DEPUTATION.

Evening Star, Issue 3853, 30 June 1875, Page 2

DEPUTATION.

A deputation, consisting of Messrs Driver, M.P.0., Tewsley, M‘Neil, Nicholls, E. B. Cargill, and Whitelaw, waited upon the Superintendent this morning, when Mr Dbiveb explained that it had come to the knowledge of several leading merchants and others in Dunedin interested in the progress of the place and the country that several sections S, the main trunk lines, both north and south, weer being rather neglected or hung up in the meantime for various reasons. Take for instance, the Southern line, which was near completion as far as Balolutha. One section between Mataura and Popotunoa was let, but owing to some disputes or rivalry aa to where the line should run between Clinton and Mataura, the surveys had not been comnleted by the General Government, who had allowed the matter to hang up until the disputes were settled. He thought his Honor would see that it was of great importance that the south line, almost as much as the northern one, should be pushed on, so that it could be opened right through. There was no complaint as to the southern line, except as to the portion between Clinton and the Olutha. With regard to the northern line, some gentlemen had been at considerable trouble to make inquiries in reference to xfc, and found that it was a good deal in the same position as the southern one. From Sawyers Bay to Blueskin contracts were let and were progressing, fiom Blueskin to Waiwas surveyed, but not let; but from Waikouaiti to Palmerston was neither surveyed nor had anything at all been done in reference to that section. Now, it was of the greatest importance that the whole of the sections should be opened, if they hoped to keep up the northern trade, as it was known that the Canterbury people were forcing their lines down South as fast as possible. The deputation brought this matter before his Honor in the hope that he would| use his position as with the General Government to have the sections referred to gone on with, instead of their being hung up until disputes were settled. .His Honor ; Of course you are aware that although the lines are being constructed at the expense of the Province, tneir construction is entirely in the hands of the General Government.

Mr Driver said that the deputation were OT/are of that fact, but they thought that his Uonor might bring his influence to bear with the General Government, who had always shown adesire to meet his views in this matter. His Honor: So far as I understand, the General Government are quite alive to the necessity and importance ot pushing ou these works, and I believe they are doing the best they can under the circumstance: % Of course they have got an enormous quantity of work to attend to from one end of tbie Colony to the other, and I think they are doing the best they can,* at least they inform so. I have repeatedly expressed my desire upon the subject. Wilih regard to that portion of the southern line between Aiutaa and Clinton, there has beel i a good deal, ot correspondence about a deviation beyond waitepeka, Some’,time ago tije vettlers down

there at a public meeting got up a standing committee, which sent me a letter urging me to request the General Government to suspend operations until the meeting of the Assembly ; but that I declined to do, because I did not think it would be policy to give the General Government a peg to hang their delays upon. I had a letter from "Wellington a fortnight ago, from which 1 understand that the Government have definitely fixed upon the line, so that there. need < not be any delay upon that score. The line is to be made as originally surveyed. Mr Dbitsb was understood to say that it was a monstrous thing that because the settlers at Waitepeka wanted the line brought a little nearer to their properties, entire communication between the Provinces should be stopped. His Honor : I think the Waitepeka people were quite right. Going by way of Waitepeka need not have involved any delay : that was the route originally surveyed by Mr Brunton. I myself, and in fact every Government that has been working with mo for the last four years, has been quite alive to the necessity of every energy in thisj matter,(and I have communicated repeatedly both by letter and veibally with, the General Government. In fact, just before the deputation came in I was marking off the correspondence, which shows that the matter has not been allowed to sleep so far as the Province is concerned.

Several members of the deputation said it would allay the public mind if tenders Were Called for the gaps. His Honor, after reading the correspondence that had passed between himself and the General Government, said that'the interest now being manifested here might spur the Go vernment into greater exertion. With regard •to the several contracts the Government had in several instances offered bonuses for their completion within contract time, However, he would communicate to the General Government the views urged by the deputation.