I

Sess. 11.—1897. NEW ZEALAND.

PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT BY THE HON. W. HALL-JONES, MINISTER FOR PUBLIC WORKS. 14th December, 1897.

Mb. Speakeb,— Since laying before honourable members the Public Works Statement of last year a large number of applications have been received by the Government for the execution of works which would have involved an expenditure much greater than the means at our disposal would permit. Considering how necessary it is that facilities should be provided to assist those who are developing the natural resources of the colony, I have keenly felt my inability, owing to want of means, to meet the numerous demands that have been made. In the matter of railway-construction, I would draw attention to the fact that the Government have had to deal with works started many years ago, and for which the present Administration is not responsible. Due consideration was given to the question as to whether these works should stop at a point where there would be little or no return for past expenditure, or whether they should be continued to a point where not only would there be a fair return from the money to be spent, but also a greater return from the money already expended. The latter course being decided upon, it became a difficult matter to allocate the moneys at our disposal so as to admit of each line being proceeded with and also to insure that a fair rate of progress should be made. Since the 24th January, 1891, 224 miles of railways have been completed, made up as follows : —

i—b. l

Length. Miles. Chains. Line. Section. iVhangarei-Kamo Extension iaihu Valley lelensville Northwards ... .Vaikato-Thames Phames Valley-Rotorua ... sforth Island Main Trunk 'Torth Island Main Trunk iVoodville-Palmerston TVellin gton-N apier /Vellington-Napier 3 icton-Hurunui Westport-Ngakawau Extension Jreymouth-Hokitika )tago Central ... Ratlin's River Seaward Bush ... Kamo-Whakapara Opanake-Booms Kanohi-Makarau Te Aroha-Paeroa Pufcaruru-Rotorua Mokau-Poro-o-tarao Rangatira-Mangaonoho ... Woodville-Palmerston ... Eketahuna-Woodville Te Aro Extension Blenheim-Omaka Ngakawau-Mokihinui Greymouth-Hokitika Hindou-Kokonga Glenoamaru-Owaka Mokotua-Gorge Road 11 3 12 31 12 3 17 26 1 2 7 24 51 11 6 25 55 6 63 56 43 70 21 58 15 43 12 37 2 43 62 Total 224 51