FORBURY AND PENINSULA. RAILWAY.

Otago Witness, Issue 1191, 26 September 1874, Page 17

FORBURY AND PENINSULA. RAILWAY.

A deputation from the Dunedin, Peninsula, and Ocean Beach Railway Company waited upon His Honour the Superintsndent on the 17th instant. The following gentlemen were present : — Messrs J. B. Bradshaw, G. W. Eljptt, D. Proudfoot, and J as. Smith. Mr Smith explained that the deputation had been appointed to wait upon His Honour at a recent meeting of the Provisional Committee of the Company, in order to ask the Executive to say what facilities, if any, they were prepared to give the proposed Company, to enable it to carry out its object, which was to construct a line commencing at Rattray street, going along the beach, and parallel with the Anderson's Bay Road, as far as Mr Tolmie's corner, from which it would make two branches. One branch will so to the Forbury, crossing the Anderson's Bay road, going over the land at present belonging to Mr Proudfoot direct to the Sandhills, then parallel with the Sandhills to the Forbury road. The other branch will go to Anderson's Bay, and thence down to the Peninsula. At first it was proposed to construct the line as far as Portobello, and ultimately down to the Heads. The facilities which the Provisional Committee thought necessary would be those which it was understood the Executive were disposed to grant last year when the project of a railway to the Porbury was mooted, viz., the necessary land, and in the infancy of the Company that the Government should undertake to ■work the line with its rolling stock as long as that arrangement suited the mutual convenience of the Government and the Company, leaving it to the future to determine what arrangements should be made for working the line. The Superintendent should say that the Government would be disposed to make just the same concessions that were agreed to in the case of the Forbury Railway. This was a more important project : it was an extension j and there was a greater amount of outlay involved. If the Government were justified in agreeing to certain proposals in the one case, they would be much more so in the other. Of course the Government had no money to give ; but so far as working the railway was concerned, he thought the Government could do that on fair terms, which would be, of course, matter for negotiation. They would have to supplement their present plant, which he did not think would suffice. So far as the right to the land was concerned, he presumed that, to a certain extent, the foreshore was vested in the Superintendent, and therefore there would be no difficulty so far as that was concerned. But beyond that point, as they were aware, the land was vested in the 1 Crown. A representation, however, from the Provincial Government would no doubt put that right. Mr Smith : How far does the area vested in the Superintendent extend ? The Superintendent : About half-way across to Anderson's Bay ; beyond that it was vested in the Crown. Of course there would be no difficulty in conceding the foreshore, but provision would have to be made for the existing road. He supposed the railway would have to go inside the road along the beach. No doubt it would be for the t mutual advantage of the road and the railWay if the stonework now facing the road were reserved with the view of utilising it. The railway would sufficiently protect the embankment. That would very much cheapen the cost of the railway. Mr Proudfoot asked if His Honour thought, in the event of the Company thinking it more advisable to work the railway on its own account, there would be any difficulty in getting sufficient land for station purposes. His Honour did not think so. In fact he thought it would be very desirable that the Company should take that course and have nothing to do with the Government. In that/Jase he thought it would be arranged that -'the Company should have a separate Btation altogether. Mr Smith said that to meet that contingency the Provisional Committee thought it necessary to ask the Government to exfyressly reserve sufficient land for a station at Rattray street, anh the right to have a separate line. The Superintendent anticipated that if the Company had a separate station '^hey would* not-'-have the terminus at Rattray street. Jetty^ street, h° bought, would be the best terminus. Mr Proudfoot thought it would be more convenient to have the terminus near the present railway station. The Superintendent did not see what difficulty there would be in carrying another line outside the Clutha line. Mr Proudfoot said there would be no difficulty ; but there would be a difference in the expense. The Superintendent asked if the Company decided to work the railway themselves could it not be arranged to work the Clutha line as far as it went ? Mr Smith said that when the traffic became large on that line it might prove inconvem'eut. Mr Proudfoot pointed out that it must be borne in mind that the Clutha line was only a single one, and frequent trains running xo the Forbury would interfere with the ordinary traffic. There would have to be seven trains a day on the Clutha line ; and to the Ocean Beach, Forbury, and Anderson's Bay, they would have to run eight trains, it being a ahort line. With fifteen trains a, day on the Clutha line, he, would nob like to guarantee against accidents. What the Company wanted was simply the rieht to bring the line into Rattray street, with the view of doing their own traffic. In 4 the meantime, tHey would utilise as far as possible the Clutha line, if permission were given. The Superintendent said that, of course, the Provincial Government were only the lessees of the station just now. The legal occupancy was iv the hands of the General Government, and he could not speak as to what views they might have upon the subject. It might be out of the hands of the Provincial Government in a year, although he did not think it was very likely. So far as the Provincial Government were concerned, he thought they would be disposed to' carry #«$ ifae views he had ijojy $x.

Mr Smith suggested the matter might be definitely considered by the Executive, and a communication made in writing to the Provisional Committee. The Superintendent would take care that the Committee were communicated with, and that the matter should be put on record. Mr Smith : And also that the Provincial Government should communicate with the General Government, and obtain a pledge from them. The Superintendent thought there could be no difficulty. Practically the matter was in the hands of the Provincial Government, and he did not contemplate any obstacles could be thrown in the way. There was a legal point involved, in which perhaps Mr Smith was better able to judge than himself, and that was the position of the local Road Boards in the matter. Would it be necessary to get their concurrence ? Although the road along the beach had been largely constructed by the Government, a good deal cf it had been made out of local rates. Mr Smith said that so far as the railway would interfere with the existing road, it would be necessary to obtain the consent and co-operation of those Boards. Mr Eliott thought the Road Boards would be very well pleased to get a railway instead of a road. The Superintendent said they had had experience of some strange vagaries in connection with the Port Chalmers line.§ Mr Bradshaw said that Mr Seaton had stated that there would be no difficulty in arranging with the Road Boards. Mr Proudfoot apprehended that when arrangements were made with the Road Boards, no one else could take objection. Mr Smith said it was intended to proceed with the Forbury Railway at once, as it would occasion so little trouble. He understood a train could run by next races. The Superintendent : 1 understand it is the whole scheme the Government is prepared to support. Several of the Deputation : Certainlyso. Mr Smith said the Company proposed to open the JTorbury brauch first on the same principle as the Government' had opened the Green Island Railway — for the purpose of receiving an income as soon as possible. The superintendent said that of course the Government were looking to the interest of the community more than to the interest of individuals. There was no doubt the construction of this railway would be for the interests of a large portion of the community. Mr Proudfoot said it was intended that one should go hand in hand with the other, but at the same time if the Ocean Beach and Forbury branch could be opened first the Company should take advantage of it. The Superintendent fancied the Company commenced with such a capital that they would carry out the works simultaneously. Of course they must go to Anderson's Bay first before they could go on with either branch. He believed this was the very best time to go on with the work. They could make the railway down the Peninsula very speedily by letting it out in small contracts. It would be very advantageous in giving employment to new-comers. Mr Proudfoot said that, if the work were gone on with simultaneously, it would give employment to 500 men. The Superintendent said the Committee would receive a written communication from the Government in a short time. The deputation then withdrew.