CONSTRUCTION OF RAILWAYS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 4171, 1 July 1875, Page 2

CONSTRUCTION OF RAILWAYS.

An influential deputation, consisting o£ Messrs H. Driver, M.P.C., M'NeilL E. F. Cargill, Towßley, Nichols, and Whitelaw, had an interview with the Superintendent yenterday regarding the construction of railMr Driver stated that it had cotie to the knowledge of several leading merchants and others, in Duniedin, interested in the progress of the place and the country, thafc several sections of the main trunk lines, bofck north and south, were being neglected, or hung up, in the meantime, for various rea<sons. He instanced the Southland line, which was near completion as far as B*?----clutha. One section, between Mataura and. Popotunoa was let, but, owing to some disputes or rivalry as to where the line should run between Clinton and Ualcl&tha, the surveys had not been completed by the General Government, who had allowed the matter bo hang up until the disputes were settled. He thought His Honour would see that it was of great importance that the south ; line, almost as much as the northern line, should be pushed on, so that it could be opened right through. There was no complaint as to the southern line except as to the portion between Clinton and the Clutha. With regard to the Northern line, some gentlemen had been at considerable trouble to make enquiries in reference to it, and found that it was in a good deal the same position as the Southern one... From. Sawyer's Bay to Blueskin contracts were let and weie progressing; from Blueskin to Waikouaiti was surveyed, but not let; bufc from Waikouaiti to Palmerston was neither surveyed, nor had anything at all been done in reference to that section. Now, it was e£ the greatest importance that the whole sections should be opened, if they hoped to > keep up the Northern trade, as it was knowit that the Canterbury people were forcingtheir lines down South as flat aa possible. They brought this matter before His Honour iv the hope that he would use his position as Superintendent with the General Government to have the sections referred to gone on with, instead ot being hung up until disputes were settled. : His Honour, : Of course you are aware that although the lines are being constructed at the expense of the Province, their construction is entirely in the hands of the General Government. Mr Driver.said the deputation was aware of the fact, but they thought t' at His Honour might bring his influence to bear . with the Provincial Government, who had always shown a desire to meet his views in. this matter. His Honour : So far as I understand, the General Government are quite alive to the necessity and importance of pushing on these works, and I believe they are doing the best they can under the circumstances. O£ course they have got an enormous quantity of work ■to attend to from one end of the Colony to the other, and I think they are doing the best thsy can; at least they inform me so, I have repeatedly expressed my desire upon the subject. With regard to the portion of the southern line, between Cluthaand Clinton, there has been a good deal of correspondence about a deviation beyond Waitepeka. Some time ago the settlers down there at a public meeting got up & standing committee which sent me a letterurging me to request the General Government to suspend operations until the meeting of the Assembly, but that I declined": to do because I did not think it would be policy to give the General Government a peg to> hang their delays upon. I had a letter from Wellington a fortnight ago from which I understand that the Government had definitely fixed upon the line, so that there need not be any delay upon that score. . The line is to be made as originally surveyed- ' v Mr Driver thought it a monstrous thing that because the settlers at Waitepeka wanted the line brought" a little nearer to their properties entire communication between the Provinces should be stopped. His Honour: I think the Waitepek» people were quite right. Going by v way of Waitepeka need not nave involved any delay, that was the route originally surveyed by Mr Brunton. I myself, and. in fact every Government that has been working with me for the last four years, has been quite alive to the necessity of every energy ia this matter; and I have communicated repeatedly both by letter and verbally with the General Government. In fact, just before the deputation came in, I vas marking off the ' correspondence, which shows that the matter has not been allowed to sloep so far as -the Province is concerned. It was stated by several that it would allay the public mind if tenders were called for the gaps. His Honour said that the interest now being manifested here might spur the Government into greater exertion. Witt Regard to the several contracts, the Government had, in several instances, ofteredbonosses for their completion within contract time.Hbwever, he would communicate to the General Government the views urged by the deputation. His Honour, to show the views he had held upon the subject, read the correspondence which had passed between himself and the General Government in reference to the railways of the Province, and dating as far back as 1871. It would do no harm that the General Government; should see that the people here were taking an interest in the matter of railway construction ; but he was not disposed to throw any censure upon the Government, because works like these could not be done in a day. . Mr Driver observed that the deputation did not come with the view of censuring the Government. They were perfectly well aware of the large nature of the works, but other Provinces had been persevering with greater • energy for the completion of their lines, and "it. was now t thuight it was time for the people of Dunedin tcwjjLin for a share. Mr CARGiLi^Jserved that another p.oinfc to be considered was, that if these gaps were nst completed in time for the line to be opened right through, riot only would there be a postponement of the advantages to be derived from railway-communication, but its cost would remain unproductive.. His Honour : And another important argument is, that on the lines being open interest becomes payable by the Province,, bo itr is for our interest that they should be completed as soon as possible, in order to make them pay. lam glad to see you taking a leaf out of the books at Invercargill, where there is a very energetic railway committee. After some further remarks, tlie dejutatioit withdrew. . - ,