TRAMWAY FROM ROXBURGH TO LAWRENCE.

Evening Star, Issue 7412, 6 January 1888, Page 2

TRAMWAY FROM ROXBURGH TO LAWRENCE.

A meeting was held cat Roxburgh last week of those interested in the construction of a tramway from Roxburgh to Lawrence, but it was but poorly attended. Mr Birch was in the chair. Mr Smith, member of the County Council, went into the matter at great length. From information received from Messrs Howard and Co., England, it appeared that the total cost of the materials for the thirty-three miles of line, with 241b rails and a 24in gauge, landed at Lawrence, would be L 25.659 15s. In addition to this there was the cost of construction, as follows :—Formation and laying thirty-four miles, at L 450 a mile, L 16.300; tunnel at Big Hill (30 chains), L 25.000 ; six bridges, at L 450 each, L 2,700 ; contingencies, LC9G, or 10 per cent. ; thus bringing the total cost of the line up to L 70.356 6s 6d. The revenue was estimated by Mr Smith at L 8.550 a year, and the expenditure at L 6.600, leaving a profit of L 1.950, or, with an extra locomotive, a profit of L 1,200 after allowing 5 per cent, on the capital of L 75.000. Mr Smith said he did not think there would be much difficulty in having the work taken up in London, especially if the Government gave a few blocks of land. Mr Michelle asked if it would not be better for the district if a tramway were made down the river to Balclutha. This, he thought, would be preferable to Tuapeka, and open up a much wider market. The L 25.000 set down for the Big Hill tunnel would go a long way towards constructing the tramway from the Beaumont down the river.

It was eventually resolved that a committee be appointed to go into the whole matter, consisting of the following : Messrs R. M, Smith, James Woodhouse, Walter Anderson (Roxburgh Eatt), Michelle, Birch, Manual (Coal Creek), Waugh, Kerr, M'Clelland (Miller Flat), Tubman, Westcott, M'Connell (Moa Plat), W. Smith (Roxburgh); with power to add to their number.—' Mount Benger Mail.'