RAILWAY MANAGEMENT.

Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 67, 20 March 1889, Page 2

RAILWAY MANAGEMENT.

Having discovered that yesterday it waa on the wrong tack in regard to the Te Aro railway extension, the New Zealand Times has, according to it 3 wont, turned round, and this morning unsays a good deal of what it said or suggested yesterday. In fact, it reduces several of the mountains of itß own creation to something less than their original proportions as molehills. So far as we understand its present frame of mind, it sees no great diffionlties in the way of the extension to Te Aro. We are glad of this, for although we do not suppose that the opinions of the Now Zealand Times will have much influence one way or tho other in determining the question, we do not like to ace any Wellington journal running counter to the interests of the commnnity. We are, however, astonished to find our contemporary i gravely and seriously proposing to undermine the church, and attacking its very foundations. We, of courßO, refer to St. Mark's Church, beneath which it suggests the railway should run. If this proposed half-mile tunnel, from Mr. J. R. George|s property in Sussex-square to the Hospital ia really the least objectionable way of extending the railway to Newtown, we can only aay that we do not think many persons at present alive will ever see such an extension made. The idea of such a tunnel in the very heart of the city is simply preposterous. The expense would be enormous, and the line when made would be a most objectionable one. It would be just as reasonable to propose to construct a subway from Thorndon to Newtown after the plan of the snbway under Oxford-street which is now proposed in London. It will, however, be generations yet before either tunnels or underground railways will be required in Wellington. Our present generation will probably be content to aeo the telegraph wires put underground, without putting railways there. Several alternative routes much leas expensive and less objectionable are available, and there should be no difficulty in deciding on one of these. The late Ministry had plans prepared of a line which offers many advantages, althongh its coat would probably be considerable. According to thib plan the line would not paaa through the southern part of the city at all, but would be continued from the reclaimed land by a tunnel under Mount Victoria to the long gully at the other side, which runs down to Kilbirnie. Along the side of this gully the line would be taken until above Kilbirnie. Another short tunnel or deep cutting would bring it into Newtown. Very little would have to be paid for compensation if this line were adopted. In any case the route should be determined without delay, even if the construction of the line may not be immediately entered on.