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1904. NEW ZEALAND.

PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT BY THE HON. W. HALL-JONES, MINISTER FOR PUBLIC WORKS, 28th OCTOBER, 1904.

Mr. Speaker,— It is my pleasing duty to place before honourable members my ninth consecutive Public Works Statement, and to report that satisfactory progress has been made with the various works in hand. The progress may not have been so rapid as some would wish, but it must be gauged by the. sums available for the several works. Honourable members must bear in mind that every mile of railway constructed and every chain of road completed is so-much done towards establishing the means of communication necessary for the development of the country in which we live. Each year marks so-much of this work accomplished. Our pioneer settlers who go to the back blocks and by their energy and perseverance bring hitherto waste lands into cultivation must, so far as means permit, be assisted in their efforts by the formation of roads and the extension of railways, so that the products of the soil may be conveyed to the colonial markets or the nearest ports of shipment for export. Our colony has so many natural advantages that to neglect so important a public policy would be to place a great restriction upon the expansion of trade. The marked increase in the exports during recent years could not have been reached but for the improved means of internal communication. As the years go by this great work is being gradually accomplished, and I look forward to the time when, by the completion of the main lines of railway and of our road systems, together with the increased population induced by the settlement of the people upon the land, we shall reap to the full extent the benefits derived from the work which has been and is being carried out. In my last Statement honourable members were informed of the completion of 64 miles 60 chains of railway. Since that date the following sections have been finished: — M. oh. Poro-o-tarao-Taumarunui (Ist December, 1903) ... ... ... 27 36 Owaka-Catlin's (Ist August, 1904) ... ... ... ... 3 38 Ida Valley-Ophir (Ist September, 1904) ... ... ... ... 13 30 Mangaweka-Taihape (12th September, 1904) ... ... ... 13 18 Kawakawa-Kopuru (ready) ... ... ... ... ... 8 0 Paeroa-Karangahake (ready) ... ... ... ... ... 4 30 Taumarunui-Piriaka (ready) ... ... ... ... ... 6 48 Otarama-Staircase (ready) ... ... ... ... ... 5 3 Total ... ... ... ... ... 81 43

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