EXTENDING THE RAILWAY TO TE ARO.

Evening Post, Volume XL, Issue 9, 10 July 1890, Page 2

EXTENDING THE RAILWAY TO TE ARO.

♦ DEPUTATION TO THE MINISTER OF POBLIC WORKS. At 10 o'olook this morning the Minister of Public Woks (Mr. Fergus) was interviewed by a deputation, consisting of the Mayor, Councillors Frasor, Willcston, and Smith, and tho Town Clerk, Mossrs. J. Duncan (President), T. J. Gale (Vioe-Presidont), D. T. Stuart, A. M'Dougall, J. Duthie, H. Hughes, T. F. Martin, and S. Carroll, representing the Chamber of Commorco, and Messrs. G. Fisher, C. B. Izard, and Dr. Nowman.M.H.lt.'s, who urged tho extension of the Government railway to Te Aro. The Mayor explained that the object of tho deputation was to asoortain the exact intentions of the Government with respeotto the extension of the Government lino of railway from tho present terminus to Tory-street. The people of Wellington wore earnest in their desire to have tho work carried out, and this was shown by tho continuous agitation which had gone on for many years and the attendance at the prosent intorview of bo many representative gentlemer. .. ■ Councillor Fraser said that -he had been givon to undorstand that if it had not boon for the apathy of the people of Wellington the extension would have been an accomplished fact long. The agitation had been going on for many years, and the City Council had been assured by the .Railway Commissioners that the works oonld be done in ono way for the sum of £9000 and in another for .£13.000. The Council bad been assured that the lino would pay, and this was a sufficient argument why the work should be done. It might be said that there was no money available, but an to tbat he would point out that the necessary funds could easily be raised, ad the Manawatu Company wore preparod to make the extension if the Government found themselves unable to do so. Land for a Btation at Te Aro was set aside some years ago, and the publio convenience would be met by extending the line np to it. Mr. Duncan, on behalf of the Chamber of Commerce, strongly supported the arguments adduoed in favour of constructing tho line. Everyone in the community was anxious to Bee the line taken on to Te Aro. It had been suggested that if the Government could not see their way to carry out the work they should allow it to be done by other peoplo, and this was,_ he thought, a sensible and feasible suggestion. If the work conld not be given to the Manawatu Company, he thought that a small oompany conld bo formed which would make the extension, and charge the Railway Commissioners and the Manawatu Company for the right of using it. If this were done a great benefit to the publio would result. Mr. Duthie pointed out that it was intended by the Harbour Board to concentrate the coal traffic on Jervois quay, and that if the line was not extended to Te Aro great inconvenience wonld result through steamers having to leave Jervois-quay and go to the Railway Wharf, where the berthing accommodation would be limited, and diechargo the ooal which had to be sent up country. When he was Mayor of Wellington ho had some correspondence with the direotors of tho Manawatu Company on tho Bubjeot of the extension of the railway to Te Aro, and had received assnrmo s from them tutt they wore prepared to carry oui tho work if tho Government wonld not stand in tho way. Dr. Newman had had soveral conversations in tho past with tho Premier on the subjeot of the extension, and the difficulty which tho Government then caw in the way wan want of funds. There was, ho (Dr. Newman) understood, a Burplus from tho Eketahuna extension vote, and this, he thought, might be applied in extending tho railway to Te Aro. The Commissioners had rails, sleepers, &c, on hand, and these wonld go a long way in carrying out the work. 1 he Minister thought that the ostimate of .£9OOO might be dismissed at onoe. The road opposite the Post Offioe was only 60ft wide, and if 15ft were taken off for railway purposes it would be made altogether too narrow. It wonld be therefore bettor to expend £13,000 and carry the line outside the present roadway. He had gone carefully into the estimate of £13,000, and was of opinion that it was a fair one. It was a well-known fact that all the money voted for extending linos had boon expended, and tho Commission era were now asking for £20,000 ttore. If the To Aro extension were carried out, the amount required would be about £30,000. Tho trouble of the Government was to find tho money for the proposed extension to Tory-street. As a matter of fact there was no surplus from the Ekotahuna, extension, as the land olaims had absorbed the balance, and left the account a little in debt. Then, again, the line thronghthe Manawatu Gorge to Woodville was costing more than expected, owing to the occurrence of heavy slips, and there wonld bo a deficit when tho work had beon completed. The Government admitted that the line to Tory-street should be made, bnt as to whother it could be carried out at onoe he could not cay without consulting his colleagues. To allow the Manawatu Company to make the extension and rnn trains np to Tory street would cause complications. There was also the same objection to the extension going into the hands of a company formed for the purpose, and on the whole ho thought it would be bettor that the line should be extended by the Government. Mr. Duncan explained that the money required could be readily raised in Wellington, The Minister quite recognised the desirableness of extending the lino, and promised to consult the Colonial Treasurer for the purpose of ascertaining whether the works could be done, and he won d undertake to furnish the deputation with a reply in a few days. Mr. Gale asked Mr. Fergtu whether he thought that any more complications would easne through the running of tho Manawatu Company's trains to Te Aro than now took place through the company's trains running on the Railway Wharf. The Minister replied in the affirmative. In reply to Mr. Duthie he said that tho estimates did not provide for coal or other heavy traffic If they went in for heavy traffic they would require at least £19,000. Councillor Willeston observed that an impression had been general for a long time that if the extension had been required in any other centre of the colony it would have been carried ont years ago. Mr. Fergus thought that Wellington was very well off as regards public expenditure, and added that the feeling in other places was that this city received more of the Government plums than fell to the lot of tho other districts. After further discussion, Mr. Dnthie complained that although the agitation for the extension had been going on for six years, the people were as far off Tom attaining their object as they were at the outset. The Government had behaved in the dog in-tho-manger fashion, and he thought it was high time that if they could not do the work themselves they should allow it to be done by others. The Minister, in reply to the Mayor, said that he was in favour of the work, and would recommend the Government to carry it out. The deputation having thanked, the hon. gentleman for his courtesy, the interview ended.

What the people want. It is well known that even the most temperate individuals occasionally feel the want of a wholesome stimulant. The coming temperanoe beverage ' is Renshaw'e nafetmented and non-intoxi-cating ginger wine,— Adtt.