Hawke's Bay Herald. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1881. THE RAILWAY WORKS.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 6075, 19 September 1881, Page 2

Hawke's Bay Herald. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1881. THE RAILWAY WORKS.

Our Wellington correspondent telegraphed on Friday that Mr Ormond and Captain Russell had again interviewed the Premier and Minister for Public Works, and had extracted a promise that the works should be pushed on at once. We have obtained some further particulars of the interview, which was far more satisfactory than the result of the previous deputation, of which we gave an account some time ago. Messrs Ormond and Russell. had, indeed, a strong case, and they took care to arm themselves beforehand with facts and figures which could not be gainsaid. They pointed out that, according to the official returns, the Napier line was not only the most economically worked in the North Island, but that the profits — that is, the percentage realised on cost — were also the largest, while month by month the returns continue to be more and more favorable. This latter feature is due to two causes — economy in the working of the line and the rapid development of the local timber trade, despite the heavy freight rates now imposed. The deputationists further pointed out that almost the only resource of a large proportion of the bush, settlers was work on the railway, and that they were specifically promised this work as an inducement to them to settle upon the land. Their timber, which is now an actual drawback instead of a benefit to them, can be sent to town when the railway is extended, and tho settlers will no longer be dependent upon extraneous aid. Even as it is, the bush settlers havo good reason to complain of the non-fulfilment of the promises given to them. If those promises had been fulfilled the railway would now have been extended to Woodville, and perhaps the through line to Wellington would have been completed. Instead of the lino being pushed on rapidly only four miles have been opened in four years, and at the same rate of progress it would take thirty years to reach Woodville. All these points, and the promise of a largely increased timber traffia ivnen he totara forests of Danevirke and Tahoraite are reached, were urged by Messrs Ormond and Russell.

The question of liow the work could be carried oa with, the means at the disposal of Ministers was next gone into. It was shown that to proceed upon tlie lines formerly proposed by the Premier — to form the permanent way, leaving the bridges until the gullies were actually reached by the formation, must mean a long and indefinite delay, but that if the bridges were put in hand at once, there was a reasonable prospect of getting to Tahoraite within two years, and from that point the line to Woodville would be easy and cheap to construct, no engineering difficulties worth mentioning being met with. Before seeing the Premier, Messrs Ormond and Russell interviewed Mr Blackett, the engineer in charge, and learnt from him what was possible to bo done within the year, with the rote available for the work. Mr Blackett had furnished information which enabled the deputation to place their views xn a oon-

crete form before the Premier, It appeared that a sum of £25,000 would actually be available for expenditure within the current year, and Mr Blackett submitted the following -estimate of What would be required for the extension Jo. Tahoraite> supposing the bridge construe-- ' tion and formation of permanent Way to; | proceed concurrently :— - ; - ' f , r . „ . Required Matautnau section. Cost. Within year. Bridges and culverts £ 8,000 £ 4,000 Formation 12,000 12,000 Tahoraite section. Bridges ... ... 8,000 4,000 Felling bush on new line ;.. ... 2,000 2,000 Formation 8,000 8,000 Totals ... £33,000 £25,000 From this it will be seen that Mr Blackett proposed to do the whole of the formation to Tahoraite within the year. The bridges are so large that they must take about eighteen months to construct, so that, even if it were wished, it would probably be found impossible to expend more than the £25,000 available. Mr I Blackett added that the plans for the large bridge in the Mautaumau section were ready, and tenders could be called for at once, and that all the information required for the preparation of plans for the other large bridge had been obtained, and the work could soon be ready for advertising. The line is absolutely decided upon, so that no difficulty can present itself there.

It wilL be admitted that Messrs Ormond and Russell went to the Premier with a strong case, and he showed by his replies to the arguments urged that he had a far better understanding of the work than when our members last interviewed him. He promised definitely that Mr Blackett's suggestions should be acted upon, and further added that if a little more could be done he thought an additional £15,000 could be devoted to the work. One of the main objects of Mr Ormond's return to Wellington last week was to urge the prosecution of the railway works, and i^ must be admitted that he was singularly successful. If the Premier keeps his word we shall soon see tenders called for the works, and as a proof that he meant that which he promises we may add that before leaving Wellington Mr Ormond received a letter from Mr Blackett stating that he was preparing the specifications for the contracts.