THE OTAGO CENTRAL RAILWAY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2325, 22 September 1898, Page 26

THE OTAGO CENTRAL RAILWAY.

The question of uncompleted railways is beginning to loom large on the political horizon. A"number of Otago members waited on the Hon. Mr Hall-Jones at half-past 5 this evening to complain of the slow progress of the Otago Central railway. The deputation consisted of Messrs Scobie Mackenzie. Sligo, Millar, Morrison, Larnach, Fraser, Carncross, ana E. G. Allen. Mr Scobie Mackenzie opened the ball by reading a letter complaining of the small number of men employed in the ballast pit, which was stated to be only seven. There were also complaints of the blocking of the station at Kokonga with goods which waggoners could not carry away. He hoped a sufficient sum would be put on the Estimates to push on the line to Wedderburn, and make it of some real use. Mr Larnach followed, and urged the speedier construction of the line to make it useful to his end of the constituency. Messrs Sligo, Millar, and W. Fraser also spoke. The Minister said the complaints urged in the letter read by Mr Scobie Mackenzie were unreasonable; The ballasting could not go on faster than the linking of the rails would admit. There were 130 men now working on the line. He would see about making provision for pushing the line on to Wedderburn, and he hoped it might be open to that place in 18 months' time.