DEPUTATION TO THE HON. TEE MINISTER OF WORKS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XV, Issue 5336, 23 December 1878, Page 2

DEPUTATION TO THE HON. TEE MINISTER OF WORKS.

KAIPARA RAILWAY ALTERNATE LINF. A deputation, consisting of Mr. Monk (general manager of the Union Sash and Door Company), Messrs. J. Lamb, X. Cland, J. Buohanau, Fannell, Bell, Hook, and Thomas, introduced by Mr. J. A. To!e, waited on the Hon. the Minister of Public Works (Mr. J. Macandrew) at the Supreme Court buildings on Saturday afternoon, regarding the proposed route of tao railway from the Whau to Riverhead (iuland v. coastal routes). Mr. Monk briefly explained the object of the deputation. Mr. 'Pole said they had come to inquire regarding the alternative line to Riverhead. Mr. Macandkiiw : You are just in time, for tenders are just about to bo caUsd. Mr. Monk said it had been reported that the grades on the inland route were so steep that the line would not be practicable, and that it would cost £40.000 more than the coastal line. The way to relieve this was to get the gradient to the tunnel reduced. If the grade was raised 15 feet at Swansou's bridga, they would then get an easier grade, and the cost would not be more than from £4000 to £50U0 more than the coastal line. The inland liue had this advantage over the coastal lino. The latter would have a staep grade for five miles to Henderson's Mill, and this. steep grade is the way the traffic comes back. It was a mere question of coat, for there were no engineering difficulties in the way if they took the inland line, and the returns would b 3 very much greater —in fact, if they took the coastal liue, in 20 yoars the finger of scorn would bo pointed at them. • They would be saddled with 11 miles of useless railway. On the other hand, if about £4000 ej tra were expended on the in!;\ud line, it woo'd give a return at once. That was tt«ir argument in favour >f the •.liaad ss r'i err - Mr. Lamu bai'i iiwD hid sievc-v 'wet expression of opinion in favour of the coastal line during the seven years the subject had been under consideration, and any man passing over the two routes must at once see the advantage of the inland route. He had never been a partizan in the matter. Mr. Macandrew said it had been pointed out to him that this was a portion of a main line to the North. The grades in the inland liue would be one in 35, and those of the coastal line 1 in 50. He was uo engineer himself, but he had been sufficiently long in public business to kuow that this made a great difference;; and why should they carry the public trutflc of a main liue at the necessarily increased cost ? Tho Government had the specifications of the inland line. There vrere grades of 1 in 40, and curves of ii chaius. Tho deputation now said that tho work could bo done for very little more than the cost of the coaat liue. He was not in a position", on behalf of the colony, to adopt a line with a grade of in 1 35. The lowest down South was 1 in 50, and he had a few days ago come up one of these grades, where two engines were blocked by twelve waggons. Mr. Lamb said on the Kaipara railway they had grades of 1 in 33. Mr. Monk urged that if the costal liue were adopt d, there would be 11 miles on which there would be no traffic. Mr. Tole pointed out that there was no settlement on this route. Mr. Monk further urged that the inland line would be a useful and serviceable railway. Mr. Macaxdrew : We are now taking steps to ascertain the cost of each line. From what you say, there ought to be no great difference of cost. The tenders will shew that.

Mr. Monk then pointed out the want of accommodation for landing or shipping goods at Helensville.

Mr. Macandrey: Orders Lave been given to Mr. Stewart to carry out the necessary works. He has received imperative orders to this effect. "You ought to have the management of these things ou the spot. I do not mean to talk politics now ; but you are suffering the effects of delay through not having the management of matters of this description on the spot. Mr. Buciiajtax said there was no division amongst the people or settlers as to the advisability of having the inland line in preference to the coastal line.

At this stage Messrs. Blackett and Stewart, Q. E.'s, who had been sent for, produced the plans, shewing the grades of the two lines at some length. Mr. Mac an d;: i:\v~ said the tenders for both ! lines were about to b» advertised, and which would be adopted would depend on the tenders. If they got contractors to tender for the inland line as low as for the coastal liue, there would be no difficulty at all. Facilities would at once be given for the dischargo of cargo at Kaipara, aad had it not been for the disagreement regarding the course of the line, it would have been halfmade by this time. The deputation then withdraw, at least such of them as did not remain for the next subject to be laid before the hon. the Minister of Public "Works. That was the question of THE WIIAU STATION. This deputation consisted of Messrs. J. Buchanin, Thomas, Bell, and Owen, who were introduced by Mr. J. A. Tole, M.H.R. Mr. Tole, in introducing the deputation, referred to a petition which had been presented for a change of the site of the Whau station from the site at present fixed upon, on the ground that the latter was far from the centre of population and inconvenient, and by placing it 300 yards further along the New NortLi Road, it would be more central and convenient. The site would bo given free, and the change would increase the traffic on the railway and the convenience of the residents. Mr, Buchanan pointed out that, if the station were placed on the New North Road, it would catch all the traffic. The cost of altering was so little, and the benefits would be so great, that he was sure it would be to the interest of the railway, as well as the residents, to have the alteration made. Mr. Macjln'drkvt : There are a good many things to bo considered in fixing a station, as, for instance, the grade and approaches. Mr. Stewart said the grade of the incline where the deputation proposed to fix the station was lin 4G. The distance between the two sites was so little it was no argument at all in favour of the alteration. They had used the only level piece of ground available, and there was a road from the railway station already laid out. Mr. Buchanan said where they proposed to have the station was where the business of the stat'on would be done. Mr. Macandrew said lie would have the question gone into. Mr. Stewart said no amount of business would pay for a station which could not be worked. Mr. Buchanan eaid where they proposed to have the itation was where all the traffic woul'.J be got, and the residents would rather go to the expense themselves than not have it there. lie did not believe in having a railway going through a district without benefit. Mr. Macandrew said he would have all the particulars gone into. The deputation thanked the hon. gentleman, and withdrew.