Railway Intelligence.

Clutha Leader, Volume I, Issue 28, 21 January 1875, Page 5

Railway Intelligence.

■ ♦— _i • '. -i i■ ' ■ KAITANGATA RAILWaVJ; V '" *'' \ The projectors of this.. line' are jmsify " eiignged making' prelimipary arrangements. Mr Robert Gngor has completed r negotia«- 4 i tions with the tol/owing landholders for the following quantities ol land required foe ' the work:— Mr Wm. Smith, -5 acres :■': Mr Maitlaod, from'B to 9 acres- Mr Page- ;-. h an acre; Mr Kiog, ouejhird of an acre^s Mr MMnaes, $ au acre; Mt MDonald, .2t * acres; and Mr. AitchespDil acre. Ar« s f rangemerits have yet to be made/ with* tin *■ lollowms :— Messrs Hislop Brbsr, 1 acreY ; Messrs Hunter. and PilHug9 a^aerei* ;Mc AKx. Duguid,' 1 acre; Mr/Gilroy, one-' eighth of an acre; Mr Matthew* ode- : eighth cf an acre ; and Mr Scott, one'- " eighth of an acre. It is estimated that the ■ land will be got for an average all rouod of -. L8 per acre. The' parties with whom ar- : ratuements have been completed have, we understand, shewn a due appreciation of the importance of the work, and met the projectors in a spirit •of fairness and liberality. It is not supposed that any great difficulty will be experienced > in completing negotiations with the others, the aharptet curves on the line. as projected will be 15 chains, the others vanine irom that to 80 chains. Sime slight diffi. culty will be experienced in making the junction nt Stirling, in consequence of the position selected for the goods shed at the inaio line. Tbis would be avoided, were the Government to consent that, the shed should he built on the opposite side of the ro ; d. The alteration would be but trifling 1 , . and we have no doubt the Government will so for meet the views of the Company, as to give effect to the proposed change, unless it can be 6hown to be inconsistent with the efficient working of the line. . Mr Co3le, engineer, is ; now engaged' making a survey with the view, of ascertaining if it would not be practicable to carry the railway in a direct line .through the swamp. He is provided with boring rods to ascertain at what depth the solid ground would be got. If the line could be taken direct it is estimated that a aura of L4OO would be saved in the construction alone, and that, as certain curves would be avoided, a corresponding reduction would be effected in the maintenance. Nothing has been definitely arranged about the, expense of preliminary turveys, • tut •we think the pr jectors have a fair claim to get these defrayed by the, Government. A resolution was passed by the Provincial Council affirming the desirability of getting flying surveys for this work completed during the present recess. In other words the work has been provided, for by vote of the Council, consequently the Government ought to have no heeita*^ tion in the matter. • , ..'.... -; BRANCH LltfK TO CATLTN's RITER. - The formation of a branch line of railway to connect South Molyneux and the CatHn's River district is a sutj'ect which, our readers will bs pleased to Itarn, is just now e ngaeing a fair shire of consideration thoughout the various districts more immedia'ely interested. The subject waa introduced to the Council at its last sitting by the district member, Mr M'Neil, and a motion was passed affirming the desirability of getting a flying survey made' during the recess. Nothing further wa« done in the matter until a few weeks ago, : ; when certain gentlemen interested in the project bad an interview with 3 bis Honor' 'he Superintendent at which tbe matter was mentioned. The Superintendent them to - understand— so our information" runs — that in the present unsettled state of the provincial question, there was little or l no likelihood of the work being Undertaken * hy the Government. The success which attended the launching of. the Anderson's l Biy. railway scheme presents' a new phase of the question, End we are happy to say. that so far as the. proposal has been Ven- ~ tilated.it has been well received. A meetfor the purpose of taking further action in the matter is spoken of, and will, we be'lieve, be convened in a few days. In the '* carrying out of this work two routes will '' be open for selection, viz,' thd road by GJennamaru, and that by the Ocean ,Beacn and Wilaher'a Creek. Witn regard to the ■.: former we .bave./aa.'yet gained, no very r ' definite information. The route py Wih»;* ! sher's Creek, however, will r command . thNj r^' advantage— it, will pass .though -Port^ MolyneuXj. arid bring, the whole of iWtT' magnificent tract of country forrniog the" western branch of, Melyneui; Bay Jnto;^ ; direct com municatioa With ; our ' rail way ? ■ Byftera. r ..The,lengih of l'ne carrisd l dowaj ' to,, the Qavernment ; towpsHjp- pf NeW^' Haven, at the . junction of \ Catlin's ,River %■ and the O^wake. is roughly estimated at 2-i .'- ----miles; and, with the exception of 6 ;fd«r,.J spurs or;, ridges .between, the head oif;,>Vil-- ; seer's Cre ek and th e Q *ake,"' the entire^ country from Balcliitha is a dead lie vel.~ lodependent ly altogether- of the'" bush country— -estimated ,at JL4OO square miles-r-----w; ich : .thw lineof rail ; Vill.'tap, a. vast > e'xteut. of f aatoral • and 5 agricultural^, land;, wi II .be penetrated. ?- ; Porl example . thfe^" ,' twelve months', operations* of .thl^.. (district^ hhowsi that exclusive ; joi ;j what , went ; away/' qtherwipe,t itbe following^ quaqtities, were s * shipped. for Dunedin alone :~ i '■" ', j \. " . ■\Vheat r.. :..-..;,.. 44,988 bnshe '»,. IJ> I Oats ..' .'...'1. 47,031 'i,--- 1 •, Barley: '.-.: -w--'.i l .. Mt5W,-..f^t.,^ ' ilfotatoea, . .... : > .-; .-..-.• .:. 487. tons.... _ „ i . Skioa - ._.. . .., .. .. 1736 "■"; "" s: ~ ' f Railway Sleepers ■; „; •-..' "- 'B&2.'T-7 ,i.:--S I! * Timber ■ : r . !? . . sj - .1; - , .;„. j - aa,430 feet 4 , r < In aduiiion ito,the above therew^re^ipped, during .the>3:ear-r.372 .hi4es,j332, bajes lot 1 wool,4Qo;sheepj 784 ; bales^of tiiis,'p&tqna ',*. of; coalji I^2 .biiies of /to^t^k^gs^Q^ b'Uter.)9 caieaiofiiegg^f^^caßk^ of:',tal(pw r , 13 spiles; and; /; 6Qi bagf^of ,flour/^^a^ principal fdiatrict* thrpugh;/.w|twU|MeJin<k. wjlli pass fare vA^urffvP-ae?:^ JVrfei Molyneux^/^j^ailin'ss^R^.^l^. Waitapeba tbir^iM^oQ^u&^es he^frre-^ hold\ \ xAn Ahnnwm6Q } \ y Pjuer|ia, $73tfjU PJ.r^Mor«n e ux r^4^,:an^t^|i^l SSWiqi As 4ear ? aßjweocanj,a e p|^i n |ther|^it^ about;|wienty- fi?.e^perj[ cepM&i "i^fi^Mw^; b

P^TtTw^?T!T'^ ■-...-- i .' * ; M- t .-. tender odtatotiot*t!ntwfrty>fivß.;or;i~ ha* lie-, u feneedi'Ttior otherwise iritproved-f-the *emamitvg-£G iper. cent: being open a d Hrholly -tMkiulrivated.^ We have just ooe ttfber f&feaf k* •- to ' make upon tbe point. Tbe Solftfa jMfclyneux Road Board Iras in tftntempittioa the fofmati >n of a. road by WilaberVi Greek no Catlin's. We are not fa a polirtdn 'tir name the sum of mdoey they c»nt«nrplate-*pending an. that road, tut from.awbat w* can gather we have no doubt but that .the amount would bo devoted to aid irr construction of the pro* posed line., the eubject is one ' which deserves favourable., consideration, find we t arnestly.bope no time will be lost la placing the matteHn a practical shape. ' THE VLAJJ( LINE! . The-WOTk on.tbe Main Line has been Completed to a point not more than 1£ miles -from the commencement of the Clutha, Contract* F-om tnat point a distance of .1$ miles further down country the permanent way has likewise been finished with tbfc exception of laying the under ballasting. .On the Tokomairiro and Dunediil ride th A line has been nnishrd as far as-Garson's River. In fact, the entire through/line is eo. far advanced toward? -completes th*t in. a few days it is expeeted-- the engine will be. able to run right through from the Clutha River to the lower -part of the Waibola Gorge. During the l«st;fsw weeks the woik has been going on. a great -deal more satisfactorily than it-has done at any time since it was. begot* iThe engineer is just now engaged making arrangements for tbe stations to be laid down between this and Tokomairiro, Viz., tine at Lovel's Flat, and another ai the crossing of the Kaiiangata road. WAITAPEKA DIVERSION. Our readers will recollect that a few weeks .ago a public meeting was held at Waitaptka for the purpose of endeavoring to induce the Government to take the railway by the way of the Waitapeks Valley.. At the meeting a letter was read which Mr Thomson, the member for tht district: had sent to the Hon. Mr Richard son. This letter was published by us in our report of the proceedings. To tbi? letter Mr Thomson has received tbe fallowing reply:— "Public Work" Offi e Wellington, 22ad December, 1874. Sir. — I have to acknowledge the receipt ol your letter of 10th inst., having referenc to the route of the railway from Balcluths towards- Clhvon, and suggesting that tbtGovernment should call lor tenders for tht alternation route by the Waitapeka, awell as that by the Four Mile Creek, am; in reply to etite that it will oe impAssibl* to do so unless a large expense U incurrer in staking out the Waitapeka line, ann making detail plans and sections similar to those* being made for tbe line now adop'ed In the. face of the reports on these twr routes nade by the Engimer-in. Chief 1 do not consider the Government would bt warranted in taking the course yor suggest. — I am, &<*., Edward Ricbabdson