The Press. MONDAY, MAY 1, 1865. THE SOUTHERN RAILWAY.

Press, Volume VII, Issue 781, 1 May 1865, Page 2

The Press. MONDAY, MAY 1, 1865. THE SOUTHERN RAILWAY.

The negotiations which have been for some time carried on with Messrs. Holmes and Co. and other contractors, respecting the contract for the Southern Railway, have been been brought to a satisfactory conclusion. The great difficulty which the Government has been under has been that in disposing of the securities of the province, and so obtaining funds for the purpose of engaging in any additional work beyond that, which, in the absence of money raised by loan, has borne so heavily on the current resources of the province.

Messrs. Holmes and Co. have, however, undertaken, in the contract now made, to meet the Government half-way, and to take half the value of the work in cash, and the remainder, half in debentures and half in land, at the rate established by law of £2 an acre. The whole price of the work from Christchurch to the Bakaia is about £200,000. Messrs. Holmes and Co.'s offer is therefore equivalent to investing £50,000 in land. The £50,000 which they will receive in debentures, they undertake to leave in the hands of the Government until the contract is complete, so that they will not be placed on the market unless by the consent of the Government for two years. The debentures are to be taken at 90. As the tunnel will be concluded in the course of little more than a year, and only about £35,000 will be required in cash on the new contract in that time, the Government appears to have thought itself justified in engaging in the work at once. The railway is to be opened in 12 months as far as the Bolleston station, about 13 miles from Christchurch, and to the Bakaia in two years. This contract does not include the bridge, but as the value of the railway will depend as much on the bridge, as that ofthe bridge does on the railway, we hope that the Government will find itself in a position to let the contract for the bridge as soon as possible, so that the construction may be commenced the moment the railway is ready to fcarry the materials to the spot. The agreement with Messrs. Holmes and Co., we understand, whilst requiring tbem to complete the railway in two years, empowers the Government to require the work to be expedited if they have funds in hand to meet the cost, and also empowers them to prolong the time or suspend the works altogether should financial disaster compel them to do so. Messrs. Holmes and Co. are also required to find the necessary rolling, stock and work the line for six months after its completion, and to keep it in repair, for that time; and they are to provide temporary stations and everything necessary" for the purpose. Messrs. Holmes and Co. Dind. themselves to commence work within a week when required. The clause relating to taking land in part payment is contingent upon its approval by the Provincial Council. I

Me. Habmanreturnedto town on.Saturday night with Mr. Johnstone and Mr. Otway. Mr. Browning and Mr. Griffiths are still engaged in completing the exploration of the 'only small part left which has not been investigated. Mr. Harman will send in his report to the Grovernment as soon as he has laid down the route of the party on the map. But we may say in one word in the meantime that the expedition, whilst it has filled up a considerable part left in the unsurveyed blank: on the map, has failed to discover any available route to the head waters of the Hokitika op Aratvnra.

I The route described by the Maoris was to be discovered by finding a cave at the base of a mountain called Kamere.. Thence it lay tip a spur to the saddle where there was a lake, thence down another spur into the bed of the'Arahura. Mr. Harman's party failed to find the cave, but they got on to a saddle supposed to be about 1500 feet above the valley. He came on a lake and followed the valley down some seven miles the other side, finding it gradually toirning round to the north and thence easterly. They stopped opposite an enormous mountain which doubtless was Tera

Tama. It is certainly most singular that the same result should be found in the waters of the Bakaia, at least of its north branch, the Wilberforce, as is the case with those of the Waimakariri. All these valleys in the central range seem to run north and south. It seemed most likely that the stream down which Mr. Harman followed went into the Hopeakowa and so into the Teramakau. One small valley was seen coming in from the west and discharging its stream into the head waters of the Wilberforce, but it did not look very promising ; and as the party were on the range on the opposite side of the Wilberforce valley it was not prospected. The stream followed |up was that on tbe north side of the mountain called Sebastopol. Mr. Browning has now gone up tbe stream on tbe south side.

It seems to us that tbe Maori pass has not yet been discovered; lakes are so frequent on the tops of these saddles that we place no reliance on this as a guide. The Maoris are distinct as to tbe Arabura rising in tbe lake they spoke of. The one seen by Mr. Harman's party therefore was not that lake. Besides the failure to find tbe cave or even any mountain which could be identified as Kaniere, leaves tbe whole thing in as much doubt as ever, and leaves Arthur's pass as the best at present known route to the West Coast.

Latest from Hokitika.—The Gothenburg arrived yesterday evening, about half-past nine o'clock, from Hokitika via Nelsoo. We have no papers to hand, aud can only give the items of news telegraphed from Port. The Maid of the Yarra had arrived at Nelson with 2000 ounces of gold for the Union Bank, mating the total quantify brought during the week 12,000 ounces, of the value of £44,000. That amount however represents three weeks' work, as till the arrival of the Omeo no steamers had reached Nelson from Hokitika for a fortnight. The expected rush to the Wanganui river had set in. Tenders had been received for getting the s.s. Nelson off the spit on which she was aground, the estimated cost of fee work being £1000. Rakaia Eiectioh - . —The poll was taken yesterday at Captain Westenra's woolshed, and the official declamtlon made shortly after the close. Mr. F. E. Stewart was declared elected by a majority of four. The numbers were :—For Mr. F. E. Stewait. 27 ; for Mr. E. C. J. Stevens, 23. Volunteer Firs Brigads. — The half-yearly meeting of the Cbristchui'ch Volunteer Fire Brigade -will take place in the Engine-house on Tuesday evening, at seven o'clock. Canterbury McsiOAn Society;.—This society announces the production of Hadyn's oratorio "The Creation," at the Town Hall on Thursday next. The oratorio has been in active preparation for some time past, and, with tbe excellent orchestra announced, no doubt it will prove a perfect success. Chttbcb: Property Trustees.—The quarterly meeting ofthe Church Property Trustees will bebeld in the College Library at two o'clock p.m. tomorrow. LYTTEiTow Mr/KiciPATi CoTTNCrii. —As no quorum was present at tbe usual hour on Friday evening the meeting of the Council stands adjourned to Friday next. Water Supply fob Lyttbxton.—The Lyttelton Municipal Council have offered a reward of £100 for tbe best set of plans, &c., for a scheme for supplying tbe town with, water. The water must be brought to a height of 150 feet above high-water mark, and may be taken from tbe tutmel, if practicable. The plans and estimates of cost, kc, must be lodged, with a mol to attached, with the Town Clerk on or before the 31st July next. EircAMparjsNT Committee.—An adjourned meet ing of Volunteer Officers took place on Saturday afternoon, in the side-room ofthe Town Hall. It was decided, in the amount subscribed not being sufficient to defray the expenses incurred at the Hillsboroagh Encampment,—" That a ball should jbe held in aid of the Volunteer Fond, in the Town; Hall, on the anniversary of the Queen's Birthday,; the 24th May ; and that the patronage of his Honor the Superintendent be solicited for it j " also, "Tha* the ladies of Canterbury be requested to act with the' committee of officers for the purpose of getting up a bazaar in aid of the Volunteer Fund, to be held in tbe Drill-shed during the month of August." Several i accounts were passed, and ordered to be paid, and tbe meeting separated. Pbiwoess' TfiEATBE.-r-The theatre will be reopened this evening for the winter season, when Ring Lear will be produced. The company includes the names of Mr. and Mrs. Dillon, Mr. George Fawcett, Miss Rosa Cooper, Messrs. Harding and Dale, and the principal members of the late company* We hope fee liberal manner in which Mr. Hall has thus catered for the piblic amusement may be coalmensurately responded to, and feat at the termination of the season he may have no cause to repeat his enterprise.