RAILWAY MATTERS.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 7863, 14 May 1891, Page 6

RAILWAY MATTERS.

MR SEDDON'S ASSERTIONS DENIED.

[FROM OtTR CORRESPONDENT.]

WELLINGTON, May 13.

With reference to the criticisms of the Railway Commissioners by Mr Seddon and Mr Vaile, as wired by the-Press Association from Auckland, I am in a position to state that there is no foundation for the assertions that the rates have been raised 25 per cent, and that the plant is being allowed to become depreciated in A*alue. Instead of this, the truth is that the charges have been greatly reduced, and extensive improvements have been made in the plant, which is as a rule in excellent order, much better than formerly. As a matter of course, the boilers of the engines which were placed on the rails fourteen or fifteen years ago are getting worn out, and will soon need replacing by new ones. Steam pressure has in many cases been greatly reduced and haulage power is proportionately lessened, bnt this is inevitable with all engines as the boilers grow old. It was in order to lose no time in substituting new boilers for old ones that the order waa given, which was so strongly censured by Mr Seddon—that for the construction of four new boilers in England. These are urgently needed for certain engines of the F class, which are to be rebuilt with 12in cylinders and 1601b pressure, instead of 10£ in and 1301b, and with wing tanks instead of saddle tanks, thus making them much more powerful and handy than at present; also for two engines of the new W class, the first of which was shown at the Dunedin Exhibition, and more of which are to be built for working the heavy grades on the Pahnerston-Taranaki line. With the limited working plant at present available it is estimated that more than six months must elapse before the boilers could be built in New Zealand, and the Commissioners havo been unable to obtain from the Government and Parliament the money requisite for erecting additional works, &c. Thus the boilers would only have been made in New Zealand at a cost of much valuable time being lost, when engine power is needed to meet growing traffic. So far all attempts to discover the cause of the Manawatu Gorge accident have proved futile. The line appears to have been in good order, and the engine, after a most careful examination, has been pronounced in perfect order. Every effort was made to induce the delinquent engine to run off again at the same place, in order that the reason might be detected, but all in vain— the engine kept the rails at all speeds and under every adverse condition. It has been literally pulled to pieces, but no discovery has rewarded the search. The occurrence at present baffles all conjectures as to its cause, which remains a mystery. Meanwhile, that class of engine will not be employed between Woodvifle and Palmerston, the M. or R. class doing the work.

(PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGBAM.)

WELLINGTON, May 13.

The Railway Commissioners are denying the statements made at the interview between the Minister for Public Works and Mr Vaile at Auckland. They assert that so far from the rates being raised 25 per cent, and the plant losing its value the reverse is the case. The rates have been lowered largely and the plant improved, both in efficiency and value.