone extension.New linies erected and, under erection .totalled no less than, 251 miles. Telegraph .offices' were ! opened at 146 townships, -Avhile V 2070 new subscribers were added to the telephone exchange system. It will thus* be seen that town aiid country alike received considerable benefit from the expenditure. The. sum asked for this yearyis £105,000. This includes £75, 11<5 on liabilities, principally for material nnder order. LIGHTHOUSES, Etc. •For the current year a vote of £2100 is proposed. This includes -provision for a lighthouse on Tuahine Point, near Gisborne. The - expenditure last year on harbor works amounted, to -£2963. Under the head of harbor defences the expenditure was small, haying amounted to £1511. A vote of £5000 is proposed for tlfe current year. / GROSS .APPROPRIATIONS. In additioA to votes already mentioned, the Estimates include the following charges : Public ' Works "■ Depaf tihent £21,000, immigration £10,000, purchase of Native -lands £7000, rates on Native lands £1000, contingent defence £10,000, lands improvement £17,500; thus bringing the total amount of the. proposed appropriations up to £2,106,951, against £2,352,889 last year. CONCLUSION. • The present rate of our '.public works expenditure, is undoubtedly high, but the continued and well-established prosperity of the Dominion fully justifies it. There are, indeed, many persons, and some members of Parliament amongst them, who would approve even a higher rate, but if oui* borrowing for public works purposes is to be limited to one million per annum, it is impossible to do more than we are doing. I claim that the y proposals submitted to the House are of a thoroughly progressive nature, and at the. same time ares fair .and equitable as, regards their distribution. The needs 0 f eaaßi'and every part . of the 'country have been ';. cai-er fuUycohsidefed, arid it will, I think, be conceded that an n^nest effort has been maide to a.pportio|i the funds available with even-handed justice and in the best interests of the people as a whole.