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New Zealand Herald, Volume XV, Issue 5112, 5 April 1878, Page 2

It was anticipated that long ere this contractors would have been invited to tender for the construction of the Waikato Railway extension from Ohaupo to Te Awamutu, a distance of some thirteen miles. Ample funds were voted for this extension during last session of Parliament, and it was understood that at that time everything was ready for the calling for tenders. Now that we are. within a few months of the meeting of another session, people are wondering why the work has not been commenced, knowing that a sum voted in one session, if not expended when the next session comes on, stands a chanc&of being diverted to another purpose, or ' at least it has to be re-appropriated, and therein sometimes lies danger. Several rumours are afloat as to the cause of the delay. ' It- is said that pressure has been brought to bear iipori the Government to have the line diverted, so as to run from Ohaupo to Cambridge, aiid' thence through the interior. The arguments for such a diversion are, that it would give direct railway communication to Cambridge, which i 3 now becoming a place of considerable importance ; and that by way of Cambridge the line could bo pushed through the island without the native obstruotions which will certainly havo to be encountered further west. Against this, however, have to be put these facts : The lino by way of Cambridge would not join Auckland and Taranaki, which is one of the objects sought to be attained, as it would be for the advantage of each of these places. Then, the eastern line would be useless so far as enabling us finally to abolish the native difficulty; and, lastly, it would lead through an immense extent of utterly barren country. We understand that no foundation exists in fact for the report that the lino is to be diverted. Another surmise accounting for the delay was, that the Government did not wish to spend, the money. The sea of European politics does not look very promising for the loan which wo are ready to launch whenever we can see an opportunity, and the Ministry may feel it to be their duty to refrain from spending any money they can possibly keep in the Treasury chest. The sole reason assigned to us for the delay which has taken place is, that the plans and specifications are still at Wellington, where every detail has to be overhauled and verified, and where lithographic copies have to be made of each plan and the result of the survey. This work, it seems, occupies a considerable amount of time, although most people will feel that, making every ■ possible allowance, it ought to have been completed long since. We have no doubt that a strong hint from Ministers to the gentlemen in Wellington who have the plans in tlieir hands, would have a material effect in hastening their labours. Between Ohaupo and Te Awamutu there are some very heavy cutting 3, and •it is estimated that the line would take a twelvemonth to construct. The delay in opening the portion of the line between Hamilton and Ohaupo, we may mention, has arisen through the subsidence of a part of the line in the Rukuhia swamp. It appears that the ditches had not been cut deep enough to sufficiently drain the line, and prevent subsidence. The time which it will take to remedy the error will depend very much upon the state of the weather, but probably not more than a few weeks will be necessary.