THE MIDLAND RAILWAY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12480, 26 January 1904, Page 5

THE MIDLAND RAILWAY.

MR. SEDDON'S EXPLANATIONS.

[BY TELEGRAPH.— ASSOCIATION".] Wellington-, Monday. The Midland railway was the subject of some comment to the Premier at Geymouth. Mr. Guinness stated that owing to the longcontinued inactivity there was an opinion prevalent in the district that Mr. Bogue had been brought over from America and asked to report on various routes, with the object cf indefinitely postponing the commencement of the tunnel, which was the main work on the line. This could not. be longer tamely submitted to. The public were getting thoroughly indignant at tho unconscionable delay. They looked upon the work as one of vital importance to the district.

Mr. Seddon, replying, said he was anxious to see the cork proceeded with, but he '.rag also determined that when it was proceeded with they should avoid the bungling and mismanagement that had taken place in regard to many Government railways in the colony. The Government engineers had proposed a route involving a tunnel of seven miles in length. Now, if they could reduce that seven miles by one half, secure completion of the work in ono half the time, and yet have a line that could b-? worked at the cheapest possible rate, they would accomplish a great deal. It was to effect this that Mr. Bogue, the eminent American engineer, had been invited to visit New Zealand and report upon the line. Mr. Bogue had inspected the locality, and made an interim report thereon. In that report he had asked for further information and surveys, and these had been supplied and perused by Mr. Bogue. In his last communication he had asked for still further particulars, which were being supplied with all possible expedition. He hoped that the Government would bo enabled to commence work within two or three months, and that the Minister for Public Works would be enabled to go to the West Coast and' turn the first sod of the Arthur's Pass tunnel, before the commencement of the next session.