PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT, BY THE MINISTER FOR PUBLIC WORKS, THE HON. EDWIN MITCHELSON, 12th DECEMBER, 1887.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1887 Session II, D-01

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Sess. 11.—1887. NEW ZEALAND.

PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT, BY THE MINISTER FOR PUBLIC WORKS, THE HON. EDWIN MITCHELSON, 12th DECEMBER, 1887.

Mr. Speaker,— In the Statement which I am about to make this evening I shall not attempt, in describing the various works, to go into minute details ; as I find that all essential particulars, as regards the progress of the construction of the railways and other works, are more completely given in the reports of the Engineers, which have already been laid on the table of the House, than I could hope to give them in any Statement of reasonable length. In the case of the several railways which I shall have to treat upon, therefore, I shall merely endeavour to state as shortly as possible : The present condition of the various lines : The funds already available, and now proposed to be provided for them : The rate at which we propose to expend these funds: and The condition into which the several railways will probably be brought when these funds are expended. EAILWAYS IN COUKSE OF CONSTBUCTION AND PEOPOSED, INCLUDING ADDITIONS TO OPENED EAILWAYS. To commence, therefore, with the railways—as I find it has been usual to commence with that class of works —I find that the total length of railways opened on the 31st March last was: In the North Island, 632 miles; and in the South Island, 1,090 miles : total, 1,722 miles. On the 31st October last there were opened for traffic 1,734 miles, of which 632 were in the North Island, and 1,102 in the South Island. There were also at that date 176 miles of railway in course of construction, of which 87 were in the North Island and 89 in the South Island. The total expenditure on railways, including cost of provincial lines, and purchase of district railways, up to the 31st March last, was .£14,082,711; and the liabilities on the 31st March were £486,376, making in all £14,569,087. Helensville Noethwabds. On the railway from Helensville Northwards a contract is in progress for the formation of 4 miles, and is expected to be finished during the present month. Until the line is completed to Kaukapakapa, a distance of 7 miles from Helensville, it will not carry much traffic, and it is therefore proposed to complete it to that extent as soon as practicable, but it is not intended to put a terminal station at Kaukapakapa, as it can be worked as a branch from Helensville until further extended. The funds already provided, with addition of £25,000 now proposed, will complete the railway for traffic for 7 miles, up to Kaukapakapa, and will also enable the formation to be extended for a further

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distance of 8 miles. The rate of expenditure proposed is £10,000 for this year, and £27,000, £20,000, and £17,761 for the three following years: total to end of March, 1891, £74,761. Auckland to Penrose Doubling Line. For the Auckland to Penrose doubling line an allocation was made under the loan of 1886, but, as it would have gone only a short way towards the completion of what was required, none of the necessary works have as yet been put in hand; and, as the balance necessary to complete the work, some £77,000, cannot conveniently be provided out of the money now proposed to be borrowed, it is not intended at present to take any further steps in the matter. Gbahamstown-Te Aeoha. On the Grahamstown-Te Aroha Eailway the rails are laid from Grahamstown to Kaueranga, about 5 miles, and the formation, without bridges, is complete. between Kaueranga and Hikutaia, about 8 miles ; and in progress from thence to near Ohinemuri, about 6 miles. It is expected that the latter section will be finished in July next. From Ohinemuri to Te Aroha, 13 miles, the contract survey is complete, but works have not yet been put in hand. Total length from Grahamstown to Te Aroha 32 miles. The funds already provided will complete the line to Ohinemuri, 20 miles from Grahamstown, and it is proposed to put the remainder of the bridging and platelaying still required for this section in hand this year. The rate of expenditure proposed is, for this year £10,000, and for the three following years £15,000, £10,000, and £6,921 respectively : total, £41,921. PUTAEUEU-KOTOEUA. On the Putaruru-Eotorua Eailway a contract has been let for formation, platelaying, and stations from Putaruru to Ngatira, 8 miles, and the works are progressing satisfactorily, and are expected to be finished in June next. At the Eotorua end, 5 miles, between Eotorua and Ngongotaha, have been set aside for Maori piecework, and a considerable extent of formation has already been done by the Natives in a satisfactory manner. The intervening distance between Ngatira and Ngongotaha, about 19 miles, has been surveyed for contract, but works have not yet been put in hand. The total length from Putaruru to Eotorua is 32 miles. The funds already provided, with the addition of £18,000 (including £9,000 for rails) now proposed to be allocated, will complete the railway for traffic from Putaruru to the Okohiriki Saddle, a length of 18 miles, that being the shortest distance that can be opened with any real advantage, and will also enable communication to be established by road from that point to Ohinemutu, distance about 14 miles. The rate of expenditure proposed, exclusive of amount required for rails, is £40,000 for this year, and £25,000, £25,000, and £7,377 for the three following years : total to end of March, 1891, £97,377. Noeth Island Teunk Eailway. Coming now to the North Island Trunk Eailway I find, with very much regret, that the original estimate of this line was altogether misleading, the probable cost originally indicated having been £1,360,000, whereas the present estimate, exclusive of the probable costs and charges of raising the loan, and the amount allocated to purchase of Native lands, is £2,085,000. If to this amount there is added, say, £100,000 for raising loans, and also the £100,000 already allocated for Native lands, it brings the total to £2,285,000, and taking the £1,000,000 already authorised from this shows £1,285,000 as still required to be authorised in order to complete the whole line from Te Awamutu to Marton. If the w 7 ork is to go on, under the altered circumstances now disclosed, then the proposals which I have shown on Table C attached to this Statement, and which I shall presently describe, would, I think, be suitable for adoption in so far as regards the amount of money which might reasonably be expended during the present and three following years at each end of the rail-

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way ; but before any further work is undertaken I think the House should have an opportunity of expressing its opinion on the new aspect which the matter has assumed, and, in any case, I do not propose to put any new contracts in hand until after next session. With regard to the alternative route proposed for this railway, I find that the original estimate for the line from Stratford to Te Awamutu was £1,036,000; and at first sight, therefore, this project might appear to have a great advantage as compared with completing the railway from Marton to Te Awamutu: but, excepting that the estimated rate per mile was much higher than that for the Central line, we have no guarantee that this estimate is any more accurate than that for the Central route, and it would therefore be premature to express any opinion on the subject until a trustworthy estimate of this line is completed for comparison with the revised estimate now made of the Central line. It would, therefore, I think, be desirable that a survey should be made of the Taranaki route of a more accurate character than those which have hitherto been made, in order that something like a correct estimate may be formed of the probable cost of a railway in that direction. The cost of this survey would not be lost, even if the railway is not made, as the information gained could be utilized in locating a road, which must be made in the future, in the event of no railway being made. The best point to diverge from the Main Trunk Eailway in order to reach Taranaki would be at a point near Maramata, about 55 miles from Te Awamutu, and the cost of construction of railway, complete and equipped for traffic, from Te Awamutu to this point, including due proportion of cost of raising loan and departmental and other expenditure of every kind, is estimated at £500,000. This is inclusive of about £250,000 for expenditure and liabilities already incurred. The only doubt, therefore, as regards the probable cost of a railway from Te Awamutu to Taranaki is as to the cost of the link between Maramata and Stratford, or wherever might be the best place to join the existing Taranaki railway. The present estimate of this connection is £830,000; but, as there is no trustworthy data on which such an estimate can be based, it cannot be relied upon as being even approximately accurate. In connection with this phase of the subject, it should also be stated that the expenditure and liabilities (with a reasonable margin for contingencies) on account of works already undertaken between Maramata and Marton—including surveys £16,000, roads £40,000, Native, land purchase £100,000, and a due proportion of departmental expenditure and costs and charges of raising l oans will amount to within a trifle of £300,000, and if any further contracts are let at the south end of the line this amount will of course be increased. Having thus dealt with the subject generally, I will now proceed to state the present condition of the line and the rate of expenditure per annum which could reasonably be undertaken upon it, if decided to be carried on, and also the points to which that expenditure would probably carry the railway at each end by the end of the financial year 1890-91. North End. —At the north end, the railway is completed and ready for traffic from Te Awamutu to Te Kuiti, a distance of 25J miles, and from Te Kuiti to the Upper Mokau Valley, length 9 miles, a contract for formation and platelaying is in progress, and expected to be completed in December, 1888. From the Upper Mokau Valley to the Poro-o-tarao Eange, 11 miles, the contract survey is completed, but works have not yet been put in hand. Through the Poro-o-tarao Saddle a contract of 1| miles is in progress, including a tunnel of 58 chains. Total length from Te Awamutu to end of Tunnel Contract, 47 miles. South of the tunnel a contract survey has been made for about 8 miles, to the Maramata Junction. During the four years ending the 31st March, 1891, which is the extent of the programme which I have sketched out so far, it is proposed that the line shall be carried on steadily from Te Kuiti to near Maramata, in the Ongaruhe Valley, about 55 miles from Te Awamutu, this being the point at which a line could diverge to Taranaki. And the rate of expenditure indicated is £70,000 for this year, and £75,000, £75,000, and £80,000 for the three following years : total to end of March, 1891, £300,000. South End.— At the south end of the railway the section from Marton to Hunterville, 19 miles, is nearly completed, and will be ready for opening about

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Christmas. From Hunterville, for about 25 miles, to a point about 5 miles up the Hautapu Valley, the contract survey is completed, and a contract for about 8 miles of it is prepared, but the works have not yet been put in hand. The contract survey is also in progress for a further distance of about 19 miles, to the end of the rough country at Turangarere, near the head of the Hautapu Gorge, 63 miles from Marton. As in the case of the works at the north end of the line, the proposal indicated on Table C is to carry on steadily from Marton for the four years ending 31st March, 1891, by which time it is anticipated that the railway will have reached to Powhakaroa, near the mouth of the Hautapu Valley, a distance of about 32 miles from Marton, and the rate of expenditure suggested is £26,000 for this year, and £35,000, £40,000, and £42,000 for the three following years : total to end of March, 1891, £143,000. After carrying out these proposals at both north and south ends of the line, it is estimated that there will be a balance on loan still available for further works to the extent of about £54,000. Further Works and Surveys. —Further preliminary surveys have been made for the railway to extent of about 12 miles, at various places between the Murimotu and Waimarino Plains, and to extent of about 20 miles between the Waimarino Plain and the Upper Wanganui Valley; and service roads and tracks in connection with the railway have been made, in whole or in part, from Hunterville to Turangarere, 24 miles; Upper Eangitikei to Turangarere, 4 miles; Pipiriki to Ohakune, 25 miles; Murimotu to Upper Wanganui Valley, 50 miles; and Te Koura to Waimiha, 14 miles. The Wanganui Eiver has also been cleared of snags, and otherwise improved from Wanganui to near Pipiriki, about 56 miles. The expenditure and liabilities on these roads and river works, up to 30th September last, was £39,239. Purchase of Native Lands. —Of the £100,000 allocated for purchase of Native lands under the loan for the North Island Trunk Eailway, about £70,300 was expended last year, leaving about £29,700 for expenditure during the present year. The work done up to 30th November ultimo consisted of the purchase of 490,000 acres, at a cost of £54,100, and there is now under negotiation the purchase of blocks aggregating about 750,000 acres, on which £33,000 has already been paid. The lands purchased and under negotiation are situated mainly around Euapehu and Tongariro, with the Wanganui Eiver as their boundary on the west. The surveyed line of railway intersects the purchased land for 45 miles, and that under negotiation for about 15 miles, or 60 miles in all, out of the total 216 miles between Marton and Te Awamutu. Napiee-Palmebston. The Napier to Palmerston Eailway was completed and opened for traffic to Woodville (97 miles from Napier Spit) in March last, and now only remains to be completed from Woodville to Palmerston, a distance of about 15 miles. Of this distance, 4 miles in the Manawatu Gorge is under contract for formation and bridges, exclusive of tunnels, and is expected to be finished in October, 1888. From Woodville to the upper end of the Gorge, 3 miles, and from the lower end of the Gorge to Palmerston, 8 miles, the contract survey is completed, but works have not yet been put in hand. To complete this very important link in the railway system of the colony an addition to existing funds is required to the extent of £120,000 (which includes £22,000 for rails), and this sum is proposed to be allocated to it accordingly, and it is hoped that the work will be completed by March, 1890. In order to get it done by that time it will be necessary to proceed at once with the tunnels in the Manawatu Gorge, and to let a contract for the Pohangina Bridge as soon as practicable. The rate of expenditure proposed, exclusive of amount required for rails, is £40,000 for this year, and £50,000 and £70,813 respectively for the two following years ; total to the end of March, 1890, £160,813,

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Wellington- Wood ville . The Wellington-Woodville Eailway is completed and open for traffic from Wellington to Mangamahoe, a distance of 82 miles, and a combined road and railway-bridge has been constructed over the Manawatu Eiver at Awapurua, near Woodville. From Mangamahoe to Eketahuna, length 6 miles, a contract for formation and platelaying is progressing satisfactorily, and is expected to be completed in August, 1888. Total distance from Wellington to Eketahuna, 88 miles. From Eketahuna to Woodville, 27 miles, the contract survey is completed, but works have not yet been put in hand. Total length from Wellington to Woodville, 115 miles. The balance of the old loan will finish the line to Eketahuna and. complete some protective works which are requisite at the Awapurua Bridge. It is not proposed to provide for anything further at present. The rate of expenditure proposed is £37,000 for this year, and £24,421 for next year: total to the end of March, 1889, £61,421. In relation to the distance, just stated, from Wellington to Woodville by the Eimutaka route, 115 miles, it may be interesting to honourable members to know also the distance by the Palmerston route, which is 105 miles. Blenheim-Awateee . On the Blenheim-Awatere Eailway the formation, without bridging, is made for 4J miles south of Blenheim, and a contract, called the Dashwood Contract, has also been let for formation 3J miles further, and is progressing slowly. It is estimated that the works will be finished in February next. From the end of the Dashwood Contract to the Dashwood Pass, 2J miles, the contract survey is completed, but works have not yet been put in hand. Total length from Blenheim to Dashwood Pass, 10J miles. A preliminary survey has been made from the Pass to a convenient stopping-place on the southern bank of the Awatere, 5} miles further. This makes the total distance from Blenheim to Awatere 16 miles. To complete the line to the Awatere would cost about £99,000, which is much more than could be afforded for it out of the loan now proposed. It has therefore been decided to recommend an allocation of £9,000 only, by means of which, in conjunction with existing funds, it will be possible to complete the first 5 miles at the Blenheim end for traffic, and to connect it with the Awatere by a dray-road, and also to build the railway-bridge over the Awatere for use in the meantime as a road-bridge. This will be a great boon to the locality, as the river is a very dangerous one to cross, and is also the only large river remaining unbridged between Picton and the Bluff. The rate of expenditure proposed is for this year £7,000, and for the two following years £15,000 and £18,675 respectively : making in all £40,675. Geeymouth-Hokitika . On the Hokitika to Greymouth Eailway, at the Hokitika end, the line is finished and ready for traffic from Hokitika to near the Arahura, 4 miles, and between that point and the Kapitea Creek, 7 miles, the formation is partly made, and the bridge over the Arahura Eiver is completed. At the Greymouth end the rails are laid for 11 miles, and the formation is partly made for a further distance of 7J miles to the Teremakau Eiver, and a contract has been let for the bridge over the Teremakau. The total length finished and under construction at the two ends is thus 20 miles. This leaves a gap of 4 miles between the Kapitea and the Teremakau, on which no work has been done, pending final decision as to route; and it is intended that exhaustive inquiries shall be made as to the best route to adopt throughout this distance before any works along it are undertaken. The money already available, with the addition of £2,000 now proposed to be allocated for the purchase of further rails, will finish this line, with permanentway complete, for 9 miles at the Greymouth end and 4 miles at the Hokitika end, and will also complete the formation from the fourth to the eleventh mile at the Hokitika end, and it is proposed to go on with the works to that extent without delay.

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The rate of expenditure proposed, exclusive of amount required for rails, is for this year £24,000, and for the next two years £20,000 and £19,904 respectively: the total sum available for construction works being £63,904. Mount Somees. The Mount Somers Eailway is completed and open for traffic from. Tinwald to Mount Somers, a distance of 23 miles; and from Mount Somers to Springburn, length 4 miles, the work is in progress by the unemployed of Christchurch. It is estimated that this length will be completed in May next. Total distance from Tinwald to Springburn, 27 miles. The funds provided for this work under the loan of 1886 are already exhausted, but it is proposed to allocate £7,000, including £2,000 for rails, out of the loan now contemplated in order to finish the line to Springburn, which is a very convenient stopping place. If this is authorised the whole work can be completed by about the end of the present financial year. The rate of expenditure proposed, exclusive of amount required for rails, is £7,000 for this year, and £2,027 for next year; the total sum available for construction works as from 31st March last, including additional sum now proposed to be allocated, being £9,027. Livingston Beanch. The Windsor-Livingston Eailway from Windsor to Toka Eaki, 12 miles, was completed and opened for traffic in August last. It is not intended to carry it any further at present, the sum of £1,000 allocated to it under loan now proposed being merely to provide for some additional accommodation required at the stations. Otago Centeal. On the Otago Central Eailway the rails are laid from the Chain Hills to Big Mount Allen Creek, 13 miles, and the formation and tunnels are completed for a further distance of about 20 miles to the Sutton Stream. Throughout this distance also, from Big Mount Allen Creek to the Sutton, the masonry of the bridges is under contract, and making satisfactory progress; and a contract has also been entered into for the superstructure of the bridges along 7 miles of the distance, between Big Mount Allen Creek and the Deep Stream. It is estimated that the line will be ready for opening to the Deep Stream (20 miles from the commencing point) about September next. From the Sutton Stream to Middlemarch the distance is 7 miles, and from Middlemarch to Lake Hawea about 143 miles, and along the whole of this distance the contract survey is completed, but no works have as yet been put in hand. The total length, from Chain Hills to Lake Hawea, is 183 miles. The balance of the loan of 1886 being insufficient to complete this railway to the first point to which it could be opened with any real advantage, it is proposed to supplement the funds already provided by a further sum of £105,000, including £20,000 for rails, which it is estimated will enable the railway to be completed for traffic from Chain Hills to Middlemarch, a distance of 40 miles, and if our proposals in this respect are authorised, this work will be carried out with all reasonable despatch. The rate of expenditure proposed, exclusive of amount required for rails, is, for this year, £70,000, and for the next two years £60,000 and £40,974 respectively: the total amount available for construction works, including the additional sum now proposed to be allocated, being £170,974. Catlin's Eivee. The Catlin's Eiver Eailway is completed and open for traffic from Balclutha to Eomahapa, a distance of 8 miles; and from Eomahapa to the Ahuriri Flat, length about 5 miles, the formation is under construction by " unemployed" from Dunedin, and is progressing satisfactorily. It is estimated that this length will be finished in May or June next. From the Ahuriri Flat, over the saddle, and to the Owake Flat, about 6 miles, the contract survey is completed, but works have not yet been put in hand.

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The money already provided for this railway under loan of 1886 will finish it from Eomahapa to the Ahuriri Flat, and will also complete the formation for 2 miles further. The rate of expenditure proposed is, for this year £12,000, and for the next two years £15,000 and £10,398 respectively: making in all £37,398, which was the total balance of the allocation of 1886 on 31st March last. EIVEESDALE-SwiTZEES. On the Biversdale-Switzers Eailway the rails are laid from Eiversdale to the Mataura Eiver, a distance of 2 miles, and the formation, exclusive of bridges, is constructed for 5 miles further, and the contract survey is completed throughout. The total length from Eiversdale to Switzers is 14 miles. The balance of the allocation for this railway, under loan of 1886, is only sufficient to complete it with permanent-way, &c, from Eiversdale to a point on the north side of the Mataura Eiver, a distance of 3 miles, and to do the formation from thence to the Switzers Township, 11 miles further. It would require a further sum of £15,000 to complete it altogether, and this amount the Government does not see its way to provide out of the loan at present proposed, as there are so many more promising undertakings which also require to be completed. It is therefore merely proposed to go on with the expenditure of the funds in hand for this line so far as they will reach. The rate of expenditure proposed is, for this year £3,000, and for the next three years £5,000, £5,000, and £6,646 respectively, which makes up the total available at 31st March last, viz., £19,646. Seawaed Bush. The Seaward Bush Eailway is completed and opened for traffic from Appleby to Waimatua, a distance of about 5 miles, and from Waimatua to Oteramika, length about 6 miles, the work is in progress by the " unemployed," and expected to be finished about the end of March next. From Oteramika to Waimahaka, 12 miles, the contract survey is completed, but no works have as yet been put in hand. Total length from Appleby to Waimahaka, 23 miles. The balance of loan of 1886, together with £10,000 (including £5,000 for rails) proposed to be allocated under loan now contemplated, will be sufficient to finish the line for traffic to Oteramika, and, if the allocation proposed is approved of, the work can be completed by April or May next. The rate of expenditure proposed, exclusive of amount required for rails, is £5,000 for this year, and £2,508 for next year : the total funds available for construction works as at 31st March last, including additional sum now proposed to be allocated, being £7,508. Lumsden-Maeaeoa. The Lumsden-Mararoa Eailway is completed as far as it is contemplated to carry it at present, being open for traffic from Lumsden to Mossburn, a distance of 10J miles. Edendale-Foeteose. The Edendale-Fortrose Eailway is completed and opened from Edendale to Wyndham, a distance of 4 miles, and the formation is finished for 3| miles further. A contract has also been let for another 2 miles, including a tunnel 10 chains long. This brings the line to the crossing of the main road at Glenham Homestead. It is estimated that the tunnel-works will be finished by about the end of March next. The total distance from Edendale to Glenham is 9J miles. From Glenham to the Waimahaka Valley, 9 miles further, the contract survey is completed, but no works have as yet been put in hand. The money already provided under the loan of 1886 will complete this railway to the crossing of the main road at the Glenham Homestead, already referred to, and it is not proposed to carry it any further at present. The rate of expenditure proposed is, for this year £9,000, and for next year £18,656, making in all £27,656, and it is hoped that the line will be completed to Glenham by about March, 1889.

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ADDITIONS TO OPENED LINES. The expenditure on additions to opened lines, which includes a multiplicity of works, such as additional railway-stations, additional goods-sheds and enginesheds, additional sidings, and additional rolling-stock, &c.,has in the past been a very considerable item of our outgoings under the Public Works Fund: the amount thus expended in 1883-84 having been £174,169 ; in 1884-85, £140,326; in 1885-86, £90,962; in 1886-87, £79,761. It will thus be seen that the expenditurehas been continuously decreasing, the fact being that the railways in many cases were very poorly equipped previous to 1883-84, while they are at present fairly Well equipped in every particular. I anticipate, therefore, that the expenditure which I have provided for during the present and the next three following years, on this class of works, will be sufficient —namely, for the present year £40,000, and for the three following years £39,000, £29,000, and £19,239 respectively; and I am in hopes that after the year 1890-91 works of this character will have become so insignificant that they can be made a charge on revenue. WOEKING EAILWAYS. Coming now to the working railways, I find that the receipts for the year ending 31st March last were £998,768, and the expenditure £699,072; the net profit being £299,696, or £2 6s. per cent, on the outlay of £13,017,567, which the lines open for traffic had cost up to end of March last. The rates of profit on the different sections have varied from £5 10s. 2d. on the Greymouth section to lid. on the Picton section. In considering this profit it should be borne in mind that the railways do a large amount of free work for other departments, probably to extent of about £35,000 per annum. The mileage open at the end of the year was 1,722 miles, 114 miles having been opened or purchased during the year. The tables attached to the report of the General Manager, which have already been laid before the House, show in what respects the traffic has fluctuated. It will be seen that in merchandise, timber, and grain there is a less tonnage, while live stock, wool, and minerals have considerably increased. Honourable members will find it very interesting to study these tables, as there is no better index to the business of the colony than what we have disclosed in the railway returns. Eevenue is of course largely affected by the rates which are charged, but the tonnage very clearly indicates the volume of business in the colony. Thus, in the case of the farming interests, the tonnage of grain being much smaller than in previous years, and being indeed less than in any year since 1879-80, while the traffic in live stock and wool has largely increased, shows clearly that greater attention is being paid to sheep and cattle, and that the area of country under crop has been reduced. Again, as regards the building trade, the timber-tonnage on railways having been very much less, shows that this trade, during the year ending March last, must have been in a depressed state. -During the year ending March last, a large amount of additional rolling-stock, which has. been almost entirely built in the colony, has been supplied; and improvements of various kinds, at stations, and on the various lines of railway, have been carried out, Avhereby public accommodation has been increased, or working facilitated. None of the engines which are being manufactured in the colony have yet been completed, but delivery of some of them is expected about the end of the year. The result of the working during present financial year, up to the period ending the 15th October, is that the revenue for the twenty-eight weeks of this year is nearly £20,000 in excess of that for the corresponding period last year, while the expenditure is slightly less. In the short time I have had at my disposal I have not been able to examine closely into all matters of detail, but reductions in expenditure are being

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made wherever I have seen them to be possible, and I believe that still further economies can be effected, even with the considerable addition to our business which I confidently look forward to, as I am assured that we may expect a largely increased grain-tonnage this season. It may be well, however, to remind honourable members, that economy can very often be effected, by reducing conveniences which have been previously enjoyed, but which are in some cases too liberal for the small population, and the business which requires to be done. All such endeavours to economise are, however, generally stoutly resisted in the particular districts where the necessary economies are attempted to be carried out. Under ordinary circumstances there would be many other matters which I should properly be expected to deal with; but, as circumstances at present stand, I shall not attempt to indicate in detail the directions in which I may think that the management might be improved, the revenue increased, and the expenditure reduced, because the Government has already stated, that m its opinion, the groundwork of the system is defective, and that it is essential for the proper administration of this valuable property that Commissioners should be appointed who can act independently, and who will deal with the railways, and conduct their business, unfettered by political control. For this purpose I have prepared a Bill which is now before the House; and, I believe, that great as are the benefits which the colony has already derived from its railway system, much better results may be reasonably expected, if the proposals now before Parliament are assented to. Before leaving this branch of my subject, however, I would wish to repeat what has already been said by my colleague the Colonial Treasurer, namely that I have no fault to find with the officers of the Eailway Department. While the groundwork of the system, however, involves continual change, and want of finality in any principle of action, no good can come of it; but I expect to learn that under the Commissioners, officers who have served the colony faithfully for many years, will do much more useful work in the future, than the surrounding circumstances have admitted of their doing in the past. EOADS. The next subject which I have to treat upon is that of roads of all classes; and before going into the details of this subject, it maybe interesting to honourable' members, that I should give them the results of a return recently prepared, showino- the length of roads constructed and improved in the colony generally, out of Public Works Fund, from the commencement of the Public Works policy. These I find to be as follows :— Dray roads, North Island 3,234 miles. Middle Island 1,108 „ I. ■_ Total dray roads .... .... 4,342 miles. Horse roads, North Island 2,452 miles. „ Middle Island.... .... .... 1,126 „ Total horse roads .... .... 3,578 miles. Grand total of roads of all classes .... 7,920 miles. Mostly in connection with these road-works, but in some cases as separate undertakings, a number of large bridges have also been constructed not to mention smaller bridges and culverts which have been taken no special account of and I find that the number of these large bridges is, m the North Island 611 bridges having a total length of 48,239 ft.; and in the South Island 154 bridges, having a total length of 32,750 ft: total for both Islands 765 bridges, having a total length of 80,989 ft. .2—D. 1.

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EOADS NOETH OF AUCKLAND, MAIN EOADS, MISCELLANEOUS EOADS AND BEIDGES, AND GEANTS IN AID. Eoads Noeth oe Auckland. On roads north of Auckland the expenditure for the year ending the 31st March last was £30,738, and from the end of March to the end of September there was a further expenditure of £2,957, leaving a balance then available, out of the amounts provided for this class of works, to the extent of only £913. Of this sum £420 is due to counties under grants already made, so that there is only £493 remaining for any further undertakings. A further allocation for this class of works would be very desirable, but the area of country requiring development is so great, and the counties requiring aid are so numerous, that nothing short of £50,000 or £60,000 would be sufficient to attain any material benefit, and the Government has not seen its way to making an allocation to anything like that extent. Main Eoads. The works undertaken by the Government under the head of " Main Eoads " consist principally of the maintenance of the roads from Oxford to Eotorua, Tauranga to East Cape, Tauranga to Napier via Taupo, Nelson to Westport Grejanouth and Hokitika, Hokitika to Christchurch, and the Haast Pass Track. The amount expended on this class of works during the last four years has ranged from about £32,000 to £22,000, and the amount proposed for the present and next three years ranges from about £19,000 to £5,000, the intention being to gradually reduce the charge, for this class of works, against the Public Works Fund, until it disappears altogether at the end of the fourth year, handing over such of the works as can reasonably be so handed over to the local bodies, and providing for the others out of the Consolidated Fund. Miscellaneous Eoads and Beidges. Under the head of " Miscellaneous Eoads and Bridges " a number of new works have from time to time been undertaken, varying in extent during the last four years from about £61,000 to about £40,000 per annum, and we have thought it necessary to make provision for the completion of such of these works as are incomplete, and also to some extent for works of a similar character in the future. It is proposed, however, that the expenditure shall be gradually reduced, for the present and three following years, from £35,000 to £5,000 per annum, and it is intended to stop such expenditure altogether at the end of the fourth year. The principal works in hand during last year have been : Improvements in road from Lyell to_ Westport, cost about £5,000; bridge over the Buller Eiver at the Lyell, for which a contract is in progress, estimated total cost about £9,500; bridge over the Waiau at the Hanmer Plains, cost about £15,000; bridge over the Clarence Eiver, now completed, cost about £18,600; road, Kaikoura to Clarence, estimated cost £12,000; road, Kaikoura to Waiau, also now completed cost about £31,500; and bridges over the Clutha at Beaumont and Eoxborough which have cost respectively about £12,500 and £9,900. Geants in Aid,. Including roads under the Boads and Bridges Construction Act, subsidies to local bodies under Finance and Powers Act, and provision for tvork for unemployed. Boads under the Boads and Bridges Construction Act. —The transactions under the Eoads and Bridges Construction Act have been brought almost to a conclusion. The only grants made during the past financial year were for completing some bridges in Collingwood and Tuapeka Counties, that had been commenced under the provisions of the Act, and the amount thus granted only came to £314. The liabilities outstanding on the 31st March last were £12,932, namely, £11,648 on main roads, and £1,284 on district roads.

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Since the 31st March these liabilities have been largely paid off, and the only important undertaking that is still unfinished is the Wairoa Bridge at Clyde, which is well advanced, and is expected to be completed by about the end of March next. The remaining liabilities consist of sundry small balances, several of which have been outstanding for a long while; and, as it is considered that the time has now come when all transactions under the Eoads and Bridges Act should be closed, the local bodies have been informed that these balances will be shortly written off, unless good reason is shown to the contrary. Subsidies to Local Bodies. —As regards subsidies to local bodies, under the Local Bodies' Finance and Powers Act, my colleague, the Colonial Treasurer, has already, in his Financial Statement, alluded to this subject; so I shall do no more than reiterate that it is proposed to reduce the amount of subsidies paid last year by one-half for the current year, and provision has been made in the current year's estimates for this purpose. Further provision will also be made under the Public Works Fund for half the subsidies due next year, in the event of its not being practicable to throw them entirely on the Consolidated Fund before that date, but in any case they will cease to be a charge on the Public Works Fund after March, 1890. Work for Unemployed. —It is to be regretted that owing to the depressed condition of the country it has been necessary for some time past to expend considerable amounts of money on more or less unproductive undertakings, in order to provide work for the unemployed, and these amounts have hitherto been mostly charged to loan. As the Government, however, does not consider that any moneys expended on relief works are a proper charge to Loan Funds, it is intended that, for the future, only such amounts for "unemployed" shall be charged to loan as are expended on works of a reproductive character. And if further assistance than that is required to meet the unemployed difficulty, it is intended to provide for it out of consolidated revenue. It is also considered that no relief works that can possibly be avoided should be undertaken, as we believe that it is detrimental to the interests of the men themselves to keep them employed on purely relief work, which, after all, is merely another name for charitable aid. One of the great difficulties in connection with the matter is to get the men out of the towns and into the country, but this difficulty must be got over, as it is out of the question that we can continue to provide work within the towns, and we have therefore determined that such further work as is provided should be entirely in the country districts, and of, so far as possible, an immediately reproductive character. On the class of works hitherto undertaken for providing work for the unemployed the expenditure last year was £16,629, and provision has been made for further expenditure, if requisite, to the extent in all of about £30,000 for the present and three following years. EOADS TO OPEN UP CEOWN LANDS BEFOEE SALE, ALSO VILLAGE SETTLEMENTS. Boads to open up Crown Lands. —The important work of rendering the Crown lands more accessible to settlement, by the clearing and formation of road-lines, has been and is being promoted extensively throughout the colony, as will be seen from the annual report of the Survey Department for the year 1886-87. The expenditure on this class of works has been very considerable, having been about £84,000 in 1883-84, £49,000 in 1884-85, £62,000 in 1885-86, and £57,000 in 1886-87, and for the present year the expenditure will have to be about £60,000. In the two following years, however, it is proposed to considerably diminish the expenditure, the amount proposed for 1888-89 being £45,000, and for 1889-90 being £20,000, subject to some slight modifications, which I shall refer to presently under the head of village settlements; but it is not anticipated,

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in any case, that the expenditure out of the Public Works Fund should proceed beyond 1889-90, as my colleague the Minister of Lands hopes that by that time he will have sufficient revenue in the shape of land fund to cover works of this character which may require to be done. Village Settlements. —For village settlements the expenditure during the year ending 1886-87, on the basis of the vote of £5,000 then granted for this class of undertakings, was £1,891, and it has been found necessary to make further provision to the extent of £72,200 to cover the expenditure of £4,032 between March and September last, and the liabilities of £68,118 existing at the end of September —total, £72,150, or, in round numbers, £72,200. Under this allocation it was anticipated that the expenditure would be £23,000 this year, and £20,000, £20,000, and £9,200 respectively for the three following years ; but the Government has since been given to understand that the liabilities, as stated at end of September, may possibly not all accrue, and that consequently something less than the £72,200 may eventually be found to be sufficient, and, if this is so, the balance thus saved will be made available for further works in the shape of roads to open up lands before sale. EOADS ON GOLDFIELDS. Coming now to the last of our very numerous classes of roads, between some of which, I may say, the line of demarcation is so very slight that they are rather apt to overlap, I find that on account of roads on the goldfields the expenditure for the four years ending March, 1887, has been, in round numbers, £27,000, £15,000, £32,000, and £32,000 respectively, while for the present and two following years the amounts proposed to be provided are £31,000, £30,000, and £10,760 respectively. The amount thus allocated for next year is large, but most of it will be required to meet existing engagements. WATEEWOEKS ON GOLDFIELDS. On account of waterworks on the goldfields the expenditure during the last four years has been, respectively, in round numbers, £16,000, £8,000, £9,000, and £7,000, while for this year and next year the expenditure proposed is only £1,200 and £800 respectively, the intention being merely to complete certain works which are in hand, as it is considered that works of this character can be more satisfactorily carried out by private enterprise. PUECHASE OF NATIVE LANDS, NOETH ISLAND. On the purchase of Native lands in the North Island (exclusive of land along the North Island Main Trunk Eailway) the expenditure during the last four years has been, in round numbers, respectively £24,000, £70,000, £34,000, and £18,000. For this year the expenditure required to meet engagements will amount to about £12,000 ; but, as £11,000 will come to the credit of the vote from the fund provided for land purchase along the North Island Main Trunk Eailway,- the actual charge this year will amount to only about £1,000; and for the next two years the expenditure is proposed to be £10,000 and £5,000 respectively. The total allocation proposed for this purpose is thus £16,000. The amount of land in respect of which transactions were completed under this heading, and which has consequently become the property of the Crown, for the period from 31st March, 1886, to 30th September last, was 207,000 acres, and the area of land in respect of which negotiations are still pending, and upon which more or less payments have been made, is about 575,000 acres. IMMIGEATION. As regards the important question of immigration, I find that for the period between the Ist May, 1886, and the 30th November, 1887, 1,460 nominated immigrants have arrived in the colony, towards the cost of whose passages the sum of £12,162 15s. has been contributed by their friends in the colony,

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During the above period 80 farmers have arrived who satisfied the AgentGeneral that they were possessed of the requisite capital (amounting in all to £34,405) as required by the regulations of the 28th September, 1885. The total number of immigrants, exclusive of small farmers, introduced since the inauguration of the immigration scheme by the Colonial Government is 113,953. Details of the nationalities and classes of the immigrants introduced to the 30th April, 1887, will be found in Parliamentary Paper D.-9, 1887, presented last session. The expenditure on immigration during the last four years has been respectively, in round numbers, £107,000, £57,000, £12,000, and £12,000, and for this and the three following years the expenditure proposed is respectively £16,720, £20,000, £20,000, and £14,000, being a total allocation for immigration purposes, out of funds in hand and now proposed, amounting to £70,720. TELEGEAPH EXTENSION. As regards the subject of telegraph extension, I find that during the present financial year telegraph or telephone communication has been established between Clevedon and Papakura, Pukekohe and Mauku, Tahoraite and Danevirke, Springston and Prebbleton, Upper Eiccarton and Middleton, and a line is now in course of construction from Masterton to Mauriceville and Mangamahoe. The proposals for further telegraph extension in the estimates for the present year include the construction of lines between Kaipara Heads and Te Kopuru, Blenheim and Awatere, Ophir and Tinker's (Matakanui), Miller's Flat and Lawrence, Henley and Berwick, and the erection of an additional wire between Wellington and Auckland by way of Foxton, Woodville, and Napier, as well as a local wire from Foxton to Woodville. The expenditure for the last four years has been respectively about £19,000, £26,000, £36,000, and £19,000; and for the present and three following years the amounts proposed are £20,100, £10,000, £6,000, and £5,000, the intention being that the cost of future extensions of the telegraph system should be gradually thrown on the Consolidated Fund, and that after March, 1891, no further expenditure of this character shall be charged to loan funds. PUBLIC BUILDINGS. The principal public buildings in course of erection during last year were some additions to the Lunatic Asylums in Christchurch and Auckland, the construction of a new Printing Office in Wellington, and the continuation of the works for the new prisons at Wellington and Auckland. During the current •year it is proposed to put in hand a gasworks and a doctor's residence at Seacliff Asylum, a doctor's residence and farm buildings, &c, at the asylum at Sunnyside, and the addition of a male wing to the asylum at Auckland. It is also proposed to ask for a vote for a new asylum at Porirua, for the Wellington District, and also for the long-proposed public offices in Auckland. The re-erection of the Post Office in Wellington will shortly be undertaken, but, as the Government considers that this is not properly chargeable to loan, it has been determined to provide for it out cf consolidated revenue. On public buildings generally the expenditure during the last four years has been, in round numbers, respectively £164,000, £117,000, £87,000, and £89,000, and during the present year the liabilities already incurred are such, especially in respect of lunatic asylums, school buildings, and the printing office at Wellington, that the expenditure will have to be about £109,000. It is proposed, however, to materially reduce the expenditure out of loan on this class of works during the following three years, the amounts proposed being respectively £69,700, £26,000, and £7,600. The total amount allocated for public buildings during the four years is thus £212,410, of wdiich departmental buildings, including the Wellington printing office and the Auckland departmental offices, will absorb £40,000; judicial buildings, including the gaols at Auckland and Wellington, £34,550; lunatic

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asylums, including a new asylum at Porirua and additions to the asylum buildings at Auckland, Christchurch, and Dunedin, £77,000; and school buildings, £50,000. As regards school buildings, I should mention that provision is only proposed to be made for this year's grant, together with the liabilities which will probably exist at the end of the year, the intention of the Government being that after the end of this financial year provision should be made for this class of works in some way other than by drawing on the Public Works Fund. LIGHTHOUSES AND HAEBOUE WOEKS. Lighthouses. —On lighthouses the expenditure during recent years has never been very large, the amounts expended during the last four years being respectively about £6,700, £7,400, £300, and £3,300; and for this and next year the expenditure proposed is £4,300 and £4,000 respectively, making, in all, £8,300 as the total amount intended to be devoted to this class of works out of funds available and now proposed. The amount so allocated is principally for the Cuvier Island Lighthouse, the apparatus and lantern for which have already been received in the colony, and plans for the tower, which is to be of cast iron, have also been prepared, ready to call for tenders. Steps are also being taken to acquire the land for the buildings, and it is proposed to shortly commence the necessary works on the island to complete this long-promised undertaking. Harbour Works. —For harbour works a sum of £500 only has been allocated, and it has already been expended, being the balance of a grant of £1,500 made under vote of last year to the Hokitika Harbour Board, of which £1,000 was paid before March last, and the remainder since then. HAEBOUE DEFENCES. The cost of the harbour defences of New Zealand up to the end of March last was £318,827 ; and I find that a further sum of £130,000 is required to pay off existing liabilities, and complete the undertakings which are at present in hand. This sum has, therefore, been allocated to harbour defences, and will be required for payment to the extent of £80,000 this year and £50,000 next year. Up to the end of September last the total expenditure was £353,483 ; of which £174,012 was for guns, ammunition, torpedo-boats, torpedoes, and other war-material imported from England, and the remainder, £179,471, for works within the colony itself, including land purchase. Up to the 31st March last the works in the colony were carried out by the Engineers of the Public Works Department, but since that date the Defence Department has taken them into its own hands entirely. BATES ON NATIVE LANDS. Under the heading of " Eates on Native Lands," the expenditure last year was £25,139, and the amounts required to meet our engagements under the existing Act will be, for this year £15,000, and for next year £10,700, beyond which nothing more has been provided, as it is proposed that the Act should be repealed. THEEMAL SPEINGS. The expenditure on thermal springs last year was £7,814, and the amount required for this year is £3,200, and for next year £300. This is principally for the completion of the water-supply at Eotorua, and planting and improvements of the baths and grounds; and, as it is not intended to undertake any further works than those at present in hand, no further funds have been allocated beyond the £3,500 for this year and next year,

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PUBLIC WOEKS FUND.—PAET I. To sum up the proposals of which I have now given the details, they amount to this : In Part I. of the Public Works Fund we had, on the 31st March last, a balance of £491,246, and we are further entitled under this fund to a sum of £83,814 under section 31 of " The Government Loans to Local Bodies Act," making in all £575,060; but as against this we had expenditure up to 30th September, amounting to £243,953, and liabilities actually brought to book at same date amounting to £280,495, and further engagements which, though not brought to book, were to all intents and purposes liabilities amounting to £184,836. The total amount of these engagements over and above actual expenditure and liabilities, in point of fact, amounted to £205,446, but as against these there were credits to come in from Consolidated Fund, and Parts 11. and 111. of Public Works Fund, amounting to £20,610, thus bringing the net amount of engagement to £184,836 as before stated. My colleague the Colonial Treasurer, in his Financial Satement, referred to these engagements as amounting to about £150,000, but since then they have been more accurately gone into during the preparation of the Public Works Estimates, and are now ascertained to be £184,836. Adding together the expenditure up to end of September, with liabilities and engagements at that date, gives in all £709,284 as expenditure, liabilities, and engagements up to end of September, as compared with the £575,060 assets on the same date; thus showing that our actual present expenditure, with liabilities and engagements on 30th September, exceeded our assets on that date by £134,224, and this too without allowing anything for recurrent charges, such as immigration, departmental expenditure, roads maintenance, subsidies to local bodies, work for unemployed, completing engagements in aid of land purchases, telegraph extension, additions to lunatic asylums, school buildings, and rates on Native lands, &c. In view of these recurring charges, therefore, and also in view of the deficit of £134,224 already existing, it was considered, and it is still considered by the Government that nothing short of £500,000 additional funds would be sufficient to admit of a reasonable sum being allowed for immigration, and at the same time permit of our bringing our recurrent engagements in respect of the other services to a close otherwise than in an abrupt and unsatisfactory manner. In the case of the several main roads, for instance, for the maintenace of which the Government has made itself responsible, we cannot abandon these roads to their fate, as we might thus become liable for damages in the event of any accidents happening through our negligence, and neither can we divest ourselves of the responsibility attaching to these roads all at once, by handing them over to the local bodies, or placing the whole charge on the Consolidated Fund. The same also applies more or less to the class of buildings and other works. With great reluctance, therefore, for we had hoped to be able to do without a loan at all, we came to the conclusion that we must ask for authority for £500,000 under Part I. of the Fund, and, assuming that this is granted, our total assets under this fund, counting from 31st March last, would be £1,075,060, and we would propose to allocate the expenditure of this sum, during the present and next three years, as follows : — For Immigration, with debits (consisting of expenditure, liabilities, and engagements at 30th September), amounting to £13,702, we propose to allocate £70,720. For Public Works Departmental Services, with debits amounting to £6,000, we propose to allocate £13,000. For Eailways (other than those provided for under Parts 11. and 111. of Fund), with debits amounting to £3,500, we propose to allocate £3,500. For Eoads of all classes, with debits amounting to £366,020, we propose to allocate £528,330. For waterworks on the goldfields, with debits amounting to £2,000, we propose to allocate £2,000.

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For purchase of Native lands, North Island (exclusive of purchases under the North Island Trunk Eailway Loan), with debits amounting to £12,000 (less £11,000 which is to come in to credit from Part 11. of fund), we propose to allocate £16,000. For telegraph extension, with debits amounting to £26,070, we propose to allocate £41,100. For public buildings, with debits amounting to £120,360, we propose to allocate £212,410. For lighthouses, with debits amounting to £2,932, we propose to allocate £8,300. For harbour works, with debits amounting to £500, we propose to allocate £500. For harbour defences, with debits amounting to £130,000, we propose to allocate £130,000. For rates on Native lands, with debits amounting to £25,700, we propose to allocate £25,700. For Thermal Springs, with debits amounting to £3,500, we propose to allocate £3,500. And for charges and expenses of raising loans, with debits amounting to £8,000, we propose to allocate £20,000. Finally, for all the services under this fund, with debits (consisting of expenditure, liabilities, and engagements at 30th September last) amounting to £709,284, we propose to allocate £1,075,060.

The following table will probably show these results in a form which will be more convenient to honourable members:—

* This amount would have been required for expenses of raising sufficient loan to cover actual deficit.

PUBLIC WOEKS FUND.—PAKT 11. Coming now to Part 11. of the fund, being the portion devoted to the North Island Main Trunk Eailway, we had unexpended on the 31st March last the sum of £674,315, and on 30th September this was reduced to £615,258, with liabilities amounting to £137,474. Starting with the balance at the end of the year, namely, £674,315, the expenditure suggested by the Engineer-in-Chief, if the work is to go on vigorously from both ends during the present and next three years, is £619,800, which would leave a balance unexpended on the 31st March, 1891, of £54,515.

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Debits. Consisting of Expenditure from 31st March to 30th September, 1887, and Liabilities and Engagements at the latter Date. r Class of Works. Proposed Allocation. Immigration .. .. . • • • • • • • Public Works Departmental Services .. .. .. . .• Railways (other than those provided for under Parts II. and III, of Fund) Roads of all classes Waterworks on Goldfields Purchase of Native Lands, North Island, exclusive of purchases under the North Island Trunk Railway Loan .. .. £12,000 Less amount which is to come into credit from Part II. of Fund £11,000 £ 13,702 6,000 3,500 366,020 2,000 £ 70,720 13,000 3,500 528,330 2,000 Telegraph Extension Public Buildings Lighthouses Harbour Works .. Harbour Defences .. .. . • < • Rates on Native Lands Thermal Springs Charges and Expenses of raising Loans 1,000 26,070 120,360 2,932 500 130,000 25,700 3,500 8,000* 16,000 41,100 212,410 8,300 500 130,000 25,700 3,500 20,000 For all Services under this Fund 709,284 1,075,060 s

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PUBLIC WOEKS FUND.—PAET 111. Under Part 111. of the Public Works Fund we had unexpended, on the 31st March last, the sum of £769,235, and by the 30th September last this was reduced to £556,645, with liabilities amounting to £304,004. The net amount available for further undertakings on the 30th September was therefore only £252,641, and, as this amount was quite inadequate for carrying the most of the railways in hand to points at which they would be even moderately reproductive, it was decided to ask for further authority of £500,000, which is proposed to be allocated as follows :—■ Helensville northwards .... .... •••• £25,000 Putaruru-Eotorua .... .... •••• •••• 18,000 Woodville-Palmerston .... .... .... 120,000 Blenheim-Awatere.... .... •••• •••• 9,000 Greymouth-Hokitika .... .... •••• 2,000 Mount Somers .... .... •■•■ •••• 7,000 Livingstone .... ■••• •••• ••■• 1,000 Otago Central .... .... .••'• •••• 105,000 Seaward Bush 10,000 Additions to opened lines .... .... .... 122,000 Surveys .... .... •••• •••• 6 > o °o Charges and expenses of raising the portion of the loan allocated to railways .... .... 30,000 Departmental (engineering and supervision) .... 45,000 Grand total, for railways .... £500,000 Adding this sum of £500,000 to the £769,235 before alluded to, as existing at the 31st March last, will give a total of £1,269,235, the expenditure of which (including the expenditure which has already taken place) we propose to spread over the present and next three years, at the following rate, namely, 1887-88, £442,500; 1888-89, £437,403 ; 1889-90, £298,917; and 1890-91, £67,444: giving a total for four years of £1,246,264, which will leave £22,971 unexpended at the end of the term. Costs and Chaeges op eaising Loan. As regards the item of £30,000 for charges and expenses of raising the £500,000 allocated to railways, I should explain that about £10,000 of this is required to supplement the amount allocated to charges and expenses of raising loans and contingencies in connection with the loan of 1886, which will be exceeded to about that extent. The amount actually required for raising £500,000, at present asked for, will probably be about £20,000. TOTAL EXPENDITUEE PEOPOSED UNDEE PUBLIC WOEKS FUND AS A WHOLE. Taking the whole three funds together our proposed expenditure is: For 1887-88, £1,127,550; for 1888-89, £986,903; for 1889-90, £577,677; and for 1890-91, £248,994; giving an average throughout the four years of about £735,281 per annum. While on the subject of this expenditure, I should explain that it was the wish and intention of the Government, if possible, to have distributed the expenditure more evenly over the four years; but it was found that we had practically very little control over the expenditure during the current year and part of next year, as that is fixed to a very large extent by existing engagements; and there was also the consideration that, if we spread the expenditure on each one of the railways over the whole period, a work which might quite easily be completed in two years would be left unproductive for another year or two without any great good being attained. In the case of several of the railways, therefore, I have put expenditure into the year 1889-90 which I originally intended to have thrown into 1890-91, with the view of getting such of the railways completed by March, 1890, as could then reasonably be completed. Even as the proposed expenditure stands, however, it indicates a very

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considerable reduction as compared with the expenditure of the previous years, which has been: For 1883-84, £1,409,588; for 1884-S5, £1,336,727; for 1885-86, £1,475,386 ; for 1886-87, £1,333,484. In actual practice, too, it is probable that the expenditure during this year and next year will be somewhat less than I have estimated for, the amounts set down being the sums necessary to meet the liabilities which will probably come in for payment during those years; and, if these liabilities do not fall due so rapidly as is anticipated, the expenditure will of course be reduced accordingly, during the first two years, and can thus be spread more evenly over the whole four years, as we originally intended. As affecting the proposed expenditure for the year after this one —namely, for the year ending March, 1889, which I have already stated will probably be larger than we wished it to be, it should also be mentioned that the amount required to be expended that year will include about £80,000 for charges and expenses of raising loans ; as the North Island Trunk Eailway Loan of £1,000,000 still requires to be raised, as well as the £1,000,000 which we now propose to ask authority for, and it is estimated that the expenses for each £1,000,000 will be about £40,000. Peobable Effect of deteemining the Bate of Expendituee foe Theee Yeaes in Advance. . In thus endeavouring to fix the expenditure over a series of years, I am quite alive to the fact that I may be met with the assertion that it is impossible to absolutely adhere to any such programme, or to keep the e.xpenditure rigidly within the limits which I have fixed. But, while admitting that this, to a certain extent, is true, I nevertheless maintain that we shall probably come much nearer what is the intention of the Government, and, I believe, also the wish of most honourable members, as regards the so-called "tapering off" in borrowing, by shaping out some definite programme to guide us, such as I have endeavoured to do, rather than by leaving everything to the chapter of accidents in the future. Allocation foe Bails, Sleepees, and Eolling-stock, £125,000. As honourable members may possibly not be prepared for the large sum. — £125,000 —which is set down in proposed loan allocation for permanent-way and rolling-stock, and especially as regards the sum of £65,000 shown as required for permanent-way and rolling-stock for additions to opened lines, it may be desirable that I should explain that £45,000 of this amount is due to insufficient provision having been made for this class of expenditure in the loan allocation of 1886; and I have charged this £45,000 to additions to opened lines, in order to avoid an undue charge falling upon any of the individual railways. This was the only way to fairly meet the case, as some of the railways provided for in 1886, and which have been already completed, and which consequently do not appear in present allocation at all, have already received their full complement of rails; and the deficit, if charged otherwise than to additions to open lines, would have to fall entirely on the' railways which have still to be completed, which would manifestly be unreasonable. In the final accounts showing cost of railways from time to time, it would make no matter, as each line is of course only eventually' charged with the actual expenditure upon it; but, even in making an allocation, it seemed to me to be unjust to include an amount in present Loan Schedule for a service which purported to have been fully provided for in the allocations of 1886. Peoposals as to caeeying on Foemation Woeks on Eailways beyond the Points up to which the llnes can be entieely completed with the funds available. The first intention of the Government, in view of the desirability of stopping all expenditure, where practicable, was to omit any provision for carrying on formation works (even when already provided for) beyond the points to which funds are available for entirely completing the various railways; but, on further consideration, it was decided that it would be better to retain power to. carry on

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these formation works, in the event of its being necessary to provide work for the unemployed, and I have therefore shown the amounts authorised, as proposed to be expended over the present and next three years accordingly, in the event of such expenditure being requisite. Depaetmental Expendituee. In connection with our future proposals to gradually reduce loan expenditure on all classes of works, it will be necessary to .correspondingly reduce the departmental expenditure, which was £30,156 for 1884-85, £29,632 for 1885-86, and £25,835 for 1886-87. The expenditure for this year will be about £25,000, which is somewhat short of 4 per cent, on the portion of the loan expenditure under the control of the Public Works Department proper ; and, on same basis, I think it is probable that the expenditure for the next three years could be reduced to £20,000, £15,000, and £13,000 respectively, making in all for the four years £73,000. It is also intended that this expenditure should be charged proportionately in accordance with the amount of works under the control of the department in each of the several subdivisions of the Loan Fund, which would give, for the four years, £13,000 chargeable to Part 1., £15,000 to Part 11., and £45,000 to Part 111., making in all £73,000 as before. Public Woeks Estimates. As regards the general shape in which the Public Works Estimates will be brought down, I have not found it desirable to alter the form recently in vogue, with one exception, namely, in respect of the Estimates for the North Island Trunk Eailway, the amount required for which has hitherto been voted in one lump sum, to cover construction works and surveys of all classes at both ends of the line. In that case I have made an alteration, as it seemed to be desirable that .full information should be given as to the expenditure at each end of the railway ; firstly, on railway works proper, and secondly, on roads; and also that separate information should be given as to cost of surveys as distinct from construction works. I have therefore now divided the estimates for this line into the several items of "Departmental expenditure," " Eailway construction" (north end and south end), " Permanent-way and rolling-stock," " Surveys," "Eoads" (north end and south end), and "Purchase of Native lands;" but as regards the roads, as I have already mentioned, no further road-works are intended to be undertaken under the loan for this railway. The votes proposed for road-works are therefore merely sufficient to cover the liabilities already incurred with a slight margin for contingencies. Conclusion. Finally, Sir, I would wish to state that, in approaching this task of dealing with the Public Works expenditure of the colony, the Government was convinced that, however much the construction of public works may have tended to develop the country generally, and also to meet the demands of growing settlement, it was nevertheless evident that our rate of expenditure in the past has been more than the colony could well afford, and that the time has come when we must materially curtail it. With that object in view we prepared the proposals which I have now had the honour of laying before this House, and I may say that throughout the whole of this allocation our object has been to do justice to all concerned, and to endeavour, where practicable, within the limits of the funds at our disposal, to avoid stopping ruthlessly any works on which the expenditure already incurred would be altogether thrown away, or which would yield a reasonable percentage on their cost if completed as hitherto intended. _ To the best of our belief these objects have been attained by the allocation which I have described, and we now therefore lay it before Parliament, in the full confidence that honourable members will aid us in carrying these proposals out, in the interests of the colony as a whole, at whatever sacrifice it may be to their individual districts. Taken as a whole, the chief feature in our proposals is to steadily reduce expenditure under loan from, in round numbers, £1,100,000 per annum for this year, to £300,000 per annum for the third year from March

19

I).—1

20

next, and we believe that in this way the loan expenditure may be gradually brought to an end, after March, 1891, without on the one hand increasing our burdens over much, or on the other hand putting too sudden a check on the progress of colonial industries. I would also wish to say, Sir, in conclusion, that throughout the whole of the investigations necessary to frame proposals calculated to bring about this result —and which I confess I have found to be a very difficult task—l have received the most cordial assistance from all the chief officers of the departments over which I have the honour to preside. ■

D.—l

PUBLIC WOEKS STATEMENT, 1887. Sess. 11. LIST OF TABLES ATTACHED TO STATEMENT.

Table A—Loan Allocation.— Statement showing suggested allocation of proposed loan of £1,000,000. Table B—Public Works Fund, Part I.— Statement showing the v&rious classes of works included under Part I. of Public Works Fund, and the proposed expenditure on same, for years 1887-88 to 1890-91, inclusive. Table C—Public Works Fund, Part ll.— Statement showing expenditure on North Island Trunk Eailway to 31st March, 1887, and expenditure suggested for years 1887-88 to 1890-91 respectively. Also the points to which this expenditure will carry the railway at each end, and the total cost to complete the whole line from Marton to Te Awamutu. Table D —Public Works Fund, Part lll.— Statement showing allocation of loan of 1886, with expenditure to 31st March, 1887, and unexpended balances on that date, and also the further allocations suggested under loan now contemplated, and the amounts proposed to be voted for the years 1887-88 to 1890-91, inclusive. Also, the condition into which it is estimated that this expenditure will bring the several railways, and the amounts which would be required to carry the said railways to further points. Table E —General Summary. —Showing total expenditure under Public Works Fund on all classes of works, for the years 1880-81 to 1886-87, inclusive, and the proposed expenditure on same for the years 1887-88 to 1890-91, inclusive.

PUBLIC WOEKS FUND.—PART I. t>.—l.

LOAN ALLOCATION.

Table B. [To accompany Public Works Statement of December, 1887.] PUBLIC WOEKS FUND.-PART I. STATEMENT showing the Works provided for under Part I., Public Wobks Eund, and Proposed Expenditure on same, for Years 1887-88 to 1890-91. FUNDS AVAILABLE. Balance of fund on 31st March, 1887 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. £491,246 Proposed allocation out of new loan .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 500,000 Amount arising under section 31 of " Government Loans to Local Bodies Act, 1886," from conversion into a liability under that Act of debentures issued under " The Roads and Bridges Construction Act, 1882 " .. .... .. 83,814 £1,075,060 Classes Description of Work. Expenditure, 31 March to 30 Sept., 1887. Estimated Expenditure necessary to meet tj.uii EngageH| au£f feW' h»inancial Year, viz,, tc 31 March, 1888. 'iw.,i Amounts proposed to Oβ voted Amount iov Expenditure during required to be voted for 1887-88. 1888-80. 1889-90. 1890-91. Amounts proposed to be voted for Expenditure during Grand Total Expenditure suggested for Four Years ending 31 march, 1891. 1888-89. 1889-90. 1890-91. iaoo-oy. ±ooy-yu. xovu~'j±. i. Immigration £ 5,702 £ £ 8,000 11,018 £ £ £ £ 10,720 20,000 20,000 14,000 £ 70,720 ii. Public Works'Departmental !~ I II. 13,202 Cr, 7,202 0,000 j 4,000 2,000 1,000 13,000 in. III. Railways 504 821 2,990 3,500 .. 3,500 IV. IV. Roads:— Roads, Bridges, and Wharves North of Auckland Main Roads Miscellaneous Roads and Bridges Grants-in-aid Roads to open up Lands before Sale Village Settlements Roads on Goldfields 2,957 0,752 18,334 32,162 30,703 4,032 16,495 111,495 420 913 5,048 11,898 15,760 10,106 16,670 40,438 45,984 29,237 08,118 .1.8,908 23,374 14,505 3,870 .. 18,050 I 15,000 j 10,000 4,750 34,500 i 20,000 j 10,000 5,000 72,000 j 40,000 i 15,000 10,000 00,000 , 45,000 : 20,000 23,000 I 20,000 20,000 9,200 31,000 30,000 10,700 243,020 I 170,000 85,760 28,950 3,870 48,400 09,500 137,600 125,000 72,200 71,760 Total Roads 175,374 132,125 528,330 V. V. Waterworks on Goldfields 800 1,185 894 1, 200 800 2,000 VI. Purchase of Native Lands, North Island : I VI. 7,069 Cr. 6,069 1,000 i 10,000 5,000 10,000 VII. VII. Telegraph Extension 13,374 4,153 0,720 20,100 I 10,000 G,000 5,000 41,100 VIII. VIII. Public Buildings :— Parliamentary Buildings Departmental Offices Judicial Post and Telegraph Customs Lunatic Asylums Unauthorised Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Quarantine Stations School-buildings 24 5,172 4,214 2,601 1 9,050 3,123 2,062 13 70 14,128 6,736 1,039 20 100 ; 19,300 10,950 3,040 20 20,700 8,000 1,000 8^000 7^600 100 40,000 34,550 4,040 20 13,840 100 4,294 } 12,447 I 15,000 29,000 30,000 18,000 77,000 71791 38,030 2,073 1,230 30,605 1,706 100 32,209 6,000 100 40,000 I I 10,000 6,000 100 50,000 212,410 Total Public Buildings 71,074 109,110 i 69,700 20,000 7,600 IX. IX. Lighthouses, Harbour Works, and Defences:— Lighthouses Harbour Works Harbour Defences 2,832 500 34,050 100 1,468 4,300 500 80,000 84,800 4,000 50,000 54,000 .. j .. 8,300 500 130,000 55,097 45,344 I Total Lighthouses, Harbour Works, and Harbour Defences 37,988 55,197 46,812 84,80.0 ' 138,800 X. X. Contingent Defence 6,250 Cr. 6,250 XI. XI. Rates on Native Lands 7,439 8,100 7,501 15,000 10,700 15,000 25,700 XII. XII. Thermal Springs 2,528 2,000 072 3,200 3,200 300 3,500 XIII. XIII. Charges and Expenses of raising Loans 20,000 20,000 Totals 504,250 369,500 144,700 56,550 1,075,000 243,953 280,495 200,297

Table A, [To accompany Public Works s Statement, 188' ■•] LOAN ALLOC iATION. Loan of £1,000,000. STATEMENT showing suggested Allooatk )N of Propose: Naturo of Service. Proposed Allocation under Loan. Amount required for Permanent-way, Sleepers, and Rolling-stock. Balance for Constructionworks. Public Woeks Fund. —Pabt I. £ & £ For the Services included under Part I. of Public Works Fund, including charges and expenses of raising the portion of Loan allocated to those services 500,000 500,000 Public Woeks Fund. —Pabt III. For Railways :— 1. Helensville, Northwards 25,000 25,000 2. Putaruru-Rotorua .. 18,000 9,000 9,000 3. Woodvillc-Pahnerston 120,000 22,000 98,000 4. Blenhcim-Awatere '9,000 9,000 5. Greymouth-Hokitika 2,000 2,000 6. Mount Somers 7,000 2,000 5,000 7. Livingston 1,000 1,000 8. Otago Central 105,000 20,000 85,000 9. Seaward Bush 10,000 5,000 5,000 10. Additions to opened lines 122,000 65,000 57,000 11. Surveys 6,000 (5,000 12. Charges and expenses of raising the portion of loan allocated to railways 30,000* 30,000 13. Departmental 45,000 45,000 Total for Railways! 500,000 125,000 375,000 Grand Totals .. 1,000,000 125,000 875,000 * This includes £10,000 which has to be provided to supplement amo contingencies " in connection with loan of 1880 which will be exceeded I mnt allocated to " charges and expenses of raising loans and to that extent. I For extent to which the railways will lie carried by aid o: f these funds, vide Table D. ( P.W. Fund.—Part HI. /

T>.— l.

PUBLIC WORKS FUND.—PART 11.

[To accompan; publ: ibth Island Main Tkunk Eailway Loan ( pteinber, 1887, and Liabilities on 30th Si Table C. ' Public Works Statement of December, 1887.] [C WOKKS FUND.-PART II. if 1882 with the Expenditure to the 31st March, 1887, and the Unexpended Balance on that Date, also the Expenditure from :ptember, 1887, and the Amounts proposed to be voted for the Years 1887-88 to 1890-91. STATEMENT showing the Allocation of the £1,000,000 Nc Slst March to 30th Sβ Classes. Loan. Expenditure to 31st March, 1887. Balance unexpended on 31st March, 1887. Amount Expen- required to diture, 31st Inabilities, meet EngageMarch to 30th Sept., ments from 30th Sept., 1887. 1st October, 1887. 1887, to 31st March, 1H«8. £ £ £ f .. .. 5,000 Total Amounts proposed to be voted Amount re- for Expenditure during quired to be voted for 1887-88. 1888-89. 1889-00. 1890-91. £ £ £ £ Grand Total Expenditure for four Years ending 3!st March, 18<J1. Balance which will probably remain unexpended on 31st March, 1891. Completed 30th September, 1887. Miles. From To Complete with Pormanent-way. Miles. From To Condition into which it is estimatod the Railway will be brought by Expenditure during Four Years ending 31st March. 1801, as herein suggested. Miles. Formation only. From To Additional Amount which will be required to complete the whole Line with Permanent-way, Stations, &c, from Marton to To Awamutu over and above the £1,000,000 already provided. Miles. From To Amount. From To Amount. £ £ £ £ n £ I. Departmental { 2,772 5,000 4,000 3,000 3,000 15,000 ir. Railway Construction — 60,890 87,880 12,440 682 2,425 40,804 14,494 2.350 24,481 Construction, north end 29,190 70,000 75,000 75,000 80,000 300,000 26 To Awamutu .. Te Kuiti 55 Te Awamutu .. Maramata r 216 46,192 11,506 2G.000 35,000 40,000 Marton To Awamutu .. 1,285,000 „ south end 42,000 143,000 19 Marton Rangitira 32 Marton Powhakaroa .. ) Surveys .. . ■ 11,805 1,050 4,000 3,000 2,000 9,000 Permanent-way, sleepers and rollingstock 113,914 1,G19 2G,100 20,000 14,000 C0,100 Total Railways 232,801 J 43,971 103,433 82,129 126,100 133,000 131,000 122,000 512,100 1,000,000 ■674,315 54,515 III. Roads to give access to Railway— 3,506 North end 163 500 500 500 1,000 South end 16,227 9,542 9,801 9,958 19,500 2,500 22,000 Total Roads 19,733 9,542 9,964 10,458 20,000 3,000 23,000 IV. Purchase of Native lands 70,379 5,544 24,077 24,156 29,700 29,700 V. Charges and expenses raising loans 40,000 40,000 Total .. 325,685 54,515 1,000,000 674,315 59,057 137,474 121,743 180,800 180,000 .134,000 125,000 619,800

PUBLIC WOEKS FUND.—PART III.

D.—1.

Table E/i (To aooomr. »any Public Works Sti itement of December, 1887.) PUI JLIC Wi )RKS F JND.-PART III. STATEMENT shewing the Allocation if the 1; 186 Loan of £1,325,000, with Expenditure t. and Amounts proposed to he the 31st Maech, 1887, and the Un 'Oted for the Years 1887-88 to 1890 EXPENDEI -91, and Balance the Coni on that date; also further Alloi ition into which it is estimated tht nation suggested under Loan now ,t the several Railways will thus bi iroposed, the Expenditure and L: brought. [abilities on the 30th September, 1887, Name of Railway, &c. Allocation ot Loan of 1880. Expenditure out of Loan of 1880, to 31 March, 1887. Balance of Loan of 1880 unexpended on 31 Mar., 1887. Further Allocation suggested under Loan now proposed. Total which would thus be available for further Undertakings after lit March, 1887. Expenditure 31 March to 30 Sept., 1887. Liabilities on 30 Sept., 1887. Estimated Expenditure, l October, 1887, to 31 March, 1888. Amount required to be voted for 1887-88. Amounts proposed to be voted for Expenditure during 1888-89. 1889-90. 1890-91. Grand Total Expenditure suggested for Four Years ending 31 March, 1801. Balance which will probably remain Unexpended on 31 March, 1891. Length already opened for Traffic (30th September, 18S7). Condition into which it ie est of Balance of Ijoan of U timated that the var 880, and additional S "ious Railways will be broug 3ums allocated under Loan i ;ht by Expenditure now proposed. Additional Amount v complete with Permani extent vhich would be requ: ent-way and Station : heretmder. irod to is, &c, to Miles. From To Complete with Perm; anent-way. Formatio] n. [iles. • . From To Miles. Miles. Prom To Miles. From To Miles. From To Amount. £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ Helonsville northward 50,000 239 49,701 25,000 74,761 3,031 4,629 G.969 10,000 ; 27,000 20,000 17,761 74,761 7 Helensville 7 Kaukapakapa.. 8 Kaukapakapa.. Makarau 160,000 Penrose, double line 23,000 23,000 23,000 23,000 35 6 Helensville Auckland Te Hana River, near Wcllsford Penroso 77,000 J Grahanistown-Te Aroha 53,000 11,079 41,921 41,921 1,414 5,241 8,580 10,000 15,000 10,000 6,921 41,921 20 Grahamstown .. 20 Ohinemuri 32 Graliamstown To Aroha 05,000 Putaruru-Rotorua .. 93,000 4,023 88,377 9,000* 97,377 14,833 40,684 25,167 40,000 25,000 25,000 7,377 97,377 18 18 Putaruru Okohiriki Saddle* 32 Putaruru Rotorua 80,000 Tahoraite Palmerston 92,000 29,187 02,813 98,000 160,813 22,214 33,966 17,780 40,000 50,000 70,813 160,813 15 Tahoraito Woodvillo 30 Tahoraite 30 Palmers ton Mauriccville-Wcodville 101,000 39,579 01,421 61,421 16,131 33,217 20,809 37,000 24,421 61,421 4 Mauricevillo Mangarnahoc .. 11 Mauricevillo 11 Ekctahuna MauricGville .. WoodvUla 170,000 38 Blenheim-Awatere 30,000 4,325 31,675 9,000 40,675 1,199 4,431 5,801 7,000 15,000 18,075 40,075 5 Blenheim 5 Vcrnon i Vernon Dashwood 1G Blenheim South bank of Awatcro llokitika J 90,000 Greyinouth-Hokitika 76,000 12,096 63,904 03,904 8,450 24,125 15,550 24,000 20,000 19,904 63,904 f 9 Greymouth { 4 Hokitika I ° Terernakau Arahura h Arahura Kapitca 24 Greymouth 70,000 Mount Somers 8,000 3,973 4,027 5,000 9,027 1,SG4 2,223 5,130 7,000 2,027 9,027 23 Tinwald Mount Somers 27 Timvald 27 Springburn Livingstone Branch 15,000 9,438 5,562 1,000 0,562 5.1G8 503 1,332 0,500 02 6,562 12 Windsor Toka Raid 12 12 Windsor Toka Raki Chain Hills .. Taicri Lake Otngo Central 140,000 54,026 85,974 85,000 170,974 32,547 52,407 37,453 70,000 60,000 40,974 170,974 40 Chain Hills 40 Middlemaroh 67 170,000 Catlin's River 38,000 602 37,398 37,398 2,581 2,484 9,419 12,000 15,000 10,398 37,398 8 Balelutha Romaliapa 13 Balelutha 13 Ahuriri Flat .. 2 Ahuriri Flat .. Owake Saddle.. 18 Balelutha Owako Landing 37,000 Riversdale-Swit/.crs 20,000 354 19,046 19,646 893 123 2,107 3,000 5,000 ! 5,000 2,508 5,000 6,046 19,046 3 Biversdale 3 Mataura 11 Mataura Switzer's 14 Riversdale Switzer's 15,000 Seaward Bush 8,000 5,492 2,.')08 5,000 7,508 431 1,100 4,569 7,508 5 Appleby Waimatua 11 Appleby 11 Oteramika 14 Appleby Oteramika Gap 13,000 Luxnsdcn— Maracoa. . 5,000 5,029 Dr. 29 T)r. 29 9,000 40,000 18,656 39,000 29,000 19,239 Dr. 29 11 Lumsdcn Mossburn 11 Lumsden 11 Mossburn Edendale-Fortrose.. 28,000 344 27,656 27,656 2,359 12,031 0,041 27,656 4 Edendale Wyndham 9 Edendalo 9 Glcnham Additions to opened railways 150,000 79,701 70,239 57,000 127,239 13,357 32.G03 20,043 127,239 Permanent-way, sleepers, and rolling-stock 320,000 283,347 42,653 125,000 107,053 29,400 53,819 20,510 50,000 81,000 36,653 167,653 Raising loan and contingencies— Departmental 1 10,167 ] 1,182 I. 922 ( 45,(100 45,000 14,000 45,000 I 50,729 14,000 12,000 10,000 9,000 Surveys, new lines I 63,000 ■ 6,000 6,000 3G 298 404 500 57,500 2,500 23,229 2,500 500 6,000 Raising loan 1 30,0001 80,729 56,591 909 80,729 Totals 1,325,000 555,765 709,235 500,000 1,209,235 212,589 304,004 229,911 442,500 437,403 298,917 G7,444 L,246,264 22,971 947,000 * The money provide I This includes £'10,0C t This estiinatj will B !d for this rai X) which has 1 ipply approxi Iway also mi to bo providi iuiaboly to oi akes provision for a road, about six miles in length, from the O. ed to supplement amount allocated to " Charges and Expenses ither route, the probable cost of works being greatest for route ikohiriki Sad( of raising Lc e along prosoi die to a point on the Kotorua Road about eight mi rails and Contingencies " in connoction with loan ( ut line, but this being about equalized by thy pro ilcs from ot 1880, V baltle ad il Ohiuemutr. which will be exceeded Llditional cost of land i to that extent. m the Beauh route.

D.—l.

GENEKAL SUMMARY.

Table E. [To accompany Public Works Statement, 1887.] GENERAL SUMMARY. Showing Expendituke under Pubm Woeks Fund, 1880-81 to 1886-87, and Proposed Expenditure, 1887-88 to 1890-91 inclusive. Expenditure. Proposed E Ixpendituro. Class. Description of Services. 1880-81. 1881-82. 1882-83. 1883-84. 1884-85. 1885-85. 1886-87. 1SS7-88. ] 1888-89. I 1889-00. 1890-91. Services at present charged to Part I. of the Public Works Fund. £ £ £ £ £ 3,999 107,041 57,148 7,929 17,500 34,571 m fi0 , f 31,809 30,380 111,003 i Glc35 371C5 100,399 149,982 81,034 84,031 49,314 £ £ 11,675 12,454 12,890 10,729 33,103 30,738 20,833 22,294 37,015 39,748 138,045 81,264 61,794 57,157 1,891 31,622 32,625 £ £ £ H 20,000 14,000 2,000 1,000 I. Immigration 29,701 4,334 10,720 6,000 3,500 I 20,000 II. Public Works Departmental* 4,000 III. Railwayst IV. Roads:— Roads North of Auckland Main Roads Miscellaneous Roads and Bridges Grants-in-Aid Roads to open up Lands Village Settlements Roads on Goldflekls Miscellaneous i I 43,773 17,022 3,870 18,650 34,500 72,000 t>0.000 23,000 31,000 15,000 20,000 40,000 45,000 20,000 30,000 J- 83,501 52,152 92,519 35I930 10,000 4,750 10,000 5,000 15,000 10,000 20,000 20,000 9,200 10,700 Total, Roads Waterworks on Goldflelds 51,117 230,543 10,577 129 145,000 13,272 26 \ 002 15,031 210,605 328,642 317,043 0,824 10,596 8,029 29,844 24,480 70,572 18,054 19,532 25,799 329,072 J 265,717 9,032 7,665 34,545 18,457 30,010 18,952 243,020 1,200 1,000 170,000 800 85,700 28,950 V. VI. Purchase of Native Lands, North Island 50,887 37,912 7,485 10,000 5,000 VII. Telegraph Extension 43,783 20,100 10,000 6,000 5,000 VIII. Public Buildings :— Parliamentary .. General Departmental Offices Judicial Post and Telegraph Customs Survey Quarantine Station Lunatic Asylums Miscellaneous Hospitals and Charitable Institutions School-buildings 55,402 9,336 16,259 1,752 5,331 8,416 183 10,743 22,052 12,227 9,939 22,016 8,955 193 1,659 830 20 34 996 848 313 31,052 58,047 24,992 34 04 250 3,792 88,134 49,814 66,069 153,072 164,376 117,301 4,724 6,730 7,382 19,874 29,591 17,050 7,213 9,001 24,598 43,534 34,033 8 947 11,106 15,875 4,880 2,772 99 461 123 274 4,007 13,0'J4 02,884 51,007 80,859 S9.598 100 19,300 10,950 3,040 20 20,700 8,000 1,000 8,000 '.'. 39,604 971 26,695 "lOO 29,000 30|000 2,219 99,173 205,734 "l40 82,535 128,352 40,000 10I000 20,000 7,000 Total, Public Buildings 109,110 09,700 IX. Lighthouses, Harbour Works, and Harbour Defences:— Lighthouses Harbour Works Harbour Defences 24,512 904 2,397 18,810 300 3,272 0,508 0,004 127,167 139,429 4,300 500 80,000 4,000 50,000 Total, Lighthouses, &c. 25,410 21,207 34,033 133,975 148,705 84,800 54,000 X. Contingent Defenco 154,000 133,219 25,000 12,500 25,139 7,814 10,700 300 XI. Rates on Native Lands 15,000 3,200 XII. Thermal-Springs XIII. Charges and Expenses raising Loans Totals for the Services at present charged to Part I. of Public Works Fund Other Services. Railways:— Construction Works, including Rails, Sleepers, and Rolling-stock, and Additions to Open Lines Purchase of District Railways Purchase of Native Lands, North Island 762,641 950,395 491,387 432,524 447,590 704,201 430,054 002,040 ;; 430,054 002,040 029,985 603,063 GOO,108 630,020 544,028 445,249 188,300 160,187 70,379 504,250 477,100 29^700 20,000 309,500 144,700 50,550 575,074 417,417 179,944 575,074 417,417 179,944 41,729 15,500 12,500 017,403 432,917 192,444 9SG,903 577,077 248,994 Total charge to Railways (except the small items in Part I.) 950,395 432,524 0G3,063 732,328 OS1,815 500,800 Miscellaneous, including Charges and Expenses raising Loans, Interest, and Sinking Fund, Public Works Departmental 200,605 20,808 43,679 70,890 15,043 116,500 Total, Other Services 1,157,000 459,332 13,387 43,341 449,441 705,387 706,742 809,218 090,858 623,300 Grand Total 1,919,641 950,719 897,037 1,409,588 1,330,727 1,475,386 1,333,484 1,127,550 • Up to 188G-87 this item was not t These aro isolated items of railwi subdivided, t iys not cove] and is includ red by loan c led under item " Miscellaneous," at foot of table. )f 1880. Up to 31st March, 1880, all expenditure on railways was includei under one heading.

D.—l.

PUBLIC WOEKS STATEMENT.

INDEX TO TABLES, APPENDICES, AND EEPOETS ALEEADY PEESENTED TO PARLIAMENT DUEING SESSION 1., 1887.

CONSTRUCTION DEPARTMENT. TABLES. Page No. I.—Total Expenditure:—Summary showing the Total Expenditure and Liabilities on Public Works out of Immigration and Public Works Fund to 31st March, 1887 .. .. .. .. 4 No. 2. —Eailways :—Statement showing Total Expenditure and Liabilities on Eailways, including Valuation of Provincial Lines, to 31st March, 1887 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 5 No. 3. —Eoads generally : —Statement showing Expenditure and Liabilities on Eoads to 31st March, 1887 7 No. 4.—Eoads to open up lands :—Statement showing Expenditure and Liabilities on Eoads under the control of the Hon. the Minister of Lands to 31st March, 1887 .. .. .. .. 10 No. 5. —Goldfields Eoads : —Statement showing Expenditure and Liabilities on Goldfields Eoads to 31st March, 1887 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 14 No. 6. —Public Buildings : —Statement showing Expenditure and Liabilities on Public Buildings to 31st March, 1887 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 14 No. 7. —Watee-baces: —Statement showing Expenditure and Liabilities on Water-races on Goldfields to 31st March, 1887 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 15 No. 8.— Telegraphs : —Statement showing Expenditure on Telegraphs out of Immigration and Public Works Loan to 31st March, 1887 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 16 No. 9.— Lighthouses and Habboub Woeks : —Statement showing Expenditure and Liabilities on Lighthouses and Harbour Works out of Immigration and Public Works Loan to 31st March, 1887 .. 17

APPENDICES. Appendix A. —Expenditure fob the Yeab : —Audited Statement of Expenditure on Public Works out of the Immigration and Public Works Loan for the Year 1886-87 .. .. .. .. 21 ~ B. —Total Liabilities :—Statement of all Liabilities of the Public Works Department outstanding on 31st March, 1887 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 23 „ C —Eailway Conteacts : —Schedule of Eaihvay-construction Contracts current on Ist April, 1886, and further Contracts entered into by the Public Works Department during the Year ended 31st March, 1887 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 25 ~ D. —Sleepee Contracts: —Schedule of Sleeper Contracts current on Ist April, 1886, and further Contracts entered into by the Public Works Department during the Year ended 31st March, 1887 .. .. .. .. .. .. ... .. .. .. 27 E.—Eoad Contbacts, etc.: —Schedule of Contracts for Eoads and Miscellaneous Works current on Ist April, 1886, and further Contracts entered into by the Public Works Department during the Year ended 31st March, 1887 „ E. —Eoads to open up Lands : —Schedule of Contracts for Eoads and Miscellaneous Works under the control of the Hon. the Minister of Lands, current on Ist April, 1886, and further Contracts entered into during the Year ended 31st March, 1887 .. .. .. 29 „ G. —Goldfields Eoads : —Schedule of Contracts for Eoads on Goldfields current on Ist April, 1886, and further Contracts entered into during the Year ended 31st March, 1887 .. 30 „ H. —Watee-eaces : —Schedule of Contracts for Water-races current on Ist April, 1886 .. .. 30 „ I. —Annual Eepoet on Eailways, by the Engineer-in-Chief .. .. .. .. 31 J.—Annual Eeport on Eoads, Miscellaneous Works, Buildings, and Defence Works, by the Engineer-in-Chief .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 40 Enclosure with Appendix J. Eeport of Mr. H. M. Skeet on the two most feasible lines of Eoad to connect the District of Taranaki with the North Island Main Trunk Eailway .. .. .. .. 46 Map accompanying same .. .. (following page 48). X,—Annual Eeport on Lighthouse Wobks, etc., by the Marine Engineer.. .. .. 49 Enclosures with Appendix I. 1. Maps of North and Middle Islands, showing Eailways opened, in progress, and proposed. 2. Diagrams showing Miles of Government Eailway opened in the North and Middle Islands separately, and in the Colony as a whole, year by year since 1872. 3. Table of Lengths of Government Eailways authorised, constructed, and surveyed up to 31st , March, 1887.

D.—l.

WORKING RAILWAYS DEPARTMENT. WOEKING-EAILWAYS STATEMENT (D.-la, 1887) :— Ankual Eeport of the General Manager of Eailways .. .. .. .. .. .. iii Eeturns accompanying same: — No. I.—Eevenue Accounts .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. vii No. 2. —Expenditure Account .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. viii No. 3.—Details of Classified Expenditure .. .. .. .. ... .. .. ix No. 4.—Classified Expenditure and Eevenue, showing Percentage of former to latter, &c. .. x No. s.—Comparative Statement of Passenger and Goods Traffic .. .. .. .. xi No. 6. —Cost of Construction, Net Eevenue, and Eate of Interest .. .. .. .. xiii No. 7. —Comparison of Traffic Eevenue and Expenditure for last Eight Financial Years .. .. xiv No. 8. —Traffic Ton-mileage, and Expense of working of Five Principal Sections for last Six Years xiv No. 9. —Classified Maintenance Expenditure .. .. .. .. .. .. .. xv No. 10. —Eevenue and Expenditure of Stations .. .. .. .. .. .. xvii No. 11. —Schedule of Stores Contracts current .. .. .. .. .. .. xxi No. 12. —Carriage and Wagon Stock, and Tarpaulins .. .. .. .. .. .. xxiv No. 13. —Locomotive Stock .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. xxiv Weighing Machines \ Weighbridges No. 14.— Traversers and Turntables L .. .. .. .. .. .. .. xxv Cranes Pumps ) No. 15.—-Eenewals of Eails .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. xxvi No. 16.—Eenewals of Sleepers .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. xxvi No. 17.—Number of Stations and Private Sidings .. .. .. .. .. .. xxvi No. 18.—Particulars of Private-siding Traffic .. .. .. .. .. .. .. xxvii No. 19.—Comparative Mileage of Lines, 1886-87 .. .. .. .. .. .. xxxiv No. 20.—Comparative Statement of Sleepers laid and removed .. .. .. .. .. xxxv No. 21.—Number of Employes .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. xxxv No. 22.—Accidents .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. xxxv No. 23.—Locomotive Eeturns .. .. .. .. ... .. .. .. xxxvi No. 24.—Eepairs to Eolling-stock, Hurunui-Bluff .. .. .. .. .. ... xxxix No. 25. —Traffic from Coal-mines, Hurunui-Bluff .. .. .. .. .. .. xxxix No. 26.—Vessels loaded and discharged at different Ports, Hurunui-Bluff .. .. .. xl No. 27. —Mileage of Track in Main Lino and Sidings, Hurunui-Bluff .. .. xl No. 28.—Comparison of Expenditure on Maintenance for last Nine Years, Hurunui-Bluff.. .. xli No. 29.—Average Eate of Classified Expenditure on Maintenance, Hurunui-Bluff .. .. xlii No. 30.—Statement of Maintenance of different Divisions of Hurunui-Bluff .. .. .. xliii No. 31.—Alterations in Scale of Charges .. .. .. .. .. .. .. xliv Diagram showing Comparison of Traffic, Eevenue, and Expenditure for the last Eight Yetors .. .. (following page xlvi).

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