RAILWAY EXTENSION TO TE ARO.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 793, 13 May 1887, Page 24

RAILWAY EXTENSION TO TE ARO.

In the House of Representatives yesterday week Mr F. H. Fraser asked the Minister for Public Works, If it is the intention of the Government to proceed with the extension of the Masterton railway to the Te Aro district; and, if so, how soon ? In putting the question, Mr Fraser said that when' the railway terminus was brought to Wellington there was an endeavor made to get it as near as possible to the populated districts. Some two or three years ago, much to the astonishment of the inhabitants of Wellington, the station was moved from the rear of the Government Buildings to Pipitea—whether’ for the benefit of the West End of the city or not he did not know. There was a feeling that the station was now in the wrong place, and he asked hon members to look at the city and say whether the station was not straneely situated. He pointed out that the General Manager of the Manavvatu Railway had said that his Company would extend their line to the foot of Ouba-street in a few weeks if they had the concessions the Government could get. He (Mr Fraser) understood the Minister for Public Wbrks to tell a deputation that waited on him that the extension would be made, and he now asued that something might be done ; the matter had been kept steadily in view long enough. The Minister s»id he was as much surprised as anyone, when he saw that the station had been moved, but he thought it was done at the instance of the citizens, who wanted two • of the streets on the reclaimed land to be reopened, and a very large amount had been, spent by the previous Government in doing so. As to the deputation, he did inform them that when in office before he had taken care that space was reserved to enable the railway to be taken round to the south of the harbor. Much alteration had taken place since, and he told the deputation that till the Harbor Board and City Council had made up their minds as to final plans of reolama-. tion works he could not say whether it was. feasible to carry the railway round, aa it was represented to him that it was proposed to run out wharves from Cuba and Taranakistreets, to which it would be indispensable to have approaches by road. Probably the* Government might receive from, the twobodies their final proposals, and- then the* Government engineers would report as towhat should be done. However, no allocation had been made out of the last loan, and until a new loan was taken tha work could not be proceeded* with.