DUNEDIN.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 398, 7 August 1877, Page 2

DUNEDIN.

RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION. THE GOVERNMENT AND THE INTERIOR RAILWAY. August 7. The Star's Parliamentary reporter telegraphs thai fourteen Otago members, accompanied by Messrs. Reeves and Roberts, waited on the Minister for Public Works re railways. Mr. Ormond replied pledging the Government to have the main lines from Dunedin to Invercargill and to Moeraki open for traffic by the end of June next. In reference to the Interior railways, he said he could not promise to support any proposal to guarantee 6 per cent, interest. The Ministry were, however, favourable to receiving proposals from the people to make railways otherwise, as they would open up the landed estate. The Guarantee Railway Bill he purposed bringing down would make property holders through whose lands the lines passed guarantee the payment of working expenses before constructing any branch lines. The Strath-Taieri line, being mainly through Government land, would be taken out of that category. The main lines would be pushed oti with the utmost vigour in order to give efl'tct to the Government pledge, but no bonuses would be given. T'ie Milton-Kingston line would be finished by the end of this year. Mr. Macandrew's railway resolutions will receive general support from the | Otago members.

The Mayor's salary lias beon fixed at L4OO, a proposition to have it increased to JL6OO being negatived.