RAILWAY EXTENSION

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 16 August 1924, Page 5

RAILWAY EXTENSION

GLENHOPE-MURCIIISON AND BUL LER GORGE RAILWAYS

FURTHER DETAILS OF RECENT DEPUTATION

The deputation reported as . having waited upon Rt. lion. Mr Massey and Hon. J. G. Coates with reference to the above railways, consisted of Messrs Hudson, Atrnore, Holland and O’Brien, iU.’sP., and tne Hons. Maclntyre and Snodgrass, M.'sL.C., and each speaker pressed the claims of the two sections for an accelerated rate of construction.

Mr Hudson stressed the necessity for completing the lines and emphasised the point of the non-payable nature of the present line being due to it terminating at a dead end. He referred to the set l tiers’ claims for consideration and the large area of land that, would be openedup. Mr Atm ore pressed for £IOO,OOO grant for the Glenhope-Murchison section for this year and gave a brief history of the agitation for this line, extending back to 1870 and even earlier.

Mr Holland desired to support the other speakers in their advocacy for a speeding-up of the construction works on the two lines and made special reference to tlie enormous coal-bearing area to be opened up. _ ' Mr O’Brien said he agreed with the previous speakers as to the necessity for completing these lines at an early date.

Messrs Maclntyre and Snodgrass endorsed the statements of the other members.

Mr Massey said he could not name the exact sum to bo allocated this year, but tie could promise that'sums would bo placed on the Estimates for both lines and lie realised thev must bo completed. ‘

Mr Coates said there were no special difficulties this side of Murchison, and agreed that the two lines must be completed. £25,000 had been expended up till March 31st on the Glenhope line. He spoke eulogistically of the possibilities of the, coal-bearing area at Duller Gorge.