MIDLAND RAILWAY.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 5679, 29 August 1905, Page 5

MIDLAND RAILWAY.

QUESTION OF COMPLETION* REPRESENTATIONS TO THE PREMIER. A BIG DEPUTATION. Tho Premier yesterday afternoon re ceived a large deputation from Canterbury and Westland on tho subject of the Midland railway. The deputation comprised:—Messrs A. R. Guinness, T. E. Taylor,, G. Laurenson, H. G. Ell, T. H. Davey, W. W. Tanner, J. McLaehlan, W. Flatman, J. Colvin, W. Parata. B. McKenzie, Sir W. J. Steward, M.H.R-’s; Honji J. Marshall, J. Holmes, and R. H. J, Reeves, M.L.C.’s. Canterbury delegates Messrs H. Quane, A. Kaye, H. A. Ad ley (Canterbury Chamber of Commerce)j; W. H. Cooper, T. Gapes, and J. Hadfiold (Christchurch City Council); E. C, Brown, A. G. Howland, and J. H. Hopkins (Canterbury Industrial Association and Employers’ Association); J, O’Halioran (Farmers’ Union). West Coast—Messrs J. Mandl (Mayor of Hokitika); J. A, Petrie (Mayor of Greymouth); J. A. Murdoch (Mayor of. Eumara); E. J. Scantlobury and WIrving (Inangahua County Council); J. Hargreaves and J. Marshall (Grey County Council); D. J. Evans (Westland Railway League); J. Grdmmtmd, H. A. Baucke, and J. Duff (Westland County Council and Borough of Ross); and Atkinson (Westport Borough Council). Mr T. E. Taylor briefly introduced tho Canterbury delegates, and added that there would have been a much larger gathering of Canterbury members had the deputation been fixed for any day but a Monday. As it was, many were absent in the South and elsewhere.

Mr A. R. Guinness introduced thq West Coast delegates, many of whom, he pointed out, were old friends and constituents of the Premier. The delegates represented the whole of the public bodies from one end of the Coast to the other.

The president of the Canterbury Industrial Association wrote expressing the opinion of the association that' the immediate prosecution of the line waa urgently necessary in the interests of. the industries and commerce of tho country. Despite pessimistic opinions to the contrary, it was almost certain that the line would pay. Mr W. Devonisli Meares, a delegate from the Christchurch City Council, wrote apologising for absence. The Canterbury Trades and Labour Council, while unable to send a delegate, wrote expressing unqualified approval of the objects of the deputation. The Northern A. and P. Association (Rangiora) also wrote covering a resolution by the association supporting the immediate construction of the failway.' Mr H. Quane (Canterbury Chamber of Commerce) said it waa well known that no one had tho interests of this railway more at heart than had the Premier. : For twenty-five years past the undoubted opinion had reigned that tho connection of the East and West Coasts was absolutely necessary. It had taken an enormous amount of onginooring skill and a large expenditure of money to take the railway to Staircase Gully on one side, and to Otira on the other, and it was absolutely necessary now that it should bo taken right through as quickly as possible, in order to make it reproductive on tho capital already expended. The Chamber of Commerce was unanimous on this point. He ventured to suggest that the tunnel through to Otira should be let by public tender as a separate contract, to bo completed in a specified time, so that both sides of the lino might be progressing simultaneously, d, Mr J. A. Petrie (Mayor of r Greymouth) said the general features of this undertaking had been so often discussed that he proposed to confine himself to one or two special ones. It was the general opinion that outside of opal, gold, and timber, the Coast had nothing left, and that the land was comparatively worthless. This had. militated against the construction of tho railway. But there was a wide extent of valuable agricultural land upon the Coast when the bush was onoo off it. He instanced a block of 30,000 or 40,000 acres, partially cleared, a portion of which, when offered for sale a few months ago, had been withdrawn at £lO per acre, which was offered for 3000 acres of it. This was only a small portion of tho land available’for settlement. Further south it was expected that a block of 50,000 acres would soon lie fully settled. There had been thirty and forty applicants for some of th* sections of this block in a portion that was thrown open a few months ago. With regard to coal, on the Paparon ranges a seora of coal had been discovered which was, identical with the South Wales smokeless coal now in such groat demand in the East. He quoted comparative analyses of tho Welsh coal and the Faparoa coal to show their identical quality. There were 60,000,000 tons of the ooal in sight, which could be delivered by rail in Christchurch at a greatly cheaper figure than sea-borne coal. One trouble with the five and a half miles tunnel to Otira would be the smoke nuisance, but this could be obviated by using; smokeless coal. Air J. O’Halloran (Canterbury Farmers’ Union) said that the union waa of opinion that the railway should bo pushed on as speedily as possible. They wanted timber and coal, from the Coast, and as much of tho gold as they could get. They wanted to be independent of the sea-borne trade, and therefore they wanted “that hole in the hill.” If that one work fwere undertaken, other things would right themselves. They should not be dependent upon a sea-born© trade in Canterbury when their requirements were at their doors with only a bit of a range between. ’“There are people born on the Coast who never saw a green field or the sun shining on it because you haven’t made that hole in the hill, sir. If you don’t look out, someone else will do it, and you won’t get the honour of it.” Mr J. Mandl (Mayor of Hokitika) said meetings held an the Coast had continually urged the speedy prosecution of the railway works. The Premier knew the isolation they suffered from, and the time had arrived when they should bo put in touch with the civilised world. The Premier: Canterbury. Mr Mandl: Yes, Canterbury. 1 don’t say we’re not civilised, but we’re isolated, sir. It was a well-known fact that the line would be a paying one. Figures proved this, and the population of the West Coast, which now number-

cd 25.000. had resources at thoir hands including millions of acres of agricultural land and timber, coal and gold. Ilia district canted the tunnel let as a .separate contract, as it ocogn that Governments might change, but onoo tho contract was let it could •havo to he completed. If the lino-were only made in sections, the loss of revenue could ho considerable. If it were 'completed in five years, it would cost £1,491,000; if in ten years £1,0112,000, tho loss in interest being £201,000; and if in twenty years £2,205,000, tin' loss in interest: being then £174,000. If it wore constructed at once it would begin to earn revenue at once. The tloast had 2,000,01X1 acres of arable land. 2.000,000 acres of pastoral land, had won £25,000,000 of gold, and had last year exported 800,000 tons of coal, whilst the export of timber from ClreymouUi alone last year had been twenty-six million foot, twenty-two million of which went to Canterbury. It was estimated that the earning power of tho railway would be £30,000 to £40,000 per your. Canterbury a'ouo took 130,000 tons of coal a year, and nearly nil this would be sent by rail, without extra handling, and with less dcptcciauon. Willi all their isolation, they had export'd produce to tho value of £700,000 last year. With tho line through, thoir population would bo doubled and trebled, and tho passenger and tourist traffic would bo greatly m creased. Mr A. G. Howland (Canterbury employers’ Association) said through communication with the W est Coast had been wanted long enough. Iho first nod of this lino had been turned twenty years ago. If tho Premier could complete the lino in five years, ho would confer a great benefit, not only upon tho "West Coast and Canterbury, but upon New Zealand as a whole. His association was unanimous in hoping that tho tunnel would be let as n separate contract. “I hope you will give us tho West Coast railway, aud well all pray.” , , _ Mr J. Grimmond (Westland County •Conned) emphasised the views of_ prenous speakers. With tho railway through, timber could bo carried for 3s 8d per 100 ft. as against 5s Id seaborne, and coal at 11s Od a ton, against 16a. From tho West Coast point of new their isolation was intensified by the fact that it was impossible to get boats into tho rivers except at Westport and Greymonth. Tho railway would tap country which could supply tho colony’s failing timber supplies, produce unlimited coal, and open up vast stretches of agricultural land. Mr W. H. Cooper (Christchurch City ■Council) said his Council had passed a resolution approving speedy construction of tho lino, as a good work from every point of view. He was glad to hear of tho Coast’s possibilities in tho matter of land settlement. If they could get coal to Canterbury by the line at 4« per ton less than seaborne, that in itself was a strong argument for its construction. He hoped the Premier, in his wisdom, would advise his colleagues to get the work completed as early as possible. Mr T. H. Davey, M.H.R., apologised for the absence of Mr G. Witty and Mr C. A. C. Hardy, both of whom were in unqualified sympathy with the movement. Other speakers pointed out that .180.000 people (comprising Canterbury arid Westland) were represented by the deputation, and all were united in urging the Government to complete this railway, so that the East and West Coasts might be connected.

THE PREMIER’S REPLY. CONTRACT FOR THE TUNNEL. The Premier, in reply, said he was pleased to see unity amongst people whose interests were identical, and he hoped that this unity would be to the advantage not only of the several districts represented, but for the good of the whole colony. Looking back over a quarter of a century, there was one thing he regretted, and that was that the tine was not completed years ago. Another matter for regret was that other Lines which were commenced after this one, and whose importance did not transcend the importance of this, would be completed before this connection was made. It was a misfortune that over the construction of this line was handed over to a private company. He could look back with pleasure to the fact that he was drawn into it, but it was always against his com-mon-sense. He recognised that whilst other railways were being made by the colony, it would be a mistake to bring la a private company, and if this line had been continued under the public works policy initiated by Sir Julius Vogel, the line would have been completed years ago. The company put back the construction of the railway by ten years. Canterbury, Westland, and Nelson members were shelving very good sense in joining hands in this deputation. He ■did not hesitate to say that, taking into consideration the revenue received from Canterbury and .Westland, it had a stronger claim than any part of Now Zealand for expenditure on public works. He thought they would live to see people making the round trip—from Canterbury to Westland, through to Nelson, and thence by ferry boat to Wellington. (Hear, hear.) The deputation was only doing what had been done for Auckland and for other parts of the colony. They asked him to represent to his colleagues the necessity there was for more expedition being used in the carrying on of the Midland railway. Very well, he agreed with them, for he thought himself that it ought to bo gone on with more expeditiously. (Hoar, hear.) Going into detail, be thought it was not generally known that there were four points at which work was proceeding at present— Nelson-Tadmoro valley at one end, Reefton-Inangahua junction at the other, and the Otira Gorge and Springfield ends. If they were to construe this railway as other railways were construed, it would mean four different lines and four different votes,'but it had been all proposed under the head of “ Midland railway,” and the fact that there were four different points of construction going on made the total amount very small as compared with the amount to ho done. However, these works would bo proceeded with. He might toll them that the Intentions of the Government in respect to the tunnel were these-—a contract had been let to Mr CfConnor for the necessary bridges, which would bring the line right up to the mouth of the tunnel. Preparation had also been made for calling for tenders to form the tunnel itself, subject to the approval of Parliament, and the conclusion the Government had arrived, at, whilst not questioning the policy of constructing public works by the co-operative system, was, that this was a class of work that ought to be let as a whole to contractors to do. (Hear, hear.) The Government was having plans piepared, and having investigation made, so that when the conditions of contract

came to he settled they would know' r ., :i.. elcrtrh-al power was to bo derived from. With all due deference to Mr Petrie, the working of the tunnel would have to ho done ly electricity, lie was sorry his colleague the Minister of Works was not able to he present; the fact was he was putting on _ the finishing touch to the public Works Statement, and ho was, with the approval of hi- colleagues, in a position to forestall the Statement by stating that tho tunnel would be constructed by contract. Next year it was hoped that tho journey between Christchurch and tho West Coast would be done in a day. If not before the opening of tho Christchurch Exhibition, then during the time it was opened it was hoped to have the North Island Main Trunk finished to live points, so that people could get as far as Wellington, overland from Auckland, take the ferry boat to Lyttelton, and in a. day from Christchurch reach tho West Coast. There was only a cortaiu amount of public money available for works, and there must bo fair allotment. While thorn would bo for all the railways a fair allocation, he thought, in view of the small expenditure on tho Midland railway during the last few years as compared with tho expenditure on tho Otago Central and North Island Main Trunk lines, if there was a little more spout on tho Midland railway the most fastidious could not complain. We were pledging the colony’s credit for a million ; wo had £600,000 transferred from tho Consolidated Fund, and there was £BOO,OOO over from last year, so that he was not as anxious regarding the Public Works Estimates as some members of the House were. Ho was glad to see unity with respect to tho Midland railway, and ho would say that tho Westland, Canterbury, and Nelson provinces had always boon liberal in their views in tho matter of expenditure, of public money in other parts of the colony. The question was what was for tho good of the colony, and in view of what the people of Westland and Canterbury were entitled to, ho did not think that it would bo asking too much to get tho tunnel through and tho communication made within tho next six years. (Hear, hear.) It was estimated that the tunnel could ho put through in five years, but there were difficulties that might arise, and if it was put through in six years it would he well. It all depended upon money, and he hoped the colony would keep faith with tho West Coast, Canterbury, and Nelson. Ho believed tho lino would be one of the best paying lines in tho colony. (Applause.) Tho delegates, before withdrawing, expressed their warm thanks to Mr Sefld on.