THE THAMES RAILWAY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9129, 10 August 1888, Page 5

THE THAMES RAILWAY.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT^

Wellington, Thursday. An offer has been made to the Government by Mr. Arthur S. Ford, a Northern engineer, to lease the Thames—Te. Aroha Railway as far as it has yet been completed, and to equip it with rolling stock, for the purpose of conveying ore from the Marototo mines to the Thames Goldfield. Mr. Cadman views the application favourably. In recommending the favourable consideration of the application to the Minister of Public Works, Mr. Cadman said the proposal was a novol one ; but, seeing the many years this line has been in course of construction, and the amount of interest accruing to capital which is being charged against the line, together with the uncertainty of ita completion and equipment, he felt that a proposal of this nature was well worth entertaining, provided sureties were given to cover an} , damage, &C, incidental to railway lines open for traflic. In urging the proposal he reminded the Minister that (although the lino has never been used) the sleepers first laid at the Grahamstown end must have deteriorated greatly, and will probably require to be replaced ere long, thus adding more to the cost of construction ; whereas by accepting a proposal like this, if only one per cent, were obtained, it would not only relieve both the colony and the line of a portion of its burden, but also assist to open up and develope a large portion of the Tnames gold fields. If the Government do not formally entertain Mr. Ford's proposal Mr. Cadman thinks that the Government should, rather than let the railway remain idle as at present, offer it rent free to some responsible person or company willing to conduct experiments.