THE KAWAKAWA RAILWAY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2358, 4 May 1899, Page 44

THE KAWAKAWA RAILWAY.

AUCKLAND, April 28.

The members of the Railway Committee, recently appointed at a pubile meeting, waited upon the Hon. A. J. Cadman, Minister for Railways, at Kawakawa on Thursday, the question at issue being the closing down or of leasing the Kawakawa railway. Mr Cadman explained the situation and mentioned the loss upon last year's rurning, and the probable cost to repair the big bridge. He said he Avas present to learn what the district was prepared to do. Replying to questions, Mr Cadman said private enterprise was proposing to lease th-J line, but he did not know upon what terms. Unless the County Council took it over he could no-t see any other way out of the difficulty. He had carefully considered the reductions that might be made in working expenses, but they were not sufficient to warrant his department in rurtning the line. If the line had to be closed the rails would not rot though the sleepers would. He thought he might be able to face a loss of £100 or £200, but his Ministers would never sanction a loss of £1000 per annum or more. After two hours' hard battling Mr V. H. Reed suggested an increase of freight on merchandise and coal. Mr Cadman said he was prepared to do anything in reason. Figures were then gone into, and consultations were made with storekeepers, and it was eventually agreed that freights might be raised 50 per cent, and passenger fares about 25 per cent, with 6d per ton extra on coal if it could be obtained from the one customer, the Northern Steam Ship Company. Mr Cadman said he was quite satisfied his Ministers would agree to the terms of the increase for one year at least. In the meantime the line would run m> usual. It was a very unpleasant position for him to bo placed in, but as the Cabinet would noli run railways at a los? to the colony he wag pleased the public hid suggested one wayj out of the difficulty..