The Star. (PUBLIBHED DAILY.)

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume X, Issue 1904, 14 April 1888, Page 2

The Star. (PUBLIBHED DAILY.)

SATURDAY, APRIL 14, 1888. MAIN TRUNK RAILWAY.

We see by the Auckland papers that the deputation which waited upon Mr. Mitchelson, with reference to the railway question, appeared to be very much in earnest, and as it is as well that our readers should be kept posted up in the tone of opinion in Auckland, we reproduce prominently the gist of what was said. The chairman, in his opening remarks, referred to the fact that in May, 1886, two years after he had declared bis preference for the central route, Mr. Mitchelson stated that " the connection between the Auckland and New Plymouth districts will be one of the most important lines in the colony," and reminded bim that the wish of the people of Auckland bad always been to be connected by Taranaki. After referring

to the fact that while the original estimate of the central line bad been £1,360,000, the estimate had now been increased to ,£2,285,000, Mr. Nathan (tbe Chairman of the Chamber) pointed out that the balance to the credit of the £1,000,000 loan was only .£477,000, so that it would be many years before the line would be completed if the direct line was to be adhered to. He specially referred to the suggestion that connection should be made with Taranaki from some point so far as the line had gone upon the central line. "By that means," said Mr. Nathan, " the line would pass through a very large quantity of valuable land, and besides connecting Auckland, would open up an extensive district, which would give a large amount of traffic on the line ; whereas they were convinced that if the railway was carried through as at present intended, the line would not pay expenses for many years." In concluding he asked the Minister, if possible, to give some expression of opinion with respect to the intentions of the Government on the matter. Mr. Mitchelson's reply was that nothing could be done until the surveys now proceeding had been completed. He proceeded to say he had received a communication from the engineer-in-chief, informing him that the surveys were being prosecuted with vigor, but that the report would not be ready to lay before the forthcoming session of Parliament, as the work has proved to be of a much more difficult and heavy character than was anticipated. A large staff of surveyors was engaged, and of these a number were employed upon the survey from Mimi, a further number at Inglewood, and another division at Stratford. The cost of this would be £10,000; and as the data collected as a result of previous surveys were misleading, instructions had been issued to the chief surveyor to have the work on this occasion performed as carefully as possible, so that an accurate estimate of the cost might be obtained "Whether the Government would, before Parliament met, decide on letting any further contracts on the present line, he was not prepared to say; but he did not think there would be very much harm in now letting tbe Waiteto section, at the Auckland end, as the diversion could still be made across to Stratford were that line decided on. One of the things neglected by tbe late Government was that after the House had given them permission to expend part of the money upon, the purchase of native lands the larger portion of that money was not expended at the Auckland end. The fifty-two miles through which the railway was making was bounded by land excellent for agricultural purposes, and the larger portion, of that land should have been acquired. He understood that in the Taupo district a large area had been purchased from the natives which was of no use whatever ; and he intended to ask the G-overnment to spend a sum of money in the purchase of lands at the Auckland end. Seeing that the Native Land Court was now sitting, the present was a most favorable time to approach the natives upon the question. There was a very large area of land at Te Kuiti which could be made available for this line. He thought that if the Government succeeded in purchasing some of these lands it would be of some assistance in making the railway pay. He would have very great pleasure in laying the views of the Chamber before his colleagues on his return to Wellington ; and if a favorable report was submitted, he had no doubt it would be taken into consideration when the question was under discussion. Mr. McMillan asked whether the reports of the surveyors would have the result of deciding which route should be selected ? Mr. Mitchelson replied " that they would not. The question would be fully considered in Cabinet ; the majority ruled there, as everywhere else, and if the majority decided in favor of the Taranaki route, that line would be chosen." It is thus quite evident from what was said that there will be nothing done in the way of a deviation next session. As to the construction of further sections on the Central route, we apprehend that the Government will not propose, and that the House will not sanction in any case, further expenditure on the southern end. Our own belief is that there will be no more expenditure for a time even at the northern end. "We take it that the position is satisfactory, in so far as there seems to be assured the preparation of accurate information in regard to the respective merits of the routes. That a decision should have originally been come to without such information was a deplorable circumstance. It was one of those blunders which may be said to be worse than crimes. Major Atkinson, perhaps, felt himself safe in trusting to the ability of tbe department, but experience must have shown him that he trusted far too much. He had- to pay the penalty, in the shape of a very rough election, and we are glad to see that he is determined not to allow the decision to go against the district again for need of reliable surveys. There was one other question raised during the interview, and that had reference to the application of the million loan to all sorts of purposes only indirectly connected with the making of the line ; and, in answer to questions on this point, the Minister replied that the cost of all the lands which had been purchased with this money, and which could not be considered to the credit of the railway, should be refunded to the loan account. "With reference to the question of spending money upon roads, he did not think that the sums spent in connecting "Wanganui and Marton with the Trunk Railway should be charged to the loan ; they should be deducted from the Crown lands vote. He thought it only right that the Crown Lands Department should refund the money taken from the loan and spent in this direction.

The colonial representatives of the Midland Railway Company expect word from London in about six weeks, instructing them to proceed with the construction of the line at once.