TRANS-AUSTRALIAN RAILWAY

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume II, Issue 23, 10 January 1912, Page 6

TRANS-AUSTRALIAN RAILWAY

IMPORTANT SCHEME

Reuter’s Ag-'*r.cy is informed by Sir Newton Mootc. Agent-General fcr Western Australia, that the new irans-Australian railway sc-hem.-.vhieh lias been passed t»y the Commonwealth Patiianient will bo com me-nccd without delay, and that within a period of probably three vc-ars it v. ill be possible to trav-1 by train from Per:! , in Western Australia, through South Australia. Victoria. New South Wales, to Queensland, a distance of seine two miles.

The decision of the Commonwealth Parliament (said the AgcmtGencral) means the consummation ,f true Federation, as hithirto, as Lord Kitchener pointed out in his defence report. Western Australia has been as much isolated from the other Australian States as NewZealand. As the (jovernent has d<c’dcd to construct the line departmentally, there will not be the usual delay in having to call for tenders. Freni a defence point of view the ine will prove of the highest importance. At present in a time of danger Western Australia is dependent upon assistance from the sea. This ■vi’l he entirely altered, and the fact that Ihe line will run a considerable distance inland and not ikirt the coast will be a distinct advantage strategically. The commer cial benefits, too. will be very valuable. Mails landed at Fremantle from England v.ill be delivered ar Adelaide in forty-eight- hours, magainst the present four days’ voyage round the coast, and replies to letters from England will be received in London at least one week •,’iier than at present.

The line starts from Kalgoorlio. ?80 mih s from Perth, one of theeastern limits of the West Australian system, and runs to Port Angusa. the most westerly parts c? the South Australian system, whence it connects with other railways through South Anistralia. Victoria. New South Wales and Queensland. The new line is 1960 miles m length, nd will be of a 4ft 8-lin gauge, which will undoubtedly lie th” standard of all the Australian lines. Thr- will necessitate considerable expenditure to the Western ara’ "Sot!th Australian and Victorian Gov ernmer.is. whose gauges are 3ft Gm trd sft 3in.

The line presents r.o engineering difficulties, and its total cost is estimated at £3.650?)00. In the first 100 miles the railway will traverse auriferous country. The section ce be crossed is practically nni'shabit:d and iindevcloned. but is known o be also admirably adapted for grazing purposes, as edible vegetaion abounds. A fact that will be a great advantage to the economic construction of the railway is the iliscoveiy of a good supply of wate-' 12<»oft deep, seme 300 miles from Kalgoorlie.