CLUTHA VALLEY RAILWAY

Bruce Herald, Volume LV, Issue 61, 11 August 1919, Page 3

CLUTHA VALLEY RAILWAY

ALTERNATIVE ROTTES. A deputation waited ■upon' the Acting Prime) Minister (Sir James Allen) and the Minister, of Public Works (Sir William Eraser) on Thursday (aiys the Wellington Post) with refereu'ce. to the proposed Clutha Valley railway. The member:* of the deputation were Messrs Jasper Clark (Lovclls Plat}*, E. King (Clyd'evale), audi G. P. Hunt (PoniaItaka). It was explained that a railway had been authorised from Tuapeka Mouth, but the deputation, which represented jiree. railway leagues, was of opinion that the 1 route should ,be altered, and, instead of going dbw-m the river, should be' constructed through! the, rich country to Loveils Flat. It was argued that n- old route presented diiiHculties in regard to river crossings, and would destroy a road, which it would 'be costly to replace. Further, it would not tap anything like the area of highly-produc-tive country, which would' -be served by the route now proposed. It was suggested that air independent commission, comprising an expert farmer, a business man, and).the Public Works engineer, • onl-cl report on the routes 1 before a decision was come to. J a lives Allen assured) the deputation that the Gove raiment would do its best to select M, e route which l would be of the greatest good to the greatest minbe-r, both now and having regard to he future. • :■:• Willi an i- Eraser said that the line was held up when the proposal for an alternative route from Loveils Flat was made, lie had' put on. an 1 engineer to rc-pcirt. on that route, (but irad had to take hi in off when the staff was depleted by the war. He intended, as- soon as possible!, to have a man eent to make a detailed! report as to grades and engineering possibilities. He would not come to any decision until all the necessary information was l obtained., so that mistakes anight 'be avoided. No commission could advise on, the 'best! route until they had surveys to show whether there were engineering difficulties. In reply to g question, Sir William Fraser said! that when the surveys' had been-made, if there was a dispute about the route, the Caibinet would 1 probably require! a report from a commission before coming to a decision.

DISCUSSED AT BRUCE COUNTY COUNCIL. At Tuesday's meeting of the Bruce County Council the question of routes came up for cM sens si oik The Ohairman. (Councillor T. Scott) proposed "that the council respectfully request that- the Government, in! fixing the route of the Cltitha Valley railway, construct tire railway where: it will open up the largest amount of agricultural land and 'be available for the largest numiber of settlers." Councillor 'Clark seconded the motion. He quite agreed that there was a' difference of opinion as to the route, 'but that there was no difference on this side of the river as to which route was the best. •Councillor Hyislop moved as an amendment, "that they do not interferewith the route authorised by Parliament— Baldut'ha to Tuapekn Mouth." This route 'had, been pushed through Parliament years ago, while tire supporters of the other routes were sleeping, and it was only recently that they had come to light with 1 their routes. Councillor "Russell said he was against the council interfering with the. railway whires. It was n'ot so ver-yi long ago that the council were considering tho question of a good road up the riverbank, anid they should stick to that Irst. 'Councillor Clark considered that it was the council's duty, to push forward the ratepayers' interests. It was the ratepayers "who were 'asking for it, and (•loser sett lament demanded a railway through that country. The. amendm'ent lapsing for want of a seconder, tire motion' was carried, with two dissentients.