THE RIVAL ROUTES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIII, Issue 33, 9 February 1892, Page 8

THE RIVAL ROUTES.

WELLINGTON NOT TO BE OUT

DONE IN AGITATION.

THE MINISTER OF WORKS INTER

VIEWED.

(BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

Wellington, this day. An influential deputation waited on Hon. Mr Seddon this morning in reference to the North Island trunk railway. Dr. Newman, M.H.R., in pointing to the fact that a tender had been let at the north end and that tenders had not even been advertised for at the section from the southern end, remarked that the future prosperity of Wellington almost depended on something being done at the south end. The people of this district were anxious that tenders should be let at once, or they were afraid the vote would lapse, and the deputation had waited on the Minister to ascertain the cause of tho delay. It was also pointed out that the feeling in the country districts from Marton to Wellington was very strong in favour of the work being gone on with at the south end, and that some alarm was felt at the agitation aroused in Auckland in regard to the route of the line. Mr Fisher, M.M.R., observed that the people of Wellington were not going to be outdone in the matter of agitation.

Hon. Mr Seddon said the principal reason tenders wore not called for the Makohini bridge contract at the south end, was that the plans were not ready. The staff had been kept very busy of late and only those works which were moat pressing, such as the Te Aro railway, had been pat in hand. In fact, too much sweating had been done in putting some of these works in hand, and he could say never before in the history of the Public Works Department had such an amount of work been accomplished in such a short space of tiiae. If he had pushed on with the preparations for this contract it would have meant an increase in the stall. Besides tho native difficulty in regard to thelande through which the section was to pass was not yet settled, and it would be useless to call for tenders for the Mokobini bridge contract until the railway was made to it. He assured the deputation that the plans for the work were now being prepared, and he had every reason to believe the native difficulty would soon be overcome. Taking the political phase of the matter, and the agitation in Auckland, lie could say that as far as the Government aro concerned their policy was contained in the Public Works Statement, and there would be no divergence from that without the sanction of Parliament. Were the Government to allow an agitation in particular centres to direct their policy during the recess, there would be no end of confusion. Parliament had voted the money for tho work and defined the route, and the Government intended to adhere to what Parliament sanctioned. Ho had given the deputation tho full particulars of the cause of tho delay, and he felt satisfied they would not say tho Government acted wrongly. He explained why he lot a tender for the deviation at the north end, and said if the Government had paid attention to the pressure brought to bear on them from the Auckland people to put the work in hand at their end shortly after the session closed, it would have entailed great loss. What had been done was in accord witli the wish of Parliament, and in the interests of the colony, and the Government intended to keep that course throughout. Ho also mentionod that before letting the five miles at the north end be ascertained from Mr Cad man that the position of tho native lands through -which the section passed warranted him in taking the step. In conclusion he assured the deputation that the vote for the railway could not lapse, ad the contract wa; under way.