The Gore-Kelso Railway.

Mataura Ensign, Volume 17, 9 October 1894, Page 6

The Gore-Kelso Railway.

ZC Hansard,' 13th Sept., 1894.) Mr Eraser -asked th»> Miiistcr of Public Works if he will lake the necessary steps during the recess to have * ™-*™**y executed of a portion of lh» Gore-Kelso line, so that when the time arrives for the colony to resume railway construction and complet3 the lines authorised hi tbe past a route may bo adopted which will confer the Brcalest8 rcalest benefits on the settlers in. this important fnrmu.K district. He might state that two I rial surveys had already been made, nnd , working plans prepared for some distance. , , , Mr Seddo» said surveys had been made and working plans prepared for a railway from Kelso to the ■ Waikuka township—ten miles— aud tti.tl surveys had been made of the remain in ii portion of the line— about thirteen miles— to connect with the mam lino at lust Gore. Thero was therefor« suiDcieu', informntion tODOttble the character nnd approximate eostof the construction^ the railway to be estimated. Thoy anticipated that the cost tn complfte tho survey* would be about L 350. As to the necessity lor the work or whether tho time bad arrived for the work to be done that was of course a matter for consideration in connection with the Public Works Statement and Estimates.

Followinfiis a copy of the petition forwarded through Mr Fruser, M.H-lt. (and presented by him on Tuesday last) signed by ncttlers' committee aud chairmen of public bodies in Southland :— Xo tbfi Hrmrr-ble the anil Mcrubeis of the House cf Reprifl ntativt a in Parliament assembled. The petition cf t^e undersigned bumbly aheweth— , That a line of railway from Gore to iv-.lao was included in the ftehedule to tbe Lo^n Bill. 1882, and LGOOG was v«ted foe tbe construction of a first section of tbe lin«. That in 1883 the Souse of Kep esenta'.ivt 6 passed the Authorisation bill lor the lino and appropriated LIO.OOO tiAvaids i'-8 cooBtruction. . That many of the pr&sent holders of lanfl in the vicinity of the line tock up their holdings a); tbe enhanced vßlue given to the land by the expectation of ttie fcptedy completion of the line, That since 1888 (ho statn of pub':c finance has bin'icred tiny further steps being Uk«u In respect to this line. , That the long acknowledged necessity for this line, passing ts it would through a fertile farming country, the. gr at develop, mentof the country fince 1888, on<J tne facilities the Hue would give ior increased production and for eoitltimn' in bsck country scill uadeveloi e<i. rentier it very desirable that this line should be at once oouBtructed, Your petitioners therefore priy that your Honorable House- will provide that the i»oie to KelßO railway bo constructed at the earliest time that finencee will permit. An'ci your petitioners will ever pray, etc.