PUBLIC WORM STATEMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 202, 29 September 1900, Page 2

PUBLIC WORM STATEMENT.

|BI TEI.Eai.APH.] - WKLLivaTrtf, September 28. !* Fublio Works Statement delivered 1 by the Hon. W. Hall-Jones, Minister * for Public Works. 28th September. 1900.

Mr. Speaker.—lt is again ay platting duty to report that satisfactory progress has been made with various forks in hand. Since my last Statement was delivered 8| miles ef railway have been opened for trsffio tad M miles of new work have bean put is hand, making a total of 133 miles bow under construction. Details of work done on each line during the year will be givon further on. With regard to tho current year it may be assured that there is a general desire that the prosecution of our publie works, atpecially main trunk railways and roada to back blocks, shall be carried onmora vigorously than has been the out afoot 1687. While it is recognised that the progress of land settlement and the great development of the resources of the colony during the past few yean require gaeater progress in Railway construetion and road formation, the Government are of opinion that it weald be ietrimental to the best interest* of the oolony to enter upon a large borrowing policy, which would lead to a considerable influx of labour. Careful administration and a strict guard upon the publio purse have removed every sign of depression, and this position must be maintained. The time, however, hat arrived when the Government feel justified in carrying on more exptdititiously the main arterial—the North Island Main Trunk, the Blenheim, Waipara, Midland, and Otago Central railways. Numerous petitions have ,g )fon presented to the House praying *> for the early completion of ths Nora Island Main Trunk railway. Apart from its strategic value, the progress ef settlement, the opening up of large areas of valuable timber, and the necessity for railway communication between Auckland snd Wellington, fill point to the advisability of this great •indertaking being oompleted within % reasonable time. Prudence dictates Hiat the proper oeurse is to carry M the work vigorously at each end, and is soon as the formation it ready, to at once lay the permanent way, se that -• ouch mile when complete! may be utilised. If this is done there itu nothing to prevent the rail* being connected but ween Auckland and Wellington within four years. There are other works in progress of almost equaT***" importance for which fair provision must bo made. It is impossible to take any but the more urgent ones into consideration at present.

MQHT HAILWAYS. There it an urgent necessity for opening up our colony by convenient and regular means of communication, so as to enable our Bturdy*settlers to more advantageously compete with other oountries in the markets of the) world. This induoes me to again re- S vert to the question of light lines of « railway. In many parts of the colony, especially in the North Island, the scarcity of road metal and heavy oast of cartage where expensive roeds have to be formed and maintained, is a sever* tax upon settlers, upon local bodies, and upon the colony. Sj serious has this become that in many districts roads are praotically impassable daring the winter months. Again, it mut bo borne in mind that a great deal of our magnificent scenery is not approachable by the majority of tourist* owing to tfc* absence of convenient means of access, and this, too, in districts where then A are a number of settlers. If, at f a comparatively small oust, light ,?■ lines are constructed to the soon % important points they will opm up this scenery for the travel* ling public, and at the same sum ntovide for facilities for our settlers sal further assist in developing oar resources. The best and most economical

counte is in certain districts to eon-

I struct narrow gauge railway*, ru,, 2 ; hot. For main lines, and, where traffio would rapidly develop, the present S [ feet (! inches in gauge should be adhered to. In an easy oeuntry when it is nearly level and the formation of earth wot k is of an inexpensive nature, the present guugo should not be departed from. The cost of construotiem upon the present gauge could be reiduced 20 per cent, by using lighter rails, fewer sleepers, and bridges of a lighter standard than at present. This would nootesitate lighter rolling stock aud lets weighty I trains. Whether as branch lines for opening up hew country, as feeder* to

main line, or as steam tramways, a 2ft. eauge will bout moot what is required. Such lines can be conttruoted expedite, iy atid i<co-;ouuc&i]y. Trains runmi.; alongtida settlers

liolJinwH would Jiisuro the conveyance of juiiJ-jC' mul stores by railway, Hub-

jnc; to i .10 conditions above mentioned •)k< cost of ii aft. railway, exciu.i'/o of roiiicg mti .-a, should be: 1. In i.n easy coui { .i'y,i._ooo ]>or mile' 2 In i niudiiiui county, £3OOO 3. In a ih';.--u-t d.'.:ntry, £4600 per miic, j ..;1k iiui ]■< .por -included. The ,<■,->HMxHtura l.i-t y-i-.v amountol to ■!-• ,1.-':t. 0,,. t f,.r M ♦heoi-dofifct ' ■' '-''' '■'■ ' ■ l ' •'. '"" , iiitani «Mim".ti <: v, i> y-. i :). a i'nu-% tbi, •,

icg to jE494,895. It ia now proposed to provide additional funds as under: The new loan of £1,000,000, to be Jbanafernd from revenue £500,000, ; Tn»M»e altogether (after deducting the v. liabilities) a total of available wave and meant of £1,844,854. The estimates of the expenditure for the current « year totals £1,938.369 (in addition to £49,000 under thte Government Loans to Local Bodies Account), thus leaving an unallocated balance of ways and means for publio works' purposes of £401,380. . The total public works expenditure in the following table shows the total expenditure out of the Public Works Fund on all works and services throughout the colony up to the 31st December, 1890, and also up to the • 31st March last : CLASS, t OFWOEKS. BXPUNDITUKB. Total to Jan. 1, Total to : Dec. 31, 1891, to Mch. 31, 1890. Mch. 31, 1900. 1900. ■ Bailways,in- £ £ £ eluding a.0.1.14,067,100 2,383,203 16,450,303 •Roads 3,575,804 1,672,354 5,245,158 Public bldngs 1,776,003 612,283 2,358,256 Immigration 2,144,386 3,119 2,147,505 Purchase o£ Native Lands 1,191,137 745,145 1,936,282 Light-houses, harbor works, „ defences 880,095 79,000 959.096 Telegraph extension. 600,849 255,208 856,057 ( Development ; of gold fields 561,101 709,345 670.146 - Defnce works « (general) 429,720 82,590 512,310 Departmental 349,789 96,595 446,384 Minor works & services-... 300,689 6,799 307,488 Cost and discount of raising loans, &c 1,021,472 34,839 1,056,311 TOTALS ...26,898,145 6,080,481 32,978,626 RAILWAYS ÜBDEB CONSTaUCTIOIf. Railways on which construction operations were in process last year were largely the same as during the previous year. New works have been started at Kawakawa, Faeroa, 6isborne, Waipara, Oatlins, and Orepuki, so that the expenditure, at any rate during the latter portion of the year was somewhat in excess of that of the previous year. Dealing with the north of Auckland lines, the vote proposed for the current year is £15,000, and for the Paeroa-Waihi £12,000. Gisborne-Karaka.—This is another of the new lines authorised last year. , The first section, ten miles in length, is already fit for rail-laying. North Island Main Trunk Line.— The works on the Ohinemoa section have been steadily proceeded with, and have been extended as far as the proposed Kawakawa station, a distance of sixty miles from Te Awamutu and 160 miles from Auckland. Every endeavour is being made to push these works on as rapidly as possible. They are, however, of a heavy character, and much of the ground is of an exceedingly treacherous nature, so that really u rapid progress is impossible. All that can be done is being done however, and nearly five miles of line, as far as Waimiha station, is expected to be ready for rail laying by Christmas. The divided public opinion in the north as to the route by which this railway should be constructed has greatly retarded the work in the past. The central route having now been finally decided upon, the works southward of Kawakawa will be expeditiously proceeded with, the configuration of the country to be traversed admitting of this being done. The works as far as Kawakawa are already fully manned, there being at the present time about 350 men at work on that section. A contract is also being prepared for the -Jthree bridges over the Ongaruhe river, and another for the Wanganui bridge at Taumaranui at the southern end of the line. The grading now extends to Paengaroa, a distance of over 28 miles from the terminus of the opened line at Mangaonoho, and over 50 miles from the-junction with the main west coast railway at Marton, and instructions have been issued for the work on the Turangarere section to be taken it hand, This section is for the most

part at a distance from the main road, bo that a service road will have to be constructed along the greater part of it. This road will be put in hand immediately, in order that the materials required for the culverts and other works may be carted over it during the summer. When the formation of the Turangarere section is well advanced a further section will be put in hand. Work at the Makohine viaduct has

been pushed forward as rapidly as possible throughout the year. The work of preparing the iron and steel for erection is now drawing towards completion. The larger of the two main piers is already erected to its full height, and the other is in hand. As won as this pier is completed the erection of the staging to carry the superstructure will be begun, the superstructure itself follswing on as soon as I the staging to support it is ready. As ' announced in my statement last year .the Department does not intend to ' await the completion of this viaduct 'before proceeding with the pktelaying beyond it. The sleepsrs required are being obtained in the district, and a large proportion of them are already ■ ' stacked along the line. Arrangements will be made for the conveyance of the rails from the Mangaonoho station to the flat ground beyond the viaduct, so that by the time the viaduct is finished plate laying and ballasting as far as the Mangaweka will also be completed, and the railway can then be opened for public traffic without further delay. Iron and steel for the Mangaweka viaduct was ordered some months ago, and a portion of it is expected shortly. The work of preparing it for use in the structure will be undertaken at the Mikohine workshops directly tht similar work is finished, and as thlf viiduct is of a much simpler character thin the one at Makchine, speedy pro gress is expected to ba icacc mib • t Several of the on C;o 2lar.i witu section are still ineoinplcK, d;i all are well in hand, and tho.a ck s? • to the yard art; being proceeded wi!. ; ODntir.uously throughout tha _wh;--l twenty-hour houis oT tiia day v/itb i :- liys of workman. L'isS year's vote L railway was £70,000 ; this yc» wo ask for £130,000, bci:ig aninercai of £60,000. This sua will ens ok th work to bo extended tbifc tiie <'W. twn botweet ••YoijicstonMKi Auckno % Will be com™** -t w.thi- fcr-ir ycao. •'- 7 lw ;-;?.,-''-ei ; W *)■■} -Uvrafi^

1 of constructing light railways where : the cost of road construction is heavy. 3 The Ohura Road (better known in , Taranaki as the East Boad) comes i within this category. For a distance I of 47 miles between Stratford and i Whangamomona the country is fairly t settled and for several miles a light ) railway could be constructed on the i road formation. It is therefore pro- ; poEe-1 to construct a line along er near 1 to the Ohura Road from a point near E Stratford in the direction of Kawakawa - on the Main Trunk line. This line 3 will afford a great relief to the settlers 3 in that district in addition to forming 3 part of the desired connection between b Auckland and Taranaki, and will, I i believe, return interest upon the cost of constructions as soon as the first twenty miles are open for traffic. A sum of £IO,OOO is asked for to enable this line to be commenced. Rimutaka Deviation.—The detailed survey promised in my last Statement has since been put in > hand, and it is still in progress. We j asked for £2OOO this year, which is > probably as much as will be required, ' as until construction of the works are put in hand, no considerable expenditure will be needed. Blenheim-Waipara.—The works at 1 the northern end of this railway have , proceeded very satisfactorily. The line between Blenheim and Dumgree is ! practically completed, and settler's goods and produce are already being 1 conveyed over it. The railway ought 1 to be ready for traffic to Seddon before ) next session. The total vote for thiß railway last year amounted to £21,000, this year £50,000 is proposed. Otago Central.—The section of this ; railway between Ranfurly and Wedder- - burn was opened for traffic on Ist June last. Formation work on the Wedder-burn-Ida Valley section has been . vigorously pushed forward. The line is expected to be ready for traffic to Ida Valley early next year, to Blackstone Hill by the end of June, and further sections to Alexandra will, I , hope, in three years. The vote for this , railway last year was £60,000, this , year we ask for £IOO,OOO. , Heriot Extension.—lt is considered . advisable to proceed with this work. . Last years' vote was not expended, but this year an appropriation of £SOOO is . proposed. Oatlins River-Seaward Bush.—Work on the Oatlins River end of this rail- ' way was resumed in June last, and is now well in hand at the Seaward Bush , end of the line. The survey te TekoI nui is in progress and nearly completed, and construction work will be resumed j shortly. Last year's vote for this ) railway was £12,000, and a similar . amount is proposed for a ourrent year. , Riversdale-Switzsra. The branch line from Riversdale to Switzers was , authorised many years ago and partly r constructed, but the bridge over the , Mataura River was never built, and it 1 is proposed to take it in hand. A vote B of £IOOO is asked for this work. , Forest Hill.—This branch of railway j has been finished and handed over to i the Department. j Orepuki-Waiau.—Survey wasstarted I , as early as possible after the line wasj authorised. Last year's vote of £6OOO, 3 proved to be in excess of requirements, | f but this year a vote of £12,000 is

asked for. Midland.—Construction worksat the Greymouth end of the line, between Jacksons and Otira, is completed, and goods trains have been run since December last. Plans for the Patersons' Creek viaduct have been completed, and those for the Staircase Gully viaduct are in hand, A committee of engineers was appointed to inquire and report whether it was not possible to obtain a reasonable fht grade line at moderate cost, the engineers, Messrs. Napier Bell, W. H. Hales Coom, and P. S. Hay, advise the construction of a gradient of 1 in 37. Such a line would involve a tunnel of 6 miles ten chains long under the range, The cost of the line between Otira and Bealey, taking into consideration the annual cost of ; working, is estimated to be less than

the co3t of the steep grade incline line, while the tunnel line will shorten the distance by a mile and a-half. The vote for the construction of the Midland Railway last year was £60,000, but this year £IOO,OOO is asked for. , TOTAL APPROPBIATIONS FOE RAILWAYS, In addition to the appropriations already mention, a vote of £2,000 is provided to meet old land claims and other liabilities of railways in respßct of which no specific votes are taken, £3,500 Jfor surveys of new lines and £76,000 for permanent way, etc., making the total £559,500. Wellington Manawatu Railway.—As members are aware if the colony were to take over the railway under the original agreement it could only do sc by payiog an additional ten percent, oi the cost of construction. Some tim< ago Mr. Wethered a representative oi a large number of shareholders inter viewed the Premier and Colonia Treasurer in reference to intentions o:

the Govei'nment. The Premier said it was clear that the possibility of the Government taking over the line was very remote, but that Ministers were prepared to consider any proposa's which would give a fair rate of interest upon the capital subscribed by the I shareholders, the amount received by way of dividends to be taken into consideration, and the Company's debeni tures to be taken over. Under such an ; arrangement the Company would hand . ovar to the eoiony the fully equipped railway, the lands and all its other '. assets, The directors submitted pro-

posals on this basis. This is the situa- ' tiou at the present time, The proI posals are now under consideration and i require to be gone into very careful'v. ~ It. is intended to introduce a measure , empowering the Government to enter r into negotiations on the lines men- . tioneel, and to take the necessary . i p.:-,»e:-» to enable the negotiations for . d.!; j.ui.ihd.'.u of the railway to be prov. iti:, 3u.Ji purcaaie not to bs sill ti.e terms are approved -, i by I'mAumim, nert session.g j K0.03, STC. . j fixidd iCI o'Jior wonks under the t;WJo! o f the Minister of Lands.— , 1:-uki-i.j; the psst ye« works uxecuflfcc ~ j.-oh. )e ".* o cjoshruotiui!'.■!' 581 uife / rj driy ru.id.,, i.nd 3-J.'J ;uil.-s of jjirinrrM iv.-.c'';.-: 85 ri'i'.ns of >i-.iv '■"> r \: r-A •'■-.. ?;: ■■■'. 'lt-..'..', u !i.;.« -f ivi/i i«:.:iitn»iiio< am .;•;■: *■ L. ■-.vd ■■■■<■ ■■■- !■■»' '■■)•■•>'.•■«'->■ St("•■"•. " :.s.w-s r-VVh '-W= HU'-lii i J/ •■»' : \ i'i/U'/ii

over 30ft. span each, besides over 3000 culverts of all sizes under 30ft. span. The distribution of the expenditure was largely in favour of the North Island —the amounts being, North Island £200,809, and for the Middle and Stewart Island £67,906. The principle operations of. the year have been: —ln Auckland, roiding of country between Te Awamutu and'Kawhia selected during the past year, the Completion of formation of the Awakine-Te Kuiti Road, the further proieeotion of lighting and drainage works at Rotorua, and the embellishment of the recreation grounds. The road through the Urewera country has been further advanced, and the road to thelake from Gisbornefinished. A large number of short roads north of ; Auckland have received contributions : in assistance to settlement, and the Main North Road from Auckland by the East Coast has been practically 1 wholly maintained by the Government. 1 In Hawke's Bay the new road from 1 Napier to Wairoa and from Wairoa < via Mahaka to Gisborne has been i advanced. The extensive area of forest land disposed of near Dannevirke has also required large expenditure to make it accessible to settlers. In Taranaki the Ohura Road, to open for settlement , the country between Stratford and the j Waikato.has been advanced eo far that j there is hope that a passable track may . becompleted this year. The close settle- j ments east and west of it have also been j further developed by improving and extending their roads or subsidising j loans raised by the local adthorities. Ia Otago and Southland the Tautaku J forest country, the Seaward forest and ( the Longwood forest, where settlers are located, have had the roads ex- ( tended and improved, although they they are still capable of much further j improvement. The tourist routes to the picturesque West Coast Sounds have been further explored and made ° more passable, comfortable and efficient. , Good steamers hew run on Lakes Te J Anau and Manapouri, and a track from Te Anau to Milford has been so ad- ( vanoed that it may be completed this season. The necessity for Government f aid in maintenance of main roads in f thinly-peopled districts exists, and is ( also evident in many of the main roads . ' which are not arterial, and must be . greatly assisted if they are to continue j fit to carry the traffic, whiche must pass

over them. In order to provide for settlement, including the vote for reads op goldfields, an amount of £500,000 will be required for new works and to meet present engagements. The C works embrace first the maintenance of main lines of roads in the two Islands, and this alone requires £IOO,OOO for such roads, which musk be maintained. They are the reads from Botorua to Gisborne, from Te Kuiti to New Plymouth, Tauranga via Rotorua to Napier, , from Taupo to Hunterville, Waoru to Pipiriki, Gisborne to Napier, Danna- J virke to Eketahuna, Porongoa to Pahia- ' fcua, Mastarton to East Ooasfc, Feilding to Mangaweka. There are also many local roads whioh require assistance, ,: these are partially provided for on the 1 Estimates, and the new settlement in fl Taranaki demands more batter roads, „ The determination of the Midland j Railway contract restores to settlement , thousands of acre) of very good land, ( and the settlers will require roads. , EOADB ON GOLDFIELDS. i The vote last year amounted to i £72,700, and the expenditure to i £48,039, while the liabilities at tho I and of the year amounted to £46,821. i The sum proposed for the current year I is £107,262, on which a vota of £BO,OOO is asked for. In the Financial Statement, the Treasurer mentioned that out of a £1,000,000 loan £150,000 weuld be required for construction of roads in back blocks, these roads are a* the life blood to the settlers. After the session, the Minister of Lands will make it his special business to visit blackblocks and look into requirements of settlers. The value of gold entered for export for the year 1899, was 1,513,173, being the greatest for the past 23 years, and it is expected that owing to the increased number of dredges at work the yield will be maintained for the present year. Ths quantity of gold and silver entered at the Customs for export during the year, 31st December, 1899, was 389,5880zs of gold and 349,3380zs of silver, as compared with ; 280,1750zs of gold and 293,8510zs of | silver. If the dredging of alluvial flats is to continue, large sums will have to be " provided for compensation. The amount i expended last financial year on works 1 for the goldfields was £21,815, while the liabilities amounted to £5375, and it is proposed to take a vote of £45,000 1 for the current year. TELEGRAPH EXTENSION. , The expenditure during the year ! under this head was £26,771, which 31 includes £ 11,842 for additions to existf ing exchanges and new ones. The new . exchanges were Eltham, Inglewood,

Manaia, Marton, Waitara, Feilding, ; Hawera, Stratford, and Palmerston. South trunk wires connec'ing tha following exchanges have been erected : Hawera—Manaia, B : tham—Stratford, Stratford—New Plymouth, Waitara--New Plymouth, and Palmerston— Dunedin. The total number of subscribers to all exchanges at the end | of the year was 7150. The votM asked for this year is £38,700. Expenditure on public building* 1 at year showed an increase on the previous yew. The increase is partly due to the speedy settlement in the country districts rendering increase in ihe number of post officep, court hous'-s, etc., absolutely necessary. Toe appropriations for the current year amount to £219,930. CBURTHOUSES. New Courthouses have been erected , or are in course of erection at Eketnhuoa, Dunedin, and Bluff, PRINCIPAL WORKS. Works provided for this year sm: —Continuation of operations on :;cw » law courts at Dunedin, now court, n* I Wellington, courthouses at Wuihi, T« iwarautu, Opunoke, Manga-.vukn, <;oilingwood, Hampden, and Goto, i new quarters are provided for ':■{■) !Opunako, Manaia, and Nonuanby, Ko ,v | Plymouth, Nelson, Westport, limnr;,. Qaeenstown, ami Bluff, and r'o;.' 'Mr purchase of laud at iiaiapoi, uddiii':;v as iQfflottGOil, iiawara, and vVaveiii;;/. -J rO'ST AND TEfJ.ilP.Aril. i i| Th:':" yei' provision !■•> reach for :-.?w l-jSk-f. -t TugleTiod, Opurw'-e, Wntj-

I) for additions at New Plymouth, Hawera, I i. and Palmerston. J LUNATIC ASYLUMS. j The expenditure on new works last 3 year was almost the same as the preB vious year, viz., £17,712 against j .£17,667. The principal expenditure j was with the Porirua asylum, £\ 1,096. j Other • items' do not call for special f mention. j SBHOOLS. The amount voted for school buiid- - ings last year was £81,700, namely f £25,000 under Consolidated Fund and i £59,700 under Public Works Fund. j The expenditure amounted to £74,257, 3 namely, £25,000 under the former and . £49,257 under the latter fund. This f year we ask for a total vote of £80,555. 5 namely, £25,000 under Consolidated s Fund and £55,555 under Public Works ' Fund, As hon. members are aware, ' the bulk of this money is entrusted to . the seyeral education boards for disi tribution, The only works directly i controlled by the Government being i industrial and native schools, etc. ' LIGHTHOUSES, HARBOUR WORKS ABD ! HARBOUR DEFENCES. ! Expenditure on harbour works was [ trilling in amount, being only £365. ' This year a much larger expenditure ' is provided for the principal items fol- \ lowing: New wharves at Maungaturoto, Manukau, Mokau, Karamea, Bruce Bay, and Okuru; snagging the ' Mokau, Manawatu, and Little WaDganui Rivers, etc., etc. The vote for ' harbour defences last year was £IO,OOO. A large amount of work is required ' this year, including the construction of a Hew battery at Wellington, and also some very necessary works of importance in connection with your chief coal ports. The vote proposed for the current year was £20,000. Last year'b vote for contingent defence was 1 £40,000, which was, however, slightly exceeded, the -total bning £42,810. This year a vote of £IOO,OOO is provided for. In conclusion, hon. members may rest assured that the allocation of the money for the various 1 works has received most careful consideration, and while there may be 1 some disappointment with regard to the amount set down for particular works, 1 lam confident that it will be admitted ' that the allocation has been made on a 1 fair basis and with a view to promoting 1 the best interests- of the colony.