AUCKLAND RAILWAY EXTENSION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9140, 23 August 1888, Page 5

AUCKLAND RAILWAY EXTENSION.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.]

Wellington, Wednesday. Is an interview with the Minister of Public Works to-night, Mr. Mitchelson referred to the complaints made as to the non-pro-secution of the Thaines-Te Aroha Railway to Paeroa. He explained to me that the Cabinet in deciding what works should be undertaken, determined that none should bo gone on with which would not pay a margin over the working , expenses. With a road on one side ami the river on the other, it was deemed that the above line would not bring out the desired result. The section from Morrinsville to Lichlleld on the Auckland-Lichiield line was "not paying grease for the wheels." Referring to the complaints as to the nonextension of the North Auckland Trunk line, Mr. Mitchelson said the line would be completed to Kaukapakapa, its terminus being in a settled district. There was not money suflicient to take it to the next payable point, Fort Albert, and to go on with an unopened unremunerative section was simply to have the sleepers rotting , in the ground before the rails would be used. The money was all earmarked, and would be invested pending the period when the line could bo taken in hand with a chance of yielding a return. It was to the interest of the colony that the present loan should be extended over as long a period of time as possible, to prevent the necessity for a fresh appeal to the English money market. Although authority had been taken on the Estimates for spending £820,000, it was probable that the expenditure would not exceed three-quarters of a million sterling after meeting all liabilities and charges. The new money to be expended on public works this year will only be about £180,000.