THE KAWAKAWA RAILWAY.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 10333, 29 April 1899, Page 10

THE KAWAKAWA RAILWAY.

'. (PBESS ASSOCIATION- TTC-EG-AM.) AUCKLAND, April 28. All who could of the railway committee recently appointed at a public meeting waiUd upon the Hon. A. J. Cadinan, Minister tor Railways, in the Council Chambers at Kawakawa on Thursday, the question at issue being the closing down or leasing of the Kawakawa Railway. Mr Cadman explained tho situation, and mentioned the loss upon last year's running and the probable cost required to repair the big bridge. He was present to learn what the district was prepared; to do. Replying to questions, Mr Cadman said private enterSrise was proposing to lease the line, ut he did not know on what terms. Unless the County Council took it over, he could not see! any other way out of the difficulty. He had carefully considered the reductions that might be made in the working,. but they were not sufficient to warrant his Department in running the line. If the line had to be closed the rails would not rot, though the sleepers would. He thought he might be Able to*face a loss of one or two hundred pounds, but his Ministers would never sanction a loss of £10001 per - annum or morel After two hours' hard battling, Mr WH. Reed suggested an increase of freight onunerchandise and ' coal. Mr Cadman said he was prepared to do anything in reason. Figures were then gone into,- and "consultations were made with storekeepers and others, and it was eventually agreed that the freights might be raised 50 per cent., and passengers' fares about 25 per cent., with 6d per ton extra on coal if it could be obtained from the one customer, the Northern S.S. Company. Mr Cadman said he was quite satisfied hia Ministers would agree to tbe terms Of' the increase for one year at least; ia the meantime the line would ran as usual. It was a very unpleasant position for him to be placed in, but as the Cabinet would not run railways at a loss to the colony he was pleased the public had suggested one way out of the difficulty.