THE MIDLAND RAILWAY.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXII, Issue LXII, 20 January 1912, Page 6

THE MIDLAND RAILWAY.

A WEST COAST PETITION

BY TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION.

CHRISTCHURCH, Jan. 18

The Speaker, Sir Arthur . Guinness, anember for Grey, has been interesting timself in the construction of the Christchurch-West Coast railway line, the terminus of ■■ which, at present is at TW.Cass.

f During his recent visit tp Wellington, Sir Arthur Guinness pointed out to the Minister for Public Works that, if the construction of the next section was expedited, the* coach journey over the dangerous Waimakariri cutting and the fording of the river itself would be made -unnecessary. .He suggested -that the construction of the section to Bealey Flat should be hastened, and that a temporary section to Bealey Flat should be opened as soon as possible. The railway bridge over the Waimakariri was approaching completion, and if the section, were opened the travelling public on both east and west skies of the mountains would be greatly benefited. The recent coach accident occurred in the Waimakariri cutting, and the railway would; enable this part-of the journey to b? avoided. . ■

The Minister made some enquiries into" the matter, with the result that he. informed Sir Arthur Guinness thai he hoped to be able to open a temporary station at Bealey Hat in March next.