The Lawrence-Roxburgh Railway. TO THE EDITOR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2785, 31 July 1907, Page 69

The Lawrence-Roxburgh Railway. TO THE EDITOR.

Sir. — I notice in a late issue an article by Mr J. MacGregor re the waste of public money on the Lawrence-Roxburgh railway line. It appears it is the preposterous resolution of the league that they should ask Parliament to grant £100,000 this session for the line that has aroused Mr MacGregor's ire, and well it may, for the money if obtained would be simply thrown away on the tunnel, for the tunnel is absolutely unnecessary, as a betrer and much cheaper iline can be brought to the Beaumont from Balclutha via. Tuapeka Mouth, and as a line is sure to come to the mouth to open up and supply Clydevale and Greenfield Estates, it would cost comparatively little to continue the line up the east aide of the Molyneux, for there is only one bridge (• low one) across- the Tuapeka. creek. The formation is easy, as there are no cuttings to speak of. and the gradient is all right, while the line would be straight, a great consideration in favour of rolling stock, etc. Another great advantage would be that the line would go through the Moyneux Bush, where the timber could be obtained for the bridge, etc., and in addition the timber would be a great boon to settlers and others on the line of route. Will the powers behind the Government ascertain if what I lhave stated is correct, and if correct will they, instead of perpetuating these political scandals complained of by Mr MacGregor, appropriate the public funds to the best advantage regardless of politic*! considerations. The route of the railway has always been a burning question here, but when the late Premier on his election tour played his trump card in favcur of the Lawrence route, which meant a large number af votes for his party, we considered that it was useless to agitate further, and Mr MacGregor is to be commended for again bringing the question before the public of the various routes that have been proposed. The Lawrence route is by far the worst, chiefly cm account of the tunnel, its expense, and the time it would take to complete it even if funds were in hand, whereas a route without the tunnel with funds could bring the railway to its destination in a much shorter time. As I have suggested before, it behoves the authorities before any more money is spent on the Lawrence line to make inquiries about this cheaper and better route — i.e., from Balclutha up the east side of the Molyneux. It will be far better to lose the £15,000 than to add an additional amount that can be avoided. — I am, etc., E. J. Vbbnost.