TELEGRAPHIC

Waikato Times, Volume I, Issue 75, 22 October 1872, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC

(From the Daily Southebn C'boss.) LATEST SOUTHERN NEWS; Wellington, Friday. At tlie Press conference to-day, thirty papers were represented. Resolutions were passed appointing a deputation to urge the G-overnment f o reduce the Press telegraphic rates to sixpence for every twentyfive words ; that a fixed allowance should be made to papers for publishing postal notices; and to bring under the notice of the Government the unsatisfactory result of inserting in the G-eneral Government Gazette only notifications desired, to be published. Nelson, Friday. Tlie body of the Rev Mr Gaskin has been found in the Aorere river A practical bridle track has been- formed between the Aorere Yalley and the Anatiu reefs below West Whanganui, throughjauriferous-looking country, Saturday. The Asterope, from London, has been: signalled. Napier, Saturday. At the inquiry into the wreck of the- Esther Hill, the master and pilot were exonerated. Christchurch, Friday. Yesterday Mr Pownall, of Wellington, his new flax machine to the Flax Association Committee, who are somewhat favourably impressed with it, although they withhold their opinion until a week's trial of it has been made. The Deep Sea Fishery Company promises to be a great success. A cabman named Howard lias been arrested, charged with rape.

Flour is quoted at £12 ; wheat, is lOd to 5s ; out.?, 2s 3d ; barlev, 6s 3d to 6s 6d ; butter, 9d to 9|d ; cheese, 7id to Bd. Hams and bacon are unaltered. Grain is inactive; Oainaru, Friday. G-eid and Gray's agricultural implement manufactory has been destroyed by fire. The loss is estimated at £&500. -iwid was uninsured. Bluff, Friday. The s.s.. Alluimbra has arrived. She left Melbourneon October 12, Sho will, sail for Dunedin to-morrow night. Timaru, Saturday. The show for Wednesday promises to bo a great success, Sheep, 178 entries; cattle, 31 entries; horses, 51 entries; pigs, 26 entries; and others in proportion. PARLI AMEN TA R Y NEW S. Wellington, Thursday Night. The Legislative Council's amendment on the Highway Boards Empowering Bill ha- been agreed to by the House of Representatives on division, by 30 to 16. The House disagreed to the Council's amendment upon the Maori Representation- Bill. A conference upon it was appointed. The Northern Otago Public Works Bill was passed, £24,000 being allowed for Oamaru, and £890 for Moeraki Harbour Works. The Nelson Boundaries and Road Bills were discharged. Saturday, 4 p.m. In Committee of Supply last night, on the Railway Bill, Mr Stafford, in'the course of his criticism of the measure, spoke to the following effect: —" The money to be'expended would, he lioped, last for two or three years more. He had been for the past year making arrangements for the disposal of his property. These arrangements would take two or three years still" to complete, and then it- would be a matter of utter indifference to him what became of the colony, as lie should have ceased to have any connection with or interest in it." The session is likely to close on Tuesday or Wednesday next. rUBDIC WORKS STATEMENT. On the motion to go into committee on the Railway Bill, Mr Ormond made his Public Works Siatement as to railways. He said the estimated amounts were only estimates, as surveys in many cases had not sufficiently advanced to enabie accurate calculations to be made. The amounts were simply as near as possible with the information available, and were subject to alteration from variations in the labour mai ket and other causes, except in the cases of the Waita.ra railway, which was exceptional on account of its political importance. The Government would construct no line unless the Chief Engineer gave a certificate that it would pay working expenses. The estimated cost included land, engineering and office exstations, rolling stock and everything complete. The sum stated after the number of miles in each case is the amount required to the work in addition to the amount already authorised. The line from Ilelensville to Rivcrhead, 17 miles already contracted for as authorised ; The amount would be completed in September, 1878. From Riverhead to Auckland, 29 miles, £67,500 : The surveys would be ready by March, when the Government would be prepared to contract if the line was likely to pay. If would be completed in three years. From Auckland to Mercer, 46 miles, £132,500, including branch to Onehunga. The greater portion of this work was already contracted for, and would be completed in September, 1875. From Napier to Waipukurau, 45 miles, £29,000 : Eighteen miles of this line are already uuder contract, and will be completed in September, 1876. From Waitara to Whanganuie, 11 miles, £10,500: This line will bo commenced immed'ately ; he hoped the survey of the remainder of the line would be ready by next session. It was intended that the construction should proceed simultaneously with the formation of settlements in the country through which the railway passed. Wellington to Masterton, 70 miles, £38,500: Twenty miles had been surveyed, and part was under contract ; it would be completed by November, 1873. It was proposed then to let an additional twenty miles, and the whole line would be completed in four years. Manawatu to Whanganui, 58 miles, £00,000: A tramway only was now authorised, but it was proposed to substitute a railway between Wit an pan ui and Rangatikei, and a tsam way thence to Manawatu; 12 miles of railway would be commenced immediately, and the rest according to the state of the labour market. The construction of the line would' be conditional on the province giving land as security for the addition of £90,000 required. Nelson to Foxhill, 20 miles, £24,556: The surveys were now ready for contract, and ihe line would be completed in two or three years. Picton to Blenheim, 19 miles, £46,000, including an extension from Rangiora to the north < bank of the Kawai, 15 miles, £20,500 : The survey will be completed by Ja.nuary, and the line constructed within two years. Addington to Rangiora, 17 miles, £10,080, already constructed. Selwyn to Rakaia. 11 miles, including Rakaia bridge, £49.000, nearty completed. Rakaia to Ashburton, 20 miles, £25,000 : The survey was completed, and the line would be completed in two years. Ashburton to Temuka, 20 miles, £115,040, including three bridges : The surveys will be ready in March, and the line would be completed in three years. Temuka to Timaru, 12 miles, £7000 : The survey would be ready in January, and the line completed in two years. Moeraki to Waitake, 40 miles, £990,000 : The survev was ready, and the line would be pushed on expeditiously, and finished in three years. Dunedin to Cutha, 31 miles, £70,500 : This line is contracted for to be finished in September, 1875. Tokoma- | riro to Lawrence, 20 miles, £55000. The survey would be ready by March, and the line will be commenced immediately, and continued concurrently with the line from Tokomairiro to Clutha. Invercargill to Mataura, 39 miles, £37,000: Under contract to be completed in September, 1874. Winton to Kingston, 70 miles, £515,000: The survey w*ould be ready in March. The railway was to be carried on in four sections, and completed in four years. Waitaki Bridge, £25,000, which was required to be completed as fast as possible. The corlfields lines to be undertaken were 8 miles, £25,000, Brunner to Grevmouth ; 7 miles, £26,250, Mount Rochefort: total £60,000. These would be all commenced as soon as arrangements were made for working the mines profitably. The Canterburv branch, lines, Rangiora to Oxford, Kaiapoi to Eyreton, Racecourse to South Bridge, Waimate main line, and Malvern tQ Rolleston, would be commenced immediately, and carried on simultaneously in accordance with the understanding with "the Provincial Council. The estimated cost now of the whole of the above works is £3,661.516 as against £2,719,010 formerly appropriated, the difference, £942,506, being accounted for thus:—Rise in the cost of iron, £450,000 ; Rakaia Bridge, not formerly provided for, £40,000 ; Rangitata, Orari, and Hind's Bridges, not formerly provided for, £80,000; increased rates for works, £247,230 —£817,230. To this add approximate estimate for purchase of land r £192,900; engineering and officer £157,760: total, £1,166,890. The average cost of the railways would only be about £5,090 per mile including everything. It was inr tended to ask for £10,000 for survey of new lines principally' at intervals in- main lines —-the Christchurch to Dunedin extension, Mercer to "Waikato,. and main Ene on the West.Coast of the North Island The Government also ask power to purchase the Port Chalmers line- -