THE STRATH TAIERI RAILWAY.

Evening Star, Issue 4688, 11 March 1878, Page 1

THE STRATH TAIERI RAILWAY.

The Mayor, accompanied by Messrs Davie, Oliver, Nicholls, Gnthrie, Driver, Graham, Ritchie, Robin, Turnbull, M'Kerra's, Rattray, Wright, Roberts, and (Clyde), this morning waited upon the Hon; Mr Macandrew to ascertain the intentiots of the Government with regard to .the construction of the Strath Taieri railway line. The Mayor said that the deputation were aware that the survey of the line was now in course of progress, but they asked that the Government would push on the work without any unnecesary delay.— Mr Macandrew said that the survey would t be completed before the Assembly meets, but the workmen .were at a very difficult part just now, and the progress was therefore slow. The measure ’ introduced into the House last session had been so disposed of that, the question of the con- ’ struction of the line had been practicably shelved, but he would try to get another ; Bill brought -before the Assembly. He was afraid the Government could not include the Bill among their proposals next session, but the House had committed itself twice by resolution to further the ‘ work, and he could not imagine the possibility of the Upper House holding out much longer against such a measure. The Government were as anxious as the deputation that the railway should be built, as it was a matter of life or death to this part of the Colony. The line must necessarily be a paying one, for it would really open up a new Province. The deputation might accept his assurance that the Government would do all in their power to forward the work. For his own part he looked upon the railway 1 as a necessary national work, and hia opinion was that if it were completed the harbor would not be large enough to hold all the ships which would come to Otago. When he was on the West Coast the other day he found everybody asking about the line, as they looked upon it as the probable route by which the Coast would be connected with the eastern centres of population. —Having thanked the hon. gentleman the deputation withdrew.