THE FOXTON-TARANAKI RAILWAY. MEMORIAL FROM THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

The following memorial to the Hon. the Minister of Public Works was preseuted to Mr. Walter Johnston to-day by Mr. J R. George, the Chairman of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce :—: — " We, the undersigned merchants, and of Wellington, interested in the trade of Patea, Hftwera, and Waimate Plains, desire to respectfully urge on. the attention of the Government, through the Hon. the Minister for Publio Works, the necessity andimportance of completing the short link of railway not yet let for construction between Manutahi and Hawera, about ten miles in length, thereby connecting in one railway system the who'e coast between Foxton and New Plymouth. Your memorialists would reapeotfully urge that this short link of ten miles not yet scheduled for construction is a serious drawback to the usefulness and the earning oapaoity of the whole railway system already constructed between Foxton and New Plymouth, and they would, therefore, ask that a vote should be taken in thfc session of Parliament for this short link of 10 miles to complete the ooast railway through the Patoa district. Tour memorialists understand that the portion of railway between Waver ley and Manutahi will in a few months be opened for traffic ; the further seotion of 10 miles will connect Wanganui and Patea seaports with the extensive new settlements on the Waimate Plains and promote commercial operations. Your memorialist ask yon to give effeot to these representations, by securing the earliest possible completion cf the coast railway through the Patea district. And your memorialists will evtr pray, &o." The document wbb signed by most of the leading commercial men of Wellington. The reply of the Minister of Public Works was to the effect that the surveys were in a very forward state, and would have been completed but for tho exceptionally wet weather lately, and that the prayer of the memorial will receive every consideration from the Government.