PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXX, Issue 12002, 20 October 1906, Page 2

PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT.

» WELLINGTON, October 20. Followiug is an abridgement of the public Works Statement, delivered in the House last evening by the Hon. \V. HallJoues : — Mr Speaker, — I have the honour to present the honourable members my eleventh Public Works Statement together with the estimates of amounts required for the effective prosecution of works during the current year. Notwithstanding the unfavourable weather experienced and the scarcity of labour during the summer months, good progress has been made with the several works in hand. I'ne more important undertakings I refer ,to in detail later on, but with respect to railway construction generally, I am pleased to say that we are nearing a time when the expenditure thereon can be concentrated upon the most urgent works, thus ensuring greater expenditure in completion than when a large number of works are under constuction, and the money available is limited. TOTAL EXPENDITURE. The expenditure during the laat financial year was considerably in excess of that of the previous year. The following figures show the expenditure tor the late financial year. Class of work: Railways. New construction, year ended 31st March, 1906, ,£681,3600; additions to open lines, <£:*0],044; utilisation of water power, £2,902; roads, 0t'351,2()4; publicbuildings, £163.312 ; immigration, £8.75:1; purchase of native lands, i;^:J,777; lighthouses, harbour works, and" harbour defences, A' 4,946; tourist and health hesort.s. ,£13,888; telegraph extension, .£77,186, development of goldfields, .£18,533; defence works (general), X' 35,569; departmental, .£13,517; payment to Midland Railway bondholders, nil ; minor works and services, JE1.599; cost ari*J discount for raising loans, etc., £235; total. £1721,£825. Paeroa-Waihi Railway account, £8,862; grand total, .£1,730.687. . WAYS AND JkIEAXS. At the 31st March, 1903, the available balance of ways and mean» ior public works purposed was £861,670, and further funds were received as under. — Ualancc of . .£1,000.000 raised under the Act ot 11)04, .£32,y.57 ; amount raised under the Act of 1905, £217.914; to ! movide lor debentures tailing due, £265,300; traiihl'euvd from revenue, .£500,000; miKcell.UK'ous rec-eiptn, £2,679;; making a grosb total of £2,48i ),500. The ordinary expenditure of the year amounted to £1.722,590. In addition to tin-,, debentures to the amount of £ 116.30 v) wore paid off, others to the amount of £149,000 were renewed, and ut-t charges and expenses in. connection with financing amounted to; i^ll, thus ■Hinging tho total disbursements up to £1,988,201, leaving a credit balance at the end ot the year of £492,299. Tor the current year, it is proposed to provide additional funds as under: — Balance ot 1903 louu t\82.(l8(i; Jiew loan ol 1906, £1.000,000; transfer fioni Consolidated Fund, £775,000. This will give a total available for ways and means ol £2,4t9,355. The estimated expenditure for public works lor the current year (excluding separate accounts having their own way* and means) amounts to £2,284,558. thus leaving a balance of £164,827 to be carried forward to uext year. RAILWAYS. Last year was a busy one as regards most descriptions of public works, but especially so as regards railway construction, the expenditure on new railway works having amounted to £6,702,212, which is the largest amount expended on work of that class during any year since 1881. In addition to this, the following sums were expended by the Railway Department on railway""fmprovenient works: — Additions to open lines, £351.054; Hutt railway and road improvement account, .£44,739; Railways Improvements Authorisation. Act account. £8,566, making a grand total expenditure on railway works of £1.074,570. Dining the year thirty-one miles and a half of railways were opened for traffic, and the work of construction throughout the colony was vigorously proceeded with. I will now reier more in detail to the different lines that have been in hand, and the. proposals of the Government with regard to each for the current year. Ka-wakawa-Grahamstown. — At the northern end of this railway, nearly eight miles

of rails are laid, and goods trains are run over this length as occasion re<iuiie«. 1 onnation woiks are in hand for about another three mile-, and are well advanced. A vote ot £20.000 is provided on the Estimates for the current yc.ir. llelensville Northwards. — Good progress has been made on this line. Last year the expenditure on this railway amounted to £24,318, and for tlic- cm 1 cut year I am asking tor a vote ot £50,000. Gisboine-Rotorua. — The formation is now complete to the east end of the tunnel beyond Karaka. The heading- ot this tunnel, which is 283 yards long, was piereced last month, and the eula'g- ' ing to full size and the lining will be completed by Christmas. The formation beyond the tunnel is in hand to five miles and a half. Tenders for the large bridge over the Waikolm River will shortly be invited. I fear the construction of the railway beyond Motu will be very co&tly. llie distance from Gisborne to Opotiki by the railway survey would be about eightyfive miles, the summit of tlie line being 1964 feet above sea level. It is intended to undertake further exploration surveys to see if it is possible to procure a more favourable route. Last year's expenditure on the railway amounted to £16,711, and for the current year, a vote of £20,000 is proposed. New Plymouth-Sentry Hill deviation. — This line is being constructed to improve the grade near New Plymouth. The deviation leaves the existing line immediately Avest of the AYaiwakaiho River, crosses the Henui Stream, and runs thence between Duller and Molesworth -erects to the Reclaimed Land at New Plymouth Station, aud joins the existing line at the platform. No expenditure, came to the charge against last year's vote, but a considerable sum lias already been spent this yjear, and a vote of £30.000 is asked for. Stratford-Ongarue. — The formation works on Iluiroa section have been sir-adi-ly proceeded with, and have been f-. ished for more than half the lenif.h. Tl.o laying of permanent way >viil be siartfd shortly. For the current year a \'ote of £20,000 is proposed. Mount Kkjmont Section. — The first section of this line is six miles and 2 chins long, and the whole of the formation on this length has been completed, ihe rails laid, and a portion of the ballasting done. I The remainder of the ballasting will stand over until crushed stone is available. The site for the stone crushing yard has been cleared of bush, also the site for the houses for employees, etc. The excavation for the lines of sidings has been completed, the foundations for stonecrnshers 1 commenced, and the stoncrushers delivered on the site.. The stone crushing plant is to be operated by water pow6r, and a large amount of work in connection with this has also been done, such as the construction of a dam in the Manganui River, sand trap inlet, and outlet tunnels to latter, and Jthe excavation of a pipe line from the "sand trap to the crushing yard. A contract has been let for the supply of 3,000 feet of steel pipe. 22 inches in diameter, and the whole of this has now been delivered. An engine shed,' water tanks, and coal store, and five cottages for employees have been built at Waipuku, wher.4 the branch joins the main line. It is expected that the railway and stouecrushing plant will be available for regular working early next year, when operations be commenced by dealing with the largo quantity of boulders to be found in" the Manganui Diver and adjacent thereto. This supply is not, however, expected to prove a permanent one, so that when further stone is needed it will be necessary to undertake the construction of the' upper sections of the line, which has already been surveyed. The expenditure on this railway last year was £10,248, and for the current year ,1 vote of £15,000 is a&ked. The Opunake Branch. — Strong representations havinsj been made to the Government in favour of the construction of a branch line to connect Opunake with the main line between "Wellington and New Plymouth, a trial survey was put in hand in the early part of last year. As considerable difference of opinion existed as to the best point for the branch to join the main line three different routes have been surveyed, which has prolonged the work considerably. In any case, in view of the largo expenditure which is at present taking place in connection with the North Island Main Trunk and other railways, the Government is unable to see its way lo recommend Parliament to take in hand the construction of this railway at present. NORTH ISLAND MAIN TRUNK. A large amount of work has been done on this railway during the past year, the expediture — £220,579 — having been nearly double that of the previous year, and a record for any year since the works were commenced. More work still would have been done, but lor the exceptionally bad weather experienced in the interior during last summer, when the quite unusual rainfall had the effect of keeping the roads in an almost impassable condition, and greatly retarded the progress ot the work. At the north end the railhead was advanced to Oio, and platelaying is now in progress between that' point and Raurimu — 1981 miles from Auckland. The iormation work, including the ox'•avalion ot two tunnels between Raurimu and Makatote, is being vigorously proceeded with, nearly a thousand men beins; employed upon this section, and substantial progrc&-> is being made. The contract for the Makatote viaduct, as announced* in my last statement, was let to Messrs J. and A. Anderson, ot Christchurch, in June, 1905, the stipulated date for the completion ot the structure being the 15th June, 1907. The contractors have erected a very tine workshop ior the manufacture of the steelwork, which is now in full swing, and considerable work has also been done on the foundations for the structure. More than half the contract time has expired, however, and much less than half the work has been done. Arrangements are being made so that the formation work, as far as the Viaduct, may bo finished by the time the structure is completed, and also the mile of line between Makatote and Manganui o te Ao, so that as soon as it is practicable to lay the rails across the Makatote ravine the railhead can be advanced to Man•janui—2l4 miles from Auckland, and 212 miles from Wellington. A contract ior the Manganui o te Ao Viaduct and. some other work was let to Messrs .1. and A. Anderson in July last, the amount 1 being £8,840, and the stipulated date for completion, the 7th February, 1908. In October, 1905, arrangements were made to commence work on a central section with Mr J. J. Hay, M.A., as resident engineer in charge of same, and stationed at Ohakune. A • good deal of work on this length has since been done, the whole of the bush having been felled, and a good start made with the earthwork. Much more would have been done but for the unfavourable weather that has been experienced, this section having been particularly affected by the weather conditions owing to its being an inland one and approachable only by road. The number of men employed on the section is now over six hundred, and arrangements are being made to materially increase the number. At the southern ond ,the section between Taihape and Mataroa has been opened for goods traffic and tho station buildings at the latter

township have beeu I ' completed, also the Mataroa tunnel. The formation has been completed lietwecn Mataroa and Turangareie, including the Turangarere tunnel and tlie Hdiitapu liiicige No. 2, and tho rails now extend to lurungare, 177 miles horn. Wellington. AH supplies tor the section beyond Turaugarere can now be railed up to that point, and as the* road from there onwards lias Jess local traffic, ys well a^, having been partially 11 ©tailed it is in better condition, and more easy to maintain than the 'laihape-'lurangarere road, so that better progress should be made in the future. e\on"il unfavourable weather is experienced. The formation works between I'urangarere and the commencement of the central section are very actively in hand, nine hundred men being employed at the south end of the liiie. The present position of the works may >c summed up thus:, Total distance fr»ua Auckland to Wellington, 426 miles; already constructed and open for daily passenger and goods traffic, 335 wiles; rails laid on a further 37 miles; formation practically completed 011 a further 8 miles, and in hand' on a fmvuer 8 miles; iiutouchcd (except that the bush has been felled) 13 mile's; total, 426 miles. Most of the untouched portion is left untouched merely because ,the Avorks upon it are of an easy and unimportant character, and can readily be finished by the time the heavier work now in hand can be done. Probably all the earthworks will be finished as soon as the large Viaducts arc ready, so, that on the completion of these structures really depends the date of the opening of tho niilway ior through traffic. The (contract time for the completion of the last of the viaducts expires in February, 1908. so that I can confirm my previous prediction that the rails between Auckland and Wellington will be connected by the end of that year. Uesides the operations on the railway, a very laige amount of work ha& been done in connection with the roads giving access thereto, as. without these latter the formation vyn-ks on the line could not have been proceeded with. In addition to the branch roads connecting with the main roads, where such existed, a service road has been constructed alongside the line, as nearly as possible, practically throughout its eiitiic length. Every effort is being made to put this road between the rail heads at the northern and southern ends into practicable order for the summer coach traffic. The railheads are now about 54 miles apart, but this distance is decreasing month by month, aud will be materially reduced before next winter. The expenditure on the line last year, exclusive of the value of permanent way materials supplied, was £220,519, ov including the latter materials. £213,694. A vote of £300,000 is proposed for the current year. lilenheim-Waipawa. — Considerable progress has been made with the earthworks on the first three miles and a half beyond Seddon. Last year's expenditure on the BLenheim-Waipara Railway amounted to £34.552, and lor the cuueiit year a vote of £45,000 is asked for. Midland. — At the Nelson end of the line the section to Tsui m or — 10 miles 29 (hams in length — was opened for traffic on the 7th August last. Tenders for the const ru<tion of the Summit tunnel at Arthur's Pass, 5 miles 24 chains in length, were invited in April last in Great Uritain, America, Australia, and ths colony, but no satsfactory response was rccen'ed. As it was considered that this result might perhaps be due to the shortness of the (ime for sending? in tenders, fresh offers arc- now being invited. The fresh tenders are due in March next. On the Canterbury side of the range good progress has been made, the works between Springfield and Broken River being now so near completion that there is every prosnect of my last year's prediction being fulfilled that tin's section would be available for traffic in time for the opening of the NewZealand Exhibition. The large steel viaduct over Staircase Gully is finished, and tho smaller viaduct over Broken River is so near completion that the rails have been laid over it. A road has also been constructed from the station yard at Broken River to the CasS, and arrangements are being made to establish a oneday through service by coach and rail between Greymouth and Christchurch. Tlie formation works on the railway beyond Bi'oken River are being 1 proceeded with, seven short tunnels being in hand besides ordinary earthworks. The total expenditure on the several sections of the Midland Railway last year amounted to £119.-

212, and for the current year a vote of JCIOO.OOO is proposed. "Weatport-lnangahua.— Formal ion work was commenced on this railway in December last, and fair progress has since been made. For the curient year v vote of A' lo,ooo is proposed. Ngahere - Blackball. — Formation work has been proceeded with throughout the year and lair progress made. Overtures have been made to the Government by the Paparoa Coal Company for a short extension of the line nTthe direction of that Company's mine, and tho matter is now under consideration. Last year's expendi ture amounted to £9,257, and for the current year a vote of 4:10,000 is proposed. Greymouth-Point Elizabeth.— This railway was completed sufficiently to be opened for coal traffic .some time Mnce, but some finishing works were required on whicb^au exccnd^tiirc of i; 2,638 took place during the Fast financial year. Hokitika-Ross. — The first section of this railway, viz., to Ruatapu, hcvcn inilos in length, is now iv usu for goods traffic, and will be available tor the conveyance of passengers in time for the King's Birthday holiday. The expenditure during the last financial year was £} 7,074, and tor the current year a vote of £20,000 is asked for. Culverden-Rothorham-llanrr.er. — A vote for the above was provided on last year's appropriations, but no work has been undertaken. So far ;is the connection of Hanmer Snrings with the railway is concerned, it iSi. considered that for the present a good motor car service will i>iecl the requirements, and inquiries for suitable vehicles are being made, with a view to the service being in operation during the coming 1 summer, it possible. Otago Central. — The section be twee a Omakan and Chatto Creek was opened for public traffic on the Ist August last. The whole of the formation work between Chatto Creek and Clyde is comfk't?, :md the bridges are also finished except the large combined road and railway bridge over the Manuherika River, third crossing. I hope to have this railway complete to Clyde by about the end of the financial year. Tlie expenditure on the line during the year amounted to £36,724. For the current year a vote of i' 30.000 is proposed. TOTAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION. In addition to the items already mentioned, a vote of £130,000 is proposed for

rermanont way materials, £3000 for sur \ ( >yt3 „1 new hmw. £100) for h:nd cUim: and other <ilrl liabilities, also a small sun ot £2') to cover liability i'or clearing noxi(,us weeds on the abandoned wi«ctioii o t.ie Midland Hailway between Ucl-iovi- am r lophoti«e. Thes." iterr.t? bring the total ap jroprial'on^ pioposcd tor railvay construction purposes up to £884,025. Tins i> t/>mowiiat in excels oi last year's vote, but the Department has more work in han< at the pidA'iit time th;.n it had tvclv •nonf'j ago. and conwqu.Mitly an inereaset vote is required. Ol'lirJli RAILWAY" WORKS. Tho expeiidiUi'3 on additions to opei lines dining- last year amounted to £351, j!4. The gieat bulk ol this oxj-ondltun was on additional rolling slock, and thlemainder on works ot a very variec ratine requir.i to enable the railways t( eopc wiLh tl,e piesent greatly incruasec t-affic. I would umw the attjinion of hon member to tlie fact that the Publi. Work Department has not imported am rolling ~ttick tor new railways for manj years past, and that the lines as com(.let'd irom tnne to time are handed ove; to the Railway Department, which De partinent provides the- additional rolling f,tock nece sary for their working;. A con eideiable portion of tlie expenditure on additions to open lines is, therefore, fairlj debiiuble to hist cast, the lemainder beinf: ior improvement works. Practically the whole of our lolling stock is now built i' lie colony. For the current year a vot.. of £JOo,o\o is prot<iod. Work on tlu Hutt railway and road improvement was proceeded with throughout the year, and considerable progress made. The expenditure amounted to £44,739, and for the current year an appropriation of £50,000 is asked for. The Railways Improvements Authorisation Act of 1904 authorised the duplication of the lines between Auckland and Penrose, Addington and Rolleston, and Dv nod in and Moagiel. A good deal of work has already been done on the former, and :i st.irt mad? with the latter, and preparations are being made for putting in hand the work ljetween Addington and Rolleston. The expenditure last year amounted to 4!8i66. and for tlio current year a vote of £100,000 is provided on the estimates. PUBLIC BUILDINGS. The total expenditure on public buildings amounted lacst year to £187,094. For the current year, votes totalling £39,437 under the Consolidated Fund and £248,-

300 under th? Public Works Fund are proposed. General. — The expenditure under this head amounted to ±2303. uono of tho items being of any magnitude. For the current year a vote of ±18,00!) is proposed. This vote provides for making a commencement with the proposed additions to the Parliament Buildings. The complete scheme involves the sweeping away of the old library wing which is in a somewhat advanced state of decay. Judicial. — Courthouses: The p' inci P al expenditure last year took place in connection with new courthouses, and provision is made on the estimates now submitted for new buildings. Gaols. — The expenditure under this head. A-as not at all heavy. It took place principally in connection with the new gaol it Mount Eden (Auckland) and additions it AVellington. The vote proposed for the year includes the carrying on of work at Auckland and for new gaols at jriiiborne and Invercargill, and ior substantial additions at AA'ellington, and' for .vardeii*' cottages at Auckland, Napier, New Plymouth, Wanganui, AVellington, And Invercargill. Police Station». — The principal items in connection with last year's expenditure on police stations weie ior new buildings and additions. The current year's vote provides for completing work in progress and ior new .stations at various places, also now quarters at AVanganui and Ncls-m. Post and Telegraph. — A large number of buildings for the Postal Department were in hand during the year, 'liie principal expenditure took place iv connection with the new oflices at various places, including Xcw Plymouth, Wait otara. Bulls, Palmerston North, and Otaki. Tne current year's vote asked ior piovides for new offices at, among other places, Aranioho, Taihape, Kimholton, Apiti, and Ronwotea. Alterations are also provided for at AVanganui and Feilding. I'nstoir.housrs'. — The only expenditure under this head was in connection with the completion of tho new Customhouse at Wellington. The new vote provides for littings lor the same building and for a proposed new Customhouse at Nelson. Menial Hospitals. — The expenditure on buildings of this elasa was rather less than during the previous year. For the enr•onf year, a substantial anwrmit of work is ■outeiii plated at Auckland, Porirua, Sunnyside and Seacliff, with less important adlilioiis at W.'Miiifton, NHaon, Richmond, md \\:.i:.-.ti. Seho-jls. — Last year-^ expemlituie totaled ±14i,050, of which ±75,828 was debited to re\v::iu\ and ±'69,223 io llio Public .Vorks Fund. Of the work., carried out directly undv-r the control ol tl:<- (Jovernn:cut, tin 1 priu(.-i];tl stnictuicci in hand luring llu> year wt.ro i\ c IJviys' Tiaining Farm at AA'eraroa, 'Levin, aud the new School for Deaf Mutes at Sumner, also the .>iecli')ii of native kcuool building und adiitionii to the similar buildings. For the current year, in addition to the vote undei the Cousalidated Fund, an appropriatioi. )f ±10J,(M)0 is asked for out ot the Public Works Fund to provide for selwol buildings generally, aL-j^ buildings for native and industrial schools, reformatories, anc j;hocl for dei'f niuUa, etc., also grants, i'or rroviding for technical aiul training schoo.h, and for buildings iur Aucklanu and Otago Universities, Victoria, Canter»ury arm N-clsou Colleges, and 'or AVhangarei. Danneyirke, Palmerston Noith ant Southland High Schools. 0t1..-r Buildings., — Hospitals: Under thi ! h«ad of general hospitals an expenditure »i ±47.i6 took place the princijal po.tion ,i whicli was on the new building at Greyniouth. Ihe estimates ]irovi<le ior a total authorisation of £12,'1A0 lor the current year, en account of which a vote o! id propc c :J. Agricultural. — 'Not much was done unde. ■.'ais head last year, the expenditure haying amounted to £2-iiH, principally ii connection with the chemical laboratory ai iValh-tvvillc and the <?xperin:ontal larin ai Arataki. Puulic Health.— Under this head ±6KK ,vas ixpended, the principal items beinf subsidies to hospital and charitable ait joart 1 ! on account of annexes ior consuinp lives, and infections diseases hospital. Be tween ±500 and ±600 was expended in connection with the Cambridge Sanatorium, for the current year an appropriation o ±15,000 is asked for. KOADS AND BRIDGEM. Of the total amount provided for ex jonditure on worKs under the Roads De partnxHit last year the sum expended wa. 1i.364.559. If to this be added liabilt ; ci incurred and outstanding in respect or un completed worker at tre 31st March 1906 the actual value of the work undertaker during the year wa-> 1480,207. In ad dition to this tho Department supervisee oxTjenditure on kindred works on behalj of the Mines, Native Lands, Survey anc other Departments to the amount o 111,7 77. Jii view of the. large apfropria lion for road works it was hoped that mow work would have l>een done. That large results were not achieved is due entirelj to causes over which the officers of the Dc partinent had no control. It is to b< borne in mind that most of the roade be ing constructed are in^foixut country, ant it is obvious th -it this renders construction woik more ccstly |han in formei times. The outdoor work undertaken an< completed during the year may Jbe sum marised ?s follows: — Engineering surveys 633 mile 9; dray roads constructed, 53£ miles; bridle road 9 constructed, 461 milesbridges over 30ft span (162), totalling 16,083 ft; dr;iy roada improved (including metalling) 689 miles; bridle roads im uroved, 161 miles; dray roads maintained "2446 miles; bridle roads maintained, 1388 milo3. Tlie appropriations proposed art as under: — Roads, departmental, ±18,830; road generally ±'396,807; tourist road?, ±30, 896; Government loans to lo'al bodie: account, ±50,000; • total ±496.533. As already announced in the Financia 1 Statement it is proposed to transfer to th' Consolidated Fund the charge for main tenance of main roads, so that no vot< under that head appears on the Publi< AVorks estimates this year, but the alloca tion of the amount voted is attached t' ihe estimates. Roads on gold fields (Mine Department) the vote last year amounts to ±5r,2,30and exreridrturo to ±45,138. Th' sum to te authorised for the current yea is ±75.731 on account of which a vote o! ±50,000 is propessd. TELEGRAPH EXTENSION. The expenditure on telegraph and tele phone services during the year amountec to ±77,186. No le?6 than 158 lines wer. erected or were iv hand during the year In addition to the usual activity in th' telephone exchange extension new office were opened in 115 townships, special at tention having been paid to offering bet ter facilities to isolated settlements knowj under the general term "the backblocks.' A total of 1910 subscribers were added The installation of metallic circuits is etij" in progresa with most satisfactory result' wherever completed. There are 15,33\ subsrribere in the colony. There was greal activity displayed during the fast year ii the direction of teleerraph extension. Thi amount asked for this year is ±120,000 which includes ±25,000 specially eet apart for extension of communication with out lying districts, also a sum to cover thf cost of materials under order for the completion of authorised works *THE ESTIMATES. include the following charges: — Pnbl} AVorks Department, ±14,500; Immigratiorv ,£1O,OOO; pnrchaso of native lands, £10 000; rates on native landc ±1000; contii gent defence, ±35.000; lands improvement ±21,200; thus bringing the total amoui' of proposed appropriations to ±2,484,856 as against ,£2,602,156 last ysr,

CONCLUSION. My task this year in dealing with and determining the merits of innumerable appropriations lor grants which have been received has been no less onerous than in previous years. , It is impossible to meet tin- demands of all, and it is inevitable, therefore, that a certain amount of aisappointment must be experienced that particular works have not- been provided lor, but hon. members may rest assured that in allocating the amounts provided for various works and proposes the fullest consideration and careful attention has been devoted to the requirements of the differ, ent parts of the colony. My chief endeavour lias been to treat- all fairly, and in accordance with the necessities, so far as ways and means will permit, while ut the same time serving the best interests of the people as a whole.